Naomi Scott vs. Kira Kosarin (Bantamweight Title)

BEFORE:

Rematch of one of the better fights of 2020, a ten round one-point decision that went to the woman who is, this evening, challenging for the bantamweight belts. "No doubt it was tough the first time around," says Kira with a smile. "She boxes well. She can hit. And, she can ship a lot of leather. And, I don't expect it to be much different this time around. I also don't expect the RESULT to be much different. We might not make the cards tonight, but, one way or the other, it's going to be MY hand being raised."

"Kira is as good as anyone I've fought," says Naomi. "And, that includes Bella. But, I learned some thing from that first fight. And, I'm going to put that knowledge to use tonight. I WILL be taking Kira out of there. And, I WILL be walking out of those rings with MY bantamweight belts."

ROUND ONE:

Much like the first bout, ladies start negotiating terms right away. Scott, who's always aggressive, wants to move, angle, dip in and out. Kira's plan is, like it was in the first fight, simpler. Square the Hounslow Hammer up and make with the heavy leather. And, despite the champion's best efforts, Kosarin gets what she wants in the first. Kira moving the feet very well, getting the left on, then walking Scott down behind it. Champ being forced to give ground again and again, eventually being put completely on the back foot and onto the defensive. And, when that happens, Kosarin ups the aggression, sitting down on punches, punishing the champion again and again with hard right hands. Scott's never hurt, but the challenger is piling up both points and damage and, when the bell rings, she's taken the first wide and grabbed the early 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

The champ adjusts. She's showing more lateral movement now, getting the hands up and the head moving. She's picking off those jabs from Kira, not getting lined up, and it makes a ton of difference. With Kosarin unable to find with the left, she can't walk the Hounslow Hammer down. Instead, we get ranged boxing, and this is more to Scott's liking. Naomi's putting punches together now, scoring well with both hands. But. So is Kira. both brunettes get into a nice rhythm at range, and we see some great boxing and plenty of action, as both champion and challenger are busy in the extreme. There's not a lot in it this time around and things are in doubt right until the final bell. When it rings, it's the champion who's done just a bit more and claims the points to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Same again. We're boxing at range now, and both brunettes are comfortable on these terms. Kira, though, would rather be a little more aggressive, so, at times, she'll pressure. But, Naomi quickly adjusts, getting back to the distance she wants, and Kosarin, wary of the champion's power, doesn't push the issue. She's patient, sound, working hard, knowing from past experience that every point is crucial in a fight against Naomi Scott. Again, there's not much in it at all the entire way. Both women are effective, but neither is able to take control. Final thirty seconds sees both fighters try to steal the points with late fireworks, but those efforts pretty much offset one another, and, when the bell rings, it's Kosarin by a razor-thin margin, putting Kira back on top by one, 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

More boxing at range, and more good, two way stuff. If anyone wants to know exactly why these two ladies are both among the elite of the elite in the bantam division, well, all they need do is watch this round, which sees some excellent boxing from both fighters, with great defense, head, hand, and foot movement, feints, punch set ups and adjustment after adjustment. Again, Kosarin's a bit more aggressive, taking the odd opportunity to close and get physical, but Scott keeps those opportunities to a minimum and quickly getting back to the distance she wants. For the third straight round, there's not much in it, and, when the bell rings, it's again razor's edge stuff, this time to the champion, evening the fight at 38, and meaning that the fighters have now been in the ring together for 14 rounds overall, with Kira having a one-point edge over those 42 minutes.

ROUND FIVE:

Same again. At range, ladies boxing well. Kira finding spots to work forward behind the jab and make with the physicality, but Scott quickly getting back to the distance she wants, jabbing, putting punches together, DROPPING KOSARIN WITH A RIGHT HAND! A PERFECT straight right from Naomi and KOSARIN IS DROPPED TO HER BACK! Scott quickly to a neutral corner as the referee counts down on a wide-eyed Kosarin. Kira to all fours at six and pushes to her feet at eight. Ref thinks about it while he gives her the mandatory, but then waives on the champion, who GOES TO TOWN. Naomi winging away, training all the guns on her rival and driving her back into the ropes. Kira in deep trouble as Scott gets off lusty, punishing her along the ropes. Ref looking in closely, but Kosarin doing enough, in his eyes, for the fight to be allowed to continue right to the bell. When it rings, Scott's got a 10-8 round and the 48-46 lead at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Scott the one coming forward and doing the walking down now. Kira's legs are still rubbery, and Naomi's taking advantage, using the jab to set up hard right hands, slowly forcing the challenger back, all while piling up points and punishment. For her part, Kosarin trying to make things as hard on the champion as she can, firing back in spots, working hard to stay off the ropes, and managing, for the most part, to do that. But, despite Kosarin's best efforts, Scott is in firm control and continues to effect a solid cleanup. What she can't find, though, is the 'off' switch. Naomi works hard to finish, but Kira denies her that and, when the bell rings, Kosarin's ridden out a very difficult round. Scott wins it wide and pulls into a three point lead, 58-55, but one wonders if she'll regret not finishing Kira when she had the chance.

ROUND SEVEN:

Scott continuing the pressure. Kosarin continuing to give ground. The challenger's legs are coming back now, but Naomi's continuing to call the tune, using the jab to set up right hands, building combinations, keeping Kira on the back fo...BOOM! Right hand counter, KOSARIN and DOWN GOES SCOTT! Kira showing that above-weight power she's becoming known for, blows the champion to her back! Scott stunned on the canvas as the challenger heads to a neutral corner. Champ sits up at six, manages to get to her feet at nine. Ref looks like waiving it off during the mandatory, but, instead, he waived ON Kira, who pays Naomi back with interest for the last two rounds. Challenger absolutely THUMPS the champion, pinning her to the cables and giving her a thorough going over to head and body. Naomi hangs on to the bell, but, when it rings, the champ looks a wreck and Kira's cut the lead to 66-65. Oh. And these fighters have now been in the ring for seventeen rounds. And the combined scores of those rounds leave things DEAD EVEN.

ROUND EIGHT:

Kira in charge. She's the one backing up Naomi now, squaring up the champ, making her take heavy leather. Scott with the hands high, moving the head, picking off punches when she can, slowing the advance a bit with the occasional counter. About mid-round, though, Naomi's legs have recovered enough for her to begin moving effectively again, and that changes everything. Hounslow Hammer is able to get off square, get some range, get back to boxing. Kira doesn't force the issue, aware that doing so might allow the champion to walk her into something. Instead, Kosarin boxes with and does a good job of it, too. It's good, two-way stuff down the stretch and right to the bell. It's Kira's round, of course, based mostly on that first half, and that means we're even at 75 with just two rounds to go.

ROUND NINE:

Back to ranged boxing, but both fighters upping the aggression now, as they've both been told that the final two rounds are going to decide the championship. Scott working well at range, doubling the jab, moving the feet, building combinations. Kira answering in kind, working forward when she can, banging inside and GETTING CAUGHT WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Kosarin stumbles sideways and is DROPPED WITH A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND FROM THE HOUNSLOW HAMMER! Naomi veritably BOUNCING to a neutral corner while Kira, on her back, stares up at the referee. Kosarin rolling to her belly at five. Pushing to hands and knees at seven...then sinking back to the canvas at eight! It's OVER! It's OVER! The count passes Kosarin by and it's OVER! And your winner by KO9 and STILL Unified Welterweight Champion is Naomi Scott!

AFTER:

Scott's lovely face showing all the signs of its owner having been pushed to her absolute limits by the challenger, which she absolutely was, for the second time. But, this time, Naomi was able to vanquish her rival, and, despite clearly being worse for the wear, the champion is clearly jubilant. "She's about as good as it gets," Scott admits with a tired smile. "But, 'just about' won't get it done against me. Because I AM the absolute best. And," she says, gesturing at the belts on her shoulders and around her waist, "That's why I'VE got this gold."