Selena Gomez vs Madelaine Petsch (Princess of the Ice Hotel)

Princess of the Ice Hotel
Ch Selena Gomez vs Madelaine Petsch
(Lioness Club of America vs Queens of Absolution)
(51-27, 48 KO vs 3-6, 3 KO)
Results: Lookout!; Story: Vassago

BEFORE: Selena Gomez returns to the Ice Hotel amid rumours picking Madelaine Petsch only serves a certain purpose and that is to set up a long-awaited clash against Brie Larson who just happens to be the redhead challenger's prime opponent in recent months. Then again why would Larson even bother dealing with the Ice Hotel IF she can aim for the lineal belts straight away? Another case of former Lookout! Boxing members feeling hard done by despite finding success elsewhere? Or has Selena's ego grown that large ever since her Disney days? That's one for the media to unpack but it's meltdown time in the ice and Madelaine is ready to carve her name on that crystal throne sooner rather than later!

Selena Gomez wears steely blue crop top, jeans shorts & silver gloves. Long dark brown hair tied in a braid. Madelaine Petsch wears a dark green crop top, jeans shorts & golden gloves. Long carrot red hair tied in a half-up ponytail. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the bantamweight division.

Round 1:
Petsch brings on the early heat and lands several quick hooks up the middle forcing the Princess into a steady response that fails to slow the challenger down and results in a high-octane tirade in the center of the ring. Some fans were worried the redhead is too banged up after the Queens Anniversary PPV and this maybe explains her rocket start but it does the intended damage with Selena suddenly nursing a nasty shiner under the left eye. Two minutes in and Madelaine is on the money but she gets carried away too much to extend her advantage and gets clinched into safety sliding around the slippery surface in the process. Selena barges her in the stomach and almost tackles to the ground which meets a loud response from the Queens' corner but it's the Princess who sets the rules and she shuts the challenger down...

Rounds 2 & 3:
...in the next two rounds almost sensing the short fuse trouble in the making. Madelaine wants to keep it quick but she doesn't carry enough power supply and bounces off the stubborn guard before Selena unloads the overhand juice to stuff the redhead on the spot. Both girls still trade vicious punches from both flanks but another slip leaves Madelaine vulnerable and she gets battered onto the corner where she has to soak up a gut-checking drive before a desperate clinch limits the damage. More of the same in the third and Selena feels out the frost to taunt the slipping challenger before a scything cross on the jaw drops Petsch into afterburn mode. She tries to recover some pride late but gets trapped butt-in-ropes and suddenly realizes that Gomez isn't exactly that far off Larson's level...

Rounds 4 & 5:
Selena never had that slam dunk punch in her and she seemingly wants to wear the challenger out on purpose but she falls into a false sense of security and gets tested to the body once Madelaine jumps on the slugging groove again. She keeps the pressure in close range and manages to outmuscle the Princess before beating her for the all-important uppercut double on the chin. Selena refuses to back off but pays a sizeable prize when Petsch blows her to the body and maintains the physical superiority in the fifth punching more air out of her lungs. Ugh! So much for picking up Brie Larson's dirty laundry since Madelaine is all set to spoil the Ice Hotel party as her work rate remains superior at half-distance and opens another cut under Gomez's eye. Frost helps the healing but it's anyone's guess if Selena keeps it upright here as she's blasted around the area and literally saved by the bell when she stumbles to meet another uppercut double on the chin.

Round 6:
Madelaine lets it fly and she catches the Princess on the nose causing a quick spillage but she only makes it count with a sudden drive in the gut that bends the older girl sideways. Ugh! Selena wants to slide around into mid-range safety alas Petsch still gets to her first and blows a right hook on the nose that DROPS GOMEZ FLAT ON HER BACK. The slippery surface didn't help but the knockdown was almost a matter of time given the last few minutes. Lioness coach Eva Mendes' eyes are as cold as the landscape and Zooey Deschanel offers her an "ice pick challenge" from the opposite corner - whatever that means - yet we're back to boxing action soon afterwards since Selena gets up at seven and even taunts the challenger to come back at her - which Madelaine obviously does. The haymaker follow up pursuit is on and this is what Gomez actually wants as she slides away from trouble - the round is lost anyway - and raises Maddy's anger level over the missed chance. But it's still a long way to go here!

Rounds 7 & 8:
Madelaine wants to take over the Ice Hotel in style and goes for another slugging push - she keeps the Princess reeling but can't put her away during a frantic pursuit that leaves her life bar in red. Selena is too banged up to cash in right away and the action turns into a wrestling test of strenght instead of genuine boxing. That's still good news for the challenger while Eva Mendes realizes something needs to be done or else Brie Larson's laugh will ring out everywhere. Can't be done in the seventh though... onto the eight... Petsch still in seek & destroy mode but execution falls flat, Gomez now with heavily swollen lips almost bites through the gumshield but gets a body assault going and beats the redhead to the punch... a series even... flushes her onto the ropes and pins against the ice turnbuckle... glowing red in the exposed midriff as Petsch suddenly feels the cold despite hanging around for almost 30 minutes in anger... Selena lifts her rack for something new and then fires a left hook on the jaw that sinks the challenger on soft knees... bell comes to the rescue at the last moment.

Round 9:
Mind over matter mode, Petsch still ahead but running on fumes and long after the frozen high-water mark... Selena packs her in the stomach, leans in and stuffs the worn out challenger against the turnbuckle... Madelaine locks the clinch but loses the grip, almost rests on her opponent and gets repeatedly blasted in the gut until the life bar hits zero... no need to finish her even after legs give way... Madelaine SLUMPS ON HER KNEES and slides on the icy canvas moments later unable to catch her breath. Going Larson & Gomez back-to-back within 48 hours was always for the boldest of the bold... mission failed... KO9 and STILL the Princess of the Ice Hotel Selena Gomez KO9!!!

AFTER: There are untimely defeats, moral defeats and then there is this one as Madelaine Petsch had one had on the Ice Hotel tiara only to fall short despite leading on the cards with less than six minues remaining. All this while showing a 3-6 record coming in. Zooey Deschanel can't believe how this one got away and wants answers... to be detailed later... Selena too worn out herself to celebrate.. wants to call out her next challenger but forget it... not today... nor tomorrow. Petsch slumped and out of breath melting some ice under her frame... Gomez stumbles around and rests against the post in the neutral corner... Mendes and Deschanel exchanging notes in the background... ice pick challenge confirmed in private... rumours of Paige Spiranac being the mystery challenger denied... for the time being... Brie Larson emoji bonanza on social media... the Ice Hotel shall return in December!

Official Result: Ch Selena Gomez def. Madelaine Petsch KO9.