Post by girlsfriday on Jul 10, 2020 3:04:42 GMT -6
Vs
(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)
(Foxfire Boxing vs Lioness Club of America)
Intro:
Again we switch gears from European Cup action to a fight between two veterans, Laura Vandervoort and Minka Kelly battle in Ireland's 3Arena, this is shockingly the first time these two beauties have went head to head.
Laura is 35 years old; she stands 5'6, holding a record of 38 wins, 28 coming by way of knockout, 40 defeats with 2 draws.
Minka is 40 years old; she stands 5'6, holding a record of 55 wins, 51 coming by knockout, 26 defeats with 1 draw, she is a former FCBA bantamweight champion.
The form going into this fight says that Minka should win, especially since this is technically a home coming for Minka, she is proud of her Irish roots as shown by her past appearance in the St. Patrick's day brawl with Jenny McCarthy a few years ago.
Laura though looks in a determined mood to upset the odds, she talks to interviewer Alicia Atout in the interview area, she is wearing a red track suit as she bounces on her toes to keep limber.
Asked about the importance of this fight, Laura admits "the past few years haven't been particularly kind to me it has to be said, that's my fault and no one else's, over the past few months I have tried some different training methods to see if I can change my fortunes around, tonight you'll hopefully see a more complete me to what you've seen lately" Alicia nodding along as Laura looks serious.
Turning her attention to Minka, she tells Alicia "it is funny that we've never fought, us and the Lioness Club stable are not exactly friends yet I honestly can't think of even a bad word exchanged between me and Minka, I respect everything she has done in the ring, I guess though we should make up for lost time when I knock her out and end her crawl to the hall of fame" a mischievous grin appears on her face at that moment.
How will she get past that southpaw stance, Laura replies "my left hook has always been a good weapon for me, I think it will come in handy tonight" taking her jacket off to reveal a red sports bra, she flexes her left arm to prove her point before heading off.
Next Minka is in front of the FCBA sign talking to Alicia, looking the more relaxed of the fighters, sharing a few jokes about saving the Guinness testing till she is done with Laura.
She is asked about how it feels to be fighting in Ireland, Minka answers "this is important to me, I have always embraced my Irish roots and tonight I am pleased to get the chance to fight her, hopefully I do my family proud when I knock out Laura in the middle of the ring"
The subject turns to why Minka and Laura never have seemed to be in each others orbits before, Minka smiles then replies "I could probably be super rude, I'll try to keep somewhat professional, it just hasn't been the right time I guess, both of us busy with different goals, the pieces fell into place, here we are now about to settle it in the ring"
Minka then jokingly adds "the last thing I'll say is that after the fight if Laura wants another crack at me, I am sure there is somewhere we could go to box bare knuckle, if she wants to join me for a drink that is OK too" winking at Alicia before she heads off.
Fighting time; out comes Laura with her coach Virginia Madsen, Laura looking cool as she heads down the aisle wearing a red robe, which gets taken off at the steps to the ring.
The Canadian fighter is wearing a red sports bra, white trunks with red stripes up the sides, matching shoes, red gloves with white thumbs, her blonde hair is tied into a braid.
Stepping inside the ring, Laura heads over to her corner, turning to face the aisle as she shadow boxes, looking keen to get things going as Virginia tells her what she needs to do.
Out comes Minka to a loud cheer, she has Claudia Schiffer behind her, Minks is wearing a black robe with green trim, she has "Minka Dumont Kelly" on the back in green letters, she is enjoying the loud reception from the crowd.
The robe comes off to reveal Minka is wearing a black sports bra with metallic green trim, matching trunks and shoes, green gloves with black thumbs, her brunette hair is tied back into a braid too.
Getting into the ring, Minka heads to each side of the ring to test it by leaning on it, waving to the fans as she goes on her lap till she settles into her corner, where Claudia tells her to do everyone she cares for proud.
The fighters come together at the center of the ring, eyes locked in an intense stare as the crowd seems firmly behind Minka, Laura not seeming to care as she just wants the win tonight, not the love of the fans.
Respectfully they bump gloves into their opponent's, a quick nod to show respect before they turn back to their corners, once they are ready the bell rings to start 10 rounds of bantamweight action.
Round 1:
As with the classic orthodox vs southpaw stance fights, both women take a bit to get the range right, stepping on the others lead foot as they exchange jabs.
Minka obviously more used to this, lands a chopping right to the jaw of Laura as she leans out the way of one herself, moving back when Laura tries to pay with her with two cross punches.
Settling into her rhythm quicker, Minka shows off that fearsome counter punching that has gotten her so many wins over the years, slipping punches as she lets her opponent come to her, then striking like a viper with two or three hard strikes at a time.
That makes Laura look apprehensive as she sticks more behind her jab, looking to get a mark on Minka before swinging in her trademark hooks to the beautiful face of Kelly.
It takes till the final twenty seconds for Laura finally to pin down Minka, landing a left across her cheek before a straight into her forehead, she gets Minka onto the ropes.
The bell rings though before Laura can open up on her, an annoyed look on her face as she knows this round has passed her by, Virginia tells her "this was just a feeling out round, don't get worried about it because now you know what you need to change"
Round 2:
While there is still some toe stamping, both are getting their range better now, trading stiff jabs as Laura looks to be the aggressor, getting clipped across her cheeks though by the flighty Kelly.
Who over the opening minute of the round is landing overhand punches to keep Laura mostly at bay, taking a few clean punches to her cheeks when the Canadian can move in closer.
Using her left shoulder to bump back Minka, Laura starts crowding her on the ropes, both letting their hands go on the inside, barks coming from them as they plant their feet for power.
It looks like Laura isn't interested now in matching up technique wise with her opponent, instead she is using little nudges and crowding her to the ropes, making it hard for Minka to escape into space to work.
Added to the fact she is plugging away to the body of Minka when she crowds her, whines come from Minka as she is grimacing, needing to clinch up with Laura in the dying seconds of the round.
When the bell rings Minka let's go of Laura, she tries to show no emotion as she returns to the Lioness corner, Minka though has a hint of annoyance at being pinned to the ropes like that.
Round 3:
Stepping after Minka with a ramrod like jab, Laura is scoring more punches around the brows the brunette, forcing her to the outside of the ring as she just misses with her big right hook.
Minka scoring some nice body shots in, keeping Laura from bulldozing her like the last round, though she is being outworked by the aggressive Vandervoort.
Who lands a nice left cross to the cheek of Minka, knocking her back into a corner with two straight punches to her face, Minka covers up as Laura gets into her face with her head, throwing hooks to the body till she is clinched up.
Pried apart by the referee, Minka lands a counter right to the cheek of Laura, Vandervoort overly keen there to keep the pressure on, eats another two punches into her left cheek as Kelly smartly keeps away from the right hook of the blonde.
Though in the final thirty seconds Laura catches Minka with a left cross, two punches to the ribs cause Minka to groan as she is being pressed to the ropes.
The bell rings to end the round with Laura giving her trademark smirk, knowing she is starting to get the better of Minka, getting a pat on her arm from her coach as she returns to the Fixture corner.
Round 4:
Digging in more body shots at range to try to slow down Laura, Minka is sticking to her tactics, looking to counter punch her way to victory even after the bad run of rounds.
Laura keeps making that hard, not giving the former champion room to work, forcing some heated toe to toe exchanges that has the crowd roaring them on.
Ducking under a right cross, Minka drills in a left to the body, connecting with an uppercut after to knock back Laura, now she changes gears to get into Vandervoort's face.
Reminding everyone she isn't just a silky smooth boxer, Minka sends some nasty looking hooks across the face of Laura, making her head swivel side to side as Laura ends up on the ropes, needing to clinch up with Kelly.
Once apart there is another toe to toe exchange, Laura this time the one to take control though, hammering a left across the face of the brunette, a straight follows as she now works back Minka to the ropes.
Another clinch this time from Minka, both veterans landing a few kidney shots before they are pulled apart, not long left in this evenly fought round.
After a few flurries from both the bell rings to end an evenly fought round, cold stares from both fighters as they look across the ring at each other, both know they are in with a tough operator and beating them is meaning a whole lot more with each round that goes by.
Round 5:
Fighting around the ring with Laura continuing to be the one on the front foot, she isn't having the success she did before though, struggling to trap Minka into a corner.
Instead chopping like punches smack across the reddened cheeks of Laura, the ones under her ribs have her hissing out as she stares daggers at her opponent.
Drilling in a nice double jab to the top of Minka's head, Laura seems to have her range back, knocking back the Lioness fighter with a follow up left/right to her face.
But Minka gives her a little shove with her left, moving off the ropes as Laura is keen to trap her back onto them, both landing stiff single punches as they move around the outside of the ring.
With just under a minute to go Laura swings in with a right hook, missing though as Minka dips under it, coming up instead with an overhand left to the jaw, then an uppercut knocks the head of the blonde back, sending sweat flying as they landed flush.
Laura is covering up as she retreats back, that last combo hurt her! Minka not rushing, just picking her punches to make Laura hiss out, the round soon ends to save Vandervoort from more punishment.
The Lioness corner all smiles bar Minka, she is wanting the job done as she stays standing, Laura shaking her head to clear it as water is poured over her head.
Round 6:
Laura seems to have her feet somewhat back flush under her, though she isn't as keen to make the same mistake twice, allowing Minka to move side to side looking for an opening.
Feinting to draw Laura on, the Canadian takes the bait as she throws a straight, MINKA SLIPS IT AND LANDS A BEAUTIFUL COUNTER UPPERCUT THAT TAKES LAURA'S LEGS FROM UNDER HER, DOWN GOES LAURA TO HER FACE!
Yelling "come on!" Minka heads to the neutral corner knowing that is maybe the best punch she has thrown all year, 1...2...3...4.. Laura turns her head to the left side, groaning out as 5...6...7.. She just lays on her front 8... Virginia yells at her to get up, 9...10 Laura is too out of it! Counted out!
Winner Minka Kelly KO Round 6
After:
Classic Minka knockout, using Laura's momentum and the opening to land a sweet punch that gives her another win, Minka heading closer to those Hall of Fame numbers.
While Laura is helped to her stool, she looks glassy eyed as she looks at Virginia with a "what happened?" Look, the ringside doctor checking her over.
As Minka goes on a lap of honour around the ring, not paying one bit of attention to Laura as she goes basically around her, blowing kisses to her fans as they roar for her.
It looks like Laura has come out the daze as she is heard saying "Christ I had her hurting; I know it" Virginia agreeing with her, telling her to try to take the positives as Laura looks glum.
Helped out the ring by Virginia, Laura is almost the forgotten woman here as she heads to the back, putting in a great effort but getting hurt in the fifth was the downward spiral that led to this defeat, even with her experience this was a harsh lesson against elite counter punches.
In the ring Minka gets her hand raised to a rousing cheer, she blows kisses to the crowd as her dream visit to Ireland has ended with a perfect ending for her, whether her and Laura will be sharing a pint of Guinness is anyone's guess.
Right now all Minka wants to do with celebrate with her fans, Claudia smiling warmly at her, knowing how important this pilgrimage of sorts was for Minka.
They leave the ring together, Minka telling Claudia she'll treat her to a night on the town, getting a chuckle from the model, who holds her to that promise.
