KIRA KOSARIN (20 y/o, 5 ft 6, W: 9, L: 2) vs EVANGELINE LILLY (38 y/o, 5 ft 6, W: 43, L: 28)
(Words: Bonzo / Results: Lookout!)



Before: Evangeline Lilly’s a proper bantamweight legend, a multi-time champion and a long-time pound-for-pound contender …the decision announced a couple weeks ago that her time at Bonzo’s Gym was finished after more than a decade as the stable’s flagship bantam came as a shock to many in the industry. Lilly’s every bit the professional, analyzing sportswoman she’s always been, though – you won’t hear any bitter words from her, although the decision has obviously thrown her off track. “I understand it on, let’s say economical terms,” she says. “Bonzo’s always been a lean, efficient roster. When they signed Kira and she actually launched like a rocket, I knew the time might come. The stable’s always focused on welter, and it was pretty clear that welter would remain their only division with multiple stars, and even that couldn’t save Nadia and Milena. I know I’m not too old to fight, though, and I’m not hanging up my gloves for good. The competitive itch’s still there…I want to do the occasional free agent fight, see what comes up. As for Kira…I don’t blame her, quite honestly. There’s been no sneaky back-stabbing b*tch fights behind my back…oh, and Kira happens to be the best talent at bantam in years, I know that from our gym work, no doubts there. Since she first stepped through our doors, though, I’ve wanted to fight this girl competitively, chick vs chick. Circumstances could be happier, but I’m in compete mode, definitely. ”

– Kosarin’s a different woman tonight, no usual huff and puff, no putdowns, no intense stare downs…young phenom knows she needs to treat Lilly with all the respect a farewell fight for a legend demands, yet the pressure’s obviously there, and Kira’s a little more hectic, a little more nervous pre-fight. With Kosarin viewed as the girl who shoved Lilly out the door, truth or not, she’s got to show her colours now, prove her generation’s superiority…is she ready for it? “Like I’ve always said, ‘Vangie’s a legend and I wish her all the best. But yeah, bantam’s definitely my turf now, and I need to defend it”, she says, tight-lipped. – Girls in black (Kosarin) and white (Lilly) bikinis, Kira slightly taller, legs/thighs a little thicker, Lilly her usual lean, hard-bodied, washboard-abs self, her body looking nowhere near her 38 years.







Fight: R1: Kosarin aggressive, chopping away short, sweet via the left-handed hooks to Lilly’s tummy: mobile, broad-legged, she’s a-stalkin’and a-hoppin’, trying to force her tempo, style on leggy Lilly. ‘Vangie elusive, rolls-with, but mostly yielding into passive, guard-up stances in safe range. Kira really stepping into her stable foe: tuck, tuck…her sophisticated crosses hooking underneath Evangeline’s elbows, then she’s jump-lunging ahead via the looonng left jab into brunette’s tits, ouch, just like that! Lilly plays a smart, sharp defense, her eyes intense, concentrated as she’s using her legs to slide back, roll out of Kira’s breezy hawkishness. Kosarin always be touchin’: she’s shifting her weight to left step, right step, her torso rocking back and forth as she’s playing fierce jabs, trying to find ‘Vangie behind her brawny guard and match legendary Lilly for pure ring legginess. Wide Kosarin round on whirlwind-ish activity…some body punches getting thru all right, but Lilly’s still a fox, essentially unhurt.

R2: Kira performs bantam big-girl, closing the range against a duck-and-cover Lilly this round…brunette rookie’s very strong, physical, leaning her collarbone, shoulder forward as she steps-to via the slammin’ rights, mobbing ‘Vangie to her chest, guard, stepping into her girl, hoisting underneath Lilly’s arms as they clinch and get separated near ropes, pressing Lill’ into the ropes bearhug-style. Lilly shakes her ahead at the ref, who warns Kira accordingly…but Lilly plays along soon, using Kira’s proximity to her own advantage. Scenes of the round: step, step, Kosarin as she keeps the left at guard, slingin’ a right to Lilly’s tummy only to EAT a rolling right to mouth, uh-oh! First time we see Kira bouncing off herself, regrouping behind punch-hungry guard…but ’Vangie’s still a fox, not taking over the initiative. Second minute scene: Lilly’s in the ropes, measuring her torso like a pendulum against Kira drumming her jabs into Evangeline’s fine washboard abs…Lilly rolls-with again, sneaking a right upside Kira’s left ear, chock-a-block! Kosarin’s face twitches in pain: Lilly feeds off that reaction and POUNCES, immediately jerking short, angry lefts that pinch Kira’s right arm guard into her face, wham, bam, until the rookie retreats. Down the stretch, Lilly’s moving forward, going to secure her points…plop, plop, as she’s dropping those slingshot lefts to Kira’s less defined tummy with oomph, putting more hurt on pretty Kira’s face via a combination left/right to Kosarin’s mouth as rookie moves forward.

R3: Kosarin faster, MORE aggressive, pumping stick in relentless fashion…slingin’ hooks, drivin’ right hands from her jabs. Sporty Lilly’s forced to roll-with, turn, repeatedly punched onto her heels…’Vangie’s legs/knees in total commitment here, as Kira stalks her…Lilly defending back from ropes, rolling into angles, trying to counterpunch Kira’s rhythm with sloppy, hacky right hands. Second minute: Kosarin’s eyes wide as we see her in the clinch, pushin’, pushin’ Lilly into ropes as ‘Vangie struggles, hips to hips. Girls get separated, stepping around in circles mid-ring…Lilly’s in her guard, reacting to Kira’s motions instead of the other way round…Kosarin sneaks in a pounding tummy shot via the left, ducks Evangeline’s straight right to rise into a left uppercut…Lilly’s hurrrrrrt! ‘Vangie’s legs all bubbly as she’s baby-stepping backward – Kira forms effective jab stance to stabilize, keeping Lilly on edge, always be touchin’ via the pump-y left stick. ‘Vangie’s sliding back, her torso tilting back…Kira leans in, hammers a powerful jab that SITS DOWN LILLY near the ropes! Proud Evangeline sprawling to her back in shock, shaking her head in disbelief…knockdown more a result of balance physics, but Lilly’s feeling the oomph behind Kira’s explosive jab. Lilly up for the count…she’s a little woozy, but leggy! Evangeline plays it safe…she’s embroiling Kira in tummy-to-tummy clinches, taking seconds off the clock, separating late, upping her own jabs to create range, distance…she’s shutting out Kira from another look at her chin, but the knockdown’s there.

R4: Kira’s untamed, she’s skip-bolt-punchin’ with effervescent rookie energy, all rat-a-tat combos across ‘Vangie’s frame, swinging for her punches, wild, dangerous…Lilly does the right thing, popping back hooks from those planted hips, digging in and digging out from the apron. SMASHING right-hand, Lilly sees her bending in from the side, clouting open-mouthed Kira to open left jawline, whup – Kosarin gasps, her left knee folding on impact, but she’s stumbling away, straightening out of the bend…Lilly’s turning in pursuit, bobbing forward as Kira skids back on jittery legs. Lilly helping herself to Kira’s bra ledge, chugging ‘em left and right…Kira swaying but answering stubby, straight rights behind Lilly’s elbows into proud flanks, getting respect…Evangeline’s stumbling into clinch after body shot. Girls writhing up close in danger zone…compact, TIGHT rights from the veteran here, clubbing Kira’s head over the top rope via a short, STICKY pump to mouth! Kosarin’s torso sagging back, suddenly limp-ish…and Kira’s down! Hard landing on butt for shocked, overwhelmed rookie…she’s tumbling down in front of firmly planted Lilly, already sneaking in more, powerful short rights inside as Kira thuds down, her arms a-flapping. Hectic, confused scrambling from Kira on the ground…’Vangie knows her girl’s hurt! Kosarin takes a woozy eight count – she’s alarmed, wide-eyed. Lilly back on top: withering hooks upside Kira’s temple loosens brunette again, allows Evangeline brawny beatdown, her left arm tucked around Kira’s strong back, her right hand pumping in stick to tummy/tits as Kira’s eyes close in pain, draping her right arm around Lilly’s brawny shoulders as ref separates ‘em. Kosarin’s proud legs, rookie confidence have her rallying for remainder of round…but she’s getting bullied here as Lilly digs in, driving forward monstrous body shots, keeping Kira’s guard twitch-y, spasm-y up top across dominant fourth round look for veteran. Girls even out after four, both knockdowns cancelling each other, but Kira’s tottering to corner at bell, her lips puffy from Lilly’s hard rights, eyes awake, grimly nodding her head at trainer’s pep talk during break.

R5: Kosarin’s hurt…proud bantam trying to hide it behind some frenetic jabs and body hooks early as she meets mid-ring, but she’s definitely still a rickety beauty, slowly baby-stepping away from Lilly’s rhythmic pounding jabs to her guard/skull. ‘Vangie’s classic work-rate keeps up the pressure…she’s pumping a drumming double jab. Kira getting battered onto her toes, duckin’, pivotin’ to stay clear of the ropes, hooking back to Lilly’s tits, but not getting into any committed range. Second, third minutes: shutout, Evangeline Lilly via her scooting footwork, spitting forward into tit-busting jabs as Kira’s forced to speed out to flanks, avoiding to get fixed for more brutal head/body punishment. Down the stretch, Kira’s back does hit them ropes, as she’s a working a peek-a-boo guard from top rope, bobbin’ at the waist, blockin’ shots on her arms…it’s all effective, whacking body-reducing punches bashing into Kira’s proud, thick torso as Lilly searches for ounces of quit, hurt, or both, in Kira’s wide eyes.

R6: Lilly extending via the jab, her eyes in intense focus as she’s a bobbin’, a-crouchin’, her turn for slingin’ those cruel tummy hooks across Kira’s gut, socking brunette girl off from her mid-ring territory…Kosarin rolls-with, stepping-left, pitching her torso forward…oh, RIGHT HAND, KIRA! Kosarin moving from tripping feet to flashing counter aggression: Lilly caught flush to her jaw, staggering into ropes, her mouth staring open! Kira snarls, bares her teeth, wading in – she’s pumping hooks across Lilly’s abs, digging ‘em in deep into ribs/sternum, then slowly shifting into drifting right hands against Evangeline’s skull/guard. Lilly looking whacked, disheveled as she’s gasping, leaning her back/shoulders into the ropes, trying to sway out of the brutality. Kosarin’s payback time in rope-side stances across the ring: Lilly’s awesome conditioning, mental relentlessness slowly, surely grind girls into step-a-step, tummy-to-tummy action, meat grinding against each other. Down the stretch, THERE’S LILLY, her head leaning on Kira’s damp shoulder, her right hand chopping wood against firm tummy meat as Kira struggles to hold her ground despite solidly whacking ‘Vangie’s washboard abs all round long. Corner to Kira: “Lilly’s the fittest chick you’ve ever fought…don’t just hope to outlast her, you need to overwhelm, punch her out via the jaw.” – corner to Lilly: “Like that, ‘Vangie, you’re harder than her, make that rookie body quit.”

R7: Bantam combatants not stepping off the gas, but two-way action gradually batters girls into exhausted, sweaty holds, clinches – step-a-step, girls circle each other, shoulders rolling into jabs, lots of blocking, punching onto arms/gloves…classic sloppy draw round after draining six-round battle. Scenes from the round: Kira happily chopping monstrous series of rights at Lilly’s chin as brunette veteran trips, her back shifting off balance, stabilizing via the top rope…Kira a-bobbin’ in front of crouching Lilly at ropes, eating stubby jabs in receipt to mouth/cheek, forcing her to circle out on baby-steps with a heart-felt groan. Conditioning not yet a factor: Lilly’s still the leggier, more nimble, elegant fighter…her ring, rope management’s on full display here – Kira bobbin’ easy, fast, very physical, trying to overwhelm veteran legend via thick power punching.

R8: Kosarin busy, bendy early as girls exchange rising hooks, straight jabs from regular set-piece stances mid-ring, moving clockwise in jab ranges…Kira more effective, exact early. Kira’s legs straight, pivoting around her planted left foot, hands up, elbows in, dropping thiiiick, sticky jabs off her shoulder, stacking up on Lilly via pure, solid power. Kira’s in good range now, extending a slight height advantage and starts dropping ‘em tidy rights from that wide stance as Lills moves forward in tender steps at arm’s length, blasting ‘Vangie to her chin, one, two! Kira tappin’ the jab, rotating her torso, bobbin’ back some steps to walk Lilly into another jolting right hand off the shoulder as Evangeline leans in! Timmmmbbberrr! Lilly’s face twisted as she GUSHES DOWN to all fours, her chest heaving deep, her mouth opened in knocked down astonishment.

Veteran Lilly gets to her knees, though, grimly rising, hopping well…as expected, Lilly’s scary conditioning, resilience a serious problem for Kira here as rookie stares on, wades back into it. Second minute: Lilly stabilizing after the knockdown, luring Kira into rope side positions, with Kira on top, but struggling to keep Evangeline in check. Scene: Lilly working robust from ropes, her face busted up, but hands fresh, rolling ‘em punches in determination…Kira planted as big-girl bantam, snatching hooks across the Lilly tummy, those toned flanks/abs, brawny shoulders sweaty. Lilly’s rolling with the punches, though, suddenly very relaxed, smooth, nicely taking to a counter puncher’s aspect here…good whacks from Lilly as she’s extending from Kira’s rhythmic jabs into chop-chop rights, tucking ‘em nicely to brunette flanks in fluid motions like a thief.

Slowly, ‘Vangie controls tempo better…her left arm draped over Kira’s shoulder, she’s smacking her girl solid right hands down there, inside. Kosarin’s body jerking up from those stinging shots into her gut/ribs now…she’s a-stiffening, getting bruised a bit, her jabs growing less rhythmic. Early third, scene: Lilly working from turnbuckle, as a confused Kosarin bobs in front of ‘er, hurrrt from a curled right uppercut to mouth, arms crossed. Another body lick, Evangeline Lilly, swatting a thick left hook across Kira’s exposed lower back…uh-oh, Lilly’s so relaxed, her torso a-weavin’ as she’s smacking an uppercut to Kira’s chin, picking her chick up stout, clean. Kira? She’s a dazed beauty, her legs stepping numbly, arms crossed…Lilly tucks the left hook beneath Kira’s right elbow in cruel fashion…and, oh, no, what the…, sweeeeeps that left hook across Kosarin’s pretty face and Kira’s d o n e ! Brunette dismantled via lower back/chin combo, sloshing down out of control, pitching onto her back, arms flopping to the side. Lilly steps over sprawled-out brunette body…her look SO smoldering when Kira’s butt thuds down hard. Kira opens her eyes at the five count, eyes flickering mad in confused disorientation, her right knee twitching, shivering…she just got trounced by veteran power as Evangeline storms away against the odds, ending her time at Bonzo’s Gym with a dramatic “goodbye” knockout of the stable’s future bantam star, yes, that is a KO8 Evangeline Lilly!

After: There’s jubilation in Lilly’s corner, her eyes well up with tears, but her joy’s endless…it’s one of those farewell fight nights you just cannot plan ahead for, and karma was on Lilly’s side tonight for her last battle at Bonzo’s Gym. Karma, you say? More like sneaky left hook power! – Kosarin’s still in shock as team tilts her up, walks a busted up, trembling Kira to corner…pretty brunette leading Lilly on knockdowns twice, only to see the veteran storm back and end her night, with Lilly changing tack and styles along the way, proving once and for all why she’s been a pound for pound contender most of her career. Ironically, it’s Lilly who has now suddenly ended Kira’s current hot winning streak, too…tempers flare, so Kosarin’s not available for post-fight interviews – she’s there to congratulate her stable mate, but it’s only a frosty formality. Evangeline’s ready for her farewell speech, though: “I have no idea what the future brings. I’ve been at Bonzo’s for over a decade. I was a six-time champion. It’s been an era. I’m sad to see it end. Oh, has anybody woken up Kira?,” she smiles. “Oh, I won’t be mean, I won’t. Kira’s twenty. I’m betting a hundred bucks tonight on her becoming champion sometime this year. That’s all from me, folks. Don’t be so sure you’ve seen the last of me.”