Priyanka Chopra vs. Selena Gomez

 (Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Battle of Top Twenty bantams who find themselves in second position in their own stables, with Priyanka having been passed up by champion Naomi Scott and Gomez never having been able to surpass former champion Nina Dobrev. So, yeah, both could use a win in this one, and both are confident of getting it. "Selena," says Chopra, "Is a good little bantam. But. She's not strong enough or physical enough to hang in there with ME."

"Priyanka is about to find out," says a hard-eyed Selena, "That I'm strong enough and physical enough to hang with ANY bantam in the FCBA."

ROUND ONE:

Priyanka gets physical...and looks like Nostradamus, if, you know, Nostradamus actually predicted something that came true. She's stepping to Gomez, backing up the younger woman, tossing her onto the defensive. Selena's trying to hold canvas, but the taller Indian beauty is grabbing all of it she wants...and Gomez has no answers. Instead, Priyanka's bullying her around the ring, working her over to head and body. Selena's not hurt, mind, but she's getting touched up as Big Choppy piles up points and imposes will in a big way. Late in the round, Gomez is actually pinned to the cables and taking, as Chopra just physically dominates her from the opening seconds until the closing bell, with Selena doing just enough in counter to avoid a shutout. But. It's Priyanka's round wide and Chopra grabs the 10-9 lead.


ROUND TWO:

Chopra even more aggressive in the second stanza, backing up the younger woman, walking her down behind a stiff left jab and hard follow on right hands. Gomez again unable to hold canva...BOOM! Right hand counter, SELENA and PRIYANKA IS HURT! Chopra covers up and is DROPPED BY A THREE-PUNCH FLURRY. Indian beauty down on her right side as Gomez stomps to a neutral corner. Chopra sits up at four, gets to her feet at eight and takes the mandatory. Ref then waives on Selena and GOMEZ GOES TO WORK! Younger brunette battering the older back into the ropes and then working over that body with hooks as Chopra keeps the guard high. Priyanka trying to clinch, but Gomez shoving off, going back to work, downstairs, then up, then back down, giving her rival a thorough beating right to the bell. When it rings, Chopra's survived, but Gomez has taken the round 10-8 and pulled into a 19-18 lead.

ROUND THREE:

Gomez rampant. She's got Chopra buzzed, and she's taking full advantage, backing up Priyanka with heavy flurry after heavy flurry. Indian beauty giving ground, keeping the guard up, playing for time as Gomez continues getting off lusty. The two goals are clear. Big Choppy looking to run clock and get the legs back under her, Selena looking to finish or, at least, effect a complete clean up. And, while Gomez can't seem to get the former done, she's definitely accomplishing the latter, completely dominating Priyanka from the opening seconds. Ref is watching closely, ready to jump in and stop the thing, but, he never pulls the trigger. Instead, the beating goes on for the full three minutes, and, when the bell rings, Gomez has pitched a shutout and extended her lead to 29-27.

ROUND FOUR:

Gomez back to work early, but Chopra firming up her front now, banging back. Selena thinks twice about standing and slugging with the Indian beauty and, instead, decides to box at range. Big Choppy willing to play this game for the moment, with the legs, perhaps, still not at one hundred percent. So, with the terms agreed upon, we see good, tactical stuff for the first time in the contest, and both fighters show they can play this game very well, getting the hands out and back, moving the head and feet, playing the angles, setting up punches, playing good defense. It's nip and tuck the entire way, with both fighters effective, but, when the bell rings, Gomez has claimed her third consecutive round, albeit narrowly this time, and she's extended her lead to three points, 39-36.

ROUND FIVE:

Boxing at range as we start the round, but, about thirty seconds in, Big Choppy makes with the pressure. Soon enough, Gomez is in retreat again, getting out-physicaled by the Indian beauty. Selena firing back in spots, trying to slow down Priyanka, but the older woman keeps coming and ROCKS GOMEZ WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Selena rumblin', stumblin', fumblin'...and DROPPED WITH A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND! Chopra BOUNCING to a neutral corner as Gomez stares up at the referee from her back. As the count goes on, it looks grim for the younger brunette, but, somehow, Selena struggles to her feet at nine. Ref clearly thinking about it during the mandatory, but he WAIVES ON BIG CHOPPY! And Chopra goes to WORK, battering Gomez around the ring, trapping her on the cables, and working her over to the bell. Selena hangs on, but she takes a thumping, and, when the bell finally rings, Chopra has the round 10-8 and has cut Selena's lead to 47-46.

ROUND SIX:

Big Choppy rampant. Older brunette takes the fight to Selena in a big way. With wobbly legs, Gomez can't do a thing to slow down the Indian beauty's offensive, and the result is quite the mauling, as the American is backed up over and over again by heavy fire from her rival. Selena able to fire back here and there, but it's all sound and fury signifying nothing as far as Priyanka is concerned. Chopra's walking through just about all of it, sitting down on absolutely everything, and giving her rival a beating. Final minute sees Gomez seemingly shake the worst of the damage. She's moving better, able to fire back more and at least conduct a fighting retreat. But, in retreat she remains right to the final bell. When it rings, there's no doubt about it. Priyanka's gotten the round wide and evened the fight at 56.

ROUND SEVEN:

Chopra continuing the pressure, backing up Gomez, bullying her around the ring. Then, BOOM! Straight right hand and SELENA IS WOBBLED and then DROPPED TO HER KNEES with a left hook! Chopra again to a neutral corner. Selena shaking her head, getting to her feet at five. Ref gives her the mandatory and ON COMES PRIYANKA AGAIN! She's backing the younger woman up with blizzards of leather and GETTING NAILED WITH A RIGHT HAND COUNTER! Gomez sets the feet and keyholes a right now BIG CHOPPY is hurt! Selena still buzzed herself, but she lets the hands go, tossing everything in the arsenal at Priyanka and it's all too much! Indian beauty sinks to her knees under the barrage of fire! Selena now to a neutral corner. Chopra drops to all fours at five and pushes up to her feet only to wobble and crumple back to the canvas, rolling to her back to stare up at the referee as the count passes her by! It's OVER! And your winner by KO7 in dramatic fashion is Selena Gomez!

AFTER:

Selena's clearly been in a fight, face puffy, left eye starting to close, but she's all smiles in the post-fight interview. "I TOLD you. I told EVERYONE. I can match physicals with anyone in this division. EVEN Big Choppy. And, I've got my sights set on some even headier competition. Like, you know, her STABLEMATE, assuming she gets by Kira tonight. Scott/Gomez for the bantamweight belts in June? Sounds like a money maker to me!"