Before: Particularly difficult stay in London for Jen - Team Connelly beset by mysterious 'missing' luggage incident at Heathrow; nasty shoving match with Victoria Beckham at Harrod's - even English celebs not directly involved in the fighting directing vitriol at Jennifer in the press.

"I understand the tension," the unflappable Connelly says in prefight, "but I'm not leaving until I get what I want. And what I want, is a Kate Beckinsale knock out." Becks along with the rest of the reeling British contingent dead-set against giving any more ground in these increasingly bitter contests.

"I will stop Jennifer Connelly in her tracks," Kate promises assembled media. "She looked tired and shopworn against Keira, and I'm much the heaviest puncher on our side - I doubt she'll stand against my work."

Connelly in white string bikini, Kate in leopard print bikini, ring connections at hips and jug. Small gloves, both vixens. Beckinsale refusing to touch gloves, spinning on her heel to spur Jen's offer during instructions.

During R1: Beckinsale pounces: sharp lead right hand pounds hard against Jen's face - Connelly put wobbly butt seconds in. Harsh PIK! PAK! of Kate's small-glove heat against Jen's pale ribcage - American groaning, knees buckling - then she's picked up a stout, jerking left uppercut between the mitts. Becks wide-eyed, sensing triumph - girls pitch right hands from strong, wide stances and KATE GETS HURT! Jennifer still rocked, but rallying - she hooks the taut Beckinsale midsection; hooks Kate's jaw; chops a right hand to the left side of Kate's face as Beckinsale staggers away to her right. Ropes: Beckinsale shaken, digs in, rallies with a stirring eruption of batting lefts and rights to Jennifer's midriff: Connelly folding up behind her mitts, grimacing, BUT ANSWERING BACK HOOKS! Jen biting back the pain, cleans up on Kate's jaw, gets a second and third helping via tight, biting hooks and BECKINSALE'S A-SWOON! Kate loopy against the ropes, staring, hands low - she ducks away from a vicious Connelly right hand, spilling to all fours as trembling legs give way. Ref ushers a snarling Connelly away - poor Becks given a shaky 8 and ON COMES JEN CONNELLY! Jen set strong on her feet, up on that right big toe - she gets after what's left of Kate with pinpoint punching...

Straight right off the shoulder - abrupt to mouth, startles Becks: Jen doubles up and gets it again;

Cuffing hook on the ear gets a slow forward fold out of Beckinsale: Jen digs an evil hook in SNUG behind the elbow, sending a tremor of quit through Beckinsale's sleek chassis;

Another hook tucked in behind that elbow;

Another hook tucked in behind that elbow - Kate groaning, lolling upright against the ropes stiff with hurt, sliding to her left, eyelashes batting sleepily;

Jen steps with, pawing a left lightly against Kate's cheek, then DRILLING that straight right hand, pounding back Beckinsale's face;

ANOTHER hook on the jaw - Kate with her arms crossed at her body - head tossing to the side and BECKINSALE GOES DOWN!

Kate rolling to her back stretched out parallel to ropes, back of her right hand at her brow as she shudders in defeat and it's OVER! Good Lord - savage blow-out KO1 - Jennifer Connelly.

After: Connelly standing above defenceless Beckinsale and bellowing into a shellshocked audience - Jennifer overwhelming her foe with imperial supremacy - it's an absolute stunner to the British Fighting Establishment to see Kate so utterly dismissed.

"I was prepared for anything," Jennifer relates in postfight, "including the brawl she tried to initiate. She caught me and went all in, which was a huge mistake for her, because as you saw, I quickly got myself together and took the fight to her. I've always said that Kate could box me, but fighting me was out of the question - I'm a little surprised she went that route. Surprised - but ecstatic!"

Connelly finishing her British campaign with the most emphatic, thunderclap punctuation mark imaginable - she leaves the likes of Miller, Knightley, Beckham and many others teary eyed, gobsmacked in the wake of this torrid performance. AND IT'S NOT FINISHED! Jen allowing Kate to recover her senses, calmly discussing terms with Beckinsale's trainer, but American absolutely insistent upon taking battered Brit for a walk. Becks pulled to her feet - snivelling - by her left wrist and arm: Jen very rough as she tugs Kate-to, wraps the right arm snug around sulking British hips, and parades the leopard clad beauty around the ring. Connelly ignoring the outraged boos, waving with the left hand, and occasionally pushing dishelved hair out of Kate's face, the better to see her blubber