Before: "I've got a lot of respect for Navi," Jen C claims in prefight. "As a young fighter, you've got to test against the best, and that's what she's doing - shows she's serious about this game. If I had one word of advice for her, it's that she's coming in soft-bodied for her fights - she looks like a belly dancer or mudwrestler: that's not going to get it done against someone like me."

Rawat champing at the bit - no sign of intimidation as she goes against one of the elite names at 120. "I was surprised to see how small Jennifer is in person," Rawat chuckles. "I think the era of the nimble, smaller bantam is over. Jennifer's in tremendous condition, but she's no where near strong enough to compete with me. I'll take her to the ropes and punish her. Seriously, I think I'm going to work Jennifer over in this fight and I don't think there's anything she can do to stop me."

Connelly in white string bikini, Navi pretty in pink bikini.

During R1: Jennifer jabbing stiff off the front foot, mixing in the straight right hand, stepping to the left to deflect Navi's onslaught. Rawat right hand under chin, left across her body - she's swatting at Jen's punches, weaving and bobbing - just trying to step in close and bang the Connelly ribcage with thunder. Both girls having moments, but Connelly's feet in tactical control of the match: she's keeping the action midring; she's getting off first, touching Rawat's head and shoulders; she's not allowing Navi more than one body shot at a time.

R2: Same again - Rawat able to land with authority to the lats and flanks of her foe, but only after working hard, eating punches to get inside. Connelly steppin' lively - mostly to her left - ramming out that jab to Rawat's forehead, eyes, upperchest. Jen starting to slant jabs down into Navi's tummy, hooking off the jab to ribs or jaw - Connelly breezing through the minutes, laying down the law - steadily outclassing her foe through 2.

R3: Frustrating for Navi: she can tell she's the beefier puncher, but can't get her feet set, can't get Jen against the ropes and really work hammer and tongs as preferred. Connelly spicing Rawat up jabs, dot-right hands up the middle, then scooting - Jen with nifty pivots and shifts around either Rawat flank keeps Navi moving her feet. More body work from Jen - stiff jab-and-go to the belly, coupled with snick-snack right/lefts to the waist off the jab to Navi's forehead. Rawat frowning, walking through it - she's still coming forward, but taking a pinpoint beating for the priviledge.

R4: Jen sets down on punches, looking to hurt Navi a little, make the kid wary of simply walking in. Connelly stepping in, leading with powerful left uppercuts to Navi's chin: ringing blows put Navi on her heels for the first time, winning respect. Connelly showing the right, bringing the hook - ringing Navi up on the temple or jaw, sending her stumble-bumming for a few steps as she soaks up the clout. Rawat still bashing back in spots - moving Jen even with connects to the shoulder - but Navi's accuracy well down from previous fights as Jen's ring generalship proves problematic.

R5: Competitive fight to this point: Jen visibly pulls away in the fifth. Navi moving her head a little, but not enough: Connelly tracking face at will with her jab, now punishing rather than pestering with it. Rawat flinching from those hard jabs in her midsection - doesn't know what to do about them: Connelly also slanting in long right hands down into midsection, swivel-pivoting 90 degrees to the left to avoid receipts. Left uppercut is there for Jen off the front foot - she just bobs a little, picks Navi up fish-hook style under the chin. Rawat stunned in the final minute from the accumulation, staggering back on her heels, hitting ropes wide-eyed at the bell.

R6: Jen brazen, feinting then leading a right hand down into Navi's body, reloading and getting it again - Rawat backing up with a frown, deeply troubled by Connelly's punching now. Rawat raked over at the ropes as she slides to her left along the apron: Jen stepping with, eyes hard with concentration as she pumps jabs, fits in straight right hands to Navi's mouth. Rawat tries to brawl her way off the ropes: Jen steps back in good order, slipping punches, then answering with a single pinpoint right uppercut off the right foot, putting Navi wobbly butt and nearly dropping her. All Jen down the stretch - Navi stooped forward behind her mitts, inching forward as Jen lathers the flanks, tucks in behind those elbows for numbing points.

R7: Third shutout in a row for Jen; third consecutive round Navi's put wobbly butt; Rawat's eyes looking bleak, glassy, confused as Jennifer pours on the class. Jennifer stepping around that scalpel jab, poking Rawat into a daze before lighting her up firm right crosses, left uppercuts or hooks. Connelly still keeping her back clear of the ropes, still turning Navi, methodically working the youngster upstairs and down: really masterful stuff. Again, Jennifer able to step in on her left foot and jolt Navi that lead left uppercut: crushing punch being soaked up by Rawat's curvy frame, but she's desperately hurt, unable to hold her canvas any longer as she falters back into ropes. Jen cleaning up late - strafing a tired, bobbing-and-weaving Navi against the ropes. Rawat sullen, puffy, beat up: she's learning what a world-class celebrity fighter can do in a boxing ring tonight.

R8: Some offence from Navi as she sacrifices her face to punch Jennifer in her flanks: Connelly brazenly accepting nuisance work to get more leverage on her own shots. Jennifer landing every punch in her arsenal now - ringing Navi up to the chin; going immediately to waistline to consolidate. Rawat swaying, stepping in fence post holes, reaching to clinch: she's a tired, shopworn, ramshackle lass as Connelly maintains the no-hitter through 8.

R9: Jen getting sickening lift on left uppercuts and withering bite on left hooks: poor Navi's head on a swivel as Connelly slices past the defences with impunity. Rawat staggering now - strong legs numb with constant chin-pasting and body work - Connelly pushing Navi downhill, staying on her with pinpoint power shots and a nasty, rifling jab. Jen's expression never changing - just hard-hearted concentration as she takes away all Navi's options and hopes. Rawat beaten to ropes, bleakly pushing her hands in don't-hurt-me fashion at Jen: Connelly jabbing to prop, then drilling in hard right crosses, mopping up left uppercuts or hooks off the front foot. It's all too much - Navi's head pinballing around on a limp neck, legs shot, butt in the ropes - ref steps in as Jennifer begins pounding away at will with decisive flurries. TKO9 - 9 rounds to love - Jennifer Connelly.

After: Early beating of the year candidate as Jen boxes the first half, sets down in the second half, shutting Navi out, hurting her repeatedly and eventually stopping her. Heartbroken Rawat breaks down into tears at the ropes - immediately comforted by a stern, but classy Jennifer Connelly who actually walks Navi to her stool for much needed attention. Too much class, poise, skill and pure know-how: Connelly totally minimizing her young foe's strength and mass with timing, footwork, punch selection and placement.

"She was very strong early," notes a gracious Jen in postfight, "I had to be careful with her, keep her moving - even when she hit my arms or shoulders I could tell this was a girl not to be trifled with. As long as I kept her moving, she couldn't really hurt me and her mistake was in thinking that I couldn't hurt her. When I started ringing her up, she was lost - too much was going on for her to process in that ring tonight and I just piled on for the stoppage. I hope she learns from this and sticks with it - I honestly believe Navi Rawat can push Jewel, Neve and Dani to the sidelines with her approach. She just needs some seasoning before she can raise her game to the elite level."

In days to follow, Rawat's people continue to query Erika Christensen and Kylie Sanchez - recognizing their fighter needs a little more work at that level before attempting a Connelly-class fighter again.