Neriah Fisher versus Wallis Day

BEFORE:

Blonde/brunette lightweight battle piques the interest in a lot of ways that don't involve the poster, which, of course, is one lots of folks wouldn't mind putting on the wall. Fisher, entering her tenth fight, has flashed plenty, but she's looking for a signature win that could elevate her from "prospect" to "hot prospect". Meanwhile, Day, who was in contender territory as recently as this time last year, has lost three in a row and five of seven and could use a "get well" victory sooner rather than later. And, both fighters are determined to get what they want this very evening. "Time is all I need," says Neriah. "I'm getting better every time out. Just give me some time, get me the rounds, and I'm going to win championships...plural."

"It's not a slump," the blonde avers. "I haven't gotten some results I wanted, but, when you're in there with the best of the best, sometimes you won't. What I WILL do is get a result tonight."

ROUND ONE:

No surprise that we get to gunnery range to start this one. Both blonde and brunette like it out there, and, why not? Both have speed, both can box, both are athletic and move well. But, it's the more-experienced Day who takes control of things pretty quickly. She's beating Neriah to both spots and punches, throwing her to the defensive again and again. Brunette able to land here and there, but she can't get anything consistent going. Day, on the other hand, absolutely CAN and DOES. She's got it all working by mid-round, hands pistoning out and back, feet moving, head bobbing. It's excellent stuff, and, despite her best efforts, Neriah can't do much to counter or offset it. As a result, when the bell rings ending the opening stanza, it's Day and wide to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Wallis ups the ante. She's coming forward behind the jab now. And, Neriah adjusts nicely...by giving a little ground and moving the head and feet. She's slipping a lot of those jabs and scoring in counter when she does so. When Day can line Fisher up, all goes well. She follows on with rights, backs up the younger woman. But, when she can't? Neriah's the one who's scoring. Add it all up and we get a nice, competitive two-way round. Neither fighter is able to impose will or dictate terms, while both can score when they get the terms they like. Things are very close throughout, and it's not until late that Neriah begins to get just a little more done. At the bell, the brunette takes the points, albeit plenty narrowly, and she evens the fight at 19.

ROUND THREE:

More of the same. Two way stuff with Day coming forward looking to bring her power to bear on Fisher. For the brunette's part, she's giving ground, moving the feet, all about slipping or blocking that jab and then countering in combination. And, for the second consecutive stanza, both fighters manage to get work done, while neither is able to take control of the proceedings. Day's landing some solid leather, while Fisher's combinations offset those blows, leaving things pretty close to even into the later part of the round yet again. This time. there's no late rally from the brunette or the blonde. Both just keep on keeping on right to the bell. When it rings, it's even closer than in the second, but it's Neriah again, meaning Fisher pulls into a 29-28 lead after three.

ROUND FOUR:

Day continues to pressure. Fisher continues to play hard to get...BOOM! But, not hard enough. About thirty seconds in, Wallis unleashes a PERFECTLY timed one-two and NERIAH IS HURT! Brunette's legs give a shimmy and she nearly goes down. And the blonde goes ALL IN. Brit firing away at the American with both hands, forcing her into the ropes, then digging some body before going upstairs and back down. Neriah in desperate trouble, hanging on in a high, tight guard, jabbing back here and there, trying to run clock. Brunette taking quite the beating to the ribs and midsection, but Wallis can't bring the guard down. And, she can't find the finisher. When the bell rings, Fisher's in bad shape, but still standing. As for Day, she's claimed the points wide and evened things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Day rampant. She's walking Neriah down, hammering at her with both hands. Fisher wobbly, can't get off square, and, as a result, she's taking a terrific beating. To the brunette's credit, however, she TAKES it. Her awesome legs hold her up, and she remains determined to hang on until they get back under her. Wallis, meanwhile, works the reeling brunette back to the ropes and pins her, going downstairs to further tenderize ribs and tummy before concentrating on the head again, looking for a finisher. Again, she can't find it. And, by the final thirty seconds, Fisher's begun to shake the worst of the damage, firing back here and there and even working her way off the cables. At the bell, there's no doubt. Wallis has taken it wide. But, Neriah has survived again, and, despite two tough rounds, only trails 48-47 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Day still coming forward behind the jab, but Fisher able to move now, so, instead of what we saw in rounds four and five, we're back to what we were seeing in rounds two and three, good, two-way stuff, with Wallis scoring when she gets the jab on and follows and Neriah landing in counter when she can't. And, just like in the second and third, there's not a lot in...BOOM! Right hand, FISHER and DAY IS HURT! Wallis STEPPIN' IN FENCE POST HOLES! Neriah all in immediately, throwing everything but the kitchen sink and the blonde and DOWN GOES DAY! An absolute BARRAGE of punches from Neriah drops Wallis to her back. Fisher BOUNCING to a neutral corner, arms raised in victory, but, um, Wallis is GETTING UP! Day to her feet at eight. Takes the mandatory. HERE. COMES. FISHER! Neriah a BUZZ SAW, as she HAMMERS the blonde back against the ropes. Body? On sale. Fisher? Doesn't CARE. She's head hunting. Determined to finish. GOOD right hand shakes the blonde and THE REF LEAPS IN! He bundles Day to safety and IT'S OVER! And your winner by TKO6 in comeback fashion is Neriah Fisher!

AFTER:

Fisher clearly a battered beauty in the post fight, but she's not feeling much pain right now. "This is what I've been talking about all month," says the brunette. "All I need is time and rounds. That's all. Got into some trouble in this one, because she's pretty damn good. But, you saw. I worked my way out of it, got back rolling, and, when I got my chance, I made no mistake. Just keep giving me opportunities. I'll cash them. Just like I did tonight."