Originally posted by Simguy on 1/20/2002, 1:16 pm.

(Garner the girl on “Alias”—finally show with a regular chick-fight, that isn’t a groaner to sit through while you wait for it—Paul is the tall brunette marathoner formerly of Baywatch, but not typical of that show).

Before: Couple of actresses who could be track athletes square off in a battle of long lean fitness machine. Paul a little long in the tooth but a rrspected veteran who’s always coaxed the most out of her sporty chassis—Garner one of the hottest talents to come out of network since Lynda Carter. Buzz on Jennifer is that she could be a total package fighter if she’s got the chin and heart to go with the skills—Paul a good measuring stick to test the youngster in her debut.

Jennifer in beach volleyball two piece, red top, navy bottoms, hard working ponytail—Paul in teal beach volleyball two piece, brunette tousle.

During R1: Paul startled early by Garner’s clinical execution, quick decisive hands, and tireless legs. Jenny ramrodding the jab, pounds back Paul’s face repeatedly, then victimized the older brunette with heartstopping hooks across the waistline. Straight right hands complete the picture for Garner as she drills into Alexandra’s chest and mouth, pulling the right hand sharply back to her shoulder after the poke. Crisp shutout Jenny G.

R2: Alex sheds her awe and gets down to business this round, showing good veteran savvy. Paul jabs with garner, refusing to forfeit the punch to the younger girl. Paul hooks with Jen, batting tit for tat to the ribcage, and trades right hands upstairs. Both girls employing good high guards, blocking a lot of shots, and both will step oput and circle, covering a lot of ring. Tactical second goes to Paul.

R3,4,5: Boxing clinic put on by Jennifer Garner in these rounds as she works diligently, methodically to break her foe down. Technique is conventional—nothing we haven’t seen before—but everything is razor sharp and delivered with delirious speed. Jenny getting off multiple hooks to the ribs and stomach, setting and cranking with her body as Paul grimly stands in to take. Jenny’s jab pounds in with a sick crack, bashing its way through Alexandra’s guard and often putting the brunette on her heels. Garner’s combinations sound out loud against Paul’s taunt frame as she beats her way up the brunette’s torso to finish on the jaw or ear. Throughout it all, smart, sure footwork, Jennifer moving after she gets off, never giving Paul the chance to time her for counters—fight stays in the middle of the ring for the most part.

R6: Alexandra getting outclassed, but staying composed, gets some things done this round as Jenny’s output drops. Paul stalking, leaning in behind hard straight right hands to the body, takes some of the life out of Garner’s springy legs this round—girls spend more time toe to toe, falling in shoulder to shoulder after explosive exchanges. Paul doing some nice clinching and turning, takes advantage of Garner’s naivete this round.

R7: Alex working dutifully to the body, pumping lefts and rights to either side—Garner elbows in, blocking, turning with punches, finally rips back a beautiful counter left hook that leaves Paul helpless, Alex stepping backwards, hurt to the ropes—Jenny jabbing her way in, squares up to ladle on the punishment. Garner working off Paul’s right shoulder—digging in behind the brunette’s elbow with the snapping hook, then jamming in a sling-mitt right hand to the pit of the stomach, resetting her body in a puncher’s crouch, then ripping off the tight right uppercut. Coiled spring stuff from Garner as she resets and punches with horrifying efficiency, tearing Paul up with vicious, eerily accurate right hands body and head. End of the second minute, Alex spills to all fours, semi-intentionally to relieve the beating. After 8, Jenny wades back in, and continues her dreadful assault—bashing at the liver and ribs with hooks, sinking in the right hands to the stomach and coming off the body to clip the uppercut as a battered Paul stoops forward covered up and taking.

R8,9: Punished veteran still has her pride, retreating full time now, fighting in spots, clinching and walking her girl back to keep off the ropes. But Garner is irresistible—she’s too quick afoot and with the hands. Garner routinely shredding Paul’s defense with combinations and crippling the brunette with vicious rips to the waist from either hand—anytime Jenny can hound Alex to the ropes, Garner dishes out savage. Methodical beatdowns that leave the Baywatch alum trembling.

R10: Nice statement round from Paul—she knows she’s been beat up tonight, but she grits her teeth, retreats to the ropes where she knows she can count on Garner squaring up, and a toe to toe brawl breaks out as both girls let their hands go. Traces of inexperience from Jennifer as she gets herself timed and repeatedly tagged with chopping right hands and swiping left hooks—Garner forced to step out and regroup, constantly wading back into the buzzsaw as Alex’ hedgehog defense proves superb. Paul takes a round, but loses a one sided decision—UD10 Jennifer Garner.

After: Garner earning favourable comparisons with a young Catherine Bell with this performance—technique is slightly robotic, predictable, but physical assets and fitness so honed that she simply overwhelmed another hard bodied specimen in Paul. “One thing we didn’t see,” notes one skeptical journalist, “was the shin. Paul never really tagged Jenny clean on the potato—it was pretty much target practice for the kid tonight. Let’s see her come off the canvas and fight hurt to win before we draw any conclusions. Anyone remember when Nikki Cox couldn’t miss?”