Posted by Simguy on 12/24/2006, 10:13 am

Before: Cordial dais manners from both women, but both very confident coming in. "2007's the year I step on the gas and leave girls like Jen wheezing in my dust," laughs Scarlett at the podium. "Connelly's done so much for boxing, and so much for me as a fighter--but there's always a sunset, you know? I can't hold back the night just because it's Jen." Connelly oozing A-list poise at the mic. "I think I've got one or two more bestings of Scarlett left in my mitts," Jen jokes. "I know her ambition and confidence--I know she wants it all in the FCBA and she wants it right now--but it just doesn;t work that way. Johansson's come a long way, but the dues she's paid to this point are just the dues you pay to be able to pay dues, you know? She's got a bit more paying to due in this fight, then we'll see where she's at"  Connelly in elegant white silk bikini, white mitts. Scarlett in midnight blue silk bra and panties, white lace trim; white mitts.

During R1: Southpaw Scarlett right foot forward; orthodox Jen left foot forward. Scarlett pivoting to her right, keeping he lead foot outside Jen's: whenever Connelly tries the left jab, SJ dips to her right, jams a brisk lead-left inside Jen's poke, punching brunette mouth tart. Startling potshots wobble Jen early, startle her: as Connelly backpedals, DSJ hops-with all frisky, bumping away short, hounding lefts and rights, Ropes: Johansson pushing in, scrubbing and swishing away--Jen's jugs/waist take a thorough pummelling before she can clinch. Sequence repeats throughout the round--Scarlett VERY sharp and precise with her counter-left hands against Jen's jab--Connelly repeatedly stunned by the crispness. 10-8 SJ without the knockdown puts Jen in a hole early.

R2,3,4: Jen the picture of poise, consistency, adjusting to Scarlett, fighting a series of very close rounds, but taking all the points to steadily overhaul blonde points-lead. Jen countering Scarlett's straight lead lefts with straight lead rights--both girls looking to drill up the middle on each other with power. Johansson pawing her jab, trying to sweep Jen's guard down to fit that left to Connelly's teeth. Jen rotating to her left, trying to keep her head foot outside Scarlett's--Johansson now getting her face punched back by sharpshooting Connelly rights. Outside, Connelly's able to establish control, steadily choking off Johansson's opportunities. Inside, Johansson a little better, scrubbing well side to side; jerking a nice tight right uppercut off the lead (right) foot; cleaning up jamming left hands tight to chin as blonde in close to brunette.

R5: Scarlett finally getting back on the cards: all starts with the feet as blonde rotates counterclockwise, position her lead foot outside Jen's. Straight, jotting left hand punches into Jen's mouth every time Connelly attempts to jab--very disruptive, effective tactic--usually fluid Connelly getting jammed up, looking disorganized at times. Scarlett's jab a pawing, prodding affair--she's just using it to measure jen for those pounding lefts up the middle. Scarlett's right hook a tight, curling punch--skidding off Jen's raised left shoulder and skull--Connelly partially parrying the blow, but alarmed nonetheless. Boxing sequences tend to move to ropes as Jennifer attempts to keep her distance--once Scarlett fights her way through to Connelly's chest, blonde clean up busy until brunette can clinch.

R6: Jen startled Scarlett at the open: shooting lead right hand straight on the button buckles blonde legs, halts Johansson's forward progression. THERE'S the body work from Connelly--great shellacking lefts and rights ripped across Scarlett's suspect gut: Johansson roaning, ashen-faced as she cramps up hurt, Jen widening her stance, legs stiff and springy--she's ripping short left uppercuts, drilling straight right hands in withering sequence--SJ repeated;ly nailed and rocked over the first half. Second half--Johansson shows verstility by stepping out and legging the perimeter: Connelly stalkiing, can't apply the finishing touch as Scarlett runs the clock.

R7: Hard-fought two-way--both girls lathering up nicely, releasing punches in bunches. Scarlett with a pretty hop-step in off Jen's left side--poking the lead left into Jen's mouth, then clouting her a choppy right hook over brunette left hand, then cleaning up another left as Jen's backpedalling. Connelly responding with firm, cranking hooks amidships; piercing straight rights up the middle. Only punch Jen;s not getting on the southpaw is the bread-and-butter hook--Scarlett ducking it or rolling it nicely with her right shoulder. Close n' comeptitive--but Jen's body shots the hardest, most effective punches of the round.

R8: Similar see-sawing action. Scarlett with the upperhand when she can initiate with her jamming lead left: once Connelly backs to ropes, blondes burrow in, scrubs, bumps, nibbles, cuffs and clouts until Jen clinches. Connelly fading back, looking for pre-emptive straight right hands as Johansson charges in--Jen managing to land some crowd-pleasing pop before she's hounded to apron. Scarlett having more of the contest this round--enjoying the fighting inside, treating herself to Jen's flat tummy and jumping breasts. Connelly with a curt word to the red at the bell; "Watch her head, ok?"

R9: Very little to choose between two classy vixens tongith--another crisply executed round--both women scoring--but Jen just a smidge sharper bell to bell. Connelly walking Scarlett into punches, but instead of fading to ropes, Jen doing a better joib of sidestepping, turning blonde midring. Jen's left hand has been largely muted tonight--but she manages to ring a few stiff jabs off Scarlett's forehead, and the hook to ribs is bringing a pout to Johansson's lips. At the bell, Jen with a bit of a points cushion: both girls look like they sense that.

R10: DRILLING Johansson straight left inside Jen's jab--Connelly's head flinging back, knees buckling--she clatters wide-eyed to ropes as blonde hops-with. Pesky, clubbing rights and lefts from Scarlett--blonde just putting leather on meat, touching Jen shoulders, chest, ribs, chin--Connelly irritated, slides to her right along ropes. Minute mark, Johansson dips in close, fits that left hand to Jen's chin: Connelly sprawls against ropes, mouth open--she's stunned. RIGHT HOOK SCARLETT JOHANSSON! Jen's head toggles back/forth--eyes staring--straight left hand jams her in the mouth and CONNELLY GOES DOWN! Jen shunted into ropes and dropped to her hands and knees--Scarlett yelping with pleasure as she hops awkwardly over her fallen foe en route to neutral corner. Connelly up at 8, eyes moist, shaking her pretty head: she's hurt, knocked down, busting up in a close fight late. ON COME SCARLETT! Johansson attacking from off Jen's left side--blonde flicking out little right jabs backhand from the elbow and DROPPING the left in behind: Connelly gobsmacked, sliding deliriously to her right with the ropes keeping her up. Johansson hounds JC into the Tech corner: blonde head abutting brunette beneath the chin while Scarlett just plants her feet and pumps away rights and lefts downstairs, Chugging body assault leaves Jen in tatters, hanging on at the bell. Come back UD10 draw as Johansson refuses to follow the script.

After: Scarlett perky, upbeat, animated in her corner as she describes thrilling late rally to avid BLONDE! Mag scribes. Connelly's ears still ringing in postfight--she's looking a little frazzled: Jen more demure, just getting gloves removed, chatting with her trainer. "I was very aggressive with Jennifer tonight," Scarlett crows. "I wanted to treat Jen the way Brittany Daniel or Eva Mendes would: no respect, always coming forward and putting big hurt on her at every opportunity. She was strong and tough, but you could see I was getting to her late. Jen started to wilt and I just ran out of time: she was basically out on her feet at the end." Connelly calm, hands on hips as she speaks on camera. "Scarlett fought a great fight--she's become a real treat to any girl in the division. She took my jab and that's not easy to do, but I feel adjusted very well and took some of her things away too. She hurt me early and late, but to b honest, I reallyt felt I dominated the bulk of the rounds--you'd be hard pressed to score anything for her i rounds 2 to 9. The judges saw a draw, but that's because they swooned for Scarlett's big finish: if you're objective and score reach round properly--you saw a Jen Connelly victory tonight."

Reposted by Archer 6/6/1