Sophie Turner vs. Emily DiDonato (Lightweight Title)

Sophie Turner: 24 years old, 5’9’, 19-7 combined FCBA and BBU since 2015, Foxfire Boxing



Before:

The press room is buzzing with excitement before the fighters in the lightweight title match enter. In a testament to the ever-changing nature of the FCBA, tonight’s fighters only recently rose to the elite tier of fighters, and coincidentally boast the same stellar record of 19-7 in all their fights. The challenger for the title is Sophie Turner of Foxfire Boxing, and is ranked eighth at lightweight by both Boxing World Online and Tess Valmore. At 24 years old, the British actress may very well be starting what her fans hope to be a decade a dominance.

Turner’s opponent tonight is the lightweight champion, Emily DiDonato of Fates Boxing. After repeatedly getting close to a title opportunity but always coming up short when it mattered, DiDonato got her opportunity against her stablemate and the seemingly unbeatable Taylor Swift and the Goshen Goddess did not let the opportunity go to waste, taking down the record-setting champ in nine rounds. While Swift may have eclipsed DiDonato as the face of Fates, there is no question that the brunette is challenging the blonde’s claim. At 29 years old, DiDonato certainly has plenty of good fighting years left, and the FCBA is almost certainly interested in seeing how she fates as champion, if only to stop the reign of Fates fighters.

Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time these two women have met in the ring. Returning to August of 2018. Emily DiDonato defeats Hannah Davis at Vixens’ Lawlessness at the Center. In early September, Fates signs DiDonato. Her first opponent as a member of Fates that September? Sophie Turner of Foxfire Boxing. After the match, the press wondered where the two girls would go and if they would meet again. Safe to say that they must be thrilled with this title fight.



The two girls enter and the room is filled with the clicking of shutters and flashes of cameras as they sit down. Sophie is the first to speak, lifting up her microphone.

“I want to start by saying how thankful and honored I am to have Emily choose me as her opponent. It’s my first chance at a title, and I am thrilled to have it. I also know that Emily is coming off of a career-defining win, ending the seemingly undefeatable champion’s record setting reign. I’m hoping to give her a serious run for her money and walk out of here with the title and end the reign of Fates fighters, but that is so much easier said than done. Plus, it would be good to level the score with DiDonato after she beat me in her first match with Fates. We’ve both changed a lot since then, and I’ve been working extra hard for this moment.”

Turner sets down her microphone and the attention turns to the newly minted champ. DiDonato takes her mic, pauses, then starts. “I’d like to tell Sophie that the pleasure is mine. Ever since that match we had, we were both always pushing forwards, trying to get better. Clearly, we both succeeded. And it feels so good to have some new faces at the top of the lightweight division here, rather than just the same girls who have been around for several years, all of whom are amazing fighters. But having new blood in the mix is good, and I hope to prove that both of us belong in the new group of elite lightweight fighters.” DiDonato briefly lowers her mic, then her voice gets more serious, “But this isn’t just about being among the best. It’s about being the best. Just because I beat Taylor Swift, that doesn’t mean that I am going to rest after being the one to stop the one with the record. No, I’m going to prove that there is a whole lot more to Fates than just Taylor Swift, and that I am the number one fighter of Fates and the number one lightweight. Sophie, you’re in my way of that, and I’m in your way of the same. May the better woman win.”

Both girls get up, bump hands, and head to the back as the press takes more photos. But they all know that while both girls are being nice now, that won’t last once the bell rings.



The ever-loud FCBA arena is absolutely boisterous as it comes time for the lightweight title fight and the announcer gets on the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the next fight is for the FCBA lightweight title.” The crowd cheers.

“Introducing first, the challenger. From Northampton, England. Standing at 5’9” and boasting a record of 19 wins and 7 losses. Representing Foxfire Boxing, Sophie Turner!”

The crowd goes wild as Turner is announced and she comes out from the back in a red robe. Sophie strides down to the ring and removes her robe to reveal a white sports bra with the Foxfire logo and matching trunks with black gloves, her hair in a ponytail for the match.

“And her opponent. From Goshen, New York. Standing at 5’10” and having a record of 19 wins and 7 losses. Representing Fates Boxing, the one to end the record-breaking streak, the Goshen Goddess, Emily DiDonato!”



DiDonato steps out to the roar of the crowd, wearing a navy blue robe. Emily makes her way down to the ring, staring down her opponent. The brunette model swings both of her legs over the second rope and into the ring and removes her robe to reveal a blue sports bra and black trunks with blue gloves, her hair up in a bun for the fight. Emily takes the title and hoists it up for the crowd to see before handing it off. Both girls touch gloves, and off we go for the lightweight title fight!



Round 1:

Sophie and Emily quickly get out of their corners and the Brit wastes no time getting in the champ’s face. Turner slips past a DiDonato jab and knocks the model in the mouth with a quick strike right out of the gate and the actress hits a left to DiDo’s ribs as the model protects her head. Emily quickly steps back and connects with a cheeky right to Sophie’s left cheek as the model backs off. Turner takes a half step back after DiDonato’s blow and the two girls slowly creep towards each other. DiDonato the first to fire off a punch, looking to take advantage of her extra reach, and she skips a right off of Sophie’s ear as she lunges in just a bit and Sophie takes the opportunity to hammer a right into Emily’s chin and knocking her chest on a follow-up. DiDo drops back but Turner follows, getting a couple good punches into the model’s body before the bell.



Round 2:

Turner quickly gets out of the Foxfire corner again, but DiDonato is expecting her to be aggressive this time and gets in the first punch, a straight jab to Turner’s mouth. Sophie returns fire with a quick cross that gets Emily in her chin. The brunette model backs off and as her redheaded opponent advances, Emily looks to land another blow on a stepback, throwing a straight right at Sophie as the actress closes in, but Turner nearly steps out of the way and Emily barely clips her jaw. Sophie takes advantage of the opening and catches Emily with a one-two combo to her chin, but the champ takes the blows surprisingly well and comes back with a right to Sophie’s body and the two girls are in close. Both women firing off short range blows to the other’s body as time dwindles, and neither girl can definitively come out ahead in the final seconds before the bell. The judges deliberate and think that Sophie takes the round, close.



Round 3:

DiDonato gets an earful from Olsen in the Fates corner and the brunette model gets out of her corner aggressively, quickly closing the distance with Turner and feinting with her left for a high shot before tagging Turner’s ribs. Sophie takes the blow and responds with a left that hits Emily in her belly, but the model comes right back, going body with her left and connects with Sophie’s chin with the follow-up right, knocking the actress backwards. Turner plants her feet but DiDo closes the distance with her long legs and pumps a right into Sophie’s midriff that drives the air out of her lungs. Turner covers up just in time to block a shot from DiDonato, but the model’s strength knocks Sophie into the ropes. Emily drives another two punches into Sophie’s body, but the redhead wraps her arms around the brunette and the referee has to separate the two girls as the round ends. DiDonato wins the third on points, wide.



Round 4:

Emily gets into a rhythm early, rapping off punches to Sophie’s body that the Brit just can’t seem to escape. Brunette model staying in close, churning out blows and the redhead groans as each blow connects with her midsection. DiDo works Turner into the ropes, burying a pair of rights into the actress’s body, driving her butt backwards and front half forwards and the Brit wraps her arms around her American opponent. The ref separates the two girls again and DiDonato charges out of the break, bashing Sophie’s chin and the challenger’s in full retreat as Emily strides after her, launching punches at Turner. Sophie dropping backwards and Emily takes a big swing at the Brit’s head but she lunges and misses and Turner lands a right to Emily’s chin and wobbles briefly before regaining her balance! Turner feints high and DiDonato moves her guard up only for Sophie to plunge leather into the model’s belly and Emily shouts out and the model is on her back foot as the bell rings. The Foxfire corner smiling as Sophie returns to her corner while Emily is shaking her head, despite winning the round.



Round 5:

DiDonato gets out of her corner more slowly and the girls begin the fifth by circling each other to the right. Emily quickly shuffles forward and fires off a left-right combo at Sophie that crashes into the Brit’s guard and Turner clobbers DiDo’s nose with a right on the counterpunch and Emily’s face is blank. The Fates corner is screaming at Emily and Sophie seems to take her sweet time lining up a hook into Emily’s jaw. DiDonato’s head swivels as the model stumbles backwards and pulls her guard up in time only for an advancing Turner to clobber the model in her battered torso and Emily’s guard opens as the brunette gives another shout. Sophie pounces, hammering one, two, three blows into Emily’s face and she knocks the champ onto her back! Turner to a corner as the ref counts over Emily. DiDonato grimacing as she rolls herself onto her belly at a count of four. Brunette girl forces herself to all fours at five, and all the way up at seven. She tells the ref she’s fine before he can even check on her, and allows the fight to continue. Turner trying to turn the screw, chasing after DiDonato, but the taller brunette plays her distance game, meeting the advancing redhead with two solid shots to the mouth before Turner changes tactics and the girls return to circling, with Turner looking to pick her prime moments to hit DiDo’s body by the bell. Yet again, the Foxfire corner is happy and Turner wins the round on points, wide, and has swung the momentum of the fight.



Round 6:

Sophie’s eyes are laser-focused on Emily as the sixth round begins, and the actress goes right for Emily’s body, driving with a right. DiDo protecting her body from the get-go and neatly steps back as Turner hunts for body, making the actress lunge, and the model snaps Sophie’s head back with a right and the brunette slams a left into Sophie’s ribs for good measure. The challenger drops back, a look of desperation in her eyes as the champion heads right for her. Turner planting her feet and punching at DiDonato as the model comes into range and the two girls exchange a flurry of blows for a couple of seconds until Emily buries a right deep into Sophie’s belly and the actress’ guard splits just long enough for DiDonato to slam a right into Turner’s mouth, knocking her into the ropes and the bell rings! Turner maybe saved by the bell this time and just like that, DiDonato stops Sophie’s momentum and wins the round on points, wide.



Round 7:

Both girls showing the fatigue of the previous six rounds as they take longer to get out of their corners, but they somehow do it, and DiDonato has a little extra spring in her step. Emily quickly covers the distance between herself and Sophie and goes right for the actress’ body, thumping her ribs. Turner lets loose a right that catches DiDonato in the chin and follows up with a left but she misses her shot and Emily clobbers Sophie with a left to the jaw and the actress is staggering across the ring! The Foxfire corner is shouting at Sophie to get her guard up as Emily pursues the stunned actress and thumps a blow into the guard that Sophie gets up just in time, but DiDo simply shifts her focus to Turner’s body. Emily unloads three vicious lefts into Sophie’s body that punches the air past Turner’s teeth and loosens her guard for DiDonato to slam a quick one-two into her chin and down goes Turner! The ref starts to count as the Brit is moving around her arms, but only just. By six, Sophie lifts her head up, and at seven, she starts to push herself up. Eight, still getting herself up. Nine – Sophie crashes back to the canvas and doesn’t have the energy to get up by the time the ref reaches ten! Your winner by KO7 and still the FCBA Lightweight Champion, Emily DiDonato!



After:

Emily punches the air as she poses in her corner while celebrating her first title defense while the Foxfire staff tends to Sophie. Once the Brit is able to sit on her stool and is more conscious, DiDonato goes over to check in and hugs her to the applause of the crowd.

“Sophie’s gotten a lot better since we last fought,” Emily tells the press afterwards, “And it was my privilege to fight her in both my first fight at Fates and in my first title defense, and I think she’ll win the title someday. But not against me. People seem to have forgotten that I was the one who carried Fates from its inception, and I’m not going anywhere. Now, who’s next?” Emily asks as she leaves the press to wonder when the reign of the Fates lightweights will end.

A few minutes later, Turner comes out to speak, visibly saddened by the loss. “Losing is never fun,” Sophie starts, “But this one hurts a bit more. Because I had her where I wanted her in the fifth. I had the opportunity to show that I’d gotten better since we fought in 2018. I could have won the title. But I couldn’t capitalize. But mark my words,” Turner pauses, seemingly staring every reporter in their eyes, “I’ll be back. And I will get that title, beating anyone in my way, including Emily.”