Post by Lookout! Boxing on Mar 29, 2024 22:25:07 GMT -6
Ginny Gardner
(28, 5’8, 20:17 FCBA, The Dollhouse)
Vs.
Alexandra Botez
(28, 5’5, FCBA Debut, Free Agent)
Results: Lookout!; Story: Caspian & The Dollhouse
BEFORE:
An intriguing match-up on the cards next, with Virginia Gardner going up against a new fighter to the ring, but no stranger to the competitive circuit, Miss Alexandra Botez. If that last name sounds familiar, it’s because her sister, Andrea Botez, has recently taken the FCBA ring by storm as well, currently on a five-fight winning streak, and scoring shocking upset wins over two top Dolls in Lavigne and Ziegler.
"So, Andrea finally did it. She ACTUALLY convinced me to get into boxing, or at least try it,” Alexandra speaking first from the press table, looking slightly nervous but then perking up when her sister waves at her enthusiastically from the front row of seats. “When I say convinced I mean, annoyed me for months until I had no choice but to say yes just to shut her up. But it didn’t really work, Andrea NEVER shuts up,” she chuckles, before continuing. “Anyway, I've been getting a lot of offers to box ever since Andrea did it, so to all the people who wanted to see me do it, hope you're watching tonight. I don't know too much about my opponent tonight, but I watched her fight and she's pretty good, not to mention bigger than me. Hopefully I don't regret debuting at bantam, but I did put on some muscle for this fight so I think we're good. I've been training for this for months with the same amazing team that trains Andrea, and hopefully I can be half as good as her at this and make it Botez 3 - Dollhouse 0 tonight. Can't wait!”
Those three inches are sure to come in handy, especially with Miss Botez making her debut against a veteran fighter like Miss Gardner. Some would say, however, it all evens out, especially if Alex can channel just a fraction of her younger sister's talent for defying the odds. Of course, the Dollhouse blonde looks part-intrigued, part dismissive from the other side of the room. She too is on a two-fight winning streak, and will look set to continue that trend tonight.
"It's pretty cool to be the gatekeeper into the league for someone who's debuting, but I know I have a lot of pressure on me to win tonight,” Gardner says with a smile. “If Alex is as good as her little sister then I might be in for a hell of a battle in there...but you know what..? I'm here tonight to get some revenge for my girls Avril and Maddie and get my stable our first win against the Botez family.” The blonde chuckles. “So yeah, I'm going to go hard and kick her rookie ass in there tonight, and I'm not apologizing for it."
Don’t think we’ve seen Gardner this fired up or defiant, but we definitely like the new take-no-prisoners energy she’s bringing to the table. Girls stand opposite each other later for the official staredown, fists raised and trying their best to look sure and steady. Botez is very calm for a rookie, perhaps living vicariously through her sister and even more likely both sisters have gotten into their fair share of scraps in their growing up years.
But for now, both fighters separate, and Andrea is the one overreacting on her sister’s behalf, heard shouting taunts at Gardner from across the room, pledging for her sister to kick her ass, and then she’ll do it one more time, which draws multiple scowls from Ginny. But the proceedings are broken up and ladies are led away to their respective backstage areas for the final preparation.
Hours later, we’re in the ring proper, and Ginny is dressed to the nines with her usual baby blue sports bra top and long gray tights, blonde hair in a high bun, breaking into that babied smile and raising her blue gloves to acknowledge the fans when her name is called. Across the ring, Alex is wearing a white sports top and black boxing trunks, complete with white gloves, her dark hair in a bun. She’s pacing left and right, still looking slightly nervous. But she’s got her sister in her corner tonight, with Andrea situated by the apron and offering last minute advice till the final seconds before the bell.
HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Bantamweight action! The referee signals for the opening bell!
ROUND 1:
Andrea can still be heard shouting over the din of the crowd, even as the bell rings and both girls stride in to start testing each other out. Gardner, though with the height advantage, has always been a more cautious fighter, and she employs her long-ranged jabs to pester the newcomer to the head. Part toying with her inexperienced opponent, part hesitation to not take the fight and outcome for granted, Gardner begins to control the shorter Botez girl with ease, several of her jabs hitting the temple and cheek and not allowing Alexandra to get closer. All part of the game plan, of course, until it stops working, with the Botez sister taking another stiff jab to the face in the second minute before POWERING through the pain, and shoving a right glove of her own straight into the blonde’s paunch, literally folding her over and making Ginny lurch forward with her mouth forced open from the impact! Immediately, the crowd ROARS, sensing a swift shift in momentum in just the opening round! Andrea continues to shout at her sister’s back, with Alex looking focused and continuing to hound the taller blonde with more powerful swings towards her frame. Last minute and Miss Gardner’s in panic mode, clutching both arms close to her body as she tries to intercept hook after hook thudding into her body, in the process taking a harsh swipe or two across the face to end the round in tatters! HUGE opening debut for Miss Alexandra Botez, who meets the rising cheers of her name with a wide smile of her own!
ROUND 2:
Ginny needs to take her opponent with more severity, not a good look of getting a talking to in between rounds by her Dollhouse corner fight team. Lots of pressure on those pretty shoulders of hers -- she can’t afford to fall yet again to another girl called Botez -- what will the pundits say one way or another? She looks more focused this time, however, keeping her gloves raised and only shooting them out when the opening is clear as day. This time, she’s also more keenly aware of Alex’s movements, and each advance and punch from Botez is met with faster footwork from Gardner, who skirts back and then repeatedly tags her on her nose and lips, intending for those jabs to soon add up. The strategy works, with Botez soon shaking her head and trying to get the throbbing pain from her cheeks and chin. She moves a lot slower towards the end of the round, more conscious about not getting hit in the face. Perhaps this boxing thing is only beginning to finally hit home, after all! Gardner looks relieved that her newfound tactics have begun to bear fruit here, but there’s still a long way to go before either fighter can call it a lead.
ROUND 3:
Botez not giving up her chase, however. She’s examined previous fight tapes from her opponent, and probably wants to use her power to knock Gardner down to size and neutralize her height advantage. Ginny gets careless early and allows her to get banged left and right, with Botez swerving in whilst protecting against a barrage of jabs before suddenly STUNNING the taller girl with a step-up hook to the face, jolting that pretty face to the side after each advance. Gardner looks shocked once again, especially when a hook lands flush to her cheek, sending her reeling towards the ropes, her mouth hanging open, gumshield on the verge of being shot out between her lips. But before Botez can charge in and finish her off, Gardner reforms her guard and blocks a haphazard flurry to the arms, and the two girls go running about the ring, each desperately trying to fend or finish each other off. They get into a couple more wild flurries at certain spots, blonde and brunette shoving leather straight into the face at the same time, and they’re STILL going at it at the bell, simply tying up with arms around the head and shoulders, pinning the other to the ropes and pounding shots off the tummy, till the referee separates them. Both fighters wearily return to their respective corners, shooting daring glares towards the other. It’s the beginning of a budding rivalry, no doubt!
ROUND 4:
Botez being the newcomer is beginning to show, however, with her early pushes having sapped her of her energy. She’s moving forward slower, and her arms are growing more and more heavy. That’s good news for Gardner, who’s been in this game far longer. She starts to smell blood in the first minute, circling in hot and punching combos straight into Botez’s arms, of course seeking her vulnerable face. Botez blocks the best she can, but one or two hits stun her to the nose, and she’s clearly taking the hurt badly, shaking her head and throwing wilder countershots back, which of course miss. Slowly, Gardner’s picking her off, using that reach advantage to plant shot after shot to her temple or cheek, repeatedly turning that head, occasionally dipping under the arms to pound the body, which further stuns Alex, who’s not used to getting hit in the breadbasket. Another sudden hook to the side of her body seems to drive the air from her lungs, and she chooses to retreat whilst stumbling slightly, breathing hard. Bell rings and Gardner may have found her opponent’s weakness here.
ROUND 5:
Gardner’s round through and through, as the Dollhouse blonde begins to exploit the rookie’s lack of stamina. Botez largely stays near the ropes, focusing on defending herself rather than trying to knock her foe out. That’s a rookie mistake 101, giving your opponent time and space to do their worst, and Ginny does exactly that, dancing circles about her and constantly pounding shots off her arms and body, gradually employing more and more power to throw her further off balance. Botez is in trouble, now running away fully and trying to protect her face from damage. But Gardner’s picking and choosing her shots, that left-right combo rocking in over and over again, a third such blast fully pushing Botez into the ropes, where she has nowhere else to run! Ginny squaring those shoulders and planting her feet, putting power into WAILING upon her captured foe, with poor Alex getting her head thrown to the side, letting out another low grunt as her tummy’s eats more punches to fold her over and lower her guard -- it’s just the opening Ginny needs to SLAM another tight hook into the side of her jawline, and THERE SHE GOES! Botez’s knees buckling, as she FALLS down to all fours! Ginny lets out a shout of victory and beats her chest as she heads back to the neutral corner! Could this be it?! The referee's already hovering over the newcomer, asking her if she’s alright as much as shouting the steady count upwards. Botez NOT responding, her first KNOCKDOWN of her career definitely a shock to any girl’s system! The poor brunette is still crawling near the ropes, reaching for the ropes multiple times but lacking the strength to pull herself up, before collapsing back down, still in a daze. The referee finally decides the newbie’s in NO position to continue, and WAVES for the closing bell! It’s OVER!
Official Result: Ginny Gardner defeats Alexandra Botez via KO5!
AFTER:
Gardner ecstatic, celebrating by parading about the ring several times, beating her chest with her glove, raising the other, gathering the last vestiges of the crowd’s energy.
Meanwhile, Botez looks shaken and shattered by the ropes, still lying collapsed and her head hung uselessly by the apron. Of course, her sister is right by her side, whispering encouragement into her ear and telling her to keep fighting next time. After all, Andrea herself didn’t win her debut match against Madison Beer, only to go on and prove she’s a natural talent at this boxing thing.
“She did well for a rookie,” Gardner later speaks to reporters, still smiling and giving a nod. “I feel like I did well myself. I know people are gonna accuse me of picking an easy fight, but it was a good practice and target to aim for, and I achieved it by KO’ing her in under five rounds. What’s next?” Ginny grins at the question. “I don’t know…It’s my 3rd win in a row and I think I’m gaining some momentum. Hopefully I can get some good bookings for this year and make a push...but you know what? I’d like to see my girls Avril and Maddie getting some revenge on Alex’ little sister Andrea. Hopefully I inspired them tonight to kick some Botez ass!”.