Before: Animosity stoked by Richards hardball negotiations on the one hand and Connelly's Oscar braggadoccio on the other. "I'm so sick of the whole 'Oscar pedigree' B.S." says Richards, "I've beaten the stuffing out of Connelly before and I'm going to do it again. Everyone's got their whipping girl and Jennifer's mine. It's even sweeter knowing how bad she wants a belt." Connelly indeed hungry for gold and determined not to let this opportunity pass her by, "Denise Richards is not turning me back this time," vows Jen, "I've trained too hard, worked too long for that to happen. I've studied every second of our previous fight and there's just no way she's beating me. I'm taking everything away from her tonight." Jennifer in navy sports bra, red boy cut trunks, ponytail, Denise in pale blue sports bra, grey stretch cotton high cut aerobics trunks, low blonde ponytail.

During R1: Richards with her mitts up, trying to fend Jen off with the jab - Connelly moving her head side to side, weaving the stick and coming inside with hard left hooks to Richard's ribs and tummy. Denise banged back to the ropes - champ digs in and FURIOUS shoulder to shoulder trade breaks out. Girls just standing in front of one another, compact stances, right hands held tight to cheek, left hands cranking and licking as the girls take turns with bump and shoot. Connelly getting much the better of it, repeatedly rocking Denise with hard, tight hooks on the mouth - Richards faltering, having to steady herself as Connelly stays in a puncher's groove throughout.

R2: Jennifer very crisp with her punching - she nails Richards a sharp straight right hand on the mouth, then turns over the quick hook to get the champ backing up early. Richards with her back to the ropes again, right hand at her cheek, left hand low - she's alert, looking to counter as Connelly comes in with that high guard, bobbing side to side head movement. Jen stepping to the right, fighting off Richard's left shoulder - brunette is WORKING that hook out of her tight guard, bat-bat-batting away to Richard's breasts, bobbing, staying low, then JERKING in a tight hook to the chin that catches Denise by surprise. RICHARDS IS HURT! Hands immediately drooping - Denise's face relaxing as she sags into the ropes - Connelly propping up with that left elbow, then BANGING the body! Hooks in the sternum - Connelly just bashing at the torso, then propping D up - Richards sobbing aloud as the punches suck her will and RICHARDS GOES DOWN! Denise Richards hugging her battered body, rocking hurt on her haunches won't beat the count. JENNIFER CONNELLY THE NEW BANTAM CHAMPION!

After: Denise woozy, unresponsive as she is propped up on her stool - Connelly just bashing away to victory behind that destructive left hand. Speculation that Richards got rusty as she got rich hard to deny - Denise just not showing the gritty determination that had been her trademark in the last couple of years. Connelly sobbing, delirious as she is paraded about the ring on the shoulders of her cornermen - been a long time coming for the hard working, meat and potatoes brunette. "It's like a dream," beams Jennifer in postfight, "Really - its all finally mine. Denise disgraced the title by refusing to defend it - the reign of Jennifer Connelly will be a fight fan's fantasy: a steady stream of beatings for all the top girls - Dani, Kelly, Jenny G, you name it! I'll even give Richards another chance to lose!" Euphoria maybe getting the better of good sense - remains to be seen how free and easy Connelly will be with title defences once it's all sunk in how much she has to lose.