Before: Connelly back from an extended vacation, hard as a rock at a tapered 118, looking every bit a champion as she opens her reign. Questions around Spears' emotional state coming in - contender has wheels and skills to take this thing, but how much Alba fall out is there? Brit's schedule another question - busy blonde's been involved in one bitter squabble after another and it's showing up in pre-fight, Spears a little curt addressing things like Connelly's power, size advantages etc. Jen in navy sports bra, red boy cut trunks, white shoes, ponytail, Britney hair up, basically a black sports bra and boy cut trunks, but funkified with gold fringes, designs etc, gold tassels on black shoes.

During R1: Britney's idea: use her superior footspeed to shear on in off the right flank, away from Connelly's hook and desposit running haymakers - limber little blonde makes it work early as Connelly takes tough on her stomach and forehead. Jen adjusts, right hand at her cheek, calm feet - gets the jab out there, starts breaking up the rushes. Order imposed by the halfway point, Britney can't just jump in - Connelly picking her up the stick, hooking off the jab, and sweeping in a surprising right hand on the chin that catches Spears looking. Champ putting out a fire, laying down the law to take the first.

R2: Second verse, same as the first - Britney explosive out of the gate, loose, hands down as she jumps in off Jen's right shoulder, dragging in some whippy right hand potshots to the breadbasket or face. Connelly stays composed, compact, starts to block better, gets the jab on Britney, and midway through - Spears gets caught on a rush, stacked up by a stumping jab, hooked, chopped a tight right hand on the teeth and BRITNEY TAKES A KNEE! Brit momentarily dazed by the sudden concussion of 3 blows on her face, takes 8, and Jen POURS in! Britney hunching over to receive hooks up underneath, cushioning the blows well and countering out of her crouch a clanging hook on the temple that shakes JEN up! Connelly backing straight up - Britney able to feather a timing jab, lean in on a blistering right cross that clouts Connelly sideways, sends her staggering. Pell mell brawling the rest of the way - both girls fighting hurt, swinging away to the bell.

R3: Jen jabbing Britney to the ropes early, settles in on top to work at close range. Connelly crowding close, right palm braced on Britney's shoulder, left hooks cranking breadbasket and rightside ribs. Spears doubleclutching, not getting off - she sidles to the right a step, Jen stays on her, maintaining touch with an extended left elbow, then snapping off the short hook. Bell to bell bludgeoning like this - Connelly just on Britney, working her over, keeping her pinned down - Spears covered up well, rides it out, but her face tells the tale: stiff, achy, uncertain.

R4: Connelly out with brazen confidence, cutting the ring down immediately, shelling Spears with a volley of hooks upside the guard - Britney retreats to set up her counterattack off the ropes. Connelly in with hard, right hand leads, catching Spears completely by surprise - flush blows on the jaw have Britney shaken up and a leadpipe hook across the face has her stunned! Spears staring - Connelly ramps it up! Hooks! Tearing it up on Britney: breadbasket, breadbasket, tits and CHIN! Spears sagging limp into the ropes, defenceless, taking punches as Connelly STREAMS in the punishment and the REF STEPS IN! Spears cuddled to safety as Connelly rampages to TKO4 victory!

After: Shellshocking defeat for Spears - triumphant and convincing win for Connelly one of the brunette's most complete performances. Jen not just sitting on her hook - she positioned the nimble blonde with the jab, broke her up with right hands, went to the body, went to the head - surgical beating from a woman not known for her precision. "It went exactly as I thought it would," says Jennifer matter of fact, "I think I've been underated long enough. I know Britney was looking past me and it cost her." When asked about her immediate future, Connelly is definite: "I don't know who we're in talks with, but I want Britney Daniel. She proved she's the most dangerous girl out there, I proved I'm a dominant bantam champion, and that's a super fight in my books." Amen.