Unified Lightweight Title 

Originally posted by Simguy on 9/18/2004, 9:16 am.

Before: Battle of physical specimens a speculator’s delight—plenty of pros and cons both ways as bettors size up respective competitors. “There’s a little more technique in Garner’s game,” notes division strong woman Catherine Bell. “All things being equal, I like the smart boxer in a bout and that’s Jennifer here for sure.”

Charlize Theron, beaten by Vicki Pratt in their last bout begs to differ. “Bell would say that,” snickers the former champ. “Pratt’s got passion Jennifer WISHED she had—Vicki’s so explosive and unpredictable that I don’t think Garners skills will come into play. As soon as Vicki nails Jen one of those jump-in wallops, it’ll be a streetfight, and I see Pratt exposing Jennifer big time.” Pretty much sums up the consensus—it’s a pick’em at most books.

Pratt in lemon bikini, Garner in electric blue bikini, bra strap top, hair back., Respectful touch’em up after instructions, both girls holding the other’s gaze with confidence.

R1: Garner well schooled, studying plenty of tape for this fight, she’s out to establish the jab, taking away Pratt’s sudden darting power game. Jennifer on her toes, sprucing Vicki up, then circling away, using the ring. Garner also countering on occasion, anticipating Vicki’s pounce, sliding back from it and walking Pratt onto the stubby straight right as Vicki’s right comes up short. Shut out Jenny G—nothing serious, but good quality touches, ring management from the champ.

R2: Pratt still offensive-minded, one dimensional—she’s trying to pounce in and get the jolting right hand onto Jennifer’s chin, Garner either pre-empting with the jab or fading and countering right hands—it’s masterful stuff as she negotiates dynamic blonde around the ring. Late action favours Vicki as girls get shoulder to shoulder, let hands go: blonde tanning brunette ribcage and midsection with tasty flurries at the bell.

R3: Pratt getting into the flow, spitting out her own jab, feinting her approach, then bringing it—change-ups creating more scoring opportunities for blonde. Garner getting tagged more but taking it well—action has a free-flowing, sporadic feel as girls circle, threaten, collide and leap back. Pratt the more consistent beauty, more eager to mix it up in close—when girls stand flat footed and trade, Vicki’s getting the better of it. First round to Vicki, sunny smile, confident swagger—she’s showing the “total package” no respect through 3.

R4: Garner the better woman at distance—she dictates terms to make it so most of this round. Spearing jabs starting to lump up Vicki’s left eye—Pratt doing a better job ducking under the Garner right than she is evading Jen’s left. Jennifer can’t get happy off the starboard side, but she’s ringing up ribs by hooking off the jab—good tangy splatter as leather spanks off meat. Pratt again reduced to scoring in spots, rapid flurries to breadbasket, trying to cash in hooks t chin as she works up-torso on Jen.

R5: Garner with a nice jab, cross, hook combo to start—she misses the right but bites down hard with the hook to swivel Vicki’s head and buckle those knees for the first time tonight. Pratt staggered, but showing heart—she forces Jen back with looping overhand rights, putting champion’s back on the ropes and pouring it on as Garner covers up. Vicki concussive to the hips and flanks, lighting Jen up ringing rights and lefts in spank-spank patterns, rudely shoving the champ off with the left shoulder to reset. Garner face-on gloves, elbows in and soaking—she’s astonished she didn’t get more respect from that flush hook in the first minute. Pratt on garner to the bell, keeping up a brisk shellack to the ribs and stubborn tummy muscle—Jen doing a nice job denying Vicki any chin with good head movement and tight defence off the ropes.

R6: Garner landed hard in the fifth—finds more openings this round. Pratt rushing it, trying to press the champ—Jen running blonde onto the jab, positioning, disrupting her, then eating her up with clanging hooks high on the temple, drilling right hands straight down the pike. Shattering cover-page type connects—Vicki’s head spanked back, face squished in pain as she recoils from flush hooks and crosses. Blonde’s legs buckled in the first minute, backside wobbled frequently as she walks into shots in the second, and down the stretch, Garner really tees off. Left uppercut, right uppercut direct to the chin—Garner bobbing, stepping back hands at her cheeks, eyes intent, watches as Pratt sinks groggy to one knee in a fog. Pratt beats the count, but she’s swaying on the spot, weaving badly to her corner for the break.

R7: Garner the pro—going to a hurt girl’s midsection to take away what’s left of the legs, heart of the opponent. Pratt teeth clenched, leaning forward stiff as Garner systematically snatches at ribs, tears up chunks of taut belly meat. Jennifer flat footed, easing back to let Vicki stumble into shock, pivoting right or left and really placing her shots, biting the punches off muscle, bringing her fists back quick to her chest or cheeks. Marvelous, crisp stuff—Jen just stepping to spots, luring Vicki forward and helping herself—blonde trembling, all beat up in her body after 3 minutes of heartless Garner execution.

R8: Pratt with last-gasp offence—Garner forced to step out and work behind the jab to restore order in the first minute. Vicki slowly brought to heel—she’s back to leaning forward behind her mitts, unable to find elusive Garner. Jennifer back to pounding that breadbasket, really turning her hips into hooks, then shearing down with short right hands to pound past wilting blonde guard. Vicky busting up—face is right there for punches, she’s not reacting well—Jenny’s putting it all together…

Garner: sharp lead right wet to the face, biting hook on the eyes as she steps out—champ’s eyes wide with concentration. Vicki stumbles forward.

Garner: tapping jab, left uppercut jagged on the chin, right hand spank between the eyes, hook on the right eye as champ eases back out of range. Garner really rolling her left shoulder through the hook nicely, turning her body to aid her step to the right.

Garner: lead right hand on the chin, hangs around on that front foot to pick up Vicki’s sternum the left uppercut—Pratt groaning, tilting forward. Garner likes what she sees—nudges Vicki the left forearm, then picks up the sternum again the left uppercut, then goes back to the chin a clipping left uppie—VICKI GOES DOWN!

Pratt swooning to hands and knees, busted up and helpless—she’s up at 10 but the red’s seen enough. TKO8 for the winner and STILL champeen, Jennifer Garner.

After: Happy, happy Garner—physical challenge of Pratt obviously had the champ worried as Jennifer shows her dimples and breathes a sigh of relief. Garner animated in the ring after wards, fanning herself with her hands as she describes harrowing moments, walking around with her right hand splayed wide against her upperchest. Pretty to watch if you like clinical demolitions—Jennifer outboxing Victoria, working her to the body, then breaking her down once clean power started to land—one of Garner’s most comprehensive efforts.

“My legs felt great tonight,” says a grinning champ in postfight. “I had so much jump and she just wasn’t able to close the gap the way she wanted. I touched her with my jab and I think she started to get a little tentative, and once you get inside Vicki’s head, it’s over for her.” And how ‘bout those vicious left uppercuts to the solar plexus, Jen? “I’m so glad you noticed that! I’m so proud of the fact that I hurt Vicki to the body==a lot of people told me to stay away from her six pack because it was too hard, but I think I can hurt any girl to the midsection the way I punch down there.” Amen!

Reposted by Archer 5/