by Simguy on 03/05/2005

Before: Garner so confident, so secure in her raw physical ability - she just doesn't see Pratt as any kind of significant risk. "I don't want to downplay Vicki - she's a tremendous offensive fighter," Jennifer shrugs in prefight. "But I'm the strongest I've ever been, I'm fresh, I feel great at the weight and I actually see a lot of welters I could take apart right now. So nothing against Pratt, but I'm the wrong girl for her. I'm just too big, too much."

Pratt pursing her lips, eyes glinting dangerously. "Jennifer Garner used to be confident," says the small screen tyro, "but now she's just arrogant. I actually think she's put on too MUCH muscle for boxing - I think she's lost a little snap on her punches and as far as conditioning goes: she's not going to wear ME down like she does everyone else."

Fearless, fit, hardbodies - Garner in neon baby blue bikini, bra strap top, hair in tight fighting braids - Pratt in gold string bikini.

During R1: Garner orthodox - showing a Miguel Cotto type look, chin tucked, dukes up as she crouches forward. Vicki bouncing, grinning, threatening Jen with a step forward, then bounding back. Throughout the first minute - Pratt syncopating her punches with her movement, darting in with jarring one-twos and landing them, tagging Garner's chin and escaping as brunette soaks 'em up stoic. No sign of damage until minute mark passes - Pratt circling around a belly jab, jumps in a clouting wide hook/blunt right hand on the mouth and GARNER GOES DOWN! Jennifer NOW looking shocked, hands at her head, she's lieing on her back with knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Deep breaths Jen: she beats the count. Pratt grinning, scooting in, then fading back, stooping in the body jab, suddenly straightening into a circus left uppercut, jumping forward as Garner collapses back and CONNECTING WITH LEFTS! Snappy, curling left hands clip and clout a reeling Jen Garner and JENNIFER'S DOWN! Garner crashing to her side at the ropes - trampled by an excited Vicki Pratt who's bare feet stomp away at outstretched arms and inner-thigh. Another quaking 8 - Garner shabby, stunned and ON COMES PRATT! Vicki finally squaring away to have a go - Jen too hurt to do anything more than cover up earmuff and sit in the ropes - she's BELTED a brisk, clobbering flurry as Pratt pins ears back, lets hands go. Bell - Garner cut in the mouth, staring, stepping gingerly on her heels - Pratt mocking former multi-time champ mercilessly, mimicky her queasy knees to the delight of fans.

R2: Garner hurt, but composed - she gets it together and executes to buy time. Jen stepping right, away from Pratt's right: that's job one. Job two - timing the jab, intercepting Vicki, spoiling blonde rushes. Job three - clinching shamelessly, falling back into the ropes with muscular blonde wrapped up tight and wriggling for breaks. Vicki the clear aggressor, but not all that effective - Jen's punishing jab doing most of the scoring in a tactical second.

R3: Garner's legs coming back - she's still conservative - hanging back, circling counterclockwise, looking to counter. Vicki can't get past the jab - Jen really spanking face, forcing Pratt back outside to regroup. Midway point, Garner adding hook-off-the-jab, and short right hands to the menu - not all landing, but she's starting to loosen up, get off a bit better. Vicki's nose bloodied - she's still fresh and dynamic, but can't find her groove against Jen's educated stick.

R4,5,6: Garner settling in, patiently beating Pratt up, working behind that classic, thudding jab. Jen moving stick around, pounding Vicki in the chest and tummy, working Pratt's left eye. Garner's footwork as educated as her stick, gliding back easy as she times Pratt's rushes, walking blonde chin into counter-hooks. Jen putting punches together as well - short right hands, mop-up left uppercuts off the stick - Pratt's chin holding up well, but she's getting tagged. Garner also puts her hook to work in Vicki's six pack and ribs, shrugging 'em in short as beauties lean in together, getting the better of muscular trade in close. Not shutout rounds - Pratt landing on the head and shoulders of Garner, but Jen's class clearly in control of the fight through 6.

R7: Jen's been ringing Pratt's chin up all night, and steadily wearing out that midsection - tell tale signs of hurt as Vicki staggers slightly sideways after early exchanges go Jen's way. Garner stepping forward, fighting lead now almost exclusively - she's banging away jabs, stepping in with hooks and crosses, backing Pratt up. Midway point, discouraged Vicki hits the ropes, covers up and crumples as Jen leans in and hooks her HARD amidships. Blonde cramping up, growing rigid - brunette weight on front foot, short n' tidy with the left uppercut, just jerking little punches to Vicki's face. Left hook in behind the elbow doesn't do Pratt any good at all - knees buckle, hands drop and JEN CASHES IN CHIN! Chopping right hand pounds the mouthpiece off Pratt's teeth, sits her drowsy in the strands. Jen bodying up to press Pratt flat, then shifting weight to pull a clanging hook across wide open face. Vicki staring, hands drooping to her lap - Garner's just dialing in, muscling rights and lefts in heartless combination to Vicki's pleading face. Too many punches - Ref jumps in and collects ragdoll Vicki as blonde's on her way to canvas - Garner stalking away without expression the TKO7 victrix.

After: Form chart fight: Pratt starts out strong, blistering Garner with one-twos - Jen collects herself, makes adjustments and slowly chips away until Vicki's a helpless wreck. "I didn't mean to spot her the first round," Garner says sheepishly, "but the right woman won in the end." So what's next for Jen? "Well - Charisma's got the belt and I want it, but you know something? Jenny O'Dell's the more dangerous fighter. I'd love to punch my way through Jenny to get at Charisma - Carpenter alone probably isn't the challenge I'm looking for. In any case - I leave that up to the suits: whoever they put in front of me, that's the girl I want."