Post by HBO's Boxing At The Asylum on Sept 30, 2022 21:29:31 GMT -6
BEFORE:
"Now, we all know why it's been more than three years since I've gotten a fight here," says Kiernan with a smile. "In my FCBA DEBUT, I blew the doors off their girl. If they were smart, they'd have signed me right then. Instead, I get a couple of cups of coffee with stables that never pushed me. Well, I'm STILL only 22 and I've beaten some good fighters here. Maybe, when I beat the number one contender tonight, these guys...or some other top stable...will figure out what they're missing."
"She doesn't lack confidence," says Kristen with a smile of her own. "And, she absolutely DOES have talent. But. She's not the number one ranked flyweight in the world. THAT'S the girl she's getting in the ring with."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside, and, that's 'Nobody' by Mitski you hear, and here comes the lovely Kiernan Shipka..."
Tess: "BFF, remember when Mac threw shade at Kiernan for not having any FCBA wins in her DEBUT?"
McCarthy: "AS I've explained before, I had FCBA wins BEFORE my debut!"
O'Dell (sighing): "A little over half way through. I can do this. Shipka into the ring and helped off with the robe to reveal that shamrock number we've seen before. And, that's 'Helter Skelter' by the Beatles, and here comes 'The Five-Tool Player', Kristen Stewart!"
McCarthy: "FINALLY! A REAL fighter!"
Cassie: "As she pointed out, K-Stew's the number one contender at the moment, and, to stay there, she'll definitely need a win tonight..."
O'Dell: "Kristen taps glove to fist with Mac on the way past the table and climbs into the ring. She's helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve and the crowd liking what it sees from the blonde in that lime green number she likes. Ladies about ready to go. Time for some picks. Tess likes Kristen. Mac?"
McCarthy: "REAL fighter. K-Stew!"
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "And, we're underway. Stewart has the length here and, as always, wants to use that long left to keep her rival at range where K-Stew can box. But, Shipka's got a plan for that. She's angling, keeping the gloves high, working past the defenses to the inside..."
Tess: "This is the fight plan most girls use against Stewart..."
O'Dell: "They do. It may not work, but you've got a better chance of winning trying to work inside or at middle distances than you do trying to box this girl at range. Playing her game is not exactly a pathway to victory, and Kiernan doesn't plan to do so. Instead, she's working the feet, closing, getting off in close."
McCarthy: "K-Stew will get her terms eventually. And, when she does, she'll take this kid out of there."
O'Dell: "Stewart getting some space now, using the feet, working the jab. Shipka working past, hooking a little body, but mostly going upstairs. Stewart returning fire. Final seconds ticking away in a competitive first and there's the bell. Close, but it's Kiernan who gets the points..."
Cassie: "And takes the 10-9 lead."
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Second underway and Stewart giving a little ground here to give herself more time to get that jab on, and it's working. Now, Kiernan's having more trouble getting forward. Older woman is able to get more done at range, and she's putting punches together pretty well..."
McCarthy: "TOLD you. It was only a matter of time."
O'Dell: "Shipka still getting some of her own, mind. She's able to get to the spots she wants at times, and, when she does, she gets off in combination and offsets some of what the taller woman is able to do at range. For the second round in a row, we've got good, two-way stuff here."
Cassie: "Shipka's really had some bad luck with stables, didn't get any fights with one and won one of two with the other, then got released. She's never had a real managed shot."
O'Dell: "She definitely hasn't, and she's certainly shown that she has the tools to warrant an opportunity, and she's showing some of those now, hanging right in with the top ranked flyweight in the FCBA. Sharp exchange there, and there's the bell. Close again. Stewart."
Tess: "And, we're even at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Third begins the way the second ended, with the ladies working to get favorable terms. And, that's what this fight may well come down to. When Stewart's at range, she's in control, but when Kiernan can get inside she can DROP STEWART WITH A RIGHT HOOK!"
Tess: "PERFECTLY timed punch!"
O'Dell: "And, K-Stew POUNDING the mat, frustrated she got caught by that, but, as you say, Tess, a PERFECT punch from Shipka. Count at three. Four. Five. Six. Kristen to her feet at seven. Ref gives her the mandatory and waves on the younger woman. Shipka in 'search and destroy' mode now..."
McCarthy: "Stewart is fine. Just needs to run some clock here..."
O'Dell: "And, that's the plan, as the older blonde gives ground before the younger. K-Stew staying off the ropes, but Shipka landing some hard shot as Kristen backs and covers, backs and covers. Just ten seconds to go in the third. Good right from Kiernan and there's the bell. Big 10-8 round for Shipka."
Cassie: "And Kiernan leads 29-27 after three."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "Shipka coming forward early. Stewart giving ground. Kristen still a little buzzed here. Kiernan knows it and is taking advantage of it, stepping to and sitting down on her punches. Older woman trying to manage, working the jab, slowing this down as much as she can..."
McCarthy: "Like I said, just needs to run a little clock."
O'Dell: "And, she's managed to do that much, but Kiernan still in control here. She's definitely taking the fight to Kristen and getting the better of things, though Stewart seems to be getting stronger as the round goes on. SHARP exchange there and both fighters landed good punches."'
Cassie: "Kristen getting more aggressive now."
O'Dell: "Is, indeed. Has confidence in the legs again, so she's getting back to work. We're down under twenty seconds in the round though. Stewart working the left. Shipka trying to work past. Good right by K-Stew and there's the bell. Shipka takes another one, this time wide."
Tess: "And she's pushed out to a three point lead, 39-36."
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Back to boxing as we start the fifth, and back to the struggle to get favorable terms. Stewart working that left in a major way in service of creating the distance she wants. Shipka determined to crowd, angling, slipping, blocking, all to get inside where she can be more effective."
Tess: "Kiernan's really fought well tonight, Jenny."
O'Dell: "Certainly has. She's given Kristen all she wants and more to this point. Stewart doubling the jab, working to slow Shipka down. Kiernan inside, digs a hook to the body, but wants to work upstairs, where she's been plenty effective. Stewart uses a drop step to get some space."
McCarthy: "Really good technical stuff right now from both blondes."
O'Dell: "No doubt about it. We're down to the final fifteen seconds of the fifth, and, for the third time in five rounds, it's close. Stewart with a double-tap jab and follows with a right hand that stops Shipka's forward motion, and there's the bell. Stewart's round, albeit narrowly."
Cassie: "But, Shipka still leads 48-46 at the half."
ROUND SIX:
O'Dell: "Second half underway, and, again, it's all about that space. Stewart wants lots of it, and Shipka doesn't want to give her much at all. And, again, it's K-Stew piling up the points at range and Kiernan offsetting that when she gets to her spots in close and gets off in combination..."
Cassie: "I hate to ever agree with Mac, but this IS good, technical stuff."
Tess: "Don't make a habit of it, BFF..."
O'Dell: "Shipka slipping inside and ROCKED WITH A SHORT LEFT HOOK! Stewart wobbles the younger woman and DROPS HER WITH A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND! That left hook came out of nowhere and the follow on right landed flush leaving Kiernan flat on her back!"
McCarthy: "YES! That will DO it!"
O'Dell: "Stewart to a neutral corner. Kiernan, eyes closed, not moving, as the ref's count reaches three. Four. Five. Six. Still no movement from the younger blonde. Seven. Eight. Going to be academic. Nine, TEN! It's OVER! The count passes Kiernan by and it's OVER, and your winner by KO6 is 'The Five-Tool Player', Kristen Stewart!"
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Cassie Scerbo!"
Cassie: "I have our winner, Kristen Stewart, and, K-Stew, you got caught with one..."
Kristen (nodding): "Yeah, that was a great punch. She's a really good fighter, and if she gets some consistent work, she's going to beat people."
Cassie: "But, you rallied back tonight..."
Kristen (smiling): "Yeah. She's difficult to fight, a little unorthodox, but, once I started being able to adjust to some of that, I got rolling and got her out of there. But, with this girl, it's never going to be easy."
"Now, we all know why it's been more than three years since I've gotten a fight here," says Kiernan with a smile. "In my FCBA DEBUT, I blew the doors off their girl. If they were smart, they'd have signed me right then. Instead, I get a couple of cups of coffee with stables that never pushed me. Well, I'm STILL only 22 and I've beaten some good fighters here. Maybe, when I beat the number one contender tonight, these guys...or some other top stable...will figure out what they're missing."
"She doesn't lack confidence," says Kristen with a smile of her own. "And, she absolutely DOES have talent. But. She's not the number one ranked flyweight in the world. THAT'S the girl she's getting in the ring with."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside, and, that's 'Nobody' by Mitski you hear, and here comes the lovely Kiernan Shipka..."
Tess: "BFF, remember when Mac threw shade at Kiernan for not having any FCBA wins in her DEBUT?"
McCarthy: "AS I've explained before, I had FCBA wins BEFORE my debut!"
O'Dell (sighing): "A little over half way through. I can do this. Shipka into the ring and helped off with the robe to reveal that shamrock number we've seen before. And, that's 'Helter Skelter' by the Beatles, and here comes 'The Five-Tool Player', Kristen Stewart!"
McCarthy: "FINALLY! A REAL fighter!"
Cassie: "As she pointed out, K-Stew's the number one contender at the moment, and, to stay there, she'll definitely need a win tonight..."
O'Dell: "Kristen taps glove to fist with Mac on the way past the table and climbs into the ring. She's helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve and the crowd liking what it sees from the blonde in that lime green number she likes. Ladies about ready to go. Time for some picks. Tess likes Kristen. Mac?"
McCarthy: "REAL fighter. K-Stew!"
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "And, we're underway. Stewart has the length here and, as always, wants to use that long left to keep her rival at range where K-Stew can box. But, Shipka's got a plan for that. She's angling, keeping the gloves high, working past the defenses to the inside..."
Tess: "This is the fight plan most girls use against Stewart..."
O'Dell: "They do. It may not work, but you've got a better chance of winning trying to work inside or at middle distances than you do trying to box this girl at range. Playing her game is not exactly a pathway to victory, and Kiernan doesn't plan to do so. Instead, she's working the feet, closing, getting off in close."
McCarthy: "K-Stew will get her terms eventually. And, when she does, she'll take this kid out of there."
O'Dell: "Stewart getting some space now, using the feet, working the jab. Shipka working past, hooking a little body, but mostly going upstairs. Stewart returning fire. Final seconds ticking away in a competitive first and there's the bell. Close, but it's Kiernan who gets the points..."
Cassie: "And takes the 10-9 lead."
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Second underway and Stewart giving a little ground here to give herself more time to get that jab on, and it's working. Now, Kiernan's having more trouble getting forward. Older woman is able to get more done at range, and she's putting punches together pretty well..."
McCarthy: "TOLD you. It was only a matter of time."
O'Dell: "Shipka still getting some of her own, mind. She's able to get to the spots she wants at times, and, when she does, she gets off in combination and offsets some of what the taller woman is able to do at range. For the second round in a row, we've got good, two-way stuff here."
Cassie: "Shipka's really had some bad luck with stables, didn't get any fights with one and won one of two with the other, then got released. She's never had a real managed shot."
O'Dell: "She definitely hasn't, and she's certainly shown that she has the tools to warrant an opportunity, and she's showing some of those now, hanging right in with the top ranked flyweight in the FCBA. Sharp exchange there, and there's the bell. Close again. Stewart."
Tess: "And, we're even at 19."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Third begins the way the second ended, with the ladies working to get favorable terms. And, that's what this fight may well come down to. When Stewart's at range, she's in control, but when Kiernan can get inside she can DROP STEWART WITH A RIGHT HOOK!"
Tess: "PERFECTLY timed punch!"
O'Dell: "And, K-Stew POUNDING the mat, frustrated she got caught by that, but, as you say, Tess, a PERFECT punch from Shipka. Count at three. Four. Five. Six. Kristen to her feet at seven. Ref gives her the mandatory and waves on the younger woman. Shipka in 'search and destroy' mode now..."
McCarthy: "Stewart is fine. Just needs to run some clock here..."
O'Dell: "And, that's the plan, as the older blonde gives ground before the younger. K-Stew staying off the ropes, but Shipka landing some hard shot as Kristen backs and covers, backs and covers. Just ten seconds to go in the third. Good right from Kiernan and there's the bell. Big 10-8 round for Shipka."
Cassie: "And Kiernan leads 29-27 after three."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "Shipka coming forward early. Stewart giving ground. Kristen still a little buzzed here. Kiernan knows it and is taking advantage of it, stepping to and sitting down on her punches. Older woman trying to manage, working the jab, slowing this down as much as she can..."
McCarthy: "Like I said, just needs to run a little clock."
O'Dell: "And, she's managed to do that much, but Kiernan still in control here. She's definitely taking the fight to Kristen and getting the better of things, though Stewart seems to be getting stronger as the round goes on. SHARP exchange there and both fighters landed good punches."'
Cassie: "Kristen getting more aggressive now."
O'Dell: "Is, indeed. Has confidence in the legs again, so she's getting back to work. We're down under twenty seconds in the round though. Stewart working the left. Shipka trying to work past. Good right by K-Stew and there's the bell. Shipka takes another one, this time wide."
Tess: "And she's pushed out to a three point lead, 39-36."
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Back to boxing as we start the fifth, and back to the struggle to get favorable terms. Stewart working that left in a major way in service of creating the distance she wants. Shipka determined to crowd, angling, slipping, blocking, all to get inside where she can be more effective."
Tess: "Kiernan's really fought well tonight, Jenny."
O'Dell: "Certainly has. She's given Kristen all she wants and more to this point. Stewart doubling the jab, working to slow Shipka down. Kiernan inside, digs a hook to the body, but wants to work upstairs, where she's been plenty effective. Stewart uses a drop step to get some space."
McCarthy: "Really good technical stuff right now from both blondes."
O'Dell: "No doubt about it. We're down to the final fifteen seconds of the fifth, and, for the third time in five rounds, it's close. Stewart with a double-tap jab and follows with a right hand that stops Shipka's forward motion, and there's the bell. Stewart's round, albeit narrowly."
Cassie: "But, Shipka still leads 48-46 at the half."
ROUND SIX:
O'Dell: "Second half underway, and, again, it's all about that space. Stewart wants lots of it, and Shipka doesn't want to give her much at all. And, again, it's K-Stew piling up the points at range and Kiernan offsetting that when she gets to her spots in close and gets off in combination..."
Cassie: "I hate to ever agree with Mac, but this IS good, technical stuff."
Tess: "Don't make a habit of it, BFF..."
O'Dell: "Shipka slipping inside and ROCKED WITH A SHORT LEFT HOOK! Stewart wobbles the younger woman and DROPS HER WITH A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND! That left hook came out of nowhere and the follow on right landed flush leaving Kiernan flat on her back!"
McCarthy: "YES! That will DO it!"
O'Dell: "Stewart to a neutral corner. Kiernan, eyes closed, not moving, as the ref's count reaches three. Four. Five. Six. Still no movement from the younger blonde. Seven. Eight. Going to be academic. Nine, TEN! It's OVER! The count passes Kiernan by and it's OVER, and your winner by KO6 is 'The Five-Tool Player', Kristen Stewart!"
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Cassie Scerbo!"
Cassie: "I have our winner, Kristen Stewart, and, K-Stew, you got caught with one..."
Kristen (nodding): "Yeah, that was a great punch. She's a really good fighter, and if she gets some consistent work, she's going to beat people."
Cassie: "But, you rallied back tonight..."
Kristen (smiling): "Yeah. She's difficult to fight, a little unorthodox, but, once I started being able to adjust to some of that, I got rolling and got her out of there. But, with this girl, it's never going to be easy."