Priyanka Chopra vs. Jessica Alba
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:
 
This is an intriguing brunette matchup for lots of reasons, not the least of which is, it features fighters at far different stages of their respective careers. Though Alba is barely more than a year older than Chopra, Jessica's a four-time champion with over 100 fights to her credit, while Priyanka has only seven. One thing the fighters have in common, though, is needing a win. Priyanka showed plenty of promise in her first five fights, but managed only a single win. She's won a pair since, though, and seems to be on the right track. But, HISC is a demanding stable, and, it's always good to keep winning. In Alba's case, tongues have been wagging for some time now that she's past it, maybe even shot. Because, you know, when a girl who's won multiple titles wins four of her last 20 fights, people will talk.

But, if there's pressure, and there is, Priyanka doesn't seem to be feeling it. "Obviously, you have to respect a girl with her resume," says the former Miss World with a nod. "But, I just blasted out a girl who beat her. I can handle Jessica. And, I will."

"People keep asking if I'm ready to retire," says Jessica with a shake of the head. "I haven't been fighting well lately, but I can still fight at championship level. I'm not finished. And, I'll prove that tonight."

ROUND ONE:
 
In a bit of an upset, Chopra, the bigger and stronger of the two fighters, does not get aggressive early. She doesn't look to close and get physical. Instead, she stays at range and boxes with Alba. And, this has been Jessica's game since she joined the FCBA 16 years ago. Alba may not be nineteen like she was when she won her debut against Kelly Packard in 2000, but she's still in shape, still has quick hands, and still moves very well. But, Chopra is in shape, has quick hands, and moves very well, too. She's shown before that she can do this, and she's doing it now, holding her own with Alba as the two beauties bob the heads, move the hands and feet, play the angles, look for and create openings for punches. Both are active. Both are accurate. It's pretty stuff. Effective stuff. And, there's not much in it. At the bell, it's very close, but it's Chopra who claims the points and the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

More of the same. The first round wasn't simply recon for Chopra. This is where she wants to be and it's what she wants to do. And, Alba has no problem with that. Little more movement from Jess this stanza. No jab and circle stuff, but more foot movement, more angling, looking to wrong foot the less-experienced fighter, foul her sights, make it difficult for her to get square. Priyanka, though, can play this game, and, again, does so every bit as well as Alba. Jessica not taken aback by this. She just keeps at it, showing that normal high work rate. She's more than willing to see whether or not Chopra can keep doing what she's doing now all night. That's yet to be determined. But, we know she can do it at the moment. And do it very well. From beginning to end, the round features solid, two-way boxing action, and, when the bell sounds, again, it's very close. And, again, it's Chopra, who now leads 20-18.

ROUND THREE: 

And, more ranged boxing. The pattern is clearly set. Both fighters like the terms and nobody's going to change them. And, again, it's good, two-way stuff, with each brunette giving as much as she's getting. Until Jessica gives something a little more than she's been getting. It's something we've seen from Alba for all of the sixteen years she's been in the FCBA. An absolute snake strike of a right hand that comes perfectly behind a left jab and catches Chopra on the chin. Priyanka wobbles. Starts to go down. And, somehow stays on her feet. But, not for long if Alba has anything to say about it. Jess loads up the heavy guns and begins firing, backing Priyanka up with the heaviest shell of the fight to this point. Chopra keeps the guard high, fights back in counter when she can, gives ground only when she must. But. She must. Alba's constant heavy shelling eventually traps her on the ropes, where the older brunette loads up even more and pounds away to the bell, grabbing her first round wide and cutting Chopra's lead to 29-28.

ROUND FOUR: 

There are, of course, many advantages to experience, all, obviously, involving the simple fact that, the more experience you gain, the more situations you've seen before, probably multiple times. And, when you've seen a situation multiple times, you're more prepared to deal with it. Perhaps the situation that experience helps most is the ability to finish or not be finished. In most cases, the more callow the fighter is, the more trouble she has finishing and, in the inverse, the more likely she is to GET finished. And, Alba, with a hundred-plus fights under her belt, knows well how to finish. And, that's just what she spends the fourth doing. Jessica picks apart a game but disorganized Priyanka, landing hard shot, backing her up, giving her a thorough beating. Chopra's mostly hanging on, clinching when she can, covering up, giving ground, just trying to survive the round. And, it's a credit to her sturdy legs that she's able to do that. Because, Alba lands several punches that would have put most of the FCBA's bantams on the canvas to stay. Not Priyanka. She's still standing when the fourth ends. But, Alba's taken it wide and evened the fight at 38.

ROUND FIVE: 

Chopra shows her chops. The Indian beauty starts the fifth determined to hold ground and slow down Alba's offensive. And, through pure physicality and force of will, she's able to do it. Jessica's no longer able to back and bully her opponent, and, after about a minute, she stops trying. Instead, the veteran goes back to the ranged boxing she likes, and, while that takes the heat of Priyanka, it doesn't exactly solve her problem. Because, Chopra's still a bit dazed from all the punishment, and, instead of holding her own with Alba, she's coming out second best in the exchanges. Still, there's progress, because she's able to stand in and fire back off her front foot. As the round goes on, Priyanka gets steadier and does better. And, by the time the final bell sounds, Chopra's giving every bit as good as she gets. That's not enough to save the round for her, because Alba's built up enough of a lead in the first two minutes to grab it, but, while Chopra's now down 48-47 at the half, she's physically back in the fight..

ROUND SIX: 

Chopra changes tactics. No more ranged boxing. Now, the Indian beauty wants to close and bang. She's coming forward behind the jab, forcing Alba to give ground. Jessica does. She's willing to mix it up with Priyanka, but not to slug it out with her. Instead, Alba moves, backing and turning, making Chopra work the feet, make an effort to square. And, that's exactly what the former Miss World does. And, well. She's matching footwork, getting her jab on, lining up nice right hands. Alba getting stung a little, getting put on the back foot, and then being PUT ON HER BACK! It's a lovely one-two from Priyanka, a sharp left jab that snaps back the head and a BOOMING right cross in behind that swivels Alba's head and sends her crashing to the canvas. Chopra quickly to a neutral corner, watches as Alba rolls to her belly, pushes to hands and knees, but can't get any further. It's OVER! And your winner by KO6 is Priyanka Chopra!

AFTER:

Priyanka all business post-fight. No smiles. No gushing. This is what she expected, nothing more, nothing less. "It came down to my physicality," says the Indian with a nod. "She's obviously a skilled fighter, but I'm just that much stronger, that much sturdier. I could take her best shots, but, she couldn't take mine. And, there aren't many bantams who can."