Before: Girls nervous, cordial in prefight - both recognize the top-gun nature of this showdown. "I'm technically the better boxer," states Connelly, "but Jolene is SO dangerous. I'm going to have to really focus every minute of this fight: no mistakes tonight. One thing though, and this is right up there with slipshod FCBA refereeing and the commission toadying to the Krushers - Jolene's weight should be checked by an independent auditor. I'm sorry, but she's no longer a bantam, if she ever was. There, I said it." Blalock's heard that sort of accusation before - that promoters and HBO want her at bantam for the lucrative match ups and are prepared to fudge her weight if necessary. "You know, girls see the way I hit, and they start looking for excuses in advance. I'm sure Connelly caught tape of me starching Neve Campbell and of course she thought 'no bantam hits like that', but that's why I'm special. As for being the better boxer - I don't care what Jennifer starts out the fight as. Let's see how she looks after she's gobbled a couple of these bad girls (holds up right fist) - all the skill in the world's not gonna help when you're hurt." Jennifer in lucky Raquel Welch red push up and panties from Bedazzled. Jolene countering with Bo Derek's black string bikini from 'Tommy Boy', graciously donated by Derek for this fight in support of a fellow wiry blonde.

During R1: Connelly moving smart to her right, away from Blalock's right hand, and moving brisk - Jolene hopping, moving her feet to keep up. Seeking jabs touch up Jolene's left shoulder and eyebrow, tracking her, positioning her - Blalock keeping her left low, right hand coiled, getting outboxed as promised through the first minute. Second minute, Connelly goes to work - landing sudden lean-in right hands clean on the jaw, leaning out with the forget-me not hook. Connelly also jumping in with a left jab over Jolene's right shoulder to block that screaming Blalock cross, then running blonde jaw onto a choppy little right - Cat Bell tactics for dealing with murderous punchers - very effective. Connelly sticking around once she's in like that, curling the left around Jolene's head, slumping her forward, pumping up to tummy and jug with sawing right hands, walking her girl to the ropes. Boxing, slugging, a little holding, hitting and mugging - Connelly carves out an impressive shutout first.

R2: Connelly opens with the counterclockwise footwork, just showing the jab, cautioning Blalock with it. Jolene turning, twisting into rights, but it's a mistake - Blalock's in bad position for right hands, has too far to go with it - Jennifer's able to step and drop a shorter, straight right to the jaw over Jolene's low left - blonde getting the worst of these exchanges. Jennifer just working in and out from outside Blalock's left shoulder, right hands shaking Jolene up a little - midway through - Connelly starts working that midsection with scorching hooks - fists pounding out loud against that taut, flat surface. Jole doesn't like the body shots, crimping up, bending forward - Jennifer picks her up a nice tight right uppercut, puts the hook on top - BLALOCK SPILLS TO THE ROPES! Jolene wide eyed, woozy, guard limp and disorganized - Jennifer pounces! Connelly hauling in a long right hand, bouncing it off Blalock's sleepy face, back thick to belly that hook, then shifting weight to her right foot to pull clawing hooks across Jolene's hulking kegs. Jolene grimacing, reaching for Connelly with both arms and she's SMASHED back by a volley of face punches - brutal, straight lefts and rights cracking off tanned blonde features. BLALOCK SAGS TO HER RIGHT, LEG-SHOT! Jolene staring, sliding along ropes - Connelly stepping-with, hooking hard while standing to the left of JB - Blalock not reacting as punches bang off her left eye. Blalock hits corner on saggy stilts - Connelly squares up and POUNDS AWAY! Jennifer hard-eyed as she pours it on, drilling straight lefts and rights, shredding what's left of the defence, pounding away on drowsy face, throbbing jug and THE REF STEPS IN! Good Lord - stunning TKO2 dismissal.

After: Blalock in tears, torn apart and pounded out before she could even get her feet figured out. No mistakes promised and delivered by Connelly - she goes untouched, undresses a big puncher with superior footwork and tactics - she's beaming, back on top of the world with this win. "I know Eliza's not anxious to give away her belts," says Jennnifer with sauce, "so I'm not going to get a title shot anytime soon, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to sit on the shelf. I'm the number one contender and I'll act like it - pounding girls into submission until Dushku runs out of room to run." Blalock mystique takes a hit tonight, no question - she hasn't been run ragged and outclassed like this in a long time, if ever.