Boxing After Dark

Lauren in black Hanes fighting bra and panties (Sweet November)

Amanda in navy boat neck crop top (tight sleeves to the elbow, bare midriff) shades-of-blue splash print bikini bottoms (full coverage)

TKO10 - (10 rounds to NONE on cards at time of stoppage) - Tapping! ]

Amongst the ranks of boxing's so-called 'real women' - Lauren Graham reigns supreme, proving herself against the likes of Amy Brenneman, Felicity Huffman and other doughty, reliable veterans. Amanda Tapping's a name like that - a pretty blonde who downplays her overt sex-appeal; a marginal celebrity who's accepted the safety of a steady paycheque on the long-running 'Stargate' rather than pushing the envelope of fame in Hollywood. It was with some justification that Lauren Graham was made the bettor's favourite for this fight, and few could blame her swagger in the days leading up the event. But Amanda wasn't buying the Graham hype, showing up in shape, well-schooled, and employing a steady, grinding veteran discipline to the task of taking minutes and rounds away from the favoured brunette. Ten rounds and hundreds of punches later, Lauren Graham was a swaying wreck, literally "Tapping" out as Amanda successfully ran the table.

Aesthetically, the fight was a methodical, often unremarkable affair. Amanda's stance was thoroughly orthodox, operating midring behind the jab and falling in with Lauren for long-armed chip-n-chisel on the inside until a clinch would bring the ref in. While Tapping established her right hand to the jaw early - Lauren never got hers on track, foiled by by Tapping's high blocking guard. After 5 straight, clear rounds for Tapping, Lauren's tactics grew increasingly erratic as Graham began loading up and looking to get it all back with one punch against a rock-solid blonde who was fully prepared to take advantage of the openings. Where the first half had been tense and competitive, the second half was increasingly blonde-dominated, with the final two rounds featuring some of the worst minutes of Graham's long, pedestrian career. Battered and reeling, Lauren finally succumbed to a series of pounding straight one-twos to her head - Graham standing stunned, right hand on the top ropes, taking punches over her left shoulder until the ref bodied Amanda away.

The consistency and cold-blooded execution of Tapping brought to mind Cat Bell - a name brought up to Amanda in post fight and one which she seemed eager to discuss. "That's the fight I've always wanted," Tapping admitted. "I probably haven't promoted myself the way the FCBA would like - cheapening myself in Maxim magazine or donning cheesy bikinis on Stargate - but I'd like to think Cat Bell would respect what I've done tonight and realize that I deserve a dance with her on merit alone."