Brie Larson vs. Priyanka Chopra

BEFORE:

Two of the very best bantams who've never held an FCBA title squaring off in this one, and both, no doubt, looking to use this bout as a springboard toward dropping out of that little club, thank you very much. And, despite the level of opposition, neither is lacking confidence. "The difference between Brie and me," says a hard-eyed Priyanka, "Is one of us is stronger and more physical. And, the OTHER one is Brie."

"I know Chopra's game," says Larson with a shake of the head. "She tries to intimidate girls. Goes back to her pageant days, no doubt. Well. She's NOT intimidating ME."

ROUND ONE:

A feeling out round. Chopra, who often comes out with guns blazing, a bit more reserved this time. Yes, she's looking to work forward behind the jab, bring her power to bear, but Big Choppy is well aware of how dangerous the blonde can be, so she's easing back on the throttle. For Larson's part, she wants to box, move. She's using the legs a lot, more than usual, probing, looking for openings that might be exploited later, but not committing to anything this early in the contest. Result is a good, two-way round with neither fighter able to gain much of an advantage. There's almost nothing at all in it until the final 45 seconds, when Chopra gets something going, landing a series of nice flurries that force the blonde to the defensive. Larson's never hurt, but the late scoring allows Priyanka to claim the points and the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Larson gets some momentum going. She's moving beautifully, fouling Chopra's aim, then hitting her spots and getting off in combination. Over and over and over again. Once again, the brunette isn't getting hurt, but, now, she IS getting touched up. And, it's all about geometry. Big Choppy can't get the distance or the angles she wants. But, Brie can. All day long. And, she doesn't waste a single opportunity to let leather fly when she gets to a spot. As bad as it is for the brunette, it gets WORSE as the round goes on. Larson's getting more and more into the zone, landing more and harder shot as we advance toward the bell. When it finally rings, Chopra's nose is leaking a little blood and Brie's sporting a lovely smile on the way back to her corner. She's taken the round wide to even things at 19.


ROUND THREE:

Larson in total control. She's firing on all cylinders, taking the fight to the brunette in every possible way she can do that. As for Priyanka, she can't get out of neutral. She's landing here and there, but, it's all one-punch stuff and most of it is off the counter. She can't get her offense going, because she's not able to find the blonde with the left hand. It's always being blocked or slipped, opening Big Choppy up to rejoinders from Brie. Once again, Chopra's never hurt, but, once again, she's getting touched up plenty, with a mouse now forming under the left eye as the blonde turns the heat up late in the round, forcing the brunette to the defensive and backing her up with a series of hard flurries that take us to the bell. When it rings, Brie's grabbed the round wide and now leads 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

BOOM. That's all it sometimes takes to change everything in an FCBA fight. BOOM. Chopra lands the left jab and follows with a BLISTERING right hand and Larson is HURT! Brie staggers backward, nearly going down, and the brunette quickly drives her into the ropes with a blizzard of hard shot. And, that quickly, the blonde, who was in command moments ago is "in trouble deep". And Big Choppy? She's taking FULL advantage, letting the hands go, thumping Brie to both head and body, looking to put an end to this thing right now. And, the ref is on high alert as she tries to do it. Larson, for her part, is hanging on desperately, jabbing back in spots, keeping the guard high, doing all she can to make it to the bell. And, somehow, she manages to do that. But, when it rings, Chopra's taken the round wide and evened things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Chopra in control, backing up the blonde with hard shot early. Larson willing to play defense and play for time to get the legs back under her, and, slowly, as the round goes on, that happens. But, the brunette is still fighting lead. She's getting the left on target, following on with hard right hands, getting her offense going in a major way. Final minute of the round sees a change, though. Now, Brie's able to move well again, and it makes a difference. She gets off square, begins angling, playing the geometry, and getting back to where she was in the second and third rounds. It's too little, too late for the fifth of course, because, while Larson makes up SOME of the ground she lost in the first two minutes, she can't make up all of it. So, when the bell rings, Chopra's grabbed the round and pulled back into the lead 48-47.

ROUND SIX:

Two-way stuff like we haven't seen since the first. Brie moving. Priyanka pressuring, backing Larson up on occasion with heavy leather. For her part, the blonde working the angles, using the feet, getting off in combination. There's virtually nothing in it until...BOOM! Right hand, LARSON and CHOPRA IS HURT! Brunette wobbles, covers up, and Brie lets the hands go in a BIG way ROCKING Priyanka with a right hand and then DROPPING HER WITH A LEFT HOOK! Chopra down on her left side as Brie bounces to a neutral corner. Brunette pushes to elbow and haunch, looks up as the ref counts down at her, but, despite her best efforts, she can't get up off the canvas! The count passes her by and it's OVER! And your winner by KO6 in impressive fashion is Brie Larson!

AFTER:

Brie claiming another impressive scalp as the blonde once again establishes her bona fides for a shot at the gold. "There's no question she's a good fighter," Larson admits with a shrug. "Everyone knew that. What SOME people apparently DIDN'T know is that I'M a better one. Well. Now they know. Now they know."