Nina Dobrev vs Eva Mendes
(Lookout! Boxing vs Lioness Club of America)
(32-23-1, 24 KO vs 30-21-1, 25 KO)
Results: Lookout!; Story: Vassago

BEFORE: Rumours begin to officially swirl around Staples Center as soon as Jessica Lowndes and Selena Gomez - both inactive tonight - perform the ring girls' duty to introduce Eva Mendes to the audience. Prior to this Lioness Club PPV meeting the big question surrounding this Main Event match-up was why exactly Nina Dobrev has skipped the Lookout! Boxing 10th Year Anniversary showdown that takes place tomorrow? Nina isn't Vanessa Hudgens who so often gets vocal in the media to let everyone know what she thinks but Dobrev's absence from her own stable's marquee event suggests all is not well between the Bulgarian Princess and fellow bantams Demi Lovato and Emily VanCamp in particular. 

Of course Nina was effectively traded to Medallion Boxing to make room for Lovato back in September 2016 but has since returned to the Paris Hilton-led stable and Erin Andrews reckons tensions have risen too high to be tolerated by a team so sharply focused on success. Has Nina became the odd girl out all of the sudden - again?

Nina Dobrev wears a violet bikini set with black trim and silver gloves. Long dark brown hair tied in a sleek ponytail. Eva Mendes wears a leopard print bikini top, black hotpants and red gloves. Long dark brown hair wrapped in a loose bun at the back of her head. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the bantamweight division.

Round 1:
Eva struggles to find success against fellow cougars these days - just ask Katheryn Winnick who stopped her last time out - and she's no longer considered a genuine threat across the entire scheduled distance so it's almost natural she tries to secure an early advantage vs an opponent fiften years her junior. She thumps heavy leather over the top trying to catch Dobrev cold but the Lookout brunette has seen plenty of ring action herself and doesn't rush with a response especially that Mendes' spirited attack struggles for outright execution. Most of the cougar's punches bounce off the high guard and even if Nina appears to be stuck on neutral, she does her best Minka Kelly impression by dancing around the aerial attack. On the other hand Eva's footwork is below par and she can't close the distance even with Nina basically avoiding her on purpose during the lukewarm opening round.

Round 2:
Nina arrives at the boxing party and WHACKS the older brunette straight up the middle, the burst of speed alone leaves Mendes vulnerable and the 'Bulgarian Princess' keeps piling on more pressure with Eva unable to cover up for it. Still, Erin Andrews doesn't believe Nina is running on all cylinders here but it's more than enough to stack the Lioness veteran behind a tight earmuff in the middle of the ring. Dobrev soon switches her targets and pummels the immobile foe to the body; Mendes throws a weak response over the top but just can't live with the fellow brunette ripping her midsection to shreds and balks to the ropes where she gets easily trapped and tackled to the body in relentless fashion again. This is one-way traffic now and Nina leaves the former champion crippled at the bell which is horrible news for the Lioness entourage even with coach Claudia Schiffer keeping her cool in trademark German fashion.

Round 3:
Eva lashes out in aggressive fashion but it's almost like a desperate cavalry charge already with the previous round serving as a mere preview of Dobrev's skillset. Nobody had any doubts regarding Nina's prospects though even with VanCamp and Lovato stealing her Lookout thunder as of late. It's still too much for Mendes to take but the mid-ring brawl ignites some confidence into the embattled Latina. She matches the younger brunette in a head-hunting exchange and even outworks her following a rare slip from Dobrev. A somewhat fortunate hooks slams into Nina's right temple before Eva adds a belting harpoon on the liver but more importantly she finds a cruel uppercut that finally throws the Bulgarian off her guard. Nina truly thinks better off it and reverts into steady defensive circles while Mendes can't close her down anymore due to a clear difference in fitness performance value. Besides it's ill-advised for an aging veteran to chase a girl in her prime around the ring like that with Father Time ultimately calling the shots.

Round 4:
Nina channels the supreme physical ability - if VanCamp and Lovato weren't bad enough, the one and only Vanessa Hudgens hi-jacked 'The Fittest' trophy as well - but you don't have to be the fittest girl in the division to dwarf Eva Mendes' plans whatsoever. It's simply too much for the Latin hellcat who gets caught out by another speedy burst from the Lookout girl who cashes with repeated hooks slicing the leaky high guard. Eva begins to gurgle in pain as Nina rips through her defense and bends her to the side. There's just no way Mendes can escape the heat and she slowly drifts back to the ropes where Dobrev's high-octane drill enables her to cut the veteran up and leave her in all sorts of bother. The funny thing is, Erin Andrews still doesn't think Nina's shown the full metal jacket here, it's like a glorified sparring session for the Bulgarian's finest. Quite frankly, Mendes looks like she's ready to quit as she argues with Claudia Schiffer during the interval.

Round 5:
Nina notices that her opponent has almost checked out mentally but refuses to run her over regardless. She's fought only three times last year due to well-documented roster shenanigans however even the biggest roar from Staples Center doesn't revive Eva into contention. She bounces off Dobrev's guard repeatedly and almost loses her balance when she eats a quick left/right combo up the middle. Nina gives the cougar rack a swift pounding during the second minute and stuffs her with a belting shot to the liver. Poor Eva can only clinch herself into safety but still gets bulldozed to the ropes where Nina drills her breadbasket with the left hand. And it's just hard to watch now... Erin Andrews reckons Claudia Schiffer should throw in the towel but the Lioness Pride lives to see another day. There's not much pride left in Eva's eyes though as she's fallen miles behind the fellow brunette on the scorecards.

Round 6:
What stops Nina from finishing her aching opponent now? The answer is nothing as she gallops upstairs in another offensive swoop and poor Eva can only stop these punches with her face. Well, she can't stop them fast enough as she sways on her legs and her arms drop so low it's almost criminal to see what Nina is doing here! Demi Lovato who? Eva can't even use her feet to embrace the juice and gets THUMPED TO THE CANVAS as Dobrev threatens to shut her lights out any second now!!! MENDES IS DOWN and tries oh-so hard not to ache her heart out. Nina gives her a quick look and winks back to Jessica Lowndes is the front row before looking around the arena. She thinks she's done enough here but Eva still climbs to her feet! That's one sorry looking Latin cougar there but she's desperate not to end this Main Event flat on her back. However the spark is gone from her eyes and Claudia Schiffer looks relieved when Eva tells the ref: "I'm done tonight. Tonight and forever". TKO6 Nina Dobrev!!!

AFTER: Nina nods back to herself in approval but heads over to the woman she's just vanquished to give her a lenghty hug. Soon other members of the Lioness Club of America begin to make their way to the ring, Jessica Lowndes and Selena Gomez who were absent from the card but also Nicole Scherzinger, Minka Kelly (still looking a little ragged by the Dennings experience), Odette Yustman and Cassidy Freeman. The only one missing is Brooklyn Decker who's scheduled for the Kate Upton showdown on tomorrow's Lookout! Anniversary card. They all embrace Eva Mendes and the writing which was on the wall since last year can be finally declared official. 

EVA MENDES RETIRES FROM ACTIVE FCBA COMPETITION WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

Obviously the Lioness in-mates were informed of this decision long before, a decision Eva made following the fifth round stoppage at the hands of Katheryn Winnick last December. Stable owner Mr. V invites Erin Andrews to the ring and explains Eva will now join the LCA training staff where she becomes the fly & bantamweight trainer leaving Claudia Schiffer as the light & welterweight coach.

Eva Mendes is almost too emotional to bid farewell to active competition so nobody minds seeing few tears running from her eyes but then she embraces Nina Dobrev who was patiently standing in the corner and introduces her to the Staples Center audience:

"You know, everyone knows this girl. And everyone knows we're open to The CW talent even if Nina's moved into other things lately. That doesn't matter. I'm calling it a career but this girl will now lead the Lioness into future bantamweight stardom (sorry Minka, no offense). Let me officially introduce you the Lioness Club of America newest and shiniest little toy: Miss Nina Dobrev!!!"

The LCA roster change is officially announced and that explains why Nina is absent from the Lookout! Anniversary card. Well, she's no longer a member of Lookout! Boxing anymore.

Erin Andrews has that "I knew it" look on her face, she takes a quick glance at Minka Kelly, the designated Alpha bantam of the team but there's nothing but smiles coming from the Irish-American.

"Let me tell you this, Erin", Mr. V moves to explain the potential confusion, "The Winnick result wasn't the only one that made us think about the roster change, when Minka lost to Kira Kosarin that rang another bell. You can't fool Father Time and even with Minka still on top of her game, the new talent around the league requires us to pounce on certain opportunities to keep up with the front runners. Minka is fine with moving over", "I am, I really am!", she laughs from the background, "Both she and Nina were teammates at Lookout, everyone remembers that, now they have the Demi & Emily show and Nina deserves the Alpha push from someone. That might as well be us. Minka turns 38 in June, Eva turned 44 earlier this month and Nina turned 29 in January. You do the maths. We're buying eight to ten years of Tier I talent in Nina. It's like drafting Andrew Luck when you still have Peyton Manning on your roster. The very same Manning who set all these TD & passing records AFTER his alleged career-altering neck injury. Some decisions simply have to be made. We've made ours some time ago and announced it tonight. That's called the Lioness Pride. And one last thing, Nicole Scherzinger is safe contrary to some rumours. We need her talents for the beach boxing sessions. This was never a choice between Eva and Nicky. Never".

Before things get a little too sentimental for the otherwise ruthless world of female celebrity boxing the entire LCA staff poses for one final picture that will be soon placed on the Bradenton office wall and perhaps on the back page of Tractorpull Magazine. Future suddenly looks a little brighter for all ye Lioness supporters! #HearUsRoar.

Final result: Nina Dobrev def. Eva Mendes TKO6.