Priyanka Chopra vs. Demi Rose (Queen of the Ice Hotel)

BEFORE:

Two of the FCBA's top bantams meet, amazingly, for the first time in the first-ever defense of the "Princess of the Ice Hotel" title, one Rose, already a five-time champion at age 27, plans to add to her collection. "This place is NICE," says Demi with a smile. "I think I'll go ahead a TAKE it."

"The only thing Demi's going to take," says Priyanka with a snarl, "Is a BEATING courtesy of Big Choppy."

ROUND ONE:

Little doubt about the fight plans here coming in. Priyanka is nothing if not sturdy and hard-hitting, especially for bantam, but even SHE isn't going to stand in front of Demi Rose and bang. Instead, Chopra uses her length and athleticism to work at range, boxing extremely well as the shorter woman tries to work into range to get off and bring her power to bear. Rose works hard, but mostly fails in the attempt. She's able to score here and there, but for most of the stanza, Priyanka's banging that left jab in the shorter woman's face, dropping in hard right hands behind it, keeping the British beauty off and giving her a thorough thumping while doing so. When the bell rings, it's been an excellent opening round for Priyanka, who takes the points wide and grabs the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Rose starting to adjust now. She's getting the gloves high, tucking and bobbing the head, making it difficult for Priyanka to pick her off on the way in. And, when Demi gets in there, she gets to WORK, thumping body, going upstairs, then right back down. Priyanka not going to punk, fires right back, and we see some scintillating exchanges, with both fighters scoring well. Chopra definitely holds her own, even on Demi's terms, not backing up a step. But, she also doesn't do all that much to shorten the exchanges, get back to range where she was dominating in the first round. And, that most definitely works to the Brit's advantage. Because, when the final seconds tick away, it's Demi who's done a bit more, taking the round close and evening things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Same again, with Rose and Chopra in the phone booth, both brunettes digging body, banging away upstairs, getting off lus...BOOM! Right hook, DEMI and Chopra is hurt! Priyanka steppin' in fence post holes! Rose lets the hands go and DOWN GOES BIG CHOPPY! Another right hook from Demi and Chopra is down on her right side! Rose quickly to a neutral corner. Chopra to elbow and haunch at five. To all fours at seven. And, to her feet at nine. Ref gives her the mandatory and ON COMES DEMI! Rose all OVER Priyanka, forcing her up against the ropes and giving her a THRASHING to both head and body. Chopra hanging on in a tight guard, countering here and there, clinching when she can, doing enough to make it to the bell. But, when it rings, the reigning Princess is looking a wreck and Rose has the 29-27 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Demi dominant. She's after Priyanka from the opening bell, letting her have it with both hands, looking to finish this thing. Chopra on the defensive, giving ground, keeping the guard high, doing almost nothing offensively. She's on wobbly legs, still seriously buzzed, and Rose is aware of the facts and taking full advantage of them. One thing the older woman DOES manage to do is stay off the ropes for most of the round, but, eventually, Demi traps her there and redoubles the efforts to claim the Ice Hotel for her own. Chopra's clinching, tying up any chance she gets, but the younger woman wrestles or punches free and gets right back to thumping the Indian beauty. When the bell finally ends the one-sided round, Demi's pitched a shutout. But, Priyanka is still on her feet, though she's now trailing 39-36.

ROUND FIVE:

More Demi early, but, as the round goes on, Chopra begins shaking off the damage. Now, she's moving better, if not as well as she did back in the first round. She's also able to get some offense going, and that makes a big difference, because, rather than Demi dominating, we've now got a two-way round going, with Rose still scoring on the inside and Chopra now getting some space in spots and using it to get her box on. Priyanka is clearly getting stronger as the round goes on, but Demi's keeping the pressure on, staying in Priyanka's grill as much as possible, working a TON of body and piling even more punishment on the Princess. At the bell, it's close for the first time since the second, but, it's Demi for the fourth round in a row, and Rose has a huge 49-45 lead at the half.

ROUND SIX:

More two-way stuff. Rose continues to make with the pressure, and, again Chopra's willing to stand in there and bang with her. And, Priyanka, again, holds her own. But, none of this makes her corner happy. They want their fighter moving, jabbing, creating space, not trading leather with Demi Freakin' Rose. But, for whatever reason, Chopra's willing to do that for long stretches, which, of course, suits Demi just fine. She's working over Chopra's body like it's hanging beef in "Rocky", while Priyanka concentrates upstairs, scoring well with both hands to the head. Chopra's the one with the advantage in the rare times when they're fighting at range, as she puts together the kinds of solid combinations that won her the first round. At the bell it's close, but Chopra's back on the board for the first time in forever. She still trails big, though, 58-55.

ROUND SEVEN:

And, again. Ladies have settled into a pattern now, fighting mostly in the phone booth, with occasional forays to range by Priyanka, followed almost immediately by Demi closing to close quarters agai...BOOM! Right hand, BIG CHOPPY! She catches Demi coming in with a straight right and Rose is HURT! British beauty rumblin', stumblin', fumblin' around the ring as the Princess goes all in looking to end this thing. Demi's being backed up and touched up, but her sturdy legs HOLD her up, despite the best efforts of Priyanka to get her out of there. But, if Rose manages to avoid the stoppage, she does NOT avoid a ton of heavy leather that piles up the points for Chopra. When the final seconds tick away, it's Chopra who's taken it wide, but Demi who's dodged a bullet and still leads 68-66.

ROUND EIGHT:

Priyanka working forward to start the eighth. Working. Not coming. She's using the jab to set up right hands, making a sound, careful assault, well aware of the dangers of Demi's power. Rose giving ground grudgingly, executing an excellent fighting retreat. BOOM! Right hand, CHOPRA and Demi is ROCKED! Another NASTY straight right from Priyanka has the younger brunette in SERIOUS trouble. And NOW Priyanka is damning any and all torpedoes as she goes ALL IN to try to finish this thing. Left hook! Rose stumbles! Right hand! DOWN SHE GOES! Demi dropped to her back as Priyanka, arms raised in victory, heads to a neutral corner. Ref counts down on a stricken Demi. She rolls to her belly at six, pushes to hands and knees and CRUMPLES BACK TO THE CANVAS! It's OVER! And your winner by KO8 and STILL Princess of the Ice Hotel, Priyanka Chopra!

AFTER: