Yvonne Strahovski vs. Barbara Palvin

BEFORE:

"Here's the thing," says a hard-eyed Barbara, "I'm a LOT better than most of these girls who have management. A LOT better. And a lot of managers know it. And, when I make a big splash tonight by beating Vonnie, well. Maybe one of their overrated a**es will get fired and I'll be back in a stable."

"She's right about one thing. She ought to be managed. She's THAT good. But. She's NOT good enough to beat ME."

ROUND ONE:

Vonnie wants to set up behind the jab early, but Barbara out aggressively. She's after the Aussie blonde in a big way, firing bombs, backing her up and ROCKING HER WITH A RIGHT HAND! A surprised Straho sent wobbling backward and Palvin going all in! Babs sitting on a HUGE splash right now if she can finish off a pound-for-pound contender in one round. Straho giving ground, keeping the hands high, but WOBBLED AGAIN by a hard straight right! Vonnie driven to the ropes with a minute to go and then the PUNISHMENT begins. Palvin sitting down on everything, HAMMERING away to both head and body with both hands. Straho firing back here and there, but mostly just soaking up all that heavy leather. Final ten seconds sees a SOLID right from Straho that forced Barbara to cover up for the first time, but, at the bell, it's Palvin wide to grab the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Palvin coming forward early and Vonnie's giving ground. Brunette still committing on everything, looking to take the blonde out of here. Slowly, though, Yvonne firms up her defenses and begins firing back. And, we've got a FIREFIGHT in the middle of the ring! Palvin not taking a step back, firing bombs as Yvonne launches heavy shell right back at her. Crowd going nuts as both fighters try to impose will, but neither is able to do so. Former champ lands a BLISTERING right that sends sweat flying at about the two minute mark, but Babs shakes it off and fires back with a combination of her own. Final thirty seconds sees both women up the ante even further and nobody willing to give any ground or quarter. Crowd on its feet as BOOMING punch after BOOMING punch lands right to the bell. Staredown! And nobody takes a step back from that either. As far as the cards go, it's close, but Vonnie, and we're even at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Yvonne to the jab early. And, again, Barbara wants to get physical. This time, however, Vonnie's not having it. She's getting that long left on target, stopping Palvin, holding her, then following on with hard right hands. Babs can't get moving forward, and that's a problem, because, out at range, Vonnie's superior boxing skill plays and in a big way. Straho's putting together excellent combinations, suppressing much of Barbara's fire with a steady stream of offense. By mid-round, Palvin's not only not coming forward, she's going backward, as Yvonne begins stepping in and and backing her up with hard shot. Barbara's plenty game, but she just can't get out of reverse, as the blonde has everything working at peak level for the final minute of the round. When the bell rings, Palvin's looking a little scuffed and Strahovski's won the stanza wide to lead 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

BOOM! Boom? BOOM! Round begins at range again with Vonnie's jab, but Barbara slips, steps forward and ROCKS YVONNE WITH A RIGHT HAND! That quickly, the blonde's rubber legged and the brunette's training the heavy guns on the listing S.S. Strahovski! For the second time tonight, Palvin is one punch away from glory, and she's throwing everything she has at the wobbling blonde. Straho using all her veteran wiles defensively, keeping the hands up, trying to slip punches as best she can, but, without reliable legs, she's being squared up and battered by Palvin. About 90 seconds in, the brunette forces the blonde to the ropes again, and, again, begins a serious course of punishment. Yvonne's battered to both head and body as Palvin REEFS shot at her from all directions. Referee looks in closely as the brunette searches for the "off" switch. Searches. But does not find. The bell rings with Yvonne still standing. But, it's Barbara wide and we're even again, this time at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Danes pressing forward again to start the fifth, and, again, Bennet forced to give ground. Chloe showing a bit more of a fighting retreat this stanza, but, it's a retreat nonetheless, as Danes is still squaring up and landing hard shot. Slowly, though, Chloe begins firming up and firing back, and, about a minute in we've got a FIREFIGHT in the middle of the ring as both bantams let the hands go. Danes determined to remain in control, but Bennet not having any, stopping Claire's offensive cold and even beginning to back the Hall of Famer up a bit. Danes hearing shout of "box" from her corner, but ignoring them. She's not afraid to get physical with the younger woman, and, while Chloe's getting somewhat the better of things, no question Claire's at least holding her own. Problem is, Bennet's again made up the early deficit, and, in the late stages of the round, as the fighters continue to bang away, she pulls ahead, meaning that, when the bell rings, it's the younger woman who's claimed the points and cut Danes' lead to 48-46 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Palvin all OVER Vonnie early. Aussie blonde in full retreat as the brunette gets physical, tossing flurry after flurry of heavy leather at the former champion. Strahovski keeping the hands high, playing defense, jabbing back here and there, but mostly taking a thumping. Brunette pressing her advantage, looking to, if not finish off the blonde, at least put together a solid clean up, and, while she's not able to do the former, she's having little trouble doing the lat...BOOM! Right-hand counter, Vonnie and Barbara is HURT! Palvin caught almost flush with a NASTY right hand and the brunette's steppin' in fence post holes! Straho immediately to the offensive, letting the hands go and DOWN GOES BARBARA! Palvin dropped to her back after ANOTHER hard right hand! Strahovski to a neutral corner to watch and wait. Palvin rolling to her belly at five, pushing up to hands and knees, then rising only to stumble back to all fours and it's OVER! Babs can't beat the count and your winner by KO7 is Yvonne Strahovski!

AFTER:

Straho classy as usual. "She really IS quite good," the blonde says with a nod. "There aren't many girls in this division I'd take over her. It's just that she was in with the best lightweight on the planet tonight, that's all."