Naomi Scott vs. Demi Rose

BEFORE:

This could be called a battle of two of the top bantamweight prospects in the FCBA, except...neither of these fighters are prospects anymore. Demi's already won the JMD title three times and has been a top contender for the lineal belts for some time. And, while Scott doesn't have any hardware just yet, she's won thirteen of her first sixteen FCBA fights and has already pushed well into the bantamweight Top Twenty. So, no, these aren't two of the top FCBA bantamweight prospects, these are two of the top FCBA bantamweights, period. And, both clearly know what a win over the other might bring.

"It's about time I get another shot at the bantamweight belts," says Demi with a nod. "Because, we ALL know I'm better than you-know-who. And, after I destroy Naomi, well, that will make me even HARDER to duck."

"The Consortium has a long history of championship fighters," says Naomi with a smile. "And, it's about time I add my name to that list. But, first. I need to deal with Demi. And, when I step over her prone body tonight, well. Next stop? Title shot!"

ROUND ONE:

No secret about what the tactics here are going to be. Rose wants to work inside, because, well, she's Demi Rose and that's what she does, and she's also giving up reach. Scott can play that game, but she'd rather work at range, using her length and extending on her punches. Doesn't happen in the first. Demi works right past Scott's defenses again and again, getting into the phone booth and thumping away to both head and body, and Naomi doesn't like it a bit. Scott's thrown to the defensive, backed up repeatedly. She's getting tummy and ribs tenderized all while taking nasty little hooks and uppies to the head. By the final half minute, Scott's clinching, holding on, doing anything she can to slow this down. At the bell, Demi has a smirk for her rival as she pivots to her corner. She's taken the first wide, made a statement, and gone up 10-9 on the cards.

ROUND TWO:

Demi pressing, backing up Naomi. Scott giving ground, covering up, trying to slow the offensive down and having very little suces...BOOM! DEMI EATS A RIGHT HOOK! Naomi times one, catches Rose stepping in and sends her staggering backward with an absolute CANON of a right hand! What holds Rose up is anyone's guess, because she's looking out on her feet as Scott begins to make with the heavy leather. Shorter brunette is quickly battered to the ropes where Naomi brings the heavy guns to bear. Rose forms the tight ear muff and hangs on while the referee looks in closely. Demi not doing much, but it's juuuussstttt enough, apparently, to keep the ref from stepping in. As for Scott, she's TEEING OFF in a big way, looking to put the shorter woman down, but she can't get it done. At the bell, Demi is still standing, but she's plenty unstable on her way back to her corner. Naomi's taken it wide and evened the fight at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Naomi rampant. Rose is clearly still buzzed and has very little leg under her, and that allows the taller brunette to take full control. She backs up her rival with ranged punches, putting together combination after combination, extending and committing on everything as she punished Demi to both head and body. Rose does well to stay off the ropes for awhile, but, eventually, she's pinned there and Scott makes with even more heavy leather, banging away to ribs and midsection in an effort to drop the guard, all the while paying plenty of attention to the head, looking for the finisher. Referee's looking in closely the whole time and looks likely to spring when Scott lands a NASTY right that snaps back Demi's head, but he holds back and Demi's able to make the bell. She's scuffed and wobbly, though, and, after being shut out, down 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Scott looking arm-weary. She's used up a TON of energy in the last two rounds trying to get Rose out of there, and now, while she's trying to keep up the work rate, she's slowing significantly. Naomi still getting the better of things early, but, by about mid-round, the respite has clearly helped Demi. She's shaken the worst of the damage and those sturdy legs seem to be coming back. All of a sudden, she's no longer backing and covering, she's firing back and throwing Naomi onto the defensive. Second half of the round is a mirror-image of the first, with Rose now in control of things and Scott giving ground, firing back in counter. By the time the bell rings, there's absolutely nothing in it. Scott's won the first half of the round and Rose the second and the result is a draw. On the cards, though, Naomi still leads, 39-38.

ROUND FIVE:

Demi pressing the advantage, working forward, getting inside, and then ROCKING NAOMI WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Scott GOBSMACKED as Rose lands a scintillating shot and now it's Demi who's all in, driving all before her, pinning the taller woman to the ropes and going to work on trying to finish this thing. Rose THUMPING body, determined to bring down the guard. Scott crouching, trying to cover up without dropping it, only to put her head in the way of some nice uppies that straighten her up and wobble her legs! Ref looking in. Not going to watch much more of this. Scott clinching, trying to slow this down. Rose stacks her, goes back to work downstairs. Corner wants more head hunting. They know their girl is on the verge of finishing this. Demi listens, lands some solid shot, but Naomi hangs on desperately to the bell. When it rings, it's Rose via shutout and we're even at 48 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Demi determined to finish now. Shorter Brit pushing forward, making with the heavy leather, forcing Naomi back. Scott can't stabilize her front and is taking a thumping until...BOOM! Naomi sets the feet and lands a NASTY right hook and DOWN GOES DEMI ROSE! Demi dropped to her right side in a heap as Naomi heads to a neutral corner. Referee counting down. Looks to be all but over, but. Somehow, Rose struggles back to her feet at ten. Ref takes some time to think about it during the mandatory, but waives on Naomi. Scott still a bit buzzed herself, but she lets the hands go, pins the shorter woman to the ropes and then gives her a thorough beating. Demi hanging on in a tight guard yet again as Naomi tries to finish, and, yet again, Rose makes the bell. But, with a 10-8 round in her back pocket, Scott now leads 58-56.

ROUND SEVEN:

Scott pushing forward, trying to finish this thing. Demi giving ground, engaging in somewhat of a fighting retreat. She's able to counter effectively in spots, slow the offensive. Scott being denied both finish and clean up, but she IS getting the better of things, and, mindful of what happened in the previous round, she's unwilling to push things past soundness. As the round goes on, Rose gets stronger. Legs start to come back, and the shorter woman begins fighting on more even terms with her rival. By the final minute, it's good, two-way stuff, with both ladies putting punches together well and scoring with both hands and no one able to take command. When the bell rings, though, it's Naomi's work in the early part of the round that plays. Scott gets the points and expands her lead to 68-65 with just three rounds to go.

ROUND EIGHT:

Ladies back to work, and Demi working with a bit more urgency. It's not desperation, mind. Rose knows she has time. But, she's also clearly been told what the cards say and that she's got a hole to dig out of. So, she's aggressive, coming forward, pressuring. She's taking some shots on the way in, but she's willing to take them. For her part, Naomi knows she's in the lead, but she's far from sitting on it. She's busy, working the left hand, looking to square up her rival for hard rght hand follows. Again, it's good, two-way stuff with neither fighter able to establish control and both having their share of the offense. When the final seconds tick away and the bell rings, there's no question it's very close, but Rose's pressure has narrowly win the day and Demi's cut the lead to 77-75 with two to go.

ROUND NINE:

More good, two-way stuff. Demi continuing with the urgent, sound aggression. She's willing to take some punches to give some, but she's not getting sloppy. She's showing plenty of respect for Naomi's power. For Scott's part, she's working hard at range and working hard to stay there. She wants to box this thing out and is clearly confident she can win the fight if it gets to the cards...BOOM! Right hook, DEMI and SCOTT IS HURT! Naomi wobbles and nearly goes down and Rose opens up with everything she's got. Demi firing away, battering Naomi around the ring. Scott on rubber legs holding on and then GOING DOWN AFTER A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND! Naomi blown to her back, lying with her head nearly touching the post in her own corner. Rose to a neutral corner. Scott rolling to her right side at six, grabbing the ropes, starting the climb, nearly makes it to her feet at eight but STUMBLES BACK TO HER KNEES AND IT'S OVER! Naomi on all fours as the count reaches ten and it's OVER! And your winner by KO9 is Demi Rose!

AFTER:

Demi scuffed, puffy, exhausted, but still manages a smile. "She's the real deal," Rose admits. "Don't let anyone tell you differently. But, I'm the best bantamweight in the world. And, it's about time I get another chance to prove it."