Melissa Benoist versus Saoirse Ronan

Melissa: 30 YO, 5’7 (1.70 m), 8-6-0, 8 KO since 2015, Pretty Little Punchers

Saoirse: 25 YO, 5’6 (1.68 m), 3-3-0, KO since 2016, Emilia’s Empresses

Before: Irish actress Saoirse (pronounced “Say-Suh”, incidentally) takes the podium first and says: “I very pleased to finally have professional FCVA management and to be a part of a young and growing boxing organization. I want to do my part to help get us established. I know I lost to Ginny Gardner at the Doll Ball and that was disappointing. I know Melissa will be even harder to beat than Ginny, but I think I am learning more with every fight. I think I have what it takes to pull off an upset and beat Melissa.”

Melissa Benoist is her usual affable self, giving Saoirse a hug on her way to the podium: “I am very happy to take on a relative newcomer like Saoirse (she pronounces it properly showing she has done her pre-fight homework). Of course, having had 5 fights, she is not exactly a greenhorn. I see she has one 3 of them and by knockout no less. Now she may consider me the favorite, but I think any edge I might have isn’t that much. I am expecting a close fight. One I will win, of course, but it will be hard-fought and I like a challenge just as much as Saoirse Ronan. I am eager to go.”

Melissa comes to the ring accompanied by PLP trainer Nia Peeples. She removes her robe as she enters the ring to reveal short red trunks with a yellow stripe up the side and a blue sports bra with red trim. She wears red boots and blue gloves (yellow laces for both. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. Next to the ring is Saoirse and her EE trainer. Saoirse doffs her robe in the ring to reveal green sports bra and short trunks with golden trim. She wears green boots and gloves with gold laces. Her auburn hair is pulled back a sleek tight ponytail. The ring instructions are gone over quickly. Crisp tap of the gloves and the two fighters are quickly to their corners. The bell rings…

R1: Melissa moves in quickly on Saoirse and brings quick shots into her face, Saoirse tries to counter with hooks to the body, but Melissa shifts her ground and drives a straight right into the side of Saoirse’s head. Saoirse tumbles to one side and Melissa smoothly moves with her to pummel the Irish fighter to breasts. Saoirse not liking that jugg attack, swings back at Melissa’s chest, but Melissa slips in a clipping right to the chin. Saoirse drops back rapidly and Melissa has to scramble to keep up with her. By the time Melissa is close enough to attack, she finds Saoirse has gotten her guard and is spitting back effective jabs that sting Melissa to the boobs. Saoirse adds some hooks to the stomach, Melissa circles and works Saoirse to the belly with a steady series of hooks. Saoirse hunching up from the attack on her midsection, but uses jab to keep up the defense to the bell. It was an active opening round and the judges give it to Melissa Benoist wide.

R2: Melissa come out quickly once again, but this time so has Saoirse. She and Melissa trade belly shots to start, but then Saoirse moves to one side and pounds Melissa in the flanks. Melissa’s ribs take a pasting as she struggle to turn away, but Saoirse is tenacious in keeping up with the Texan and keeping the pressure on those side ribs. Melissa finally pulls out of there, but Saoirse quick to pursue and this time its Melissa’s stomach and chest under punching pressure. Melissa trying to jab Saoirse back, but the ginger-haired Irish boxer very determined to keep up the body banging pressure. Melissa struggling to the bell and looks winded as she heads for her corner panting hard, Saoirse wins the round wide.

R3: Melissa looking shaken and cautious as she comes out for the new round. Saoirse showing confidence as she swings around the PLP blonde firing in shots to head and body. Melissa starting to look confused as to where Saoirse will strike next. Then Saoirse feints to the belly and rocks Melissa with powerhouse right to the jaw. Melissa’s legs turn to rubber as she staggers away, Saoirse on her landing more shots to the head until Melissa is covering up as she continues a shaky retreat. Saoirse now works Melissa back into the ropes with steady shots to the torso and then she has her on the ropes. Melissa is huddling there, trying to protect her head, but Saoirse really pounding those side ribs and then moving to the side to drive Melissa along the ropes with belly and breast hooks. Melissa just trying to keep off the canvas as she takes a heavy shelling to the bell. As the round ends, Melissa moves slowly to her corner, a dazed look on her face. Saoirse marching to hers with a look of grim satisfaction as she;s won this round in a shutout!

R4: Saoirse resumed the attack as the new round began. She was trying to work Melissa’s head and keep her as foggy-brained as possible, Melissa was doing her best to keep her gloves up high and blunt those brain bangers. Saoirse quickly moved her attack to the body, working those bruised side ribs and then moving to the front to hook Melissa again and again to the midsection. Then she pounded Melissa’s breasts and gave her ribcage a working over. Melissa was showing more and more counters as the round wore on, but mainly she seemed to be just hold Saoirse off and avoid a knockdown. The round finally ended with a wide win on the cards for Saoirse, but she did not look pleased as Melissa walked back to her corner with a determinedly firm step.

R5: Saoirse came out looking even more determined to take Melissa down, but she was greeted by a ringing right/left combo to the jaw that left her stumbling away with bells evidently ringing in her brain. Melissa looked fully recovered as she now started punching Saoirse hard to the belly and then sending surprise uppercuts in to lift her chin back. Saoirse had trouble getting her defenses organized and could only cover her head and try to keep back from the resurgent blonde. Saoirse finally got her jab going and used it to counter Melissa to the ribcage and belly. Melissa was obliged to circle around and then suddenly reverse course. This footwork had Saoirse off balance and allowed Melissa to fire in jaw shots that had Saoirse’s legs trembling. Saoirse was finally knocked into the ropes by a clouting right off the side of the head. Melissa pressed in, bringing vengeful lather into Saoirse’s right side ribs. Saoirse slid along the ropes, trying to escape, but Melissa kept up the pounding leather until the bell rang. Saoirse looked gray-faced and she staggered away from the ropes. She pulled herself together and trudged on to her corner. Now it was Melissa’s turn to smile in grim satisfaction as she was awarded the round by a wide margin.

R6: EE corner view work hard on Saoirse Ronan during the break, but she is slow off her stool and has her gloves up protectively around her head with no interest in attacking. Melissa Benoist is quite ready to attack and goes right at Saoirse with an all-out body attack. Saoirse is punched hard to the ribs and breasts, but it is stomach that soon gets the majority of Melissa grinding hooks. Saoirse shudders and gasps under these blows. Her guard drops to protect her midsection and that is just what Melissa has been hoping to see. Melissa launches lightning strike rights and lefts into Saoirse jaw before she get her guard back up. Saoirse starts to wobble and out flashes a crushing right to the chin. Saoirse knocked off her feet by the impact and comes crashing down on her back. Saoirse with her legs spread and arms at her side. Her eyes are fluttering, but the only other movement is the gentle swell of her chest. Melissa walks quickly to neutral corner as the referee moves in to count.

Saoirse’s open and she looks up in groggy puzzlement at the referee standing over her as he counts. She manages to push herself up into a sitting position using her hands and arms, but it is too little too late.

“NINE!...TEN!...YOU’RE OUT!

THE WINNER MELISSA BENOIST DEFEATS SAOIRSE RONAN KO6.

After: “That was even tougher than I had expected,” a weary Melissa Benoist said. “She really worked me over in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th. But I was not about to let her beat me. I managed to rally and weaken her enough in the 5th to finish her in the 6th. I hope she’s all right. She’s got a lot of talent and heart. I think she’ll find her way to win again. I just hope it’s not against me.”

Saoirse sufficiently recovered for a few post-fight comments in the ring: “I am very disappointed I let this one get away. Melissa is a really good fighter but I was beating her. Then she reversed the whole fight and suddenly I was on the canvas wondering what happened. I want to do better because I know I can do better and finally start winning again.”

Very interesting fight. Saoirse Ronan did seem to be in charge for several rounds there, but she couldn’t finish Melissa Benoist off. Then Melissa got her second wind and fought back until she had Saoirse down for the count. Encouraging win for Melissa. No doubt Saoirse is feeling discouraged, but she has undeniable punching power. Maybe some fine tuning is all she needs to win again. Fans will undoubtedly be looking forward to the future fights of these talented fighters.