Yvonne Strahovski versus Taylor Swift

BEFORE:

Great matchup of iconic blondes sees Swift, who's been thisclose to wearing gold take on Strahovski, who remains smack in the middle of the pound-for-pound discussion. And, while Taylor clearly has respect for her opponent, she's also clearly planning to leave her stretched out on the canvas. "Vonnie's definitely a top girl in the divison," the singer says with a nod. "But. I'm THE top girl in this division. And, I'm going to prove it."

"Taylor deserves credit for turning her career around," the Aussie beauty admits. "It wasn't that long ago that people considered her a failure. Well, she's not that. But. She's also not good enough to beat ME."

ROUND ONE:

Ladies want to box. No surprise, because both are plenty good at it. So, they set up at range and get to work. It's Swift, though, who gets most of the work done. It's the footwork that's the key here. The taller blonde using those long legs and excellent feet to maintain perfect distance and geometry. She takes full advantage of the reach she has on the older blonde, getting her offense on and leaving the former champion frustrated in her attempts to get to spots where she can get off. Straho continues working hard, knows she can find ways to get where she needs to be. But, she's not finding them in this stanza. Instead, Swift dominates from the opening seconds to the final bell, finishing things with a sharp flurry that gets the crowd buzzing. At the bell, it's Taylor wide and up 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Vonnie starting to figure this out, which is no surprise. Veteran knows how to deal with length and movement, and she begins to find her way to spots and get off in combination. But, the singer's not making it easy for her. Younger blonde still busy, still dictating at times with that long jab and those athletic legs. But, mostly, it's good, two-way stuff with both fighters having good moments and landing hard, accurate shot. Final thirty seconds sees both blondes at their most aggressive and that leads to a series of very sharp exchanges in which sweat is sent flying and heads are snapped back. Nobody's hurt, but both fighters definitely feel their respective opponent's power. At the bell, it's much closer this time, but, for the second-consecutive round, it's Swift, who now leads 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

More of the same, and it's pretty stuff mostly. Blondes set up at range boxing, moving the feet, hands, heads, blocking punches, slipping others, showing excellent offensive and defensive skills. And, both are also showing plenty of respect, as both are aware of the danger of the other's power. Result is a great round of two-way boxing, with Swift's range and feet now being offset by Vonnie's skill and experience. Throughout the first two minutes, there's absolutely nothing in it. But. In minute three, Yvonne begins to get something going. She gets Taylor's attention with a sharp right hand, then gets the taller blonde on her back foot and keeps her there for the rest of the round, tossing flurry after flurry of accurate fire at the singer. By the time the bell rings, while it's still close, it's clearly Vonnie, who's halved Swift's lead, as the cards now read 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Straho back to work early, maintaining the pressure she was able to apply late in the third. She's now controlling things, keeping Taylor on the defensive, piling up poi...BOOM! Right hand, SWIFT and STRAHOVSKI IS HURT! Just a perfectly placed right-hand counter from Taylor and Yvonne does very well indeed to stay on her feet. But. Swift plans to remedy that and right now. Taylor all IN on the Aussie, winging away with both hands, battering her back against the ropes and then giving her a thorough going over. Vonnie in a high guard, rolling with, picking off the odd punch, but mostly taking quite a beating. But. She manages to keep on ticking and, just as importantly, to do enough to keep the referee at bay. At the bell, Straho's scuffed but standing. As for Swift, she has the round wide and the 39-37 lead.

ROUND FIVE:

Taylor pressing the advantage. Yvonne still looking a little wobbly, and that's got Swift coming forward behind the left hand, walking the older woman down, thumping her with hard right hands to both head and body. Strahovski staying on the defensive, looking to run clock and stay off the ropes. BOOM! Straight right from Taylor and DOWN GOES YVONNE! Strahovski dropped to her back. Swift quickly to a neutral corner to watch as the referee begins counting over the stricken Aussie. He gets to eight before she manages to get back to her feet, and, after the mandatory, it gets UGLY. Swift charges the older blonde and viciously punishes her, forcing her against the cables and battering her for the remainder of the round. Again, though, Yvonne manages to ship the shell and stay afloat. But, it's Taylor's round 10-8 and Swift now leads 49-45.

ROUND SIX:

Swift on the offensive immediately, stepping to Vonnie, backing her up. Straho quickly on the ropes. And in the pocket. In the pocket? Here's a new wrinkle for the Australian champion. She's playing Britney along the cables, guard high, leaning back, slipping and blocking punches, then countering with hard, accurate retorts. Swift still getting the better of things early, but that turns around before mid-round. Soon, it's Straho who's doing most of the damage and Taylor's getting sucked in, getting more and more aggressive trying to land big punches and leaving herself open for the counters. The early Swift advantage is slowly overcome, and, by the final half minute, Yvonne's pulling ahead. Taylor keeps at her right to the bell, but that plays right into the Aussie's hands. It's Yvonne's round close, and Taylor's lead is now 58-55.

ROUND SEVEN:

Taylor hears it in the corner, but doesn't need the advice she gets, because, with her legs back, Yvonne's return to the war of movement. The two blondes are back to range, boxing, moving the feet, showing all that skill we saw earlier in the fight. BOOM! Right hand, VONNIE and Taylor is hurt! Swift caught a good one and those long legs give a shimmy! Taylor quickly covers up and Yvonne lets the hands go and DOWN GOES SWIFT! Short left hook swivels the singer's head and Taylor crumples into a puddle at Strahovski's feet! Yvonne quickly to a neutral corner. Swift face down as the referee begins to count. Taylor pushes to hands and knees at seven, but remains on all fours desperately trying to rise as the count passes her by! It's OVER! And your winner by KO7 in comeback fashion is Yvonne Strahovski!

AFTER:

Vonnie looking plenty scuffed in the post-fight, but she's able to fight through the hurt and exhaustion to flash that lovely smile. "That wasn't easy in there, and I knew it wouldn't be," Straho says. "She's one of the better lights in the world, no question. But. The best light in the world is the girl looking at your camera right now. And, that's the difference."