PHOTOS COURTESY BI PHOTO LAB 

Originally posted by Simguy on 4/16/2004, 7:21 am.

Before: Jennifer not worried about the weight differential. “Size doesn’t beat quality,” affirms Jen. “I feel my speed, class and overall sharper technique will more than compensate for Katherine’s…bulk. This is a Ferrari versus a dumptruck—as long as I avoid a head-on collisions, I’ll be fine.” Heigl taking umbrage at the comparison, suspecting she’s the truck in question—she shoots back: “Maybe Jennifer’s forgetting something—I’m an ex-champion, too. I ruled with an iron hand and we’ll see how smug Miss Speedy is after I get to that over-rated chassis of hers with a few of these babies Z(gestures menacingly with a closed right fist).”

Jen in neon blue sports bikini, navy lining, slick low ponytail—Heigl in cobalt sports bra, floral print bikini bottoms featuring blues, yellows, mauves—messy ponytail. Charlize Theron working the Heigl corner with Janet and a spit-bucket brunette—Theron wants a good close look at Jennifer in action.

During R1: Garner with a shoulder feint, goes stern right hand on the mouth, tugging left hook on the chin and SITS HEIGL DOWN! Crowd not even back with their expensive beers before Kathy takes first 8 of the night. Respect earned, Jen goes to work outside—sharp pivots to the left, body jab leeching Katherine’s strength, spreading her out. Garner boxes classy, keeps the action midring, touches Heigl up for points in a shut out first.

R2: Heigl adjusting—guard a little higher, she comes in strong, weaving side to side, pulling a hard right hand into Garner’s flank, complimenting with the hook up top that’s blocked, but Heigl’s negotiated new terms. Katherine able to work Jennifer along the perimeter—Heigl sporting a utilitarian jab to the chest, just locating Jennifer, then setting down soul-searing right hands just below Garner’s left breast. Thumping heart punches move Garner—Jen biting down on gasps as she feels Katherine’s steel. Hard punching Kat Heigl round—Jennifer legging along the ropes, getting touched harder, cleaner than expected.

R3: Garner puts down the uprising, right? Wrong. Heigl back in Garner’s grill with decent head movement, stubbing banging jab, then pulsing right hands into the ribcage—JG definitely not enjoying those bashing connects, fades to the ropes and sets up defensively. Heigl loose, stalking her prey—palming Jen’s shoulders, pushing her into position—Katherine every inch the bigger woman this round. Heigl  not just throwing beefy single right hands—she’s putting hooks on top, working the rightside ribs, hooks—going cheek to cheek into roll combo’s against Jennifer’s taunt abdominal pan. A busy Heigl, a hard-hitting Heigl and Garner shopworn as she slides to her left, butt in ropes, face strained with stress of maintaining her guard under a big-girl beat down. Final minute—Heigl turns on a clubbing right that catches a piece of Jennifer’s guard—Heigl reloads, pumps the right hand thick under Jen’s left arm, flat against the heart and GARNER TAKES A KNEE! Jen alert, aware but breathing through pursed lips as she takes a veteran 8—sensational Heigl pressure gives her the lead through 3.

R4: Garner stone-faced, intense off her stool: Heigl’s giving HISC beauty much more fight than anticipated. It’s Jen darting, pivoting, working in and out to get off in crisp combinations while circling. It’s Heigl dukes up, grinning, blocking shots on her arms, turning and firing to the rib cage with wide left hands, driving straight rights. Jen’s body-jab ubiquitous: it’s keeping Heigl outside, tapping at her reserves—nibbling punch the difference as Garner manages bigger girl for narrow points.

R5: Garner very leggy this round—ducking back and forth at the ropes to shake the pursuit, often nailing Heigl a left uppercut or chopping right off the spin moves. Heigl the aggressor, even outworking Jennifer this round with good consistent clubbing attack, but Garner steals the round with glorious combination in the second minute. Jen freezing Kat the jab, pounds in a right hand through the guard, hangs around on the front foot to pick up that tidy little left uppercut—big girl set back on her heels wobbly butt—Kat able to shake off the shot, but it’s the decisive moment of the round.

R6: Heigl hanging back, times a Garner rush, dipping left inside Jennifer’s jab, countering with a short left uppercut to the point of the chin and pulling a tomahawk right over top to catch Jen on the temple as she’s pulling out. Garner walking away to the right, delayed reaction as her legs give way—she hops, stumbles and GOES TO ALL FOURS! Jennifer shaking her head—Heigl hooting in the neutral corner as classy brunette humbled by another 8 count—Katherine moves back in and it’s WAR! Garner gritting her teeth, crouching forward and meeting Heigl head on—Katherine crouching as well, laying in with Jennifer—both beauties agree to simply tune each other up in furious exchanges on the inside. Jennifer drawing her line on the canvas—swaps leather with the bigger girl and holds her own—Heigl unable to close out the match, satisfies herself with shuddering contact against Garner’s rigid torso and muscular belly.

R7: Garner paved the way for her boxing with that gritty sixth round stand—Heigl just a touch more hesitant to close, just a shade more reluctant to trade—it’s giving Jennifer the split second she needs to work her leggy magic. Nothing fancy: body jab; clockwise movement; darting attacks to pepper Heigl with combinations. Katherine forced to cover up and retreat with Jen slashes in on her—big girl’s output dropping as Jen’s tireless legs start to dictate terms.

R8: Similar round—Jen getting off first, Jen managing Heigl’s weight beautifully with that reach-in belly jab and crisp footwork midring. Katherine still coming forward, but she’s grunting whenever that rigid stick smites her tummy—nothing she can do about it: not hard enough to risk lowering her guard for, too fast to avoid it. Garner picking her spots to come in, but she’s basically doing it with her legs, setting a blistering pace, using Heigl up with sheer energy burn through 8. During the break—Charlize talking strategy with Janet-how THERON would handle the current situation—poor Kathy trying to get Charlize’ attention desperately needs water, ice and advice.

R9: Heigl definitely winded now—big girl blowing hard, mouth open—reactions slowing as garner takes more risks. Jennifer stepping up the pace—Janet shaking her head with concern—Garner’s fitness becoming boa-constrictor decisive in the championship rounds. Jennifer nibbling belly the jab, circling, looking, then darting in: she’s clawing Katherine’s face a chopping right, then working diligently to the ribs with digging, rapid left/rights. Heigl on her heels firm, pale body soaking up punishment with fleshy resistance—but Kat’s not punching back much. Heigl slumping on her stool between rounds, nearly exhausted, deeply discouraged.

R10: Garner shearing in off the jab early, going tummy with digging hooks, working up torso to bang that bra, ending the sequence with a right on the temple, brisk left tugging the chin—HEIGL SITS DOWN! Katherine’s eyes fluttering as she scoots to a stop—big girl achy to her feet, shaking off the sharp poke, but looking scuffed and shopworn at this point, Heartless Jennifer G—Katherine spent—wide white back against the ropes, tired guard raised but wilting—fresh brunette puts a tattooing beat down on Heigl Cat Bell would be proud of. Starts in Heigl’s firm gut and cushy ribs—rattat combos spicing the blonde up, paralyzing her, leaving her vulnerable for chin-checking hooks or right hand combo-cappers. Garner busy. Working up and down, stepping to fight off one shoulder or the other on Katherine—mostly straight punches, some swatting hooks on right hand with slightly looping trajectory to get ‘round obstacles—but it’s all Jen to the bell. Heigl swaying in the wind, wobbly butt, but too big and strong to go down to lightweight shellack. Comes back UD10 Jennifer Garner.

After: Garner shinier, more lumped up than expected, nevertheless pours it on over the second half to outclass and daze her earnest opposition. Heigl being hugged and back-patted by Charlize—Krusher gave Jen 10 hard rounds, put her on the deck and put some mileage ion that ribcage—just what Theron wanted to see.

Reposted by Archer 5/17/09.