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27 April 2018 Title Ch Emily VanCamp vs Evangeline Lilly

Page history last edited by caspian2 4 years, 4 months ago

Emily VanCamp vs. Evangeline Lilly (Bantamweight Championship)
(Words: FS / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

No hype needed. Two of the best bantams in the world with a combined ten titles between them, but, needed or not, there's an added twist to this one, in that it might just be the last major event in the fourteen year career of Evangeline Lilly. Lilly is 38 and well short of the 100 fights needed for the Hall of Fame, and, having recently lost her long-term management, it's anyone's guess if she'll be getting any more shots at the bantam gold. But. She has THIS shot, and she plans to make the best of it. "Look," says the brunette beauty, "I know everyone figured I'd go quietly to Kira, maybe fight a few more times as an indie, and then hang 'em up. But. You haven't heard the last of Evangeline Lilly yet."

"She's still one of the best bantams on the planet," says Emily with a nod. "She earned this shot. But. Let's not get carried away. She's not going out on top. She's going out on her shield."

ROUND ONE:

Lilly wants to get physical early, and that's no surprise, because, while Em's a big bantam, there are still very few at 120 who can match strength and power with the brunette. Problem is, the blonde doesn't want to play this game. As usual, EVC wants to work at middle distances, where she can extend on her punches while using her estimable boxing skills, and, it's the blonde who's getting the distance and geometry she wants in this stanza. Evangeline gets some work done, mind, but VanCamp's in control throughout, putting punches together, getting into a good rhythm, keeping the brunette off balance. Lilly not frustrated, keeps working, keeps moving the feet, looking for openings, but she's not finding enough of them. Instead, the blonde rolls up points, and, by the time the bell rings, she's claimed the first wide and leads 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

NOW Evangeline is finding roads forward. She's getting the timing and geometry right, getting in close, banging body. Em willing to exchange in the phone booth, as she's plenty sturdy herself, but, while she's not exactly getting blown out of the water, she's coming off second best. This is great stuff from the brunette, who's getting hard, accurate fire off, landing to both head and body. As the round goes on, VanCamp makes little adjustments that again allow her to limit the number of these interior exchanges, and with those adjustments, the blonde begins making up the stagger. Late in the round, though, Lilly lands a hard right that, while it doesn't hurt the blonde, definitely gets her attention and tosses her onto the defensive. Brunette lets the hands go for the final twenty seconds, scoring enough to claim the round and even the fight at 19.

ROUND THREE:

War for terms continues, with VanCamp expanding on what we saw later in the second. She's using the feet and the jab to maintain those middle distances she loves. And, when she's there, she's in control. But. Not as much control as she had in the first. Because, Lilly's also a skilled veteran, and she's adjusting herself, using a jab step to cut distance, create favorable angles, and generally foul the blonde's sights. Result is some excellent boxing between, again, two of the best bantamweights on the planet. It's back-and-forth stuff that sees both blonde and brunette have moments of control, and there's not much in it at all coming down the stretch. This time, though, no one is able to put together anything definitive that would make the judges' decision easy. At the bell, the blonde has a razor-thin margin, but, razor thin or not, said margin is enough to claim the points and the 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Lilly's jab step begins pays off. Big. Early in the round she steps to, lands a hard left hook and follows with a BOOMING right and DOWN GOES EMILY! VanCamp dropped to her right side by an absolutely DEVASTATING right hook from the brunette. Crowd going nuts as Evangeline goes to a neutral corner. Blonde rolls to her back, then to her belly, pushes to hands and knees...and barely beats the count. Champ up at nine. Referee looking closely as he gives her the mandatory...but he waives Evangeline forward. Lilly goes to work, battering the listing blonde around the ring, trapping her on the ropes, working her over to both head and body. Challenger couldn't be closer to claiming the titles, and she knows it...just needs the one punch that will either end it or force the referee to end it...but can't find it. At the bell, Emily is still standing. But, Evangeline has her first lead of the bout, 38-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Lilly pressing the issue, working forward, letting the hands go, and GETTING ROCKED! VanCamp pulls a short right hook out of nowhere and Evangeline is GOBSMACKED! Emily immediately looking to follow, getting after Lilly in a big way. But, without her legs back under her, the champ's unable to make the most of the opportunity. Oh, she keeps the brunette on the defensive, slowly works her back into the ropes, and piles up points. And, late in the round, as her base begins to solidify beneath her, she's able to generate some more power. By then, though, the brunette's shaken the worst of the damage, and she's able to slip, slide along the ropes, fire back in counter in spots. Final seconds see one of the best exchanges of the fight with both ladies' heads being snapped back. At the bell, it's Emily wide, and we're even again, this time at 47.

ROUND SIX:

Both fighters have now missed big opportunities, and with things all even at the half, both are looking to take control. Lilly wants to step to again, and, this time, the champion's OK with that, willing to exchange to try to follow up on last round. Mistake. BOOM! Short right hand from Evangeline and VanCamp is hurt again! Emily wobbles backward and the brunette pours on the fire, hammering her into the ropes where, for the second time in three rounds, she looks to apply the finishing touches. Again, crowd on its feet. Clearly, Lilly's the sentimental favorite here and many of those in attendance would like nothing more than to see the referee leap in right now. And, he's considering it. Evangeline is, once again, just one punch away from grabbing the bantamweight gold. And, for the second time in as many rounds, she can't find the punch. Emily holds on. Barely, mind. But, she holds on. And, while the brunette pitches the shutout and goes back on top 57-56, another opportunity is lost.

ROUND SEVEN:

Lilly pressing the issue. She's letting the hands go, determined to get the champion out of there and claim the belts. Emily giving ground, keeping the guard high, being forced back into the ropes. Blonde leaning back rolling with, jabbing back in spots, taking more heavy leather, but shipping it successfully. Evangeline upping the pressure even more, sitting down on everything, letting the champion have it with everything in the arsenal. BOOM! Right hand, EMILY! VanCamp with a scintillating right hand counter and Lilly's hurt! Evangeline stumbles backward and VanCamp pounces forward off the ropes for a long blizzard of leather that DROPS LILLY TO HER BACK! Brunette stunned, staring up at the referee as the Canadian goes to a neutral corner and the count begins. Brunette rolls to her belly at five, shoves to hands and knees at seven, gets to her feet at nine...but stumbles back to all fours and IT'S OVER! The referee waives it off, and it's OVER! And your winner by KO7 and STILL Unified Bantamweight Champion is Emily VanCamp!

AFTER:

Emily shows plenty of class in the post-fight, over to the opposite corner to check on Evangeline, tap gloves with her. And, the champ's complimentary in her interview as well. "She's been one of the top girls at this weight for a long time, and, as you just saw, she can still fight at a high level. It was a great to have the opportunity to get into the ring with a fighter of her caliber, and I hope she sticks around a few more years, because I'd love to do this again."