Hailee Steinfeld vs. Olivia Wilde

Hailee Steinfeld vs. Olivia Wilde
(Results: Lookout. Words: Wiz)

BEFORE:

Wilde giving up some size in this brunette battle, as she's stepping up to lightweight Steinfeld, but, if that worries Olivia, it doesn't show in the pre-fight. "She's bigger," Wilde admits. "But, it's not ABOUT bigger. It's about BETTER. And, I'M better."

"Olivia's a good boxer," Hailee admits. "She'll make things tough on me. What she WON'T do is BEAT me."

ROUND ONE:

Wilde may be nearing 40, but she's still athletic and moves very well, as Hailee finds out. Steinfeld's quite the athlete herself, but she's a day late and a dollar short on just about everything in the first. Olivia's movin' and groovin' throughout, not allowing Steinfeld to work behind that jab, come forward, drop right hands. Instead, Hailee can't find Wilde, and the result is some great stick-and-move from the older brunette, who's in control from the opening bell. Steinfeld keeps working, not getting frustrated or sloppy, but she's not getting much work done. When the bell rings, there's no question about the points. It's Olivia wide to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

More movement from Wilde, but Hailee starting to get the lay of the land now. She's matching footwork, getting the jab on, following with right hands. Olivia working hard to stay off square and managing to do it at times. When she can, it's a rerun of the first round, with the older brunette in charge, scoring points and avoiding leather from her younger rival. But, when Steinfeld's able to land that left, she's able to control the fight, backing up the smaller woman with hard right hands, throwing her over to the defensive again and again. Result is a good, two-way round that's in doubt all the way. At the bell, it's very close, but it's Steinfeld, who evens things at 19.


ROUND THREE:

Not a good round for Wilde. NOW Hailee's bringing that power to bear. She's walking Olivia down behind that left hand, banging away with hard rights. Older brunette can't stay off the back foot, because, Steinfeld's keeping her on the defensive, squaring her up again and again and punishing her with heavy leather. Wilde's game, banging back in spots, but she isn't going to succeed against a bigger, younger woman on these terms, and that becomes more and more obvious as the round goes on. Olivia's never hurt, but she's clearly taking a beating, thus, there's no doubt about the points when the final bell rings. It's Steinfeld wide and with the 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Wilde adjusts. More movement both backward and side to side. Older brunette works hard to foul Steinfeld's sights, and she succeeds in a big way. Hailee, like she was in the first, short and wide on just about everything. Olivia's slipping and blocking, then countering with hard shot. Smaller woman is never able to put Hailee on the defensive, but she IS able to touch her up again and again, scoring well with both hands as Steinfeld works to get something going and can't find a way to do so. Once again, there's absolutely zero doubt about the results of the stanza when the bell rings. It's Wilde and it's wide and we're even at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Hailee determined to work forward, and she's damning any and all torpedoes in doing so. She's taking some fire from Olivia, but she's willing to take a couple of shots to give one...and that's exactly what's happening. It's Wilde who's getting the better of th...BOOM! Right hand, STEINFELD and DOWN GOES OLIVIA! Wilde blown off her feet by a SCINTILLATING right hand. Hailee quickly to a neutral corner to watch and wait. Olivia struggles up at eight, Ref gives her the mandatory, thinking about it the entire time, then waves on Hailee! Steinfeld charging forward, battering Wilde back to the ropes, hammering away with both hands. Olivia reeling, trying to hang on...AND IT'S OVER! The ref has seen enough and leaps in to bundle Wilde to safety. It's OVER! And your winner by TKO5 is Hailee Steinfeld!

AFTER:

Hailee brimming with confidence in the post. "That's four in a row for me," she says with a smile. "I'm coming after those lightweight belts. We'll see if I get a shot or if the top girls keep ducking me."