Post by Lookout! Boxing on Apr 29, 2022 23:37:39 GMT -6
Katheryn Winnick
(44, 5’4, 33:18 FCBA, The Dollhouse)
Vs.
Jennifer Connelly
(51, 5’7, 82:57:7 FCBA, GBS)
Results: Lookout!; Story: Caspian & The Dollhouse
BEFORE:
Some pundits are already saying that finally, Katheryn Winnick is taking on somebody her own size, and that somebody is fellow Cougar and veteran of the ring, a legend in her own right, Jennifer Connelly. Of course, Winnick is quick to deny all rumours she’s decided to permanently shift her attention to the above-40-only contenders department, earlier on telling reporters:
"I'm always looking to test myself against the best in this league and Jennifer is a multiple time champion and one of the best bantams to ever do it. I'm excited. I don't get to fight someone older than me every day...so, that's something I better take full advantage of tonight. I'm not expecting an easy time in there but I do expect to win."
Connelly looks equally gracious and stunning from across the press table. Despite pushing well past the age of 50, she still looks fit and in excellent shape, returning Winnick’s praise with some of her own:
“I’ve been busy managing GBS and training the girls backstage, so it was a pleasant surprise when I heard Winnick wanted to get in the ring with me. And who am I to say no? As Kat has said, I’m a decorated multi-time champion, and I’d love to show the GBS locker room how it’s done in there tonight. I’ve nothing but mad respect for Winnick’s skills, so win or lose, I know I’m in for rough weather.”
Ladies square off at the podium and though Winnick has the age advantage, she’s losing three inches to Connelly’s taller and more slender figure. Of course, those bulging muscles on Winnick’s arms might be more than enough to further even out the scoreboards. The two women shake hands thereafter in a cordial exchange of well-wishes before heading back to their prep rooms.
Hours later, we’re back in the arena and ready to go with ten rounds of Bantamweight action. She Winnick is out first and the gorgeous blonde confidently strides into the arena, all smiles and hands raised and waving enthusiastically to the crowds. Spritely on her feet, Winnick is dressed in her trademark all-white sports bra and short tights, and sporting a pair of white gloves emblazoned with black markings, her hair in a tight ponytail as she makes her way to the ring followed by coach Kristanna Loken and the Dollhouse team. Up next comes Jennifer Connelly, her black hair in a bun and wearing all-black gear - a simple black sports bra top and long slender tights of her own, complete with black gloves in stark contrast to Winnick’s white gear. Definitely a more measured approach for the older woman, as Connelly smiles and gives a short wave to her fans before heading down the ramp to the ring accompanied by her GBS team.
Finally, the referee calls this match to order. We have ten rounds in the Bantamweight division on the cards, as both ladies make ready in their corners, resting into a steady fighting stance. There goes the bell and HERE WE GO!
ROUND 1:
As usual, nothing too flamboyant from the always solid Katheryn Winnick to start things off, just a firm and steady march forward, both arms up and ready to throw down with whatever the wind blows her way. The martial arts blonde has always possessed the power to take down her foes, and so it must have stung especially hard when she fell to Eliza Taylor’s fists back in February of this year. But the Doll ain’t about to make the same mistake twice. She marches Jennifer down in the first minute, harassing her with the odd hook sent high or clean into the midsection, landing several shots after her first few jabs hit into the guard and forearms. Jennifer’s not making it easy either, using a practised and weathered defence to intercept most of the Doll’s attacks, before rocking crisp jabs back into Kat’s face. It’s a round filled with plenty of early action, but one can’t deny Winnick’s power that’s more easily troubling the GBS head honcho, with a final slam to the guard making Jennifer lose a bit of her balance before the bell rings. Close round to Winnick, but Connelly puts up a valiant defence of her own.
ROUND 2:
Connelly’s moving fast for her age, rushing forwards at the bell before sliding to one side to tag Kat on the face with a jab, then another grazing hook off the chin to give her pause. Winnick’s power means she’s not paying as much attention to her own speed and movement, now finding it difficult to pin the older but more agile woman down with her attacks. Jennifer stays focused, breathing hard but moving her head and torso well enough, avoiding yet another hook from the Doll before treating her to another swish and flick of across the lips, which draws a dull grunt from Kat’s mouth. Winnick’s had enough of this abuse in the second half, staying at a safe distance and trading leather with the older gal from afar, and in this way, she manages to catch up with her in terms of points, bashing some final leather into Jennifer’s lips until the bell rings.
ROUND 3:
Slow and steady might be the way to go here, as it’s a question of how much punishment Jennifer can soak up before the ageing actress begins to wilt under pressure. At first, Kat keeps her distance, choosing to pound away on the American’s defences with plenty of firepower and speed, earning several grunts from Jenn’s lips as her fists connect with her body and arms, each time pushing her back several steps. But in the second half, Connelly narrowly avoids a follow-up swing towards her head, and Kat’s eyes widen with shock as she takes a nasty bump to her stomach as well, with Connelly having swerved to one side and then rammed a right glove into the centre of her paunch. Ouch! Kat got herself winded from her own carelessness, underestimating her opponent’s speed, and the rest of the round seems to be a downward slide for the Doll, as Jennifer continues to slip her shoulders under and to the side of follow-up attacks, each time succeeding in planting more and more leather into the Doll’s body and chest, till a final kisser to the chin sends Winnick reeling dangerously close to the ropes. What a round for Jennifer Connelly, who indeed shows us what an ex-championship fighter she can be! Wide round swings back to the GBS starlet, and Kat is left rubbing her chin and shaking her head on her way back to her corner!
ROUND 4:
Connelly has never looked so confident, and this is coming from a fighter who hasn’t fought officially since August of 2020! She’s forced Kat to move more warily than before, and for the first minute, both ladies simply circle each other and send jabs towards the head, either of them waiting for the other to make the first big move inwards. Kat’s corner, however, is quickly growing impatient, especially at the sight of her opponent breathing heavily and lacking the same speed as before. After they urge Winnick forward yet again, the Doll relents, testing the waters first with a steady one-two-three pounding off the guard, but always scattering backwards at the smallest sign of Connelly drawing her fist back to retaliate. It’s small wonder that the 50-year-old has managed to make the younger blonde so skittish in there, and worried of falling yet again to her fists. But the Dollhouse management has their prediction on point, when Winnick lands a stiff hand to the face, then another shoved into the chin to snap Jennifer’s head back at a painful angle. Connelly’s early successes were wonderful, but it’s at the cost of her stamina taking an early hit. Rest of the round sees the veteran trying her best to fend off a last minute assault from Winnick, who chases her down with several more hooks and combos that threaten to take her head off. Thankfully, though, Jennifer is saved by the bell, panting hard at this point as she circles back to her corner.
ROUND 5:
Things aren’t looking too bright for Connelly, still looking haggard and ravished when the bell rings to start the fifth. Winnick knows what she has to do now, making a straight beeline for the veteran fighter and this time, showing little quarter! Jennifer puts up a valiant defence, first skirting the ring ropes with her legs moving as fast as humanly possible, whilst jabbing back at Winnick’s face. But Katheryn simply shrugs off the return blows to her nose and lips, powering a straight cross back either into the arms or folding her over into the midsection, before wading in close to hammer Connelly to either side of her frame with more hooks galore. To her credit, Connelly manages to make it to the second minute this round, but then gets quickly overwhelmed by Winnick’s power in close quarters. The Doll slams another stiff glove to the stomach before BLASTING Jennifer off her feet with a high hook sent across the chin, and DOWN THE VETERAN GOES! It’s a KNOCKDOWN for Katheryn Winnick in the fifth round!! Could this be it for Jennifer Connelly’s time in the ring?! Unfortunately, the answer appears to be yes, as Winnick strides back to her corner, leaving a flabbergasted Connelly still trying to sit up near the ropes, to no avail! The referee gives her the respect of a full ten-count, then rapidly waves his arms overhead, signalling the end of this bout!!
Official Decision: Katheryn Winnick defeats Jennifer Connelly via KO5!
AFTER:
Katheryn Winnick with a modest celebration in the post-fight - she knows she’s taken the win fair and square, but then again, would have certainly liked to continue her winning streak this year over girls who are younger, tougher and in the running for the Bantamweight straps. She raises a weary hand high, pumping it to acknowledge the cheers, before heading over to check on Jennifer Connelly’s status.
Connelly’s still having trouble righting her balance, and has to rely on the ropes to her back to even sit up straight. She’s being looked over by the medical team, however, who examine all the bruises and bumps she’s sustained over the course of tonight’s contest.
The two ladies later share an embrace in a mutual show of respect, with Winnick then raising Connelly’s hand high to the cheering crowds as well. Even later, Kat takes a brief pause by ringside to speak to reporters.
“Great fight from Jennifer tonight. She’s a great sport for accepting my challenge. It was an honor to fight someone as decorated as her and I’m just happy I got the win. This fight could have gone the whole 10 rounds if she were 6-8 years younger…but you know what? I’m more than OK with just 5 rounds!.” The victorious blonde laughs and proceeds to make her way out of the arena, high fiving her cheering fans along the way.
A great fight and a nice win for Katheryn tonight who improves her record to 1-1 for the year, and we can’t wait to see who she’ll be facing next!