Before: Garner the most confident fighter in boxing - proving it by taking a dangerous optional with a superfight in the wings, fighting in France in front of a partisan crowd - Jenny putting the 'world' in World Champion. "It just makes sense," Garner says of the Eiffel tower setting, "This is a huge fight in France - I'll make twice the bump off Laetitia in her backyard and it'll be fun. Change of scenery, you know?"

Casta throwing the fear of God into Theron, not ready to roll over for the champ, "I respect Jenny as a fighter, but I don't see what's so special about her. I think HISC has made a mistake but I'm not arguing - this is my best chance to rule at lightweight."

Garner in pale blue bra, metallic pink bikini bottoms, hair back - Casta in white cami-strap tankini, hair back.

During R1: Garner into Laetitia like a switchblade early, shooting one-twos up top, dipping and hooking hard to jaw and CASTA'S HURT! Crowd moans as Laetitia is hammered straight back to the ropes, Garner pounding away on face as Casta's guard is slow to organize. From there it's a patient Jen Garner romp - champ pinning Laetitia on the ropes with harsh jabs, stepping to either side to reef hooks or right hands from sheer angles. Jen raking Laetitia's ribcage, scoring in combination to the head - Casta busted up, digging in, stands stiff bell to bell as Jenny hands out the beating.

R2: Laetitia showing the resilience that made her so dangerous in the Theron fight. Garner cruising, looking to sail in off her jab with leaning right hands, comeback hooks, but Casta's not cooperating. Laetitia punching with and not giving ground - fight turns into a series of pitched battles with both women strafing each other head and body, licking bursts of leather in brisk trade. Down the stretch, Casta's found a home for that hook against Jenny's flat midriff, French girl has Garner slightly ragged and a CRASHING right hand exploits the low guard. Jenny jerked a quarter turn to her right, staggering sideways - Laetitia pouring into the breach with walking rights, plowing at Garner's left ear to drive her ropeside. Bell sounds as Casta's loading up to finish - Jenny grimacing, can't feel her legs as she learns about Laetitia's right mitt.

R3: Garner caught between strategies: slugging with Laetitia caught up to her, now when she needs to box, her legs aren't quite back. Casta able to walk Jenny down, position her with a ramming jab between the breasts and initiate the kind of banging trade that's hurt the champ thus far. Garner with her back to the ropes, hands up high, blocking punches but pretty selective with the offense - she doesn't want to give Casta any openings. Laetitia taking what's offered, swiping compact rights or lefts in behind the elbows, pushing her head in between Garner's mitts in methodical action to take the third. Crowd over-reacting to everything Casta does - workmanlike round greeted with insane cheering, seems to give Laetitia a lift as she bounces happy to her corner for the break.

R4: Laetitia stalking, loose left hand seeking, gathering Jenny in. Casta turning on vicious right hands, placing 'em in the rib cage, stepping right then plowing against the jaw - Garner put wobbly butt and staggered in a first minute that has the crowd on it's feet. Garner rocked, keeps her composure - Jenny circling, spitting out defensive jabs - she's running but keeping her back off the ropes, getting herself together. By the final minute, Garner's settled down, picking Casta up harsh with the stick, pivoting left - Laetitia unable to press for the finish. Casta's round - she's up big on the cards, she's shaking Jenny's legs with right hands: big smile back to her corner.

R5: Jenny G digs in. Garner recommits to her jab, banging away at Laetitia's eyes, getting range, distance and balance set. By the midway point, Garner's drilling short right crosses, spanking back Laetitia's head. By the final minute, Garner's getting off in brisk 3 punch bursts, rat-a-tat combinations that have Casta doubled up, just riding it out. Thrilling tic-tac-toe goes ribs, tits and CHIN - Casta's wobbly butt, reaching to hang on at the bell. Garner with the emphatic shutout - champ's back in the fight - both girls busting up.

R6: Best two way round of the fight. Garner comparitively rigid, right hand up under her right eye, spearing jabs, sharp pivots to either side. Casta with the low, searching left, just trying to measure Garner for screeching rights over the top. Jenny getting off first - she's the busier fighter, making the fight now - Laetitia outworked in a brisk round of give and take.

R7: Shutout Jenny G. Garner just chiselling away at the French beauty. Vindictive jabs close up that battered left eye,

bloody the nose. Stamping straight rights have Casta stammering - finishing hooks dig hard into French ribcage and midriff. Laetitia visibly slowed by Garner's methodical punishment - Casta just inching forward, gloves up around her temples, mouth open as Garner picks her apart.

R8: Casta digs in! Laetitia gets back to that low slung hook in her opponent's belly - Jenny buckling forward, doesn't like it. Casta able to lick at ribs, shoulder her girl back, bend into searing rights - Garner weary as she rolls and blocks punches but not getting off. Jenny G shopworn to the ropes, grimacing as she twists to accept Laetitia's body work, then ducking to evade those bashing right hands. Casta nice and big at the end, shoving up on Jenny, beating her in the stomach, getting her hips behind a right uppercut that narrowly misses champion chin at the bell.

R9: Garner used up, she's flat footed, looking to punch and fall in - Casta all beat up, eyes swelling to slits just slugging on instinct as beauties body up, stagger in one another's arms. Stop and go action sloppy, but Casta wants it more - she's walking Jenny down after the breaks - in the clinches, it's Casta walking Garner back. Jenny muscled to the ropes repeatedly - girls reaching under one another's arms, trying to wrestle the opponent back and work her over before the clinch.

R10: Jenny G summons reserves, gets back on her toes. Casta can't match the pace - she's following Jenny around, blundering into punches, missing badly with her late right hand as Garner circles to the right. Garner taking no chances - she's scuffing and chipping away with the extended left, turning Laetitia's head to the right so Garner can step right and neutralize Casta's big cross. Casta coming forward at the bell, finally rakes hooks across Jenny's throbbing ribcage - fight ends with a ramshackle clinch - both women torn up and exhausted. Comes back a well received DRAW!

After: Laetitia lifts her hands, accepts raucous crowd adoration - no sign of defeat in the French woman as she stands up to the best in the business. Garner expressionless, left side of her face a shiny ruin - she did what she had to do to save her title, but Laetitia made her look human tonight. HBO brass breathing a sigh of relief - if Casta had pulled out the tenth, the most prestigious belt in boxing would have crossed the pond. "Theron's definitely the better fighter," a well worn, but happy Casta reports, "Garner's a little fast, but she can't hit at all. I was walking her down at the end, bullying her - she was the one clinching, not me. Jenny knows what happened in there - she's very lucky to be leaving France with the belts."