Posted by simguy on 10/5/2002, 9:47 am

Before: Connelly back from a nice lay off, looking sharp in the gym, lean on the scales. Campbell earns the payday with a hardnosed romp over her last opponent - a flat Jenny C would be in tough tonight. Connelly in navy sports bra, red boycut trunks, ponytail, Neve in white sports bra, pale blue boycut trunks.

During R1-3: Campbell has her moments, but Connelly controls the action with some of the classiest boxing of her career. Recognizing that Campbell needs to come forward, work inside to be effective, Connelly takes it all away with good lateral movement and a darting jab. Jennifer methodically banking hooks in Neve's breadbasket, but also showing the brunette more right hands than usual, catching Campbell repeatedly by surprise over that left shoulder. Nice straight, textbook punching from Connelly, Campbell competitive but outclassed.

R4: Out of the blue - shutout Neve Campbell. Connelly goes inexplicably to sleep, covering up, lolling on the ropes - Neve piling up a lumberjack round. Campbell hunched up, touching up with her head and gloves on a similarly compact Connelly - snapping and snatching punches at the ex-champ's waistline, shoulders, bra, always returning her fists sharp to the ready position. Good scrounging work from a busy Neve - Connelly upbeat as she bounces unhurt to her corner, but gets a lecture from her trainer on the perils of hanging around on the ropes.

R5: Back to business for Connelly - the shooting jab, right hand nice and high - SHE'S the one coming forward, backing Neve down, stepping in to hook body and head. Campbell wincing from those tough paunch-hooks, dropping her guard slightly - Connelly very alert to poke home short right hands over the top when she sees the openings.

R6: Shutout Jen Connelly. Some of the sweetest science we've seen from Connelly. Jab breaking Neve down, making her sullen, keeping her in the middle of the ring. Hooks landing with spank against the ribs and belly, and sharp, heavy right hands, lots of shoulder behind 'em, finding the Campbell jaw with authority. Neve getting lumpy, starting to wallow in disappointment - Connelly picking her apart from outside instead of obliging her girl shoulder to shoulder.

R7: Back to back shutouts Jen Connelly - when was the last time we saw that? Connelly's eyes bright with concentration - stepping sweet around Neve's right shoulder, stamping jabs to face, jug and tummy - as Campbell's defense gets ragged, right hands and hooks took advantage. Neve getting smashed up, then reeling back on her heels, constantly shaking her head, shaking out her arms, trying to coax life back into her game. Connelly just throwing a blanket over Neve and handing out a workmanlike drubbing through 7.

R8: Neve getting her licks in, hooking with Connelly, occasionally getting her shoulder into Jen's chest and outworking her on the inside, but only when Jen allows the distance. Connelly controlling things with the best jab of her career - it's straight, somewhat robotic, but piercing and doing ruinous work against Neve's delicate eyebrows.

R9: Jen pouring it on - hooking off the jab, occasionally feinting the hook to drop the right hand - it's all working at this point. Campbell stubbornly fighting in spots, active to the gut when she can square up and work, but Connelly not allowing extended toe to toe sequences. Down the stretch, Jennifer splattering Neve with jabs while stepping right, twitches a decoy hook and SHAKES Campbell a jamming right on the jaw. Neve stepping in fence post holes - Jenny dips her shoulder and rivets a 3 hook sequence to the girl's pale belly. Deep knee bend and look of agonized exhausted from Campbell as the body shots take it out of her.

R10: Jen controlled, disciplined, doesn't give in to the temptation to rush Neve and finish her. It's a smart, sharp Jen Connelly tenth - jabs landing and dazing her girl - setting up hurtful hooks on the right flank or loud against the midriff. Connelly with the right tight to her cheek, going with her left hand exclusively, circling to the left, but also stepping out, changing distance - Neve has no chance to get a brawl going. Campbell outboxed, clearly discouraged at the bell - Connelly's happy post fight hug pretty one-sided as Campbell looks morose. Comes back UD10 by wide margin, Jennifer Connelly.

After: Connelly banishing the pre-fight upset speculation - she puts the underdog down with a textbook display of boxing, rarely engaging in the mutually destructive hooking wars we've seen from her in the past. "I probably could have blasted her out," says Jen, "but why give her a chance to catch me? I have the skills, I just need to use them. Campbell gave me the opportunity to showcase and I executed very well I think."