1. Yixin Chen vs Ella Yam (FCBA Debut)

(Results: Lookout!, Words: Caspian)

1. Yixin Chen vs Ella Yam (FCBA Debut)

(22, 5’7, 0:1 FCBA, Free Agent)


Ella:
(18, 6’0, FCBA Debut, Free Agent)


BEFORE:
Singaporean actress Yixin Chen is on a starlit trajectory upwards, recently appearing in Netflix’s Mr. Midnight, and continuing to accrue accolades and mass appeal. The same can’t be said about her performance in the ring, however, last falling to fellow actress … and now squared off against another up-and-comer, Ella Yam, a budding model and actress in her own right from Hong Kong.

“I’m always ready to take on new challenges,” Yixin says in the pre-fight segment. When asked by reporters what makes her so assured of victory for tonight’s event, the actress simply smirks and says, “I’ve been working my butt off these past few months ever since the fight was confirmed. Ella’s brand new to the boxing circle. Sure, she might be a little taller, but I think I’ve had more practice.”

Her opponent, of course, disagrees, Ella Yam the product of some of the brightest in the Hong Kong celebrity circuit. The lanky model gives a nervous wave as she enters the press hall, before responding from her seat at the table. “I’m happy to be here, and want to thank Yixin for agreeing to fight me. But if she’s been training hard, so have I. I want to make my debut spectacular, and I will do so by knocking her out.”

Girls don’t like the look of each other in the staredown, shaking hands at first but then glaring at the other inches apart, hands placed firmly on hips. Yixin will also be fighting that three-inch height disadvantage, though she can try and make up for it with some bulk. They separate, backing away without breaking eye contact, before heading to their backstage areas for the final prep.

Hours later, Yixin is in one corner of the ring, a patterned sports bra in green and white, together with long black tights, and white gloves. In the other corner, we have Yam in a navy sports top, black short tights, and red gloves. Referee calls this first guest match to order, and HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Lightweight action!

ROUND 1:
Yixin with the early rush, throwing punches at Ella like she means business. Ella yelping, falling back on instinct. The first flurry to the face is always jarring, and Yam, like any other rookie, doesn’t want to get her pretty face hurt. She’s taking some hard knocks off the top of the forehead and in the mouth, but Chen’s blows are mainly hitting the arms. Ella tries to hold her ground at points and batter back, shoving a stiff right glove into the cheek of Chen, but Yixin responds with even more quantity, each time driving the taller girl backwards. At the bell, Yam breathing hard, wincing slightly, wondering if this boxing thing is truly for her. Wide round to Chen!

ROUND 2:
Ella’s been instructed by her team to keep it moving, use those longer legs of hers to her own advantage. She does so, scooting clean away at not allowing Yixin to trap her against the ropes like last time. Yixin is still roaring in, lunging at the taller girl’s head, and when she can’t land her shot, thumps a hook into that lean body. Yam grunting, but stays focused, begins to shoot her long jab straight into Yixin’s face, each time catching the other actress clean on the nose or cheek. Chen looks shocked, holding back each time, rubbing her face, doesn’t realize she’s losing out in terms of points, on aggregate, till the bell rings to seal the deal. Wide round swings back to Ella Yam!

ROUND 3:
Close contest and contrast of styles between this pair, and Yixin’s aggression only makes the action more palpable. Chen looks peeved, however, each time she’s met by a flurry of lefts and rights directed at her face, Yam just imposing her reach and height by targeting the shorter girl’s facial features. Yixin is lashing back at the model’s tummy and sides, but not all of them are landing, especially when Yam dips low and uses her arms to block the incoming hooks, before slapping another right glove straight into Chen’s face to disorient her. Close of the round and Chen looks battered and red-faced, stumbling slightly back to her corner after getting knocked around like that. She still takes it by a close margin, though we don’t know how much longer she can keep up this pace!

ROUND 4:
Ella imposes herself this time, following her coaches’ orders to surprise Yixin with an early charge-in flurry to the face and body. Chen looked to rush in at the bell but didn’t expect her foe to meet her in the center, lets out a grunt and yelp as the barrage of punches comes sailing in towards her head all at once. Yam lands some choice hits to the nose and lips before sending Chen staggering off to the ropes with a well-placed hook to the head. Chen reeling, falling back for the first time, trying to hold onto her bearings. But Yam’s already pushing in, rocking more shots to the body before sending the poor girl OFF HER FEET with a rising hook to the side temple!! THERE YIXIN GOES, flung off the canvas and collapsing onto her side by the ropes!! Referee gives the Singaporean girl the full ten-count to get back up, but Yixin’s arms are shaking, her head shaking side-to-side as she doesn’t make it up in time! There’s the bell and it’s OVER!

Official Decision: Ella Yam defeats Yixin Chen via KO4!

AFTER:
“I’m still young, and have much promise to my name,” Ella beams to reporters in the post-fight. “Yixin tried to overwhelm me, but failed. I can’t wait to get back into the ring again!”

Yixin looks red-faced and tired in the post-fight, having to be helped up slowly by her fight team and brought back to her corner.

“I’m not giving up,” Yixin says, shaking her head. “I never do. People always say I can’t make it, but I’m going to keep fighting till I have a win in my column.”