Posted by simguy on 2/20/2009, 7:28 am

Before: "I'm putting in a whole new offense for Kate," a toned up, still curvy, but better conditioned Jen says in prefight. "I need to jam her up - smother her: I want to be fighting off her chest and bashing at her body. Kate likes a good stand up boxing match: I won't give that to her. I'm going to be mining this girl for quit, fellahs - and I won't stop digging until I find it!" Beckinsale coming off a failed title bid, but losing none of her swagger: she's openly scoffing at any mention of a Hewitt victory. "Can anyone truly credit this appalling little troll doing harm to my sleekness?" Kate asks, gesturing grandly to her own torso. "Those stumpy arms and unfortunate billy-goat legs? No. American TV tramps do not triumph over fighting royalty. I'm sure your press will play this up for the David and Goliath story it truly is, but I don't foresee a fairytale ending for this particular Cinderella. She'll be beaten - badly - and discarded for the tramp she is." Jen in vibrant purple bikini; long dark curls loose; black gloves. Kate in black bikini; black gloves; hair loose.

During R1: Jen weaving in on Kate - pitching a muscular right hand into Beckinsale's ribs; Hewitt's back (right) foot lifting up off canvas as she pounds that baby in. Beckinsale frowning at Jen's heft - immediately rotating counterclockwise to get away from it. Pressure from Hewitt dissipated by Beckinsale's legs: Kate moving to her right, pumping jabs, getting organized. Beckinsale relaxing into her stance: right hand near chin; left a littl lower; elbows in tight. She's chipping away at Jen; jabs to hairline and brows; short right hands to forehead - constant lateral shift to turn Jen's left shoulder. Hewitt moving her head well, staying low - gloves curled into her chin as she stalks Kate, but can't win position inside.

R2: Jen weaving forward - thrusting out stubby poke to Beckinsale's chest: disruptive jab gets Kate backing up, spoiling Briton's own jabbing ambitions. Hard, sweeping right hand grazes Kate's chin at minute mark: she flinches away, finds herself in ropes: Jan quickly scoots-to, reaching her arms in under Kate's and stamping to get Beckinsale stacked up. Jen in there snug - head on Kate's chest - hands pushing at Kate's wrists and biceps, then digging furiously at regal British ribs. Beckinsale scowling - grunting with effort when she reaches in and tries to wrestle Jen off: Hewitt squirming, maintaining position with low center of gravity and curvy legs. Jen burying a heavy right hand to Kate's midsection - real thumping punch; Hewitt also bashing away up top with looping swings, trying to punch past Kate's extended arms. Beckinsale scuffed up - unable to squirm free, not doing much offensively - just pushing and pulling with Jen, trying to impede her.

R3: Kate moving to her left, pinning jabs to Jen's pate: Hewitt weaving, stalking, patiently walking Beckinsale down. Minute in, Kate jabs, dips left shoulder and picks Jen up a RINGING left uppercut: jolting blast picks Hewitt up out of her stance, sends her stamping backwards on heels all jugs a-jumpin'. Kate hopping-to, eyes eager: she chops a series of short-swat hooks and hammer-drop right hands - keeping elbows in on delivery and pelting away head-and-shoulders on Jen. Hewitt cuffed and buffeted, shows versatility: she's hurt, getting touched up - she legs out of range, scooting in a wide counter-clockwise arc to buy time. Kate now the huntress, stalking Jen round the ring; Hewitt trailing a broken wing, luring Becks forward, then jumping in low on her for defensive clinches. Kate frustrated - gripped tight about her hips - she's fuming as she pushes down on Jen's brawny shoulders, shouting at ref to break.

R4: Jen jabbing again: good tactic for the shorter woman - just thrusting at Kate's chest and stomach for range. Beckinsale fading back, trying to unpack her own jab: Jen doing a good job weaving in under stick on the approach, then countering head or body. Second minute - Jen slips a left jab, rockets back over the top a crashing right hand: Beckinsale caught flush to cheek, staggers away wide-eyed to her right. Jen hopping forward as Kate's reeling: Hewitt sweeping hooks from oblique angle off Beckinsale's left shoulder - clapping Kate to jug and face - hounding her to ropes. Beckinsale hurt - trying to form up guard: Jen in there with another swinging sidearm right to ribs - right foot pretty off the canvas as she buries the blow deep. Kate groaning, sitting into ropes, face in gloves: Jen rips the tight right uppercut - standing up into Kate, brushing her up and back. Swinging left takes Kate to chin as she's upright and startled: gaudy head swivel has crowd shrieking as Beckinsale's knees give way. Kate staring, lips parted: she reaching weakly for Jen, looking to snuggle: Hewitt snarling - using her left to shove Kate in her chest while looping right hands at Beckinsale's drowsy face. Bashing connects landing, stunning Kate: Jen just stacking Becks up, pushing her upright, then battering at her. Not pretty, but Kate's simply bludgeoned out on her feet: Jen's still working to shove-and-slug slumping deadweight Brit when Becks finally jack knifes face-first to canvas. It's over - Kate a slumbering wreck on her cheek: KO4 in upset fashion - Jennifer Love Hewitt!

After: Hewitt gazing down in smoldering satisfaction: KO'd Kate her best win at bantam since doing something similar to Jessica Alba...Jen proving a sturdy little gun platform in there, able to channel Dani Fishel to get a classy boxer in trouble. "Kate's not hardnosed," Jen shrugs in postfight. "She's a classic front runner - you look at all her wins and they're mostly her in the lead from wire to wire. I knew if I roughed her up, got into her bikini and fought her skin on skin - she'd wilt. Looks like she's coming around fellahs: time to pay my respects." Jen moving to woozy Becks - maybe for a word of encouragement - maybe for something worse - but HBO takes no chances. Swan Lake tape suddenly splashes screens, just in case.