Ginny Gardner

(24, 5’8, 129 lbs, 13:7 FCBA, The Dollhouse)
Vs.
Sophie Turner
(23, 5’9, 134 lbs, 11:6 FCBA, Foxfire Boxing)

Results: Lookout!; Story: Caspian & The Dollhouse

BEFORE:
The opening fight for tonight’s Doll Ball season finale is an intriguing battle of young blondes as Virginia Gardner of the Dollhouse takes on Foxfire’s Sophie Turner. At the pre-fight press conference, the girls enter from opposite ends of the hallway, smiling cordially at the first sight of one another before sitting down on stage at the table.

"I'm looking forward to one of the toughest fights of my career tonight,” Ginny says first, responding to a reporter’s question about how this fight with Turner stacks up with others in her career. “Carmen really wanted to challenge all of us with this year’s season finale, and I'm definitely ready for a challenge! Sophie’s 5-0 this year, and it’s also a first for me to be fighting someone bigger who mainly fights at Lightweight. But I've been working hard on ways to mitigate all of that, and I plan to do just that tonight. Honestly, I've been training my ass off for this one, so yeah, f*cking bring it, Sophie! You're going down tonight!"

Ginny ends her segment by giving Sophie a coy I’m-f*cking-serious-about-it look, though we don’t think Sophie’s too convinced by it by the way the British blonde is smirking, with a flip of the hair to the side of her freckled face.

“Gardner’s done well for herself, I’ll admit that. But come on. We all know she doesn’t stand a chance tonight. Not against me. And I sure as hell don’t plan on ending my winning streak tonight - not to a Bantam. So it’s nothing personal, dearie. It’s just not going to be a very pleasant night for you.”

Both girls confident coming into this fight, even as they meet at the podium for the official staredown. We have Turner with only a slight one-inch height advantage, but otherwise, not much difference between the two ladies, both posing lean and mean as they stare each other down and then break at the ref’s instructions. Something tells us we’re in for a fast and action-packed fight for this one!

Later in the arena, guest Sophie striding down the ramp first, that cocky smirk still on her face as she lifts her hand to acknowledge the crowds. She’s wearing a multi-coloured cut-off blouse, shiny and shifting, and black boxing trunks, fighting out of one corner in solid red gloves. Ginny next, resident Doll wearing her resident baby blue sports bra for a top and light grey tights for bottoms, her blonde hair secured into a neat ponytail as she smiles at the impressive welcome roar from the fans.

Referee calls the match to order, explaining the rules in the ring as both ladies meet in the center for the final send-off. Surprisingly, they touch gloves when instructed to, albeit with a little extra force OUMPH put in for emphasis. Bell rings and HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Bantamweight action!

ROUND 1:
Ginny advances with a solid, balanced approach, eager to get started but still playing it safe with a couple of jabs initiated to Sophie’s guard. Both women will be wanting to utilise their speed and street-smarts in order to overwhelm their opponent here, but Turner remarkably subdued early on, taking Ginny’s punches on her arms and only occasionally hitting back, which emboldens the Doll even more as Ginny starts scoring on the cheek and body in earnest. Turner grunting, that smirk of hers completely gone by this point as she wonders how and when to strike back at the fast-moving Doll. Ginny taking the advantage that’s been handed to her, no qualms as she nails the Foxfire star with a late punt to the nostrils. Sophie suddenly flies into action back, retaliating with some jabs of her own, but it’s really no use as the bell rings soon after and Gardner looks elated at the opening result, especially if this is an indication of how the rest of the fight is gonna go.

ROUND 2:
It’s not as though Ginny is marching into the phoenix’s den or something - she’s doing what blonde wonder Ginny Gardner does best: moving and shooting fast as she resumes scoring on Sophie’s slower frame. More action and movement from her opponent this round though, with Turner’s feet shifting fast as she looks to pressure the Doll backwards. Ginny still hitting the jabs confidently to the head and guard, all that time in the gym doing wonders for her stamina. But a late counter-combo from Turner makes her grunt loudly as two quick strikes bang into her cheek, pushing her back suddenly. Turner still with a deliberate, slow march forward, pressure and cooker making Gardner scramble for space to manoeuvre as the Doll looks to reestablish her advantage with targeted jabs at the incoming redhead. Sophie picking her shots carefully as well, blocking the attacks and then bashing a right hand back into Ginny’s arms hard, giving the Doll a bad round as she scrams and ducks. Looks like Gardner will be resorting to taking the fight slow and steady, but that strategy has surely cost her this round wide as Sophie regains her confidence.

ROUND 3:
Turner fighting like we’ve seen her done before in previous matches: a focused advance on the relative newcomer as she punts powerful shots into Ginny's guard, her reach advantage and power making Gardner groaning as she's rocked, only to scoot out of harm’s way throughout most of the first minute. There's confusion on her face as Gardner wonders who this new girl in front of her is exactly, with Turner turning up the pressure from zero to a hundred in a heartbeat. Gardner doesn't get another chance to get in close, however, only manages some occasional slaps of leather to the nose when Turner gets careless, but they're not enough to trouble the redhead, who lands more and more straight hands into the lanky girl's arms, banging the side of head as she knocks Ginny down a peg or two this time round.

ROUND 4:
Ginny's earlier success melting away fast, but at least now she knows what and who she's dealing with. The Doll keeps her distance early, legs working in overdrive as she works to evade first and score points later. To an extent, it works, leaving the slower Turner in the dust as Ginny weaves and dodges at the smallest hint of movement, frustrating Sophie to no end, who hadn't planned for this eventuality. Turner expending all her energy as a result, huffing and puffing and trying to blow this house over, starts taking damage when Gardner returns fire in the second half of the round by tagging Turner on the cheek with dull smacks and grunts from the redhead’s lips. Turner shaking her head, partly in denial that she's losing this exchange, suddenly opts to RUSH the Doll, swinging wild, but misses most of the swings as Gardner weaves her head back, PLANTS leather on the Foxfire girl's cheek instead! UGHH!! Turner goes stumbling to the side, rocked hard by that hook to the face!! Ginny snaps another one-two into the nose and lips and SENDS HER DOWN! KNOCKDOWN for Ginny Gardner! The Dollhouse corner erupts in cheers as Ginny takes a step back, raises her hand high with a grin on her face. Sophie Turner looking shocked and angered on the ground, slowly scrambling her way up by using the ropes as support. Ginny earns herself a comeback round as the bell rings after Turner gets to her feet by the count of 7.

ROUND 5:
Ginny still skirting the ring even after her last round knockdown attempt, as though wary of Sophie’s vengeance that’s surely coming. Turner still abounding with energy, chases the blonde right out of the gate. Ginny having a good first two minutes, keeping the winded Turner at bay with jabs to the face repeated, but then gets caught by a cross hand stuffed straight into her mouth, then another dry hook to the side of her head, which daze her bad as Ginny spins 180, holding her face. Turner’s turn to barrel in, sensing a chance to hurt. Ginny slightly panicked, desperately moving away and still jabbing at her attacker with one hand, but she’s powerless to intercept Turner’s strong incoming punches, which smack smack smack on the arms and into the blonde’s body, pushing Gardner further and further into one corner. What the hell happened to Gardner’s dominance last round?? Sophie Turner somehow shrugging it off and coming at the shocked Doll hard. Thankfully, Ginny survives an attempt at a knockdown this round, with the bell saving her at the last minute.

ROUND 6:
That last blitz certainly took its toll on Gardner - the blonde’s stumbling out of her corner at the sound of the bell, looking slightly winded and dazed. Both competitors start the round with an exchange of jabs for the first minute, but it’s clear who’s doing more damage: Turner just landing harder, stiffer shots to Ginny’s face, making her grunt out loud as she’s pounded and pushed backwards. Gardner’s still doing her best not to get trapped like last time, and to her credit, she’s using every tool in her box to try and survive the round and revive her dominance, but Turner just seems to want it more, keeps crowding in and bashing more and more powerful shots into her arms, then rocking her with hooks into the arms. Ginny gets caught by one such errant hand in the second minute - blonde lets out a howl as she’s thrown off her feet. Turner not letting up even then, continues to slam punches into Gardner’s body on her way down! KNOCKDOWN right back for Sophie Turner as the Foxfire phoenix lets out a ROAR of her own! Gardner in trouble throughout the count, still struggling on her knees, grabbing desperate at the ropes when the referee’s already pass the count of 7. The Dollhouse corner looks forlorn as their girl seems out of it, leaning helplessly against the ropes, unable to continue fighting as the count passes her by! It’s over!

Official Decision: Sophie Turner defeats Ginny Gardner via KO6!

AFTER:
Bad news for Gardner, who failed to break her opponent’s winning streak tonight. Gardner collapsing down to the mat immediately after the realisation hits, her face hidden in her arms as she catches her breath.

To Sophie, however, this result was always a certified conclusion. She celebrates almost nonchalantly as she walks back to her corner with a smile. Five straight wins in this business is nothing to sneeze at indeed, and now, even more remarkable as the tough young Brit ends a perfect year with another impressive win over Ginny. Turner raises an arm, turns to the crowds, that cocky smile returning to her face. She takes off her gloves and saunters over to Ginny, planting a foot firmly down into the squirming girl’s chest for the cameras.

Ginny struggling but subdued, fighting back tears as she’s pinned down by her counterpart. Turner relishing the control, smirking down at the defeated American: "Definitely a nice try Virginia, but I think you should really stick to Bantams."

Ginny letting out a strangled sob for reply, before she’s finally released, the cold air once more filling her battered body. Turner gloats a little more inside the ring (just because she can) then exits to the apron, where she’s swamped by reporters by ringside. “Hey, give the girl a break. She didn’t know what she was getting herself into. She knows now.” Sophie chuckles, waving one last time to the many Game of Thrones fans in the arena before quickly disappearing backstage.