Karlie Kloss versus Camille Kostek

(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:
Two top welters clash for the first time, and both are in the midst of uneven patches, at least results-wise. Both have won only to of their previous five, though against top competition. And, both are looking to get things back on track tonight.

"Camille is the old-style welter," Karlie says dismissively. "She's big and she hits hard, so she can beat up lesser girls. But. When she gets in there with someone who can box? She ends up flat on her back. And, that's where she'll end up tonight."

"I'm glad to see Karlie is so confident," says Camille with a smile. "That's going to make it even more fun to knock her out."

ROUND ONE:
Kloss wants to work at range, and, why not with the reach advantage she has? Camille not going to allow the taller blonde to control the terms. She's angling, working past the jab to middle distances where she can get her offense going in combination. Karlie counters by giving a little ground, giving her more time and space for the jab. This cat and mouse plays out for the entirety of the three minutes, with neither fighter able to get what she wants as much as she'd like, nor being able to prevent the other from getting what she wants as much as she'd like. Result is a very close round, as no one can establish enough of anything to create any space on the cards. Both fighters try their best, but, when the bell rings ending the first, it's all even leaving the cards reading "10-10" after one.

ROUND TWO:
Same again, as the fighters battle to get the terms they want and neither is able to impose will on the other. Kostek getting a bit more aggressive in this stanza, sitting down on more punches, looking to punish Kloss, but Karlie shipping those shots well and firing back with enough of her own to keep things very, very close for the second consecutive frame. Kloss' drop step becomes a bit more effective in the late going. She's getting the jab on and slowing Camille down, allowing herself time to build some combinations. It's not much, but it makes all the difference, as tight as things are. Kostek takes a couple of sharp flurries right before the bell, and those points are jussssstt enough for Karlie to claim round two and take the lead on the cards 20-19.

ROUND THREE:
Camille upping the aggression even more. She's working past Karlie's jab with the guard high, stepping to, banging some body. This isn't what Kloss wants at ALL, but, for the moment, at least, the heavier woman's making it work. She's crowding, pressuring, grabbing all the canvas Kloss is willingly giving up. Karlie tying up, trying to get breaks, but Camille wrestling free again and again to bang more body, work upstairs, then go back down, all the while backing up Kloss, who's suddenly not getting much done offensively. Good right hook from Camille in the last thirty seconds gets Karlie's attention and forces her to cover up. Taller woman not hurt, but she definitely felt Kostek's power. And, Camille keeps her on the defensive for the remainder of the round, taking it wide to even things at 29.

ROUND FOUR:
Kostek has a plan that's working and she's not trying to change it. She's continuing to pressure, closing, working body, roughing up the taller woman. It's all very effective. But, it's also very dangerous. BOOM! Kloss a right hand and CAMILLE IS HURT! Kostek all wobbly-butt after Karlie walks her into a brutal right hand, and now Kloss is ALL IN. She's winging away, battering her rival back into the ropes and then absolutely TEEING OFF on her. Kostek with the guard high, rolling with, but taking some SERIOUS punishment. Referee looking in, not going to watch much more of this. Camille trying to ride it out, jabbing back here and there, working hard to get to the end of the round, while Karlie searches just as hard for the "off" switch. Despite Kloss' best efforts, though, she doesn't find it. And, when the bell rings, Camille is still standing. Karlie's taken the round wide, however, and is back in the lead 39-38.

ROUND FIVE:
Kloss dominating early, stepping to Camille, backing her up with hard shot. About thirty seconds in, however, Kostek solidifies her front and begins firing back in kind. For the next half minute, it's hot tossing, with both fighters landing heavy leather...until Camille starts backing up Karlie. Kloss isn't hurt, she just can't hold canvas in the face of the shorter woman's onslaught. Slowly but surely, despite the taller woman's best efforts, Camille imposes her will. Kloss fights hard, and has her moments, but, for the final two minutes, there's no question who's in control, and it's Kostek. By the final thirty seconds, Camille has Karlie on the ropes taking, and, while Kloss is, again, not hurt, she's definitely taking a pasting right to the bell. When it rings, Kostek has the round wide and we've even at 48.

ROUND SIX:
Kloss setting up at range, trying to impose distance, but Camille having none of it. She's working past, closing, banging, backing Kloss up again. Karlie trying to tie up to slow down the Kostek Express, but it doesn't work. Camille fighting free, working body, head, body. Thumping hard, heavy shot into almost every legal inch of Karlie. Kloss covering up, playing defense, trying to ride it out. BOOM! Right hand, Camille and DOWN GOES KARLIE! A blistering right cross from Kostek sends Kloss crashing to her back! Camille raises her arms in victory as she makes her way to a neutral corner. She's knows what she's done. And, so does just about everyone else. The referee counts, because that's his job, but there's no movement at all from Karlie as the numbers get larger. She's still down and out when the count passes her by. It's OVER. And your winner by KO6 is Camille Kostek!

AFTER:
Camille showing signs she was in a fight, because she was. Face a little puffy, but there's a gorgeous smile on it. "Yeah, I'm in Amanda's shadow," says Kostek. "And, that means people forget how good I really AM. Well. There's your proof. Karlie Kloss stretched out in under six."