Posted Apr 28., 2017, 6:00 PM
TITLE CH TROIAN BELLISARIO VS CLAIRE DANES
FCBA Bantamweight Title
Results: Lookout Writing: Archer
Troian: 31 YO, 5’7 (1.70 m), 21-15-0 since 2011, Pretty Little Punchers
Claire: 38 YO, 5’5 ½ (1.66 m ), 91-51-6 since 1999, Hawkeye International
Before: Troian looking tense in the pre-fight, though she’s not admitting she’s intimidated at facing the multi-time champion.
“Well, of course I remember losing my only other fight with Claire, but that was in 2012 and I’ve come so far as a fighter since then. I know that Claire is still a tough fight. She only lost once last year—but that was to my stable sister Shay Mitchell and I did beat Shay to get the title. So I feel I have a very good chance to winning this time.”
Claire, cool and sly as ever, just smiles when she takes her turn at the podium: “I like an opponent who hasn’t given up hope of beating me. Yes, I did lose to Ms. Mitchell and yes, Ms. Bellisario was able to beat her. But I never subscribed to the “if A beats B but loses to C then C is automatically better than B. This fight is in the here and now. I have the confidence from having beaten Troi in the past and just as much confidence that I can deal with whatever changes she has made since then.”
“That’s a very interesting math problem, “ Troian drawls, “but I prefer just settling who is better with lots and loots of punching. I think when the leather storm clears—I’ll be the one who is wearing the belt.”
“You let that dream keep you going,” Claire replies, “because it’s just a fantasy my leather will bring crashing to the canvas. Remember that dear. You have a had a lovely run at the top, but it is about to end.”
Troian glowers at the strawberry blonde veteran: “No it is not. You are not getting that belt from me!”
“I’ve heard that before—from quite a few champions who soon became ex-champions—I am, sure they were no happier about it than you will be,” Claire says with supreme assurance.
“Claire—I am tired to listening to you—see you at the fight!” Troian snaps, stalking off the stage.
Claire smiles as she is the one left to speak to the press and fans: “It looks like the champ just doesn’t know how to be polite. Thank you all for coming and, rest assured, your next champion will know good manners!”
Claire comes to the ring in dark blue sports bra and black short shorts. Black gloves and boots with dark blue laces. Hair pulled back and fastened with a blue scrunchy. Troian in a white one piece with a thin black belt at the waist. Black gloves and boots with white laces. Dark hair in a battle braid down her back. Ring instructions are chilly but correct. Fighters sent to their corners. They stand there, moving in place to keep limber and then the bell rings. It’s on!
R1: Troian very quick out of her corner and gives Claire four quick rights and lefts to the face. Claire seems startled by this rude treatment gets her gloves up but the champ then shifts fire to the Danes chassis. Claire thumped hard to the belly and ribs. Claire backing up, trying to get her jab going, but Troian now moving around the challenger peppering her with quick strokes to the head. Claire struggles to keep Troian back, but it isn’t until late in the round that she is finally able get some good counters into the champ’s body. Troian slows down, but she still wins the round wide,
R2: Claire not about to be surprised again, is quick off her stool and into Troian with hard quick punching to the face, Troian knocked back on her heels, but recovers to battle the newly aggressive Claire. Claire bobbing and weaving as she now deploys her legendary boxing skills. Troian struggling to adjust is getting popped to the body and head in tricky combinations. Champ not backing off and she is giving Claire matching counters to the body with a few shots to the head for variety, Claire not liking the amount of resistance she’s getting and ups her intensity late to shake Troi with swats to the head. Troi does slow up and pulls back. Not a big push, but enough to secure a close round for Claire.
R3: Claire advancing strongly at the start of this round. Troian trying to dig in to stop her, but gets shaken by a solid Claire uppercut to the chin. Troian falling back and Claire moving smartly to pursue. Troian now getting banged hard to the body and is not getting her counters back into the aggressive Claire with much effectiveness. Claire adding some nice footwork to keep Troi looking befuddled as the challenger pops the champ again and again. Troian covering up more and punching back less as the round goes on. Claire smiling as the round ends and she books a wide win on the cards.
R4: Troian meeting the Claire challenge with an opening attack on her own. Claire bashed hard in the body by Troian’s hooks. Then Troi gives some quick overhand rights and lefts that smack Claire in the cheeks. Claire again looking flustered by a Bellisario barrage and it seems to take her a while to get her jab going properly. However once the jab is deployed, Troian takes some accurate and effective shots. Champ is forced back, though she swings around trying to get a fresh punching angle on Claire. Claire trying to block, gets hit to the body and head before she is able to use the jab again. Troian working hard manages to win the round, but Claire able to make it close.
R5: Claire moving to the offensive as they round opens. Troian being worked hard to the belly and soon is hunched up from the repeated impacts. Claire moving skillfully to push her girl back to the ropes. Troian looking worried as she tries to avoid being trapped on the stands. Claire coolly keeping up the pressure and spots an opportunity. Danes right flashes out AND TROIAN BELLISARIO CRACKED HARD ON THE JAW—SHE SPRAWLS AGAINST THE ROPES AND SLIDES TO HER KNEES! THE CHAMP IS DOWN!
Wild reaction from the packed arena as Claire strides to the neutral corner and referee moves in to do the count. Troian clawing at the ropes, trying to use them to pull herself. Can she do it in time? “EIGHT…NINE…” She’s up! Troian’s got a nasty lump on her jaw, but she waves her hand defiantly at Claire to signal her back in. (Claire waits until the referee makes it official). Claire moves in with crisp shots to the body (as Troian is carefully protecting her head). Troian seems willing to absorb the body punching just to get out of the ring. Bell finally rings and Troian is still standing, but Claire is looking triumphant as she walks to her corner, cheered by her fans. Troian has her head up, but she has to force herself to walk steadily back to her stool.
R6: Troian seems to have shaken off the knockdown as she greets Claire with a volley of hooks to the body. Claire shaken as she stutter-steps away but Troian staying on her with pressure swings at the head that either smack home or keep Danes ducking. Claire trying maneuver her way to safety, but Troian not giving the chance to recover. Then Troian makes a hard move to the right and draws Claire to block. BANG! Troian brings a well-aimed left into Claire’s head at the temple. DOWN GOES CLAIRE! Claire has gone limp and lands hard on her chest like a puppet whose strings have been cut. Troian off to the neutral corner. Referee moving in as Claire is stirring. She sits up, trying to clear her spinning head and then steady herself before rising to beat the count. Referee seems uncertain about allowing this to go, which provokes a lively outburst from Claire and the official waves Troian back in. Claire’s showing some jab as Troian comes back at her. It’s good enough to avoid a sweep by Troian, but round is clearly in the champ’s column at the bell. Claire lowers her gloves and slowly makes her way back to her corner. She is looking pale and drained. Troian is all business turning away from Claire and marching straight to her corner.
R7: Claire on the defensive from the start of the round. It’s pretty good defense as her jabs keep Troian back, but the champ is on the move, circling and then backtracking. Claire not so good on her feet this round, but she is still able to make Troian to get her punches. Trouble is, Troian is pushing more and more of these punches through to smack in the leather to Claire’s head and face. Claire struggling to keep her gloves up as Troian then shifts to a series of deep hooks to the belly. The tremors are shooting down Claire’s legs from these punches AND THEN TROIAN STRIKES TO THE CHIN! Claire’s legs fly up as her upper body arches back. Shoulders and head crash onto the canvas followed by her lower body and legs. Arms are at her sides as her head moves from side to side, but eyes are blank as her lashes flicker. Troian off to the neutral corner. Referee moving and counting. Claire trying to raise herself up on her elbows. She manages to roll onto her right side, but then lets out a sigh as she falls on her back again. She is not going to beat the count this time. “NINE!...TEN! YER OUT!!!!”
TROIAN BELLARIO DEFEATS CLAIRE DANES KO7 AND RETAINS THE BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE!
After: Shay Mitchell, Sasha Pieterse, Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson and Danielle Campbell all swarm into the ring to hug and congratulate Troian. Troian having her gloves removed and keeping an eye on Claire who has brought to the HISC corner. When it appears the doctors have pronounced Claire fit, Troian heads right over and orders:
“On your feet Danes! I have wanted to walk you ever since I first saw you boxing on TV! I thought you were a haughty and arrogant and always loved it when you lost! Now I have grown up and can do it to you myself.”
Claire looks like she just bit into a lemon, but gets up: “Have your fun, Troi, I always get my woman—eventually.”
“I’ll take the chance,” Troian says with a smile and they are off on a triumphant Walk of Shame. Claire keeps her head high, but her body is tense with frustrated anger as Troian pushes her along in the circuit of the ring.
“I have to tell you, Claire,” Troian says as they complete the Walk, “this was one of the highlights of my boxing career.”
“Enjoy it,” Claire retorts, “sooner or later you are going to lose and, if I am lucky, I will get to see someone march you around the ring. Even better, maybe some day soon I’ll do that myself. We’ll see how much of highlight that is for you then!”
Troian just smiles: “Now who is the one having fantasies? You cling to that Claire because I am still champion and I will enjoy very minute I hold that belt. That’s reality and that’s plenty good enough for me!”
With that, Troian turns on her heel and marches back to the embrace of her beloved stablemates.
A great win for the Puncher champion. Wily veteran Claire gave Troian a great deal of trouble leading into that R5 knockdown, but Troian came off the canvas and fought off Danes, knocking the challenger down twice—the second time it was for good. Great fight for the fans and they can now wonder who Troian will face off against next. It’s fair to say, whoever it is, she won’t be any easy opponent. Frustrating loss for Danes, but she’s always been able to bounce back and there is no reason to believe she won’t be able to do that again
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