Neriah Fisher versus Taylor Swift

BEFORE:

Blonde/brunette battle sees Hall of Famer Swift challenged by up and coming Fisher in a contest that might serve as a good end to an up and down year for either. Fisher is 5-3 for 2023 and coming off a solid win over Kelly Rohrbach, while Swift has had a pedestrian, by her standards, year, sitting at 6-5. And, if both fighters are looking to get a "W" to build on for 2024, both are also very confident of doing so. "I've heard a lot about her being some sort of hot prospect," says Taylor with a smile. "But, I've watched a lot of those girls flame out over the years...just like she's going to flame out tonight."

"Taylor has to recognize," says Neriah without even a HINT of a smile, "That HER time has passed. And, I'm going to drive that point home tonight...with my FIST."


ROUND ONE:

Tactical first. Swift has the reach and wants to use it, work at range as she does so well. Neriah's working angles, using that athleticism, getting to spots and getting off, scoring with both hands. Both blonde and brunette are having success and no one's getting much of an advantage. Both seem to be OK with that, as this looks to be more about recon than actually getting an offensive going. But, you can see where Swift will have success, on the gun platform, getting the jab on and following with hard rights. On the other hand, Fisher's going to be successful when she can slip that jab, angle past, and score in combination. At the bell, Neriah's done just a little more to grab the points and the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Taylor's got the information now, and she uses it to input coordinates and begin artillery barrages, all at gunnery range. Fisher's having trouble getting to spots, because she's constantly being stopped by that left jab. That leaves her exactly where Taylor wants her, out on the end of Swift's punches. Result is a pretty grim round for Neriah. She has moments where she can score, but those are few and far between. Most of the stanza sees her being taken to the proverbial woodshed by the blonde, who's got it going on all cylinders most of the way. At the bell, there's no doubt about it. It's Taylor wide and Swift has evened things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Neriah hears it in the corner. She's got to move the feet, angle, get the head moving. She listens, and it changes everything. Now, she's slipping that jab, dipping forward and getting off in combination. At times, she even moves Taylor off her spot. It's great stuff for the brunette, and, as the round goes on, she gets more and more confident with it. Swift, meanwhile, out of sorts for the first time. She's throwing punches, but she's not getting much done. She can't find, and Fisher is finding plenty. Final seconds see Neriah land three excellent combinations that back Taylor up and put an exclamation point on a great round for the brunette. It's Fisher, wide and up 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Adjustment from Swift. She's double and triple tapping the jab now. Blonde determined to get the left hand on and keep Neriah where she wants her. Works at time, and, when it does, Taylor does plenty of scoring. At other times, Fisher's able to get to spots and get off in combination, scoring enough to offset what Swift does at range. Back and forth we go the entire round, with no one gaining any real edge. Final thirty seconds sees both fighters getting after it trying to steal those points. But, when the bell rings, there's still almost nothing in it. Almost. Because Taylor HAS done just a bit more, enough to grab the points and even the fight at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Same again. Swift doubling and tripling the jab. Fisher working very hard to avoid that left and get to where she can get her own offense on. About a minute in, BOOM! Right hand, FISHER and Taylor is HURT! Blonde's knees noodling and Neriah DROPS HER WITH A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND! Fisher raising her arms above her head as she goes to a neutral corner. Thinks it's over. Looks to be right, as Swift is sprawled on her back. Somehow, though, Taylor beats the count, and, while the ref thinks about it during the mandatory, he waves on Neriah! Fisher batters the blonde into the ropes and bangs away trying to finish this thing. Swift, however, hangs on to the bell. When it rings, Neriah's taken the round 10-8 and leads 48-46 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Good news/bad news for Neriah. The good news? The brunette spends the first minute of the round effecting a pretty solid clean up, taking the fight to Swift, piling up points and punishment. The bad news? Fisher can't finish, and, by the second minute, Taylor's shaken the worst of the damage and is able to give as good as she gets. With the legs back under her, the blonde's working that jab, putting it in the brunette's face, dropping hard right hands off it, scoring well. It's not enough to make up the huge advantage Neriah built up in the first minute, but, by the bell, Swift's climbed back into the thing. It's the brunette's round, though, and she leads 58-55.

ROUND SEVEN:

More good news/bad news for the younger woman. The good news? She's working the feet, getting to spots, getting off, scoring. All with a three point advantage with just four rounds to go. The bad news? BOOM! Swift hits a sharp left jab and follows with a BOOMING right hand and DOWN GOES FISHER! That quickly, Neriah is blown to her back and Taylor is stalking to a neutral corner. Ref counting down on the stricken brunette. Neriah rolls to her belly at five, pushes to hands and knees at six...and sinks back to the canvas at eight! It's OVER! The brunette can't beat the count and it's OVER and your winner by KO7 is Taylor Swift!

AFTER:

Swift not looking like the winner of anything. She's scuffed and puffy, but she's got a smile for the post-fight interviewer. "I TOLD you she'd flame out against me! She had her shot, and I took it. Then, I had MY shot and she crumbled like a stale cookie!"