Emily VanCamp vs. Wallis Day

(Lookout! Boxing vs FCBA Independent)

Results: Lookout!; Story: The Grand Wizard

BEFORE:

Battle of blondes features former bantamweight champ Emily, who's been up and down since a move from bantam to lightweight, and hot prospect Wallis, who's seen her share of rough waters after her initial impressive run failed to get her management. And, both ladies sound like feeling a little pressure in the pre-fight. "Yeah, I need to get it going," says Emily with a nod. "Everyone knows what I can do. You don't win the belts FOUR times if you aren't an elite fighter. I just need to get back on track...and that starts tonight."

"I keep hearing how I was close," says Wallis with a shake of the head. "'We ALMOST signed her!' 'Her big run ALMOST got her management.' Well, I'm tired of being close, and, tonight, I have a big opportunity. I will NOT waste it."

ROUND ONE:

Day moving the feet, jabbing, looking to work at range. Ems isn't having it, though. VanCamp likes middle distances, where she can get her box on and also bring her power to bear, and, despite the less-experienced blonde's best efforts, that's exactly what Emily does. And, it doesn't take the Canadian long to get into the kind of rhythm that helped her with those four titles. She's putting together punches, tossing Wallis onto the defensive over and over again. Day landing some in counter, but she's spending too much time getting backed up and covering up. Late round sees Emily really getting going, landing a series of hard right hands that get Day's attention. When the bell finally rings, VanCamp's taken it and plenty wide, too, to move into a 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Wallis gets some geometry working for her. She's giving a little ground, moving laterally, getting that jab out, doing everything she can to create the distance she wants, and, she's having some success. Now, the Brit's getting punches put together at range, keeping Emily out of her spots. But, that doesn't last past mid-round. At that point, VanCamp's problem solving bears fruit and she starts working to middle distances again, changing things completely. As much as Day controlled the first half of the round, the Canadian grabs hold of the second half, slowly making up the stagger with solid combinations that keep Day on her back foot, as they did for almost all of the first. But, at the bell, Emily hasn't quite made up enough ground. Wallis takes it narrowly to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Wallis again in control early. She's getting the range with her feet and her jab. Emily resolute, continuing to move, working hard to get to her spots. Then, about a minute in, BOOM! Day catches VanCamp with a right hand and Emily is HURT! EVC stumbles backward and nearly goes down, and the Brit is ALL IN, winging away with both hands looking to get what would be a HUGE stoppage. Canadian backed quickly to the ropes where she forms the tight earmuff as Day wings away. Wallis staying sound, setting up her punches well, scoring with both hands as the ref looks in closely. Emily, for her part, showing her veteran wiles, doing just enough to keep the ref at bay while rolling with and blocking punches, playing for time. And, while Day gets plenty done before the bell, when it rings, VanCamp is still standing, though Wallis has the round wide and pulls into a 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Day pressing her advantage early, backing up VanCamp, effecting a solid cleanup while she continues trying to finish the thing. Emily willing to trade space for time, countering in spots, playing defense, ROCKING DAY WITH A RIGHT HAND COUNTER! Out of nowhere, VanCamp plants the feet and lands a NASTY right that sends the Brit wobbling backward and now it's EMILY who's all in. Canadian POUNDING away at the younger blonde, driving her up against the cables in a complete 180 from the previous round. A SOLID right shakes Day and has the ref on a hair trigger, but Wallis leans back in the ropes in the tight guard, rolling with, jabbing back in spots, playing the same role Emily did in the previous round, and playing it well enough to make it to the bell. Emily's grabbed the round wide and evened things at 38, but, like Day did in the third, she may have missed a huge opportunity.

ROUND FIVE:

VanCamp after day, cleaning up in a major way. Younger blonde still a bit wobbly and the veteran knows it. She's stepping to her rival, banging away with both hands. Day playing defense, willing to give ground, jabbing back in spots, but definitely taking a licking. BOOM! Straight right hand, EVC and DOWN GOES WALLIS! VanCamp with a VICIOUS right hand that spills Day to her back. Emily to a neutral corner. Brit staring up at the ref as he counts down at her. Day rolls to her belly at six, pushes to hands and knees at seven, gets to her feet at nine. Ref thinks about it during the mandatory, but waives on Emily. Canadian goes all in again, battering the younger woman back to the ropes and calling in the heavy artillery. Day with the guard high, returning fire here and there, keeping the ref at bay, running the clock. She makes it to the bell once again, but this time the damage is greater. Emily has the round 10-8 and pulls into a 48-46 lead.

ROUND SIX:

Emily pouring forward, backing up Wallis. Day in full retreat, keeping the guard high, playing for time and then ROCKING VANCAMP WITH A RIGHT-HAND COUNTER! British blonde times a perfect right and EMILY IS GOBSMACKED! VanCamp rumblin', stumblin' fumblin' backward as Day swings over to the offensive. Wallis still buzzed herself, but she's able to mount enough offense to drive the older blonde into the ropes. Emily forms the tight earmuff and Day GOES TO TOWN on the body, hooking ribs and tummy, looking to bring the guard down. VanCamp not having it, taking the punishment and keeping the gloves high, so Wallis, shaking the damage completely now, goes upstairs with hard combinations, snapping her rival's head back several times. Ref's looking closely, but Emily's doing enough to make it to the bell. But, Day's grabbed the round wide and cut the Canadian's lead to 57-56.

ROUND SEVEN:

Day after VanCamp in a major way. She's walking her down behind the long left jab, dropping in hard right hands, punishing the older woman, working hard to finish. BOOM! Right hand, Wallis and DOWN GOES EMILY! VanCamp dropped to her right side by a BIG right from Day! Wallis to a neutral corner. VanCamp shaking her head, rolling to her belly at six, pushing to her feet at eight. Ref gives her the mandatory and ON COMES WALLIS. Day winging away now, sensing the biggest victory of her career. Emily wobbly, giving ground, trying to hang on and BEING DROPPED AGAIN this time by a right hook! VanCamp on the canvas, staring up at the ref as Day goes to a neutral corner. Emily rolls to her belly at six yet again, pushes to hands and knees at seven...and CRUMPLES BACK TO THE CANVAS! It's OVER! The count passes the former champion by and your winner by KO7 is Wallis Day!

AFTER:

Day scuffed, puffed, but jubilant. "I told you," she says, still breathing hard. "Huge opportunity...wasn't going to waste it. Everybody can see now. Everyone could see tonight. I've got what it takes to get to the top of this division. And, that's exactly what I'm going to do!"