Originally posted by Simguy on 8/10/2002, 8:39 am.

Before; Intriguing thinking man’s collision—Garner mopping up Theron targets with an eyes on blondie—Hurley coming off a convincing stoppage of Cameron Diaz—something’s gotta give. Pundits curious to see how Garner handles the awkward southpaw smooth of Hurley, while Liz has plenty of experience schooling orthodox boxers—most books leans towards Brit when they lean at all.

Hurley in yellow sports bikini, white bordering, Jen in red and charcoal horizontal stripe, high neck sports bra, red aerobics bottoms—messy ponytails all around.

During R1: Garner edging Liz down all around the ring, sharp single and double jabs, nasty right hands as Jen consistently gets her left foot outside Liz’ right. Hurley with her chin tucked behind that right shoulder, right hand low, left at her cheek—she’s giving Jen the shoulder roll, but getting poked clean in the mouth by Garner’s straight, hard rights. Bell to bell shut out a handspeed, footwork clinic from Garner—Hurley very defensive.

R2: Hurley still trying to box, getting picked apart as Garner rotates left. Jenny throwing straight, crisp punches off the jab, rivet gun right hands snapping back Hurley’s head as Liz can’t get out of the way. Jen turning her girl’s right flank, jabbing to get Hurley to commit a move, then stabbing her with accurate rights—Liz flustered, staggering back on her heels. By the midway point, Garner’s dialed in—sizzling right hands doing harm as Hurley takes on the chin, gets wobbly butt, looks to finesse her way out of it.  Jennifer getting perfect angles off the Brit’s right shoulder, fitting that right hand in over and over again—Hurley shaken up repeatedly, legs giving way as she falls apart, it’s a Garner romp down the stretch. Hurley helpless on the ropes, hands aimless at her chest—Garner putting vicious straight punches together, has Liz’ head bobbing dangerously at the bell to jack her Brit up—nothing coming back. Hurley guts it out, staggers to her corner—10-8 Garner without a knockdown.

R3: Liz changes tack—getting outboxed, slides in close, right shoulder against Jen’s left shoulder. Liz clipping and swatting, tight punches off her chest—Jen picked up under the chin by a curling right, a clubbing left off her ye, a clouting right off her cheek, a straight left to turn her head while Hurley steps to the right. Garner not punching back, getting worked over at close range—Hurley n ice and compact, putting punches together, steely eyed as she sees Jen start to wobble. Final minute—Hurley’s established complete control—Garner bent forward, hands to her cheeks, riding it out—Liz stroking the right hook hard under the elbow, doubling up to the ear, jamming in the straight left between the mitts. At the bell, Garner shaky, glassy eyed—Hurley slaps rump to send American shuffling to her corner.

R4: Liz takes it inside—Garner makes her adjustments. Jen focused, hands up, elbows in, moving her head and confounding Liz toe to toe. Hurley’s right hook to the body blocked by Jen’s elbow—Garner getting off left/right. Clipped shots, all torso, no backswing. Hurley’s chin getting picked up by Garner’s little right uppercut—Jen slipping Liz’ payback left uppercut, swatting the gut a left hook. Garner just beating Hurley to punches, showing nice tight form inside—beautiful compact delivery from both women as they stand in close, work out of hunched stances, snapping and swatting up and down on each other. Liz wide eyed at the bell, hurt repeatedly this round—Garner showing she can alter her body posture, shorten up her punching when need be.

R5: Liz making decisions. She wants to stay close—but she shows counterpunch this round, dropping the right hand, closing up the stance, leaning away to make Garner miss, timing the straight inside left inside Jen’s right. Hurley pivoting around her right shoulder, slipping Garner’s hook, getting angle to hook Jen’s kidney, and spike her mouth with those pesky straight lefts. Jen taking good shot, getting outboxed, but riding it out—Garner showing veteran composure and patience as she takes a round to read her foe.

R6: Jen opens with spitting jabs, driving Liz to the ropes. Hurley closing up, countering brilliantly, slipping hooks, answering with straight left hands, slipping right hands, answering with harsh right hooks behind Garner’s elbow. Jen getting chewed up—clouting hook off her chin puts her wobbly butt—Liz pounces. Stuffing the left hand on the mouth shunts Garner to her backside—Jen blurry with hurt, takes her 8 and nods aggressively in the affirmative upon ref’s check. ON COMES LIZ! Garner dig in at the ropes, bobbing low, coming up with right uppercuts, left hooks out of the crouch and she NAILS Liz repeatedly as Hurley presses to finish. Liz taking disastrous shots, spends herself trying to close Jen out and HURLEY GOES WOBBLY BUTT! Terrific accuracy as Garner dips, rolls, snaps at face—she’s got Hurley hanging on at the bell. Terrific effort coming off the knockdown—Garnet sends Hurley hurt and confused to her corner.

R7: Garner bell to bell, Hurley is disarray—she goes back to boxing outside—Jenny’s too fast—jabs, straight right hands shred Liz’ defence. Hurley slips inside tries to get supple—Garner harsh on the body, tucking her tight punches behind the elbows, buckling Hurley forward, picking her up with left uppercuts  all shoulder. Hurley busted up, staggery—she’s laying in so close, girls are just twisting in short punches, finishing up mouth on shoulder on follow through.

R8,9: Liz needs these rounds, both girls know it—Garner puts her foot down. Jen force feeding Liz that straight right hand, pounding back British face, forcing Hurley’s back to the ropes, Liz looking for counters, finding them—bending side to side, pulling in slashing shots, catching Garner on the cheeks and ribs, but Jen won’t punk. Garner pounding up the middle with rights, hooking British ribcage religiously—Hurley wilting under exchanges that all go Garner’s way. Bitter give and take—classy, professional forms, both girls banged up, but when it comes down to who want it more—Jen’s getting it done.

R10: Jenny G closes the show. Fast off her stool—stabbing spitted jabs to corner Liz, spearing straight rights to the body, comeback hooks up top. Liz closing up stance, trying to minimize the hurt—Hurley more concerned with going the distance at this point as Jenny pours it on. Garner letting her hands ho, but staying straight, properly balanced, punishing Hurley’s body and head in equal measure. Liz finding openings for her slinging counter right hook, but not enough—she’s outworked under a torrent of Garner leather to the bell, Comes back UD10 Jennifer Garner.

After: Garner beaming with this win—Liz a slick professional test well passed tonight. “I know I can beat the banger,” crows Jennifer, “but Liz is a totally different look in this division. To handle her, catch her clean and hurt her—that makes me very confident that I can step up and take the belt when I get the chance.” Hurley badly lumped up, thoroughly beaten, but not gushing with praise just yet, “I’d love to have another go at Jennifer sometime—I honestly believe I can do more with her. She doesn’t hit as hard as a Theron or a Cat Bell and I think I was flat coming iff my devastating performance against Cameron, Well done Jennifer, I take my hat off, but I just think I’ll prove the better woman eventually.”

Reposted by Archer 4/24/09.