Before: Jennifer in the midst of a worrisome slide: soundly thrashed in her last few outings by members of the so-called 'new wave' in bantamweight boxing: next up, yet another charter-member of the young guns crowd. "I'll admit it - I was tired for the Daniel rematch," Jen says in prefight. "I rushed into that fight and I shouldn't have - I was underweight, things didn't feel right, and I got upset. To my mind, Lilly's a much better fighter than Brittany, so I've definitely got to get back on point. No more lapses, no more let downs. If girls think I've lost a step, they need to watch this fight: I'll be in top form and I WILL turn Evangeline back. I have to."

Lilly shorter, more robust, younger - she'll have to gamble to make the fight, but is she concerned? "Not at all," a confident Evangeline smiles. "From what I've seen, Jennifer can't handle pressure - and that's not just a slumping Jennifer, it's any Jens, anytime. She doesn't like fighting backing up and she doesn't have good instincts under fire. I think I can step-to Connelly and beat her down and I'm anxious to prove it!"

Connelly in white bikini, ring connections, long black battle braid; Evangeline in green floral print sport bikini (see jogging reference) slick brown battle braid. Small gloves, both vixens.

During R1: Connelly looking to set the tone early - she commits to lead punching - straight right sliced across 'Vangie's mouth; straight left catching mouth, carring the left shoulder into Lilly on follow-through to help her backpedal. Body punching from Jennifer - free-swinging lefts and rights against stout Evangline ribcage: very robust pumping, putting a scowl on Lilly's face. Lilly beaten to ropes - resistance stiffens - she's able to catch Jen a heavy straight left jab, follow it up with a jolting right. Connelly steps back in good order, coaxing Lilly forward, then bouncing a hard right off the face - mopping up underneath a doubled up hook PIK! PAK! Torrid pace continues - Jennifer imposing her will on Evangeline, backing Lilly up - Lilly fighting back in spots just to keep herself from being routed. Bell - Connelly favours Evangeline with an unmistakable glare: Jen Connelly's brough her A game tonight.

R2,3: Similar stuff - Jen attacking very forcefully - slightly reckless for Jen, but not particularly wild by FCBA standards. Connelly utilizing an unusual punching delivery: leading with straight, chipping rights to the mouth, back with straight chopping lefts - good face-pasting followed up with Connelly carrying her left shoulder into Lilly, bumping stocky brunette back. Lilly on her heels, but recovering well, often hopping back, organizing, and punching with brutal honesty to Jen's ribs. Evangeline bouncing the odd short right hand off Jen's pate - momentarily stunning Jen: Connelly willing to take risks in order to get her own punches off through 3.

R4: Connelly slowly shifting emphasis from Evangeline's face to her body, punishing the Lilly ribcage with rigid lefts and rights behind either elbow. Evangeline concerned, cringing, but taking it well - answering back in spots to keep Jen from running away with the round. Connelly in control - masterfully picking spots to step in and bang as shorter gal covers up; dropping the right (back) foot back and leaning away to change distance, knowing that Lilly will try slugging out of the crouch.

R5: Jen settling down - furious, power punching assault of early rounds giving way to a more patient, professional approach. Connelly working behind her jab, stepping smartly to the right or left: legs look much more lively than they did against Daniel. Jen's footwork exquisite - little steps, heel-and-toe, little step-outs while dragging the front foot to stay in punching posture: coupled with sharp, biting punches, she's steadily outclassing Lilly midring.

R6: Evangeline showing class - moving her head very well, cutting off the ring and utilizing her own stubby, spitting jab: Lilly able to initiate several early exchanges, beating Connelly to hard punches head and body. Jen stepping away, using the ring - showing good judgement by not letting Lilly pile on after scoring. Evangeline walking Jen down, outworking her, but unable to put sustained pressure on Connelly in the sixth.

R7: Connelly returns to the body with gusto, walking Lilly in, then lashing at her ribs underneath CHUP! CHUP! CHUP! 'Vangie grimacing, folding forward - Jen goes wide with the body shots, digging in behind either elbow with wicked bite. Good muscular work from Connelly - Lilly shaken, prevented from immediately responding while she catches her breath. Jen able to dig, step, pump jabs, then step in to dig downstairs again. Masterful stuff, takes back Lilly's hard-won initiative as Jen bangs away for more points.

R8: Torrid two way of the first round returns. Lilly able to weave her way in close, bounce that hot right hand off Jen's forehead. Connelly chopping right/left at the face, falling in, then pump-digging to the body as Lilly covers up. Both girls landing excrutiating hooks in behind elbows, drawing breathy grunts from the opponent. Difference is Jen's boxing - whenever she wants to disengage, she stabs jabs, legs out of range and regroups - keeping Lilly under threat while resting herself.

R9: Problem for Lilly basically distance - Connelly's judgement superb tonight, making just an extra inch or two decisive factors in the fight. Evangeline finding she can't jab with Connelly, so she tries to muscle in - but Jen's legs have all the answers as she hops, shuffles, pivots and steps around, tapping away sharp combinations all the while, and digging responsibly to body at every opportunity. Comprehensive stuff - Lilly getting some work done, but being effectively dictated to as razor-sharp Jen breaks out the scalpel.

R10: Lilly grimly determined to get to Jen - dukes up, bobbing and weaving, hunting Connelly down all over the ring. Jen playing hard-to-get - willing to forfeit the round, occasionally timing Lilly and stepping in with that weird, rigid right hand lead across the teeth, then scooting away to her right. Lilly huffing, puffing, but can't even find Jen's front door - Connelly boxes out the 10th, keeps her distance, salts away a comfy UD10 like a pro.

After: Cordial aftermath - Evangeline puffy, well touched tonight - she does a grinning "not worthy" series of kowtows in acknowledgment of Jen's skill tonight. Girls hug, chat a bit midring as press/officials/entourages flood the ring. "I felt a lot of pressure for this fight," Jennifer admits, swigging on a bottle of Evian. "Lilly's young, strong, on the rise - she's very much in the class of Eva Mendes and I knew I had to show well tonight, or Tractorpull would start harping on how the sport has 'passed me by'. You saw me punch tonight, aggressively and with authority, because girls like Lilly need to be rebuked and hurt as early as possible in the match. I heard what Courtney said early this evening about Rachel McAdams and I disagree: Evangeline Lilly showed me the kind of game it will take to one day rule this division once I'm gone. I'd take Lilly over Daniel, McAdams, Mendes - any of them. And she's only going to get better!"