Emilia Clarke vs. Katherine McNamara

Emilia Clarke: 33 years old, 5’2”, 15-15 FCBA and BBU combined since 2012, Belle Boxers

Katherine McNamara: 24 years old, 5’4”, 4-3 since 2017, Fates Boxing

Intro:

Two flyweight actresses collide in the hopes of getting closer to the top twenty, maybe even cracking it. The two girls play nice during the press conference, complimenting each other on what they have both accomplished, but their comments are reserved enough to where it is clear the two view the other as a roadblock and nothing more.

Come fight night, neither girl takes much time making her way to the ring, twin expressions of determination are etched onto their faces. Emilia has chosen a black sports bra with white trunks and white gloves with black trim while Katherine has gone with a navy blue sports bra and orange trunks with blue and orange gloves. The two touch gloves in the ring and the bell dings.

Round 1:

McNamara and Clarke both come out of their corners strong and trade blows early, both girls staying light on their feet and moving around the ring. Emilia slips a right hook into Kat’s ribs before following up with a left to the chin, knocking the redhead backwards, but the younger girl is able to steady herself. Emilia throws a right but Katherine beats her to the punch – literally – and knocks the English actress’ head back and causes the Brit’s blow to miss its mark. Kat shows her discipline, firing off another left into Emilia’s chin before the actress shores up her guard and Kat goes for body with a right. Clarke dances around the ring, looking to get some distance from Kat, but the Fates fighter is relentless in her pursuit and drives her right into Emilia’s ribs. Clarke comes back with a right that thumps McNamara in the chest, but the American clocks Emilia with a right cross to the jaw that sends her careening backwards as the bell rings. Kat heads back to the Fates corner wishing there was an extra couple seconds in the round so she could capitalize, but she can take pleasure in winning the opening frame on points, wide.

Round 2:

The second round starts more slowly than the first with both girls starting to circle right out of the gate. Emilia once again is the first to strike out, but she does nothing more than thump Kat’s guard. Kat sidesteps and gets two good licks in on Emilia, knocking her in her chin before the British actress recovers. McNamara advances and fakes left – but gets nailed by a straight right from Clarke, who catches McNamara off-guard. The redhead is knocked off balance and Emilia sends her into the ropes by punching her body. Katherine bounces off of the ropes and the two girls briefly clinch in the middle of the ring before they escape each other’s grasp. Clarke goes right back to McNamara’s body, forcing the younger actress to back off and search in vain for an effective counter, leading to Emilia winning the round comfortably.

Round 3:

The brunette and redhead come together in the center of the ring for the third round and they don’t waste any time in going after each other. Clarke starts with a right to McNamara’s guard and then goes body, digging a left into the younger girl’s ribs. Kat bounces backwards and throws a right, but Emilia deftly doges the blow and lands a quick two punches to Kat’s body, driving her backwards. The British actress follows the American and sets up for a right, but the younger girl plants her feet and drives a right straight into Clarke’s chin. The brunette actress wobbles on her feet before regaining her balance, but it’s just enough time for McNamara to land a couple solid blows to her opponent’s body. The two girls trade blows nearly evenly for the rest of the round, but Kat strings together several unanswered blows before the bell, giving her the round, close.

Round 4:

The fourth round starts as a continuation of the final minute of the previous round, with both girls trading blows to the other girl’s body. McNamara takes a half step backwards and sticks Clarke with a good right, but the British actress comes right back at her American counterpart with a one-two combo that rocks Kat backwards. Emilia advances, the brunette keeping her redheaded opponent in her sights, persistently looking to position herself at an angle to McNamara to beat around the bigger girl’s guard. Kat struggling to stop Emilia’s offense initially, but the young girl from Missouri starts dropping back right as Emilia advances, leaving Kat an opportunity to strike back. The redhead gets a solid preemptive left in on Emilia, but when McNamara goes to follow up, Clarke goes right to body and nearly doubles over the younger actress as the bell rings. McNamara wincing as she’s heading to her corner, something Clarke notices as she wears a wry smile to her corner.

Round 5:

Clarke and McNamara both get out of their corners quickly and Emilia looks to go back to Kat’s body with a right, but McNamara was expecting it and connects with a rocket of a right to Clarke’s face, stunning the actress. Katherine smacks Emilia back to reality with a left to the chin and knocks Clarke backwards. The brunette Brit gains her footing and starts circling with her American counterpart, the two girls faking with the punches to get the other to fall for the bait. McNamara fakes right – wait, it’s not a fake, it’s a big blow that catches Clarke in the cheek and Clarke tries to counter with a left but it flies wide of Kat’s head. McNamara shifts right and knocks a left straight into Clarke’s nose and the Brit covers her head and Kat finds her solar plexus and down goes Emilia in a gasp of agony. Kat retreats to the corner as Emilia’s rolling around on the canvas as the ref starts his count. Clarke looks up at seven, but is clutching her body and can’t will herself up. Your winner by KO5, Katherine McNamara!

After:

Katherine wins off a big bodyshot and the young actress is ecstatic in her post-fight interview. “I mean, Emilia’s a tremendous actress and has had plenty of fights in the FCBA and BBU,” Kat says, “But I knew that I could beat her. And that’s what I did.”

Emilia still wincing as she gives a few words to the press. “She was the better fighter tonight. And I’m feeling that right now.” Clarke walks away, keeping her remarks short, and now she has to confront her sub-500 record between the FCBA and the BBU. Only time will tell whether she can get back into winning territory. As for her opponent, McNamara’s trajectory is yet to be determined – but a solid win over Clarke should help her on the upswing.