Before: Fighters are cordial, respectful, but make no mistake: Connelly wants to be better than Geri tonight. American is the bigger girl, the heavier hitter, but had problems last time out with Halliwell's fitness queen workrate - British girl's tempo the key to success, especially with the size disadvantage. "You can box Geri," notes one veteran journalist, "but that's really not Connelly's style. If Jen's going to punch with Geri, she's got to make 'em count." Geri in black dance two piece, boat neck top, Jennifer in navy sports bra, red boycut trunks.

During R1: Jen comes out bone dry and Geri gets on top early. Brit backing the American up, ramming out a stubby lead right, then cutting into the midriff with a compact hook. Halliwell keeping her left elbow in tight, just sidearming the lick in, then finishing up with a wider right hand to the kidney. Jen useless in retreat - she covers up and takes a bell to bell working over this round.

R2: Connelly rights the ship, realizes that Geri's batting attack didn't do much damage, and walks right through the blonde this round. Hook trade downstairs goes Jen's way - she keeps her right hand at her cheek, biting the left into Geri's body with legs and hips doing the work. Geri giving ground, just as uncomfortable backing up as Jen had been. Late in the stanza, Connelly gets to Geri with uppercuts - shrugging little lefts and rights up the middle in close - blonde staggers away wobbly butt at the bell.

R3: Good follow up round for Jen - Geri's fighting slightly more tentatively, respecting the bigger girl's bashing power in close. Still a lot of contact, both girls staying busy rather than getting cute. Connelly raking her hook across Geri's ribs often has the blonde gasping in pain, backing away to regroup.

R4: Jen piling on, RIPPING to Geri's taut midriff with cranking hooks - Halliwell buckling forward and groaning as Connelly bashes away without mercy. Jenny putting it all together this round - she's touching Geri a firm jab to set the table, freezing the blonde and stealing the initiative. She's devastating Halliwell downstairs - Geri doing well to stand up to the beating, but these hammerblows are stealing her legs and wind. And right hands - Connelly's remembering to be two handed in this fight, bashing out the straight right to set up her hooks. Halliwell's butt in the ropes much of the round - she needs to clinch or run if she's not going to punch.

R5,6: Starting to look like a Connelly romp. Geri gritting her teeth and punching with the brunette, but exchange after exchange goes Jen's way as she lands the last hook or clouting right to send Halliwell staggering away. Trading sessions start out violent and chaotic with gloves bashing back and forth, but usually end after Connelly scorches a hook across the ribs to leave Halliwell hurting.

R7: Jen takes a round off - Geri up tempos and has her best moments since the first. Halliwell going to Jennifer's packed bra, pumping away to back the brunette up, then clocking her a hook on the chops as Connelly retreats with her hands down. Jennifer backing up a lot, but occasionally reversing, coming in hard with her shoulder to set up the single shot hook to the flank. Geri hustling in the final minute, has Connelly stooping forward and covered up - Jennifer wincing and complaining to the ref about Halliwell's right hands on her kidney during the break.

R8: Meat and potatos slugging - girls shouldering up or pressing up with their guards on one another, getting close then getting withering leverage on hooks to the waist. Connelly breaking the stalemate with little uppercuts on the inside - Halliwell punching wide and leaning in is there for the stroke every time. Tempers flare at the bell as Geri claps a wide right hard to Jen's hip/lower back - Connelly wants the kidney work to stop right now.

R9: Big beautiful beat down from Jen Connelly - she gets on top early with straight right hands and clanging hooks, drives Geri to the ropes, then smears her corner to corner with constant withering pressure. Halliwell not punching back, starting to break down as she cringes forward in survival mode. Connelly staying compact, pressing up her right forearm on the back of Geri's head to anchor the blonde for banging hooks to the side and up underneath. Final minute - sensational digging left hands to the abdomen have Geri in a bad way - she swoons to all fours to relieve the pressure as Connelly nods in satisfaction.

R10: Credit Geri - she's a fighter. She's been beaten up tonight, but she comes out hard, trading furiously to outwork Jennifer at midring, then banging the brunette to the ropes for a scalding final minute. Connelly overwhelmed, but covering up responsibly - she's turning her torso, blunting punches, knowing she's got the decision. Geri lashing away to the flanks with licking lefts and rights. Bell sounds - girls give an impromptu hug for a fight well done - comes back UD10 Jennifer Connelly.

After: Connelly beaming with victory, maybe a little relieved - Halliwell had her moments but couldn't overcome the size differential on this night. "You know, I'm happy it went the distance," rationalizes Jen, "A lot of people thought I couldn't win a decision against Geri because of her output, but tonight, I buried the gravedigger herself." Geri characteristically upbeat even in defeat, "All credit to Jennifer, well done Connelly. She was punching very, very hard tonight, taking my breath away at times and I couldn't discourage her."