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25 October 2019 Rachele Brooke Smith vs Dua Lipa

Page history last edited by caspian2 4 years, 2 months ago

Fights & Frights PPV 2019

Posted by Lookout! Boxing on Oct 26, 2019 at 2:57pm

Rachele Brooke Smith vs. Dua Lipa

BEFORE:

Pair of brunettes with differing FCBA presences. The lightly-raced Smith has shown plenty of athleticism, but has only six fights in almost four years and only two wins, both over Laura Pausini. Lipa, on the other hand, has fought six times since her debut just over a year ago and has won four and looked good doing it. But, if Smith is concerned by her opponent's success, she isn't showing it pre-fight. "She's getting a rep," says Rachele with a smile. "And, that's kind of funny, because she's slow and lacks class."

"Rachele is, frankly, a step DOWN in class for me," says a hard-eyed Dua. "I'm going to beat her, and handily, tonight."

ROUND ONE:

Smith on the move early as expected contrast in styles develops. Dua likes to get physical, and, a fighter built like she is with the kind of power she's demonstrated OUGHT to want to do that. The athletic Rachele, on the other hands, wants to move, box, take advantage of her great feet and in-shape body. And, in the first round, anyway, that athleticism plays. Dua's working hard to find the older woman, to slow her down, get some hard leather on. But, that hard work is not bearing fruit. Instead, Rachele is able to stay in open ocean, using hit and run tactics to score points, all while frustrating the younger woman's efforts. To her credit, Dua stays patient, stays the course, keeps working the feet and executing the fight plan. When the bell rings, however, Smith's got the points wide and the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Dua adjusting. She's angling forward, cutting the ring, bringing Rachele to battle. Smith not having any long exchanges in close quarters, though. Older brunette is tying up immediately, forcing breaks, getting back to open ocean. Result is a choppy, two-way round. Smith scoring when she's able to move around the ring, Lipa doing the same when she's able to corral the older brunette. And, what each fighter can do on her terms offsets what the other can do on hers. Thus, there's almost nothing in it. Both fighters are getting about the same amount of what they want, so, no one can create any space on the cards. Late in the round, however, Lipa manages to cut the ring and land her best flurry of the fight. It forces Rachele to back and cover and Dua's able to score some more points before the bell, doing just enough to take the round and even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Rachele making an adjustment of her own. She's widening the circle, giving ground when necessary, giving herself a little extra time to get a jab on or slip away before Dua can force heavy exchanges. Lipa now looking frustrated. Just when she thought she'd found a way to bottle up her rival and bring her big guns to bear, the athletic Rachele's thrown a spanner in the works. Smith taking more and more control of things as the round goes on. Dua getting a little sloppy trying to close, eating not just jabs but hard right hands. Lipa's corner shouting at her to get her hands up, stop chasing, but the singer's determined to bring the older woman to heel. But, Rachele continues to make that impossible right to the bell, claiming her second round wide and taking the lead 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Lipa hears it in the corner. And, she takes heed. It's sounder stuff to start the fourth. She's got the hands up. She's stalking, moving the feet, angling, not just walking right in on her rival. It makes a difference. We're back to the two-way stuff we saw in the second. Smith tying up when Lipa gets inside, Dua working hard to quickly cut the ring. All even for the first half of the stanza. Then. BOOM! Right hand, LIPA! Smith rumblin', stumblin', fumblin' as the singer lets the hands go, battering the wobbly older brunette back into the ropes, then going to work on that toned body, hammering away to midsection and ribs, looking to bring the guard down. Rachele not having it. Keeping the gloves high. Dua goes upstairs anyway, landing hard shot to the bell. It's Dua, wide. And, we're even at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Lipa all about the finish now. Smith's legs are nowhere near back, and Dua is taking full advantage, walking the older woman down behind a sharp, accurate jab, all the while THUMPING her with follow on right hands. Rachele playing for time, giving ground, staying on the defensive, trying to ride out the storm and get her legs back. BOOM! Straight right hand, DUA and DOWN GOES RACHELE! Smith crashing to her back, bouncing once, then coming to rest arms and legs in the Maltese cross position. Lipa raising the hands in victory, striding to a neutral corner. Referee counting down on Smith, but the brunette beauty is not only down, she's OUT. Ten count a mere formality, and, when it ends, Rachele is in the exact same position where she settled after bouncing off the canvas. It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is Dua Lipa!

AFTER:

Dua all smiles in the post-fight. "This is what I've been telling everyone," Dua says with that gorgeous smile of hers. "She's a step DOWN in class for me. She could run, but she couldn't hide. I caught her. And, when I did, it was all over."