Post by Lookout! Boxing on May 25, 2018 22:44:10 GMT -6
AMANDA RIGHETTI (35 y/o, 5 ft 8, W: 77, L: 28) vs KATE UPTON (25 y/o, 5 ft 10, W: 47, L: 15)
Before: Two stars of the welter division meet again in Amanda Righetti and Kate Upton – it’s without a doubt one of the signature rivalries of the current era of big-girl fighting. The headlines are easy to write: Upton, a former JMD specialist, struggled for true pundit respect in her early years – a crowd pleaser, sure, but being a heavy-handed slugger was part of her image. She already proved a thunderous puncher, taking out Landry, breaking down Govich, but there were days when she got exposed: Theron, Freeman, and Righetti. Motivated to prove she was no one-sided slugger, Upton returned to the gym with aggressive ambition…across her JMD campaigns of 2015, 2016 Upton slowly adjusted her style, shape and form. Crunch time, September 2016, another title shot against Righetti: a close fight…Amanda pounding out the slightest of leads, on her way to cruise out another defense, seconds to go in the tenth…then the shocking, brutal out-of-nowhere KO punch that put Righetti on her back…less than two years later, it’s still one of Kate’s golden moments…lucky, perhaps, but awe-inspiring. That punch lead to makeover change in the division…the days of the (Sports Illustrated, Victoria’s Secret, social media) supermodel had arrived soon.
With Upton fancying herself as the epoch’s true queen, now a two-time champion already, a new body shape conquered the division…no sturdy 5’8’’, 5’9’’-ish powerhouses like Regan, Righetti…these were lanky close-to-six-feet athletes with whippin’ jabs, sluggin’ right hands. A generational, demographic shift reckoned…long-standing pound-for-pound staple Righetti struggled: a controversial upset TKO to Kloss (long avenged), another come-from-behind KO to Ferguson, a recent slugout loss in a title fight to Tahnee Atkinson. Her worst night? Upton, June 2017. Kate the defending champion, a glorious blonde oozing in confidence…unlike in 2016, Upton stepped on the gas from the beginning, she dominated Righetti, waited out a strong redhead comeback, then ended it with another striking knockout. Righetti pronounced a counter revolution, clawing back respect: Rhoda, Krsmanovic – two other supermodels poised to be just as good as all the others, left behind for the moment.
The scene is set for Kate and Amanda’s first 2018 bout…the background: Rigs comes off a dominant Krsmanovic knockout win, Upton off a somewhat surprising upset loss to Kendall Jenner, a more delicate lightweight stunner. At 35, Righetti’s still in relative welter prime, but questions nag: can she return to full former glory? Other losses stung, too, but it was Upton who started this revolution after all – she’s every bit the professional, calm, down-to-earth Amanda Righetti we’ve always known, but there’s a new fire burning and it’s simmering just slightly beneath the surface. It’s been a decade since Righetti’s been in such a defensive position in the division – she knows tonight is a PERFECT moment to bring back the magic. For Upton, there’s a risk of back-to-back losses, of course – but she’s struggled against the current champion, Tahnee Atkinson, in the past, so the title’s out of sights for a bit – yet tonight offers the chance of a third straight victory over a pound-for-pound rival, a feat that only Bridget Regan has so far managed against “Big Rigs” – it’s an opportunity for ego-crushin’, ass-kickin’ ownage against one of the best celebrity fighters ever. And that’s what Kate’s looking for when you ask her…
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll sign every compliment about Amanda. Young Amanda, I mean. But this isn’t 2010. Girls get older, there’s wear and tear on bodies, chins, stamina. Suddenly – younger, hotter, hungrier girls appear on the scene and take what you thought was yours. Suddenly – you find yourself on your back, punched out, your conqueror standing over your defeated body. Come on, Amanda, you know what I’m talking about – you’ve been there, I’ve been the one who did it, twice, and it’s no different from what you did to Ali Landry and others in the past. Big Rigs has been supplanted – now you’re trying to mask this as a pound-for-pound battle for supremacy, but you’re late, girl. This isn’t about whether you can claw back momentum…this is about whether you can leave the ring without risking your health or legacy. No promises there from me, but I’m sure they’ll find you a comfortable stretcher.”
Amanda listens in calm, slightly amused fashion, although her nonchalance’s probably a bit of a put-on – she’s been used to getting the full treatment of blonde supermodel braggadocio before, but she knows Upton’s a step ahead right now in their rivalry and that a third loss to the blonde would perhaps have wide implications for her quest to deny the supposed demographic shift at welter and return to former dominance:
“Kate’s transformation has been stunning. She’s a much more accomplished fighter than she’s ever been…and perhaps, she’s gone to places no model before her has reached in the league. She certainly deserves my respect for that, and I’ve got the battle wounds to prove. I can’t change what’s happened in the past, but anyone who thinks the best of Amanda Righetti’s behind me will be in for a rude surprise, and not just tonight. I’ve got the tools to pound all these supermodel chicks into oblivion. Which as it happens is exactly my plan.”
Fight night attire: Righetti in sports top/trunks with broad, diagonal black-and-white stripes, her hair an unfamiliar PITCH BLACK (as per photo reference) – Upton wearing a bulging burgundy-red sports bra/bottoms, her hair in two long blonde braids.
R1: Hammer and tongs as girls wade into the brutality, their chins drawn in, hands tucked into loose, free-to-discharge position at respective cheeks, circle around each other via some swaying big-girl steps, then start ripping ‘em loose. Early mayhem – Kate leans in, ranging for Amanda via the sloppy, pushy jab, steppin’ her way forward, chest a-heavin’, jugs a-bouncin’, always popping her torso into walloping straight-rights to Righetti’s tits, lats, chin, thumbside up, as Rigs bolts back, tripping away, dukes up, alarmed by the heft. ‘Manda soon embraces the brawl-out: not just blocking punches on her guard to receive, she rolls-with, explodes into curling hooks across the Upton torso, mid-section, hammering wide rights over Kate’s out-stretched left…vicious trade happens as girls punch, punch, revert to stance, punch, punch, revert to stance…Upton seething with aggression, she’s a blonde, angel-faced bully. Right hands, Upton, more right hands…a thumping right to Righetti’s unprotected back, another above her left hip, booming ‘em home…and Kate’s stance is solid, prevents counters, her head and torso always in motion, rolling, leaning, ducking out of Amanda’s thick, gruntin’ response shots.
Kate consolidates …beefy sidearm rights to ‘Manda ribs/gut, vicious, swatting body hooks slug Big Rigs off her strong stance after action-filled first minute as Kate just keeps battering on, walking thru Righetti’s own artillery jabs. And: right hand, Upton, there it goes off again…happens as girls trade hooks, leaning in ‘n out of the barrage…it’s Righetti who staggers out groggy when Upton’s right pitches to target first, popping to brunette’s forehead skull in blasting, lights-out fashion…and a shovin’ left hook thrashing her jawline, oh no! Amanda’s head’s snaps down, her legs a-tottering as she forms an wobbly earmuff stance at temples, finally back-tracking from Kate’s detonating right hands.
Body work from Kate Upton in mop-up fashion across second, third minute: broad, brawny ‘Manda laying big in them ropes now for long stretches, as Kate squares away, clobbering robust, sweaty leather against Righetti’s lats…guard…ears…tummy – an open-mouthed, gob-smacked Amanda’s getting shoved and slugged, shoved and slugged with just absolutely no respect! Down the stretch, at bell: Kate hovers in her place in brazen fashion, has to get pulled off opponent’s arms from clinch by ref as blonde still wants to keep hugging, shoving Rigs into the ropes after shocking, explosive first round beat-down via blonde big-girl!
R2: Righetti attempts to bring order to the chaos, reign in Kate via fast bursts of short, chubby jabs early, hold her blonde in place to get her hurt to the tits and ribs, then extend via longer jabs, create some range, hoppin’ to punch and repress her foe to make her respect the right-hand danger…Kate doesn’t cooperate. Upton bobbing on the outside, rolling with Amanda’s jabs, hook brunette back upside her torso, neck, arms, matching Rigs step-a-step – Kate goes chuck, chuck, chuck, reaching inside via her left arm to Amanda’s right bicep, and hoisting the right uppercut to ‘Manda’s chin as girls close…she’s got Righetti huuuuurrrt again early, and Amanda staggers out! Kate pushy in her forward stance, as Big Rigs struggles to find her legs, hold canvas ground against whopping blonde power…girls’ buttocks and thighs straining, shuddering…and Kate’s extending into more right hands! Righetti’s still too close, as Kate reaches in, masters her via the push n’ shove, always resetting her hips, feet to get good angles for her swatting hooks across Righetti’s flanks, under her arms, to her lower back, uh-oh.
Mid-round, Righetti’s ready to step back in behind a stiff jab stick, her hands at chest, looking to shave Upton’s chin via thick, choppy right hands – Upton’s legs negotiate her back in half-steps, rocking in and out into range in smooth, leggy movements, mostly making Righetti miss, clipping her girl counters via fierce tummy-hooks, leaning into chin-grazin’ hooks as Big Rigs still stands and takes ‘em bingo. Kate’s jab penetrating, too, allows her leverage, range control to lean in big, confident, smothering Amanda those walloping, thumping hooks across either body side, tuck, tuck. ‘Manda exposed in stalking mode: her formidable jab’s there, but it’s not backing up Kate, and Upton’s own proficient left’s got her walking into distress. Righetti punched onto her mouth in forward motions, back-tracking from unexpected rhythmic poke across third minute…Kate’s walking ‘er down now, her knuckles at chest, that lusty, curvy thrashin’ across Amanda’s ribs/flanks twisting her face into pain, hiding behind a tight skull guard …’Manda clearly just wants to get away from the brutal work to her body. Bell: Kate solid after two: she’s got Rigs’ plans thwarted, enjoying the sight of Amanda hugging her ribs on the way to corner.
R3: AMANDA GOES DOWN! Girls almost touch gloves, setting hips, legs to square off…Amanda scrolls a left to Kate’s neck, attempts the snapping overhead right, but Kate immediately spreads out, beating brunette to the punch via a scattering jab left as girls close that splits Righetti’s mitts and throws her strong legs off kilter…and Kate shock-and-awes the inside right uppercut all the way to ‘Manda’s jawline seconds into the round, good God! Fat combination impact pitches Righetti’s head aside, tosses her onto her butt after stumbling in delay for a bit before her back thuds down on the canvas HARD! Kate bellows in triumph, POUNDING HER CHEST as she steps over Righetti’s stretched-out form, before the ref wrestles the blonde away – Amanda’s slow to react, heaving her upper torso in exertion, eyes blinking rapidly, rolling over her right hip with a groan, her body oscillating as she’s attempting to rise from all fours. Righetti beats the count, but she looks gobsmacked – and it’s a grim beat-down that gets going now, Kate on Amanda.
Mid-ring scenes see girls laying all close, their torsos scrubbing each other in hot-mess fashion as they pull, push, chop meat. Amanda’s stamina, heart both intact, a banged up beauty determined to hold her ground. Kate’s the aggressor throughout rest of first minute, as ‘Manda soaks up thick punches to her gut/neck/arms, her guard shuddering under short, shrugggggiinng rights from blonde towards chin. These short right uppercuts off blonde shoulder SO dangerous when Kate sets her hips, ripping her lefts to the tummy, shrugs ‘em short rights home, hoping the mayhem will overwhelm her foe at one point…Amanda’s absorbs to some dramatic effect, her strong legs bearing the brunt, mostly clinches to break/hold, grunting as she’s trying to withstand Kate’s curvy power.
Righetti – her head now mostly on Kate’s shoulder, her arms palming those sumptuous hips – shoves back more of ‘em own right hands to Upton’s ribs during second min, shuffles short, robust forearm-thwacks across Kate’s full jugs to blubbering protest, dragging Upton into phone-booth battlegrounds when rangy jabs would suit her better. Mid-round action sees slight reversals happening as pay-off for jug punishment when ‘Manda gets looser, stronger…suddenly there’s moments of Amanda pinning down Kate, looking brawny in spots, her eyes widening in confidence, first to pitch the punches forward when ref has squirming big girls separated, leaning into ‘em big. Righetti’s jabs return, too, creating more range…oh, the double, double jab to the forehead has blonde girl baby-stepping …straight right to the lungs, guh-oh, has the blonde writhing in pain, yielding ground…Kate’s advantage and energy are clearly getting used up a bit here!
As girls step into the third minute, a startled Kate finds her butt in the ropes with Amanda standing off of her, extending more via the signature thick lefts to paunch, tits, paunch, tits. Kate’s mouth opening in shock in spots, her rights still determined…solid trade-back from blonde, but it’s not driving Rigs away, keeping big blonde’s butt pinned across ropes. An uppercut from Righetti – smooth left hook into proud jugs for preparation, then she finds the spot and it’s a-ringin’ at Kate’s chin bell in clobbering fashion. Blonde TOTTERS to her right side, her left protecting the jugs, the right held temple-high, lips parted, eyes glassying as ‘Manda’s starts slingin’ her the hooks, whack-a-whack, across Kate’s exposed supermodel face! Righetti pushy, aggressive…belting the short, right uppercut to Kate’s cheek, strapping Kate’s proud frame her via the wide outside hooks as Kate fades, wilts, turns at ropes. And ‘Manda steps-with, eyes so determined and CRASHES the right upside Upton’s left ear with the blonde’s back almost turned towards her. Lock-up legs from Kate Upton…she’s stumbling forward unhinged, then pitches onto her face in scary, jack-knife fashion!
Mayhem in the Righetti corner…arms raised, shouts bellowing, both sides of the crowd going absolutely wild…this has to be lights-out, night-over for Kate! But she’s friggin’ awake! Shimmering, confused looks from stunning blonde as she pushes up her head, upper body off canvas, gets a knee up, finally scrambling into a sitting position on her haunches, swaying, her mouth open…where’s the ref?...Kate’s groaning in hurt but BEATS THE COUNT, standing up in a huge physical effort, noddin’ at the ref, finally hoppin’, her gloves raised….she’s a rickety, but standing beauty at the ten count. No silly fussing from Righetti as she watches the blonde’s efforts with cold eyes…if the ref sends Kate back, she accepts it. And ‘Manda lunges in, the hard, stomping left into Kate’s paunch taking the blonde’s air away…limber whacks across Kate’s guard, testing it, whacking it. Upton’s legs so stiff…she stomps to her own corner, trying to drape her arms around Righetti’s brawny shoulders, protect her face against Amanda’s shrug, inside uppercuts. Bell! Kate slumping onto her stool as team gets to work…she’s a shabby, disoriented beauty – Righetti wide-eyed, calm in own corner, knows the job ain’t done yet despite rude-shock steal of Kate’s round and knockdown.
R4: Kate’s heavy-footed, sluggish off the break…blonde batters back like a middleweight, working from a thick guard, heavy blocks, heavy forearms across Righetti’s broad torso, monstrous Hail Mary rights off her shoulder. Amanda forms an aggressive, mobile stance, weight on back foot, stepping forward into hard, hurting jab work, her left hand loose, legs astonishingly supple, pumping up the rat-a-tat pressure. ‘Manda approaches via piercing lefts to Kate’s eyes, forehead, then pitching the straight-rights into Upton’s mid-section, jugs, ribs, guh-oh, drilling into blonde reserves. Upton’s slower condition allows Righetti to be aggressive without losing solid defensive reflexes – ‘Manda’s knees bending, rocking inside and outside the range and counters, diggin’ into her foe’s tummy by hooks, cuffing Kate the hook to cheek when blonde’s head’s still in place.
Kate slowed down, but she’s still so dangerous as she edges back ahead, her rights coming in wide, thick, walloping across all of Righetti’s left side. Reflexes permitting, Amanda’s in control…she slides back in semi-turns, Kate follows with the long-right, missing, long right, missing…Rigs feints the body shot, then slings the left cross to Kate’s teeth, whips a straight right to cheek. Kate staggers out…she finally forms earmuff stance at rope-side positions, sullen and accepting her momentary fate. Amanda works Kate’s meat in efficient fashion: thumbs-up punches to the neck and long, booming palm-down rights into her biceps/breasts/stomach. Upton appalled at the jug shots, blubbering in shouts of pain – she needs to keep ‘er hands up, earmuff at temples, so Righetti’s barrage sends brutal shivers down blonde’s proudest property.
Kate’s reflexes work: a right uppercut counter grazes Righetti’s jaw line, another chopping left hook shaves her hairline, but she’s no longer matching Righetti for delivery, rhythm at this point….corner shouting at Righetti for “range, range”, still fearing the one haymaker to get her. Down the stretch, another scene at the ropes: Kate hovering, covering behind dukes-up as ‘Manda resets her girl from slumping positions via batting hooks across Kate’s either flank – and, oh, the thiiiicck hook that spanks Kate’s jugs again loosens blonde’s knees, and another right hand up top jostles Kate’s torso into ropes, rendering her almost helpless. Bell! Brutal big-girl fight action-filled after four rounds, but after Righetti’s stunning third-round comeback, Kate’s a shabby beauty. “Haymaker time, Kate” her corner’s heard, “You need to stop her with the haymaker now” – Kate listens on her stool, her jugs heaving, lips parted in exhaustion, eyes swelling, nodding in approval.
R5: Kate’s legs fading…she’s forced into big-girl trade on the spot, pulling ‘em from her hips, leaning in behind ‘em full-bodied, her chest sloshin’ in exhaustion, as she’s grimly trying to step with Amanda, pull her into messy, hair-raising adventure trade…but there’s just solid, sharp poke from Righetti coming her way, the jab picking out Kate in timed spots, feinting her, walking her into ever more huurrrrtt! Scene from the first minute: Kate bending into monster wrecking-ball haymaker over Righetti’s right side, but ends up walking into a sober counter via the short lefty uppercut beneath the Upton chin…devastating effect on Kate’s knees…Kate’s toppled, stumbling in baby-steps on the spot struggling to hold her weight, but she ain’t tumbling down. Another scene: Upton’s in the clinch, clobbering Amanda via downstairs hooks to tummy/biceps, girls straining buttocks/frames to hold ground until ref moves in hot…Righetti wriggles her hips free, shifts the upper body as Kate misjudges distance and just drops the stunning straight left to Kate’s mouth at a pounce, unhinging Upton’s core into jelly, back-pedalling her.
Kate’s a sullen yet strong-willed beauty – stamina, heart, pride lead her into harm as blonde’s still determined to go toe-to-toe, keeping mid-ring stances as long as possible, jerking back her thick, angry, chubby lefts to ‘Manda’s guard/neck, pulling more wide haymakers from the side. Upton getting hit a ton in second minute – Righetti negotiates ‘round the blonde, keeping steady pressure via the jab, sneaking in via the hook, just a lot of thumpin’, throbbin’ work applied. Jabs, jabs, jabs come Kate’s way as she grimly resets her stances, slowly drilled into ropeside positions against her will…steady left poke from a bobbin’, weavin’ Amanda towards Kate’s chin, mouth, forehead. Right hook, Righetti, to Upton’s bra ledge…drumming two-two jabs against the guard, some getting through…right uppercut to the left cheek/ear…now Amanda’s pasting her! Kate slides off in hurt, her how-could-you eyes a little glassy, fuzzy, her mouth open, lips parting – SUDDENLY there’s Upton’s thunder haymaker right hand from scratch, but it’s only skiiddddding dangerously past Righetti’s temple as Big Rigs turns her head, counters via the short left uppercut double pounding into Kate’s teeeeetttth, whack, thwack!
Kate drops her hands to lap, her knees unhinged, stumbling to the right in confusion…’Manda steps-with, leans towards ‘er…first she jolts a thudding two-puncher into Upton’s jugs for good measure, pak-pak, then shoves the crashing right haymaker to blonde left cheekbone…Kate’s folding up into slump! Supermodel in collapse: head kink, knees bend, torso crash…massive body thuds down onto back, where her jugs slosh into a standstill, lips parted, head lolling into inertia, her eyes opened in glassy expression. Arms jar, hips move, right leg twitches…Kate’s body reflexes set in, but it’s no-go…Amanda watches Upton’s still frame from other side of ring, finally just raising her right arm, nodding her head, a pleased smile widening. Rolling thunder welterweight battle ending in explosive punch-out as “Big Rigs” makes a loud statement – this is a KO5 Amanda Righetti!
After: Kate slowly dawns from her state of grogginess, sitting up against the ropes, then helped onto her stool…big blonde suffers her second straight loss, actually her first back-to-back losses since 2014 (!), but tonight’s result is excruciating in more ways than one. Five-round action essentially split in half, one of them dominated by Upton, until Righetti’s third-round reversal changed the course of the fight…her performance from that point on just relentlessly good. “Yeah, I did it”, Amanda comments with a smirk post-fight, white towel wrapped around brawny shoulders. “I don’t know, I just recovered from the knockdown pretty fast, and I simply felt unstoppable from there. I’ve always said you guys need to be careful about making presumptions about the state of welterweight boxing. It might be a new era, but pound for pound, I’m still it. Look at Kate over there and don’t tell me Tahnee, Hannah, you name ‘em, don’t need to be scared about what my revenge against them’s going to look like. Because the empire’s striking back, folks.”
(Results: Lookout!, Words: Bonzo)
Before: Two stars of the welter division meet again in Amanda Righetti and Kate Upton – it’s without a doubt one of the signature rivalries of the current era of big-girl fighting. The headlines are easy to write: Upton, a former JMD specialist, struggled for true pundit respect in her early years – a crowd pleaser, sure, but being a heavy-handed slugger was part of her image. She already proved a thunderous puncher, taking out Landry, breaking down Govich, but there were days when she got exposed: Theron, Freeman, and Righetti. Motivated to prove she was no one-sided slugger, Upton returned to the gym with aggressive ambition…across her JMD campaigns of 2015, 2016 Upton slowly adjusted her style, shape and form. Crunch time, September 2016, another title shot against Righetti: a close fight…Amanda pounding out the slightest of leads, on her way to cruise out another defense, seconds to go in the tenth…then the shocking, brutal out-of-nowhere KO punch that put Righetti on her back…less than two years later, it’s still one of Kate’s golden moments…lucky, perhaps, but awe-inspiring. That punch lead to makeover change in the division…the days of the (Sports Illustrated, Victoria’s Secret, social media) supermodel had arrived soon.
With Upton fancying herself as the epoch’s true queen, now a two-time champion already, a new body shape conquered the division…no sturdy 5’8’’, 5’9’’-ish powerhouses like Regan, Righetti…these were lanky close-to-six-feet athletes with whippin’ jabs, sluggin’ right hands. A generational, demographic shift reckoned…long-standing pound-for-pound staple Righetti struggled: a controversial upset TKO to Kloss (long avenged), another come-from-behind KO to Ferguson, a recent slugout loss in a title fight to Tahnee Atkinson. Her worst night? Upton, June 2017. Kate the defending champion, a glorious blonde oozing in confidence…unlike in 2016, Upton stepped on the gas from the beginning, she dominated Righetti, waited out a strong redhead comeback, then ended it with another striking knockout. Righetti pronounced a counter revolution, clawing back respect: Rhoda, Krsmanovic – two other supermodels poised to be just as good as all the others, left behind for the moment.
The scene is set for Kate and Amanda’s first 2018 bout…the background: Rigs comes off a dominant Krsmanovic knockout win, Upton off a somewhat surprising upset loss to Kendall Jenner, a more delicate lightweight stunner. At 35, Righetti’s still in relative welter prime, but questions nag: can she return to full former glory? Other losses stung, too, but it was Upton who started this revolution after all – she’s every bit the professional, calm, down-to-earth Amanda Righetti we’ve always known, but there’s a new fire burning and it’s simmering just slightly beneath the surface. It’s been a decade since Righetti’s been in such a defensive position in the division – she knows tonight is a PERFECT moment to bring back the magic. For Upton, there’s a risk of back-to-back losses, of course – but she’s struggled against the current champion, Tahnee Atkinson, in the past, so the title’s out of sights for a bit – yet tonight offers the chance of a third straight victory over a pound-for-pound rival, a feat that only Bridget Regan has so far managed against “Big Rigs” – it’s an opportunity for ego-crushin’, ass-kickin’ ownage against one of the best celebrity fighters ever. And that’s what Kate’s looking for when you ask her…
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll sign every compliment about Amanda. Young Amanda, I mean. But this isn’t 2010. Girls get older, there’s wear and tear on bodies, chins, stamina. Suddenly – younger, hotter, hungrier girls appear on the scene and take what you thought was yours. Suddenly – you find yourself on your back, punched out, your conqueror standing over your defeated body. Come on, Amanda, you know what I’m talking about – you’ve been there, I’ve been the one who did it, twice, and it’s no different from what you did to Ali Landry and others in the past. Big Rigs has been supplanted – now you’re trying to mask this as a pound-for-pound battle for supremacy, but you’re late, girl. This isn’t about whether you can claw back momentum…this is about whether you can leave the ring without risking your health or legacy. No promises there from me, but I’m sure they’ll find you a comfortable stretcher.”
Amanda listens in calm, slightly amused fashion, although her nonchalance’s probably a bit of a put-on – she’s been used to getting the full treatment of blonde supermodel braggadocio before, but she knows Upton’s a step ahead right now in their rivalry and that a third loss to the blonde would perhaps have wide implications for her quest to deny the supposed demographic shift at welter and return to former dominance:
“Kate’s transformation has been stunning. She’s a much more accomplished fighter than she’s ever been…and perhaps, she’s gone to places no model before her has reached in the league. She certainly deserves my respect for that, and I’ve got the battle wounds to prove. I can’t change what’s happened in the past, but anyone who thinks the best of Amanda Righetti’s behind me will be in for a rude surprise, and not just tonight. I’ve got the tools to pound all these supermodel chicks into oblivion. Which as it happens is exactly my plan.”
Fight night attire: Righetti in sports top/trunks with broad, diagonal black-and-white stripes, her hair an unfamiliar PITCH BLACK (as per photo reference) – Upton wearing a bulging burgundy-red sports bra/bottoms, her hair in two long blonde braids.
R1: Hammer and tongs as girls wade into the brutality, their chins drawn in, hands tucked into loose, free-to-discharge position at respective cheeks, circle around each other via some swaying big-girl steps, then start ripping ‘em loose. Early mayhem – Kate leans in, ranging for Amanda via the sloppy, pushy jab, steppin’ her way forward, chest a-heavin’, jugs a-bouncin’, always popping her torso into walloping straight-rights to Righetti’s tits, lats, chin, thumbside up, as Rigs bolts back, tripping away, dukes up, alarmed by the heft. ‘Manda soon embraces the brawl-out: not just blocking punches on her guard to receive, she rolls-with, explodes into curling hooks across the Upton torso, mid-section, hammering wide rights over Kate’s out-stretched left…vicious trade happens as girls punch, punch, revert to stance, punch, punch, revert to stance…Upton seething with aggression, she’s a blonde, angel-faced bully. Right hands, Upton, more right hands…a thumping right to Righetti’s unprotected back, another above her left hip, booming ‘em home…and Kate’s stance is solid, prevents counters, her head and torso always in motion, rolling, leaning, ducking out of Amanda’s thick, gruntin’ response shots.
Kate consolidates …beefy sidearm rights to ‘Manda ribs/gut, vicious, swatting body hooks slug Big Rigs off her strong stance after action-filled first minute as Kate just keeps battering on, walking thru Righetti’s own artillery jabs. And: right hand, Upton, there it goes off again…happens as girls trade hooks, leaning in ‘n out of the barrage…it’s Righetti who staggers out groggy when Upton’s right pitches to target first, popping to brunette’s forehead skull in blasting, lights-out fashion…and a shovin’ left hook thrashing her jawline, oh no! Amanda’s head’s snaps down, her legs a-tottering as she forms an wobbly earmuff stance at temples, finally back-tracking from Kate’s detonating right hands.
Body work from Kate Upton in mop-up fashion across second, third minute: broad, brawny ‘Manda laying big in them ropes now for long stretches, as Kate squares away, clobbering robust, sweaty leather against Righetti’s lats…guard…ears…tummy – an open-mouthed, gob-smacked Amanda’s getting shoved and slugged, shoved and slugged with just absolutely no respect! Down the stretch, at bell: Kate hovers in her place in brazen fashion, has to get pulled off opponent’s arms from clinch by ref as blonde still wants to keep hugging, shoving Rigs into the ropes after shocking, explosive first round beat-down via blonde big-girl!
R2: Righetti attempts to bring order to the chaos, reign in Kate via fast bursts of short, chubby jabs early, hold her blonde in place to get her hurt to the tits and ribs, then extend via longer jabs, create some range, hoppin’ to punch and repress her foe to make her respect the right-hand danger…Kate doesn’t cooperate. Upton bobbing on the outside, rolling with Amanda’s jabs, hook brunette back upside her torso, neck, arms, matching Rigs step-a-step – Kate goes chuck, chuck, chuck, reaching inside via her left arm to Amanda’s right bicep, and hoisting the right uppercut to ‘Manda’s chin as girls close…she’s got Righetti huuuuurrrt again early, and Amanda staggers out! Kate pushy in her forward stance, as Big Rigs struggles to find her legs, hold canvas ground against whopping blonde power…girls’ buttocks and thighs straining, shuddering…and Kate’s extending into more right hands! Righetti’s still too close, as Kate reaches in, masters her via the push n’ shove, always resetting her hips, feet to get good angles for her swatting hooks across Righetti’s flanks, under her arms, to her lower back, uh-oh.
Mid-round, Righetti’s ready to step back in behind a stiff jab stick, her hands at chest, looking to shave Upton’s chin via thick, choppy right hands – Upton’s legs negotiate her back in half-steps, rocking in and out into range in smooth, leggy movements, mostly making Righetti miss, clipping her girl counters via fierce tummy-hooks, leaning into chin-grazin’ hooks as Big Rigs still stands and takes ‘em bingo. Kate’s jab penetrating, too, allows her leverage, range control to lean in big, confident, smothering Amanda those walloping, thumping hooks across either body side, tuck, tuck. ‘Manda exposed in stalking mode: her formidable jab’s there, but it’s not backing up Kate, and Upton’s own proficient left’s got her walking into distress. Righetti punched onto her mouth in forward motions, back-tracking from unexpected rhythmic poke across third minute…Kate’s walking ‘er down now, her knuckles at chest, that lusty, curvy thrashin’ across Amanda’s ribs/flanks twisting her face into pain, hiding behind a tight skull guard …’Manda clearly just wants to get away from the brutal work to her body. Bell: Kate solid after two: she’s got Rigs’ plans thwarted, enjoying the sight of Amanda hugging her ribs on the way to corner.
R3: AMANDA GOES DOWN! Girls almost touch gloves, setting hips, legs to square off…Amanda scrolls a left to Kate’s neck, attempts the snapping overhead right, but Kate immediately spreads out, beating brunette to the punch via a scattering jab left as girls close that splits Righetti’s mitts and throws her strong legs off kilter…and Kate shock-and-awes the inside right uppercut all the way to ‘Manda’s jawline seconds into the round, good God! Fat combination impact pitches Righetti’s head aside, tosses her onto her butt after stumbling in delay for a bit before her back thuds down on the canvas HARD! Kate bellows in triumph, POUNDING HER CHEST as she steps over Righetti’s stretched-out form, before the ref wrestles the blonde away – Amanda’s slow to react, heaving her upper torso in exertion, eyes blinking rapidly, rolling over her right hip with a groan, her body oscillating as she’s attempting to rise from all fours. Righetti beats the count, but she looks gobsmacked – and it’s a grim beat-down that gets going now, Kate on Amanda.
Mid-ring scenes see girls laying all close, their torsos scrubbing each other in hot-mess fashion as they pull, push, chop meat. Amanda’s stamina, heart both intact, a banged up beauty determined to hold her ground. Kate’s the aggressor throughout rest of first minute, as ‘Manda soaks up thick punches to her gut/neck/arms, her guard shuddering under short, shrugggggiinng rights from blonde towards chin. These short right uppercuts off blonde shoulder SO dangerous when Kate sets her hips, ripping her lefts to the tummy, shrugs ‘em short rights home, hoping the mayhem will overwhelm her foe at one point…Amanda’s absorbs to some dramatic effect, her strong legs bearing the brunt, mostly clinches to break/hold, grunting as she’s trying to withstand Kate’s curvy power.
Righetti – her head now mostly on Kate’s shoulder, her arms palming those sumptuous hips – shoves back more of ‘em own right hands to Upton’s ribs during second min, shuffles short, robust forearm-thwacks across Kate’s full jugs to blubbering protest, dragging Upton into phone-booth battlegrounds when rangy jabs would suit her better. Mid-round action sees slight reversals happening as pay-off for jug punishment when ‘Manda gets looser, stronger…suddenly there’s moments of Amanda pinning down Kate, looking brawny in spots, her eyes widening in confidence, first to pitch the punches forward when ref has squirming big girls separated, leaning into ‘em big. Righetti’s jabs return, too, creating more range…oh, the double, double jab to the forehead has blonde girl baby-stepping …straight right to the lungs, guh-oh, has the blonde writhing in pain, yielding ground…Kate’s advantage and energy are clearly getting used up a bit here!
As girls step into the third minute, a startled Kate finds her butt in the ropes with Amanda standing off of her, extending more via the signature thick lefts to paunch, tits, paunch, tits. Kate’s mouth opening in shock in spots, her rights still determined…solid trade-back from blonde, but it’s not driving Rigs away, keeping big blonde’s butt pinned across ropes. An uppercut from Righetti – smooth left hook into proud jugs for preparation, then she finds the spot and it’s a-ringin’ at Kate’s chin bell in clobbering fashion. Blonde TOTTERS to her right side, her left protecting the jugs, the right held temple-high, lips parted, eyes glassying as ‘Manda’s starts slingin’ her the hooks, whack-a-whack, across Kate’s exposed supermodel face! Righetti pushy, aggressive…belting the short, right uppercut to Kate’s cheek, strapping Kate’s proud frame her via the wide outside hooks as Kate fades, wilts, turns at ropes. And ‘Manda steps-with, eyes so determined and CRASHES the right upside Upton’s left ear with the blonde’s back almost turned towards her. Lock-up legs from Kate Upton…she’s stumbling forward unhinged, then pitches onto her face in scary, jack-knife fashion!
Mayhem in the Righetti corner…arms raised, shouts bellowing, both sides of the crowd going absolutely wild…this has to be lights-out, night-over for Kate! But she’s friggin’ awake! Shimmering, confused looks from stunning blonde as she pushes up her head, upper body off canvas, gets a knee up, finally scrambling into a sitting position on her haunches, swaying, her mouth open…where’s the ref?...Kate’s groaning in hurt but BEATS THE COUNT, standing up in a huge physical effort, noddin’ at the ref, finally hoppin’, her gloves raised….she’s a rickety, but standing beauty at the ten count. No silly fussing from Righetti as she watches the blonde’s efforts with cold eyes…if the ref sends Kate back, she accepts it. And ‘Manda lunges in, the hard, stomping left into Kate’s paunch taking the blonde’s air away…limber whacks across Kate’s guard, testing it, whacking it. Upton’s legs so stiff…she stomps to her own corner, trying to drape her arms around Righetti’s brawny shoulders, protect her face against Amanda’s shrug, inside uppercuts. Bell! Kate slumping onto her stool as team gets to work…she’s a shabby, disoriented beauty – Righetti wide-eyed, calm in own corner, knows the job ain’t done yet despite rude-shock steal of Kate’s round and knockdown.
R4: Kate’s heavy-footed, sluggish off the break…blonde batters back like a middleweight, working from a thick guard, heavy blocks, heavy forearms across Righetti’s broad torso, monstrous Hail Mary rights off her shoulder. Amanda forms an aggressive, mobile stance, weight on back foot, stepping forward into hard, hurting jab work, her left hand loose, legs astonishingly supple, pumping up the rat-a-tat pressure. ‘Manda approaches via piercing lefts to Kate’s eyes, forehead, then pitching the straight-rights into Upton’s mid-section, jugs, ribs, guh-oh, drilling into blonde reserves. Upton’s slower condition allows Righetti to be aggressive without losing solid defensive reflexes – ‘Manda’s knees bending, rocking inside and outside the range and counters, diggin’ into her foe’s tummy by hooks, cuffing Kate the hook to cheek when blonde’s head’s still in place.
Kate slowed down, but she’s still so dangerous as she edges back ahead, her rights coming in wide, thick, walloping across all of Righetti’s left side. Reflexes permitting, Amanda’s in control…she slides back in semi-turns, Kate follows with the long-right, missing, long right, missing…Rigs feints the body shot, then slings the left cross to Kate’s teeth, whips a straight right to cheek. Kate staggers out…she finally forms earmuff stance at rope-side positions, sullen and accepting her momentary fate. Amanda works Kate’s meat in efficient fashion: thumbs-up punches to the neck and long, booming palm-down rights into her biceps/breasts/stomach. Upton appalled at the jug shots, blubbering in shouts of pain – she needs to keep ‘er hands up, earmuff at temples, so Righetti’s barrage sends brutal shivers down blonde’s proudest property.
Kate’s reflexes work: a right uppercut counter grazes Righetti’s jaw line, another chopping left hook shaves her hairline, but she’s no longer matching Righetti for delivery, rhythm at this point….corner shouting at Righetti for “range, range”, still fearing the one haymaker to get her. Down the stretch, another scene at the ropes: Kate hovering, covering behind dukes-up as ‘Manda resets her girl from slumping positions via batting hooks across Kate’s either flank – and, oh, the thiiiicck hook that spanks Kate’s jugs again loosens blonde’s knees, and another right hand up top jostles Kate’s torso into ropes, rendering her almost helpless. Bell! Brutal big-girl fight action-filled after four rounds, but after Righetti’s stunning third-round comeback, Kate’s a shabby beauty. “Haymaker time, Kate” her corner’s heard, “You need to stop her with the haymaker now” – Kate listens on her stool, her jugs heaving, lips parted in exhaustion, eyes swelling, nodding in approval.
R5: Kate’s legs fading…she’s forced into big-girl trade on the spot, pulling ‘em from her hips, leaning in behind ‘em full-bodied, her chest sloshin’ in exhaustion, as she’s grimly trying to step with Amanda, pull her into messy, hair-raising adventure trade…but there’s just solid, sharp poke from Righetti coming her way, the jab picking out Kate in timed spots, feinting her, walking her into ever more huurrrrtt! Scene from the first minute: Kate bending into monster wrecking-ball haymaker over Righetti’s right side, but ends up walking into a sober counter via the short lefty uppercut beneath the Upton chin…devastating effect on Kate’s knees…Kate’s toppled, stumbling in baby-steps on the spot struggling to hold her weight, but she ain’t tumbling down. Another scene: Upton’s in the clinch, clobbering Amanda via downstairs hooks to tummy/biceps, girls straining buttocks/frames to hold ground until ref moves in hot…Righetti wriggles her hips free, shifts the upper body as Kate misjudges distance and just drops the stunning straight left to Kate’s mouth at a pounce, unhinging Upton’s core into jelly, back-pedalling her.
Kate’s a sullen yet strong-willed beauty – stamina, heart, pride lead her into harm as blonde’s still determined to go toe-to-toe, keeping mid-ring stances as long as possible, jerking back her thick, angry, chubby lefts to ‘Manda’s guard/neck, pulling more wide haymakers from the side. Upton getting hit a ton in second minute – Righetti negotiates ‘round the blonde, keeping steady pressure via the jab, sneaking in via the hook, just a lot of thumpin’, throbbin’ work applied. Jabs, jabs, jabs come Kate’s way as she grimly resets her stances, slowly drilled into ropeside positions against her will…steady left poke from a bobbin’, weavin’ Amanda towards Kate’s chin, mouth, forehead. Right hook, Righetti, to Upton’s bra ledge…drumming two-two jabs against the guard, some getting through…right uppercut to the left cheek/ear…now Amanda’s pasting her! Kate slides off in hurt, her how-could-you eyes a little glassy, fuzzy, her mouth open, lips parting – SUDDENLY there’s Upton’s thunder haymaker right hand from scratch, but it’s only skiiddddding dangerously past Righetti’s temple as Big Rigs turns her head, counters via the short left uppercut double pounding into Kate’s teeeeetttth, whack, thwack!
Kate drops her hands to lap, her knees unhinged, stumbling to the right in confusion…’Manda steps-with, leans towards ‘er…first she jolts a thudding two-puncher into Upton’s jugs for good measure, pak-pak, then shoves the crashing right haymaker to blonde left cheekbone…Kate’s folding up into slump! Supermodel in collapse: head kink, knees bend, torso crash…massive body thuds down onto back, where her jugs slosh into a standstill, lips parted, head lolling into inertia, her eyes opened in glassy expression. Arms jar, hips move, right leg twitches…Kate’s body reflexes set in, but it’s no-go…Amanda watches Upton’s still frame from other side of ring, finally just raising her right arm, nodding her head, a pleased smile widening. Rolling thunder welterweight battle ending in explosive punch-out as “Big Rigs” makes a loud statement – this is a KO5 Amanda Righetti!
After: Kate slowly dawns from her state of grogginess, sitting up against the ropes, then helped onto her stool…big blonde suffers her second straight loss, actually her first back-to-back losses since 2014 (!), but tonight’s result is excruciating in more ways than one. Five-round action essentially split in half, one of them dominated by Upton, until Righetti’s third-round reversal changed the course of the fight…her performance from that point on just relentlessly good. “Yeah, I did it”, Amanda comments with a smirk post-fight, white towel wrapped around brawny shoulders. “I don’t know, I just recovered from the knockdown pretty fast, and I simply felt unstoppable from there. I’ve always said you guys need to be careful about making presumptions about the state of welterweight boxing. It might be a new era, but pound for pound, I’m still it. Look at Kate over there and don’t tell me Tahnee, Hannah, you name ‘em, don’t need to be scared about what my revenge against them’s going to look like. Because the empire’s striking back, folks.”
That was one of the hardest hitting matches I've been part of but we are going to be going pound for pound again. And soon! 
