Anllela Sagra vs. Emily DiDonato (Results: Lookout!, Story: Fates)

Anllela Sagra: 26 years old, 5’9”, 16-6 since 2017, Holloway Boxing

Emily DiDonato: 29 years old, 5’10”, 17-7 since 2017, Fates Boxing

Before:

Tonight’s lightweight action features two top lightweights who are looking to reassert themselves after some tough recent losses. Anlella Sagra comes into tonight having lost her two most recent matches, with the first being to Emily’s stablemate and current lightweight champion in Taylor Swift and the second coming at the hands of Yvonne Strahovski. Meanwhile, Emily DiDonato seemingly has a knack for getting to the verge of a title shot only to lose it when a win would have clinched the opportunity. First, it was a loss at the hands of Adriana Lima in November of 2019. Then last month, with seemingly nobody else posing as a serious contender, Emily lost to Courtney Tailor in an stunning upset, preventing her from even contemplating challenging her stablemate in Taylor Swift for the title. A win tonight could go a long way for both of these girls, and that intensity is apparent from the press conference.

“I mean, Emily had an amazing 2019,” Sagra tells the press, “But look at some of the girls she fought. Cara Delevingne. Irina Shayk at JMDD. Julie Henderson at JMDD. Blake Lively has passed her peak. Same with Aldridge. She may have a good record, but she’s not in my league. She’s squandered each opportunity she was about to get. I never have, and my path to redemption and the title starts with beating Emily tonight.”

DiDonato merely just ignores her opponent’s comments, keeping her statement simple, “I’m not going to lie, it has been heartbreaking to lose the fights that I lost. But I’m still around. And I will not be taken as some token sidekick to Taylor Swift.”

With that, the brunette model gets up and leaves the press conference.

The arena is buzzing when the girls are announced for their match. DiDonato is the first to make her way down to the ring, and the brunette takes off her robe to reveal a navy blue sports bra with blue spandex trunks and orange gloves. Sagra follows soon after, and the Colombian has chosen to wear a yellow sports bra with red trunks and red gloves. The two girls are greeted by the referee and they touch gloves, and off we go!

Round 1:

Both Emily and Anlella quickly get out of their corners and probe the other’s defenses. Emily may be marginally taller but Anlella is quicker, and the younger girl shows off her speed when DiDonato throws a right jab that hangs for just a little bit. Sagra darts in, smacks DiDo in the mouth and then goes to body before Emily retreats. DiDonato and Sagra start circling to their right, both girls going back to their jabs. Emily the aggressor early, splitting Anlella’s guard with a right, but Sagra keeps her cool and finds a counterpunch that gets Emily in the nose. Anlella dekes right and Emily goes to protect herself from the punch that never comes as the Colombian buries a left into her American opponent’s ribs and draws a groan out from Emily in the process. Sagra looks for a right to the body, but Emily literally beats her to the punch with a quick left whose sole purpose was to keep Sagra away and the bell rings. Both girls go back to their corners, but Anlella Sagra takes the opening round on points, close.

Round 2:

Sagra and DiDonato start the second round much like the first, probing each other’s defenses until Sagra dashes in and clips DiDo with a right in the chin, knocking her backwards. Anlella steps forwards and gets rocked by a right from Emily! DiDonato pounces on her stunned opponent, opening with a left hook before driving a right into Anlella’s cheek, sending Sagra back into the ropes. DiDonato steps forwards as her opponent bounces off of the ropes and the two girls collide with a thud. Sagra wrapping up DiDonato as the brunette model tries to shake her arms free, but she can’t break free and the ref steps in to separate the two girls. After the break, DiDonato feints right and connects with a big left, driving Sagra to her left, but Sagra plants her feet and gets a right to Emily’s ribs to keep the brunette at a distance, where she takes her time to line up two jabs that strike Sagra in the chest before the bell rings. Emily wins the round on points, wide, as she had some solid strikes in the round.

Round 3:

Both lightweights getting into a rhythm, DiDonato looking to leverage her small height advantage while Sagra looks to take advantage of speed on the counter. Emily confidently moving forward, keeping her left up to take any potential Anlella counters and the brunette working her right jab. Em’s third right jab makes solid contact with Anlella’s right cheek and the Colombian staggers backwards. DiDonato pounces, driving a right to Sagra’s ribs, driving her back into the ropes. Emily steps forwards – and takes a big straight right as Anlella bounces off the ropes with a vengeance! Emily nearly falls down as she stumbles backwards and now it’s Anlella who is going on the offensive, slamming rights and lefts into the model’s body and bodying Emily into the ropes where the brunette model from Sports Illustrated and the self-proclaimed Goshen Goddess is holding on for dear life. Referee watching the exchange – no, the onslaught – closely, and while the brunette covers her head well and clinches, Sagra goes for body until the clinch is broken and the bell rings soon after. As the girls go back to their corners and Sagra is declared to be the winner of the round, DiDonato’s torso is already discoloring from the hurt Anlella laid on.

Round 4:

Sagra emerges from her corner confidently while DiDonato unsuccessfully tries to hide a grimace. Sagra dekes right – and DiDonato nails her with a right straight to the mouth, catching the younger girl by surprise. Anlella drops back to plant her feet and launches a right of her own that rips by Emily’s ear, barely missing. Emily knocks Anlella in the mouth again and busts her upper lip, and as Anlella covers up her head, Emily goes to the girl’s body. DiDonato quickly works Sagra into the ropes and lands a pair of devastating body shots, the second of which practically doubles Sagra over and clinching on to the bigger girl. Sagra wraps up DiDo’s arms and the referee separates the two girls, and off the break, Anlella strikes quickly, landing a blow to Emily’s chest and the follow up to her ribs. Emily working backwards and regains control with a well-placed right that catches Sagra in the shoulder, knocking her off balance and then following up with the left to the body that causes the Colombian girl to let out a shout. Emily charges forwards and the bell rings just before DiDo can make contact. Strong round for Emily as she dealt some brutal bodyshots and wins the round on points, wide.

Round 5:

Anlella noticeably slower out of her corner, but it would be wrong to state the Emily wasn’t also moving slower now than when the fight started. The Fates fighter creeps closer to Holloway counterpart, she feints with her right before sending a quick left jab into her opponent’s body that draws a whimper from Sagra, even though it gets muffled by her gumshield. DiDonato follows up with a right that splits the Colombian girl’s guard and gets to her nose, knocking Sagra’s head backwards. DiDonato closes distance and Sagra drives a shot into Emily’s chin, wobbling the brunette model, reminding her that she’s been a top lightweight for over a year! Anlella darts forwards, sticks Emily in the ribs, pivots, then drives a straight right at the brunette’s face – but it only connects with the air as Emily dodges the blow and sticks Anlella in the chin and now she’s the one who’s unsteady on her feet! Em socks Anlella again, this time in the cheek, and Sagra covers up and DiDonato immediately shifts her focus to Sagra’s body. One body shot, two body shots, DiDonato fakes for the head, Sagra keeps her protection high, and Emily plunges leather into Sagra’s tummy, drawing a gasp out of Sagra and breaking her guard long enough for DiDonato to slam an uppercut into Sagra’s chin and drop her on her face! Emily goes back to the corner breathing heavily as the ref starts to count over Anlella. The best Sagra can do is roll onto her side and eventually onto her back, but she doesn’t have the strength to do any more before the count of ten. Your winner by KO5, Emily DiDonato!

After:

Emily raises her arms, thrilled to wash the taste of last month’s defeat out of her mouth. Sagra is tended to by the Holloway staff, and when she’s able to stand up, DiDonato goes over and embraces the Colombian girl.

“Well, it’s good to win again,” Emily tells the press. “I know there’s a narrative of me losing every time I get close, but I’m going to disprove that. Just watch.”