Before: "Stay busy," says Alana in prefight, "that's the plan. The ranked women are all hoping I wither on the vine and disappear, but that's not going to happen: I'm going to get my rounds, I'm going to stay sharp, and when I get my opportunities, I'm going to take names!"

Tapping one of boxing's many could-have-been stories: neck and neck with Cat Bell coming out of the amateurs - Tapping fell by the wayside while Bell hammered out a hall-of-fame career with TE.

"I can't cry over the past," Amanda shrugs, "what's done is done. It's true, I was considered a hotter prospect than Catherine Bell, but for whatever reason, she got a big push and I couldn't get going. That's why I cherish these fights like the one with Alana. For her, it's a stay-busy fight - a glorified sparring session. For me, this IS my career, this IS my shot. She's good, but there's no way she's as hungry as I am. No way."

Tapping in polo-collar sport top (white); navy bikini bottoms with white belt; white gloves. De La G in lavender bikini; black gloves.

During R1: Alana methodical: jabbing Amanda to ropes, squaring on her; going at blonde midsection. VERY thorough, determined punching here: De La Garza pouring in lanky three punch burst - punches sounding out CHUP! CHUP! CHUP off Tapping's paunch/ribs. Alana lifting rising blows in, fighting out of a crouch: when she's not punching, she's moving her head; extending hands to shove Amanda into ropes - just a good solid beating applied. Bell: Tapping visibly shaken, wobbly butt; De La Garza alert, focused, marching brisk to her corner.

R2: Same again: Alana quickly at Amanda with jabs, backing blonde up, then strapping at her midsection. Beefy: Alana in wide stance, fighting crouch; punches lashing up into Tapping, spanking off tummy, ribs, jugs. Amanda keeping dukes up, getting pushed and jostled: she's proving durable, but absorbing tremendous punishment through 6 shutout minutes of Alana.

R3: De La Garza punching clinic continues: nothing like a sleek brunette stepping quickly to her blonde and going at her all strong and methodical. Amanda punched to ropes: she's grimacing, stooped forward in earmuff, or leaning back into cables with arms crossed against her body. Steady attrition behind applied to Tapping's midriff - just thick, strapping sheets of leather. Alana coming off the body selectively, almost always lighting Amanda up clean to chin, rocking Tapping back into ropes. Amanda stunned on occasion - visibly wobbled - but proving very sturdy through 3.

R4: Tapping a canny strategist - often employed by other fighters to help plan bouts: she starts the midrounds with a completely different look. Tart, long jab from Amanda: stiff, punishing stick, putting Alana on the defensive. Stepping clockwise rotation: blonde right hand at her cheek as she's doling out poke; right heel up off the canvas for good push on those lancing jabs. Alana jabbing-with, but coming in second: Tapping measuring De La Garza for hooks as well, clipping exotic beauty to chin, startling Alana. Tapping relatively slow, but her timing's very good: she's disrupting Alana, outboxing her midring.

R5: Spirited two way action: Tapping electing to confront Alana midring, punch with her. De la Garza joining in the fun: slick, no-nonsense professional fighting here as both women hook off the jab, pivot left with thoughtful expressions. De la G's weight of shot telling here: both landing about the same, but Amanda getting punched off her stance - especially when Alana gets to chin via hook.

R6: Same again: Tapping just about as effective in the fifth, but starting to find her limitations. Alana stronger, a little quicker, legs a little livelier - she's upping the tempo a touch, making her blonde work. Tapping getting by with her timing, good blocking defence and stout chin: she's taking good stroke head and body, but refusing to wilt. De la G bringing hoots of appreciation out of audience when she opens up and bats lanky licks at Tapping's flanks: sumptuous stuff, designed to wear down an aging blonde.

R7: Alana starting to impose her will: Tapping visibly lumped up now, output dropping - she's starting to be picked apart. De La Garza's jab slamming through to Tapping's face, punching it back with pounding spank: Amanda blinking, trying to stay gritty. Alana dropping in choosy right hands - often as a lead to set up an oily, curling left hook that carves diagonally across Amanda's front. De La G loose in a good way - relaxed - feeling her oats: she's landing hard, hurting her girl body and head through 7.

R8: Tapping grimly determined off her stool - engaging Alana midring, but no longer offering effective aggression. Vicious, stroking body licks continue to snatch at Amanda's reserves: Alana really lashing 'em in pretty - stroking away long-limbed down there - mitts bouncing loud off Amanda's beef. Tapping mouth breathing - attempting to clinch: Alana shoving her girl off, or turning her - De La G won't be embraced. After 8 - long time HBO celebrity fight commentator Connie Selleca says "You could stop this fight now. Amanda's just staying in this on heart alone, but it's time for her corner to take charge and get her out of there."

R9: Amanda overules her corner: wades out for more Alana. Decent round for Tapping: she catches Alana a tightly turned left uppercut inside; a whacking left hook behind right elbow - but Alana really pouring through the cracks now. De La Garza really a very pretty puncher - hips and shoulders moving through the shots - punches delivered with curling, lashing leverage - gloves bouncing wickedly off all things Amanda. Tapping rocked on several occasions - buckling from flush right hands and withering hooks, body and head - but stubborn blonde won't go. Amanda wobbly butt, defiant at the bell, pushing Alana to the 10th.

R10: Alana quickly upon Amanda: hooks and crosses; hooks and crosses. Tapping windblown - punched into ropes with a dazed expression as Alana finds blonde chin several times in space of a few seconds. Alana to the body: galloping lefts and rights walloping trembling midriff - then she's pushing Tapping upright, starting to unleash. Crowd roaring; Alana baring her teeth, eyes blazing; brunette fists really starting to fly as De La Garza lets her hands go. TAPPING'S GETTING SHREDDED! Brave Amanda trying to keep it together, but there's too much Alana coming at her: blonde cringing, tilting forward behind her mitts under withering, lanky lather. No one punch does it - Alana in wide stance, POURING it to Amanda and TAPPING GOES DOWN! Amanda pitching forward, sprawling cheek-down at Alana's feet: it's over. KO10 in blazing fashion - Alana De La Garza.

After: Tapping badly beaten tonight - several rounds saw her receive wince-making punishment - but blonde veteran just wouldn't concede supremacy. "Great rounds," a glowing Alana says in postfight - white towel around her neck. "I just kept hitting her and she wouldn't go - I really got my work in tonight! That's why the big 10 don't want to face me: girls don't want to get in with that all night long - it's too much!"