Posted by simguy on 2/16/2002, 8:52 am

Before: Alba looking to get the kinks worked out, caught cold in her last outing - she's sure to warm up properly in her dressing room this time. Rachel Weisz handpicked to receive the beating - Weisz not a puncher, but a dependable, heady fighter in the mold of a Gillian Anderson - thinks well in the ring, finds ways to make fights difficult for her opponents. Alba in royal blue high neck sports bra, bikini bottoms, Weisz in retro cut red bikini, twist tie top.

During R1: Weisz clearly the bigger woman in the ring, trying to impose her size on Jessica without much success this round. Alba rhythmically stepping and bouncing to her right, jumping in with feints, then depositing sling-mitted hooks behind the elbow or swatting right hands to the ear. Nice in and out potshotting from Alba.

R2: Rachel shows her veteran sensibilities this round. She gets the jab on Jessica - not scoring, but giving Alba something to think about, and she feints Alba back, making the brunette flinch and commit too soon. Weisz starts to find the timing, punching with Jessica, nailing her short right hands on the chin and come-back hooks upside the head - Alba looking flustered as her legs can't keep her out of trouble. Jessi wobbly butt after the second minute and in the third - disaster. Weisz suddenly pouring it on, dipping her shoulders and ripping either hand to the midsection, coming off the body to swivel Jessica's head with clubbing leather in close. Punishing series to the body and head uses Alba up and the final hook on the teeth sends her dreamily to her backside. Crowd in shock as a glossy eyed Jessica Alba reaches achy for the ropes, barely pulling herself up at the bell. Big 10-8 Rachel Weisz.

R3: Jessica hurt, legs aren't there - she's standing toe to toe with a bigger woman and getting beaten up. Rachel's judgement exquisite - punching with Alba, fitting her right hand inside Jessica's hook, beating Alba's right with her own hook - Jessica catching clean on her face and looking shabby as she starts to break down. Down the stretch, Alba refuses to cave in, crossing her arms, hunching forward, and starting to lick back at Rachel with slashing uppercuts from either hand. Weisz lit up time and again as Alba starts to time HER punches - Rachel's back hits the ropes for the first time as she finishes the round in trouble.

R4: Rachel's convinced Jessica to stand directly in front of her and trade - Weisz getting the kind of fight she can be competitive in and she's making the most of it. Alba getting caught WAY too many right hands on the chin - she's just staring as Rachel lands - punches seem to freeze Jessica for moments at a time. Weisz helping herself to young breast as well with saucy hooks, cupping and swatting at Alba's bra after stunning her with the cross.

R5: Corner IMPLORING Jessica to box, use her legs - Alba finally complies and fight gets easier. Weisz can't cut the ring down - she stalks after Jessica, gloves at her eyebrows as Alba stops, pops 3 and 4 slapping punches, then wheels away.

R6: Shutout Alba. Weisz not getting hurt, but she can't get off - Alba using every inch of ring, boxing the bigger woman, using her quickness and distance very well. Rachel frustrated, lumping up now under both eyes - Alba tattooing the older woman to the ribs and face despite Weisz' tight blocking guard.

R7: Two way action, but still dominated by Alba's fleet feet - Jessica dictating terms in the ring, setting the agenda for any exchange. Weisz still trying to time Jessica, still fitting in the odd right hand, but Alba no longer standing and trading - she's jumping in, jumping out, circling to reset.

R8: Shutout Jessica Alba. Dazzling stuff at this point - Jessica finally breaking Weisz' guard down slightly with the lashing strokes wide to the head. Rachel starting to get buffetted off stride on occasion, stepping back to take deep breaths, cringing when Alba can get good whip action on that slinging left to the ribs.

R9: Weisz resigned to her fate. She's still coming forward, still surprising Jessica with the odd sneaky short right hand counter, but it's all Jessica Alba. Alba having fun now - the cocky grin is back as she turns Rachel with an impertinent hand at Weisz' creamy hip, pushing Rachel side to side to open up angles. Rachel's face busting up badly now, left eye closing - Alba's constant tapping, slapping punches are adding up.

R10: Jessica Alba closes the show. Dazzling hand and footspeed on a broken down opponent - Alba stepping to the right, shimmying her shoulders, then slashing her left across the waist to buckle Rachel forward, or slicing her right hand around Weisz' guard to send her staggering sideways. Vindictive potshots have Rachel reeling by the final minute - a leap-in left uppercut splits the mitts, wrong footing Weisz and spilling the exhausted Brit to all fours. Rachel painfully beats the count but couldn't be more battered - she's relieved to hear the final bell. UD10 Jessica Alba.

After: Jessica overcomes early jitters and some crafty Weisz execution early to bury the Brit with athleticism down the stretch. Alba all lumped up from right hands, bitter about the knockdown and rough treatment from Rachel early, takes the brunette for a meanspirited walk of shame, tugging Weisz around with a fistful of swimsuit waistband.

Thanks to Apollo for this repost.

Archer 10/19/02.