(Results: Lookout!, Words: Caspian)

2. Guests: Kaia Gerber vs Riley Rasmussen

Kaia:
(19, 5’9, 9:2 FCBA, Global Boxing Syndicate)

Riley:
(21, 5’8, FCBA Debut, Free Agent)

BEFORE:
“I’d thought you guys wouldn’t mind seeing a little more of me?” Kaia winks and laughs when reporters ask her what she’s doing back here tonight on VIX soil. “Yes, I’m still signed with GBS. But my contract’s flexible enough to take some free agency fights. That’s exactly what I’m doing here tonight. Heard Riley’s another up-and-coming model who wants to make it big. I wanted to help by getting into the ring with her.”

“That’s so kind of you, Kaia,” Riley responds from across the press table. The sultry redhead has sparkling silver eyes, her orange-auburn locks curled like the flames of a phoenix as she continues with sarcasm. “Not all of us have a supermodel mom to open doors for us, you know? I’m making my debut tonight the old-fashioned way: by knocking Gerber out and proving that she doesn’t belong in the ring or on the runway.”

One-inch height difference between both models as they come together at the podium, the camera flashes going off all around as though both these girls are walking the catwalk, but towards each other. Kaia’s offer to touch gloves is dismissed completely by Riley, and the two girls head backstage for their final preparations.

Hours later, Rasmussen comes out of the gymnasium doors with a red hood and cloak over her shoulders, later undressing in the ring to show a similar-coloured bikini and gloves. Kaia’s going for classic black leather, shiny bikini top and bottom showing off her equally lean body as she dons blue gloves. Referee gets the nod from both women and calls for the bell - HERE we go with ten rounds of Lightweight action!

ROUND 1:
Slow start here as lanky girls get a feel of each other’s capabilities, shooting jabs at the head but not many are landing clean as they graze the arms and body. Kaia with the lengthier figure but Riley keeps herself a smaller target as she bends low with both fists hiding her face like a trained veteran. Gerber however has more experience in the ring overall, a full ten fights more than her newbie foe, and she spends the first round capitalising on this inequality with plenty of jabs tagging Riley on the face, the redhead having some trouble getting in close to bully back. Round ends in Gerber’s corner as a result but Rasmussen scoops up some notable hits to the body herself as the bell rings.

ROUND 2:
Damned if she’s gonna stay on the sidelines, however, as Riley wades in with even more purpose, surprising Kaia with an early blitz to her arms and tummy, dipping low and fast before looping a right overhand to the top of her guard, blasting Kaia back a couple more steps. Kaia suddenly sent on the defensive as her arms are battered left and right, Riley pouncing on her prey and not willing to release her fangs. Quite a sight here: the newbie redhead staying on target, rattling the supermodel to her body with lefts and rights to the body, then shocking hooks across the arms. But Kaia finally manages to get free, keeps her distance, but her eyes are wide as though in shock from that last attack. Riley’s first winning round of her career and she positively looks stoked for more, bouncing back to her corner with a big smile on her face.

ROUND 3:
Back to more punishment as Kaia’s forced to weather the newcomer’s enthusiasm, her height neutralised by Riley’s speed as the redhead sails in to pick up where she left off. Kaia grunts as she eats more hooks to the side of her head, landing unabated, which throw her upper torso left and right, Riley trying to trap her haughty foe on the ropes and blast more gloves into her body. Kaia is forced to clinch up, arms wrapped around the shoulders as she tries to control this raging fire. Riley’s still a noob when it comes to the clinch, and she helplessly batters at Kaia’s sides whilst the lanky brunette tries to manoeuvre herself out of her current predicament. Girls exchange slow punches to the side of the face, ribcage, as they take turns pinning each other down on the ropes, but Riley finally gets the hang of it and sneaks in an uppercut down the middle, and right into Kaia’s chin!! DOWN THE SUPERMODEL GOES as Kaia gets rocked to her core, stumbles back and then falls to her knees!! A surprise KNOCKDOWN from Riley Rasmussen!

The redhead’s ecstatic at this early feat but soon has to contend with a recovering Kaia, who’d slowly made it back up to her feet by the count of 8. The rest of the round continues on with Riley trying to rush in to finish her foe off, but Gerber does a better job of keeping light on her toes, jumps and scoots out of the way whenever Riley tries to trap her on the ropes. Round ends and it’s still a one-sided affair for the newcomer, but at least Gerber is left standing by the time the bell rings.

ROUND 4:
Kaia regains the narrative, moving quick and trying to control Riley with jabs from afar. It largely works, with the redhead attempting to close the distance but failing each time she takes a jab to the face, another strapping combo to the body, has to contend that this fight might be going the distance. Kaia got knocked down but not out, and the brunette seems all the more determined to turn the tide back in her favour as she dominates the first half of the round. Rasmussen does score in the latter half, exchanging a series of jabs to the face as she adapts and returns fire, but neither girl pulls ahead by the time the bell rings, with Kaia squeezing out a slight margin with her earlier success.

ROUND 5:
But here comes Riley again with her impressive firepower - she STUNS Kaia to the face with an unexpected jab combo ending with a cross-hand to the nose, making Gerber squeal at the possibility of permanent facial damage. The supermodel goes running back in shock, barely able to defend herself as Riley once more runs after her, aiming for the head and that second knockdown. Gloves batter at Kaia’s arms, but mainly scores on her lean body, Kaia protecting her head with her guard up but stomach exposed. Riley however is quickly tiring herself out from this constant bickering, lacks the power to blast Kaia off her feet like last time, instead has to be content with a shutout performance that leaves Gerber breathing hard on the ropes at the sound of the bell.

ROUND 6:
So far, so good, with Rasmussen putting on a show that has impressed the pundits thus far. But there’s only so far a rookie’s training can go, and the redhead’s visibly heaving at the opening of the sixth round, her lack of experience not preparing her well enough to go the distance this early in her career. Kaia not much better, of course, battered and bruised but still fighting back valiantly: she cautiously circles in the first minute, not wanting another brutal assault to fall upon her, but by the second and third, she’s back to banging hits into Riley’s arms and up to the forehead, capitalising on the winded redhead to make up for lost time. Kaia has both resilience, speed and that reach advantage, allowing her to deftly avoid any comeback swings from Rasmussen and deliver plenty of lightning combos back to her face. Round ends and it’s clear the fight ain’t over, folks!

ROUND 7:
Rasmussen needs a breather to recuperate but she ain’t getting much mercy from Kaia, who resumes her constant barrage on the redhead at the advice from her corner. The recent GBS hire is looking to a brighter future as she racks up her kills and gains confidence with each subsequent fight, here again pushing into Riley bit by bit, throwing jab-jab-hook combos into her arms to make her opponent grunt and sweat, with barely any resistance in kind. Riley’s taking shots to her face and body, desperate to cover up every inch but failing as a result, allowing Gerber to pick her off from afar and drive her further backwards. The nail in the coffin occurs in the second minute as Riley takes another one-two-three shots straight to her nose and lips, grunts as her head’s snapped back from the series of impacts. Gerber JUMPS in and LIFTS the girl’s chin upwards with a beautiful impact uppercut!! And DOWN Riley goes, crumpling into a heap after all that abuse! Wonderful game-plan from Kaia Gerber as the supermodel lifts a hand high to celebrate this KNOCKDOWN!

But wait! Riley is still alive, squirming towards the ropes on all fours and actually attempting a credible recovery! Gerber looks on from the neutral corner with slight respect in her eyes, as the redhead manages to pull herself back up to her feet by the count of 8! There’s still some fighting spirit left in this newbie! Kaia resumes her attack at the bell, again circling inwards like before, but then quickly picks up her pace of punches thrown in. Riley’s not doing any better from the flurries landing all over her self, covers up and pushed into the ropes - she needs to survive another two minutes on the clock if she wants to head to the next round. But her defences are quickly failing as Kaia brings out her bigger guns, more left-right SWIPES sent across the face that roll the poor rookie along the ropes, her mouth hanging open, arms wavering in front of her chest as she’s in danger of going down a second time this round! The referee’s seen enough, JUMPS in to save Riley from herself!! It’s all OVER!!

Official Decision: Kaia Gerber defeats Riley Rasmussen via TKO7!

AFTER:
Just in time too, as Riley immediately tilts over and falls face-first to canvas - any longer and Kaia would have decimated her to the point of danger! Gerber immediately leaps into the air, a wide smile on her face at this victory. She met the danger mid-round but managed to outlast her fellow model, later moving over to check on Rasmussen’s condition but being met with continued grogginess and indifference.

“When are these girls gonna learn I ain’t just a pretty face?” Kaia smirks at reporters later backstage, still breathing hard but beaming with confidence. “Riley’s got potential, but she needs to channel some of that snark into a long-term fighting career. I would love a rematch with her someday, perhaps when she’s more established?”