BBU Lightweight Title
Ch Miranda Kerr vs Federica Nargi
(Downunder Boxing vs BBU Independent)
(10-1, 9 KO vs 5-4, 4 KO)
Results: Lookout!; Story: Vassago

BEFORE: It's always a pleasure to witness Miranda Kerr at work and the Aussie stunner is ready for her second lightweight title defense tonight. She has chosen the Italian TV showgirl Federica Nargi as voluntary challenger and that decision is very popular with the BBU fans who consider Federica as the better version of Elisabetta Gregoraci who made headlines in recent times. Italy hasn't held a regular BBU title since Manuela Arcuri won the lightweight belts back in July 2012 so it's about time for an update.

Miranda has put the Ice Hotel loss to Kate Upton behind her and she's a genuine favorite in most of her fights on this side of the Atlantic but Federica is confident she can upset all the odds tonight and knock the Australian champion out: "It's my big chance and I'm gonna make the most of it! This division is so crowded I might not get another shot like this for a long time so I have nothing to lose! Bring it on!"

Miranda Kerr wears a teal bikini set & golden gloves. Long light brown hair tied in a curled ponytail. Federica Nargi wears a red bikini set with white trim & black gloves. Long black hair tied in a sleek ponytail. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the ligtweight division.

Round 1:
Miranda sets the early jabbing tone as she hopes to neutralize the challenger in mid-range but Federica's quick striking allows her to match the champion's intensity. Both women exchange hard blows upstairs before where Miranda's precision proves superior as she smacks the brunette across the mouth and forces her back. Federica tries her luck in mid-distance but fails to carry enough power to tame Kerr's overhand swings and circles back into safety. This enables Miranda to work the high-tempo jabbing and seemingly impress the judges while Nargi channels her quick mobility to avoid slugging trouble. This is not how you win boxing titles though and Federica knows she gave the Aussie too much respect here in the opening round.

Round 2:
Federica's interim coach Maddalena Corvaglia urges her to become more aggressive and the TV showgirl follows the plan to respond in slugging fashion which catches Miranda by surprise. A couple of heavy hooks burst into the model's face and she gets spun to the side when Nargi nails her in the breadbasket before looping more dangerous punches upstairs. Miranda dekes away from another rush but finds herself in retreat mode as Federica's charge traps her on the turnbuckle and this is where the slugging attack enables the challenger to rattle the Aussie into an earmuff cover. Uh-oh! Even BBU TV's Denise van Outen didn't see this coming as Nargi thumps the older brunette into a standstill and dissects the high-guard while avoiding the overhand response. She clips Kerr's lips several times and bends her sideways following a nasty hook on the temple right at the bell.

Round 3:
More of the same in the third, Federica's slugging approach allows her to outwork the champion in the center of the ring and she cashes in with more brutally effective head shots thereafter. Miranda feels the urgency to respond in equally ruthless manner instead of simply outboxing the challenger however Nargi's high-tempo jabbing gives her the slight edge before she bangs a left/right combo on the chin to wobble the Aussie onto her heels. Another quick swing and Miranda gets spun onto the ropes where the Italian traps her with more jabbing power. Kerr weaves around on her toes but simply can't outslug the younger foe anymore and slumps on top of the ropes when Federica nails her on each temple to underline her dominance. Downunder coach Nikki Visser is genuinely worried after such a lethargic performance but Miranda tells her everything is fine!

Round 4:
Federica rolls out with more jabbing menace and looks set to dominate the initial tangle before Miranda loops a nasty cross into her face and bangs a gut shot just above the waist line. Nargi wobbles forward and gets thumped on the liver area as Kerr jumps into a body assault to finally tame the Italian's charge. Both women clash heads which stymies the action during the second minute but Miranda eventually picks up the pace to outwork Nargi in close range again. Federica still hassles her with several punches upstairs yet the Aussie high-guard does a better job this time before Miranda whacks the showgirl across the nose and backs her onto the ropes with a late hooking fury. However Nargi still feels confident enough to taunt Miranda verbally after the bell and both women barge shoulders to call the referee into prevent action.

Round 5:
Miranda tries to blast the Italian foe up the middle but struggles to follow through with her shots and gets dragged into an uppercut vacuum by the highly-motivated challenger. Federica truly believes she can upset the Aussie stunner and keeps bouncing leather into her boobs before she drives an uppercut double on the jaw that finally drops Kerr into spasms. Ugh! Miranda slumps on her heels and gets beaten to the punch one more time as Nargi lets one fly and tears a small gash over the model's left eye. Uh-oh! Miranda sinks behind a tight earmuff but Nargi still dissects it with a brutal left/right effort... another quick hook on the temple meets no resistance and SENDS THE CHAMPION CRASHING DOWN on her backside! How about that then? Federica screams in delight while Nikki Visser and the Downunder crew are shocked to see Miranda floored in such a fashion. The only thing working in their favor is the clock, Miranda gets up at eight and there's only twenty seconds left for Federica to complete the job... but she runs out of time as Kerr backpedals away from her range in a hurry. Ugh! That's a bad look for one of BBU's best lightweights in history and the Italian can truly smell the upset here!

Round 6:
Federica comes flying in and tries to knock Miranda's head off but only gets clinched into safety as the champion bides her time in dubious stalemate before she plugs a nasty harpoon on the liver area... she outmuscles the Italian down the stretch and beats her for a hooking swing but Federica refuses to back off and floats another good punch on the gash over the left eye. Miranda looks second best for several minutes now but she still clubs the younger brunette across the boobs and profits from another accidental head-butt as both women lock horns in the phone booth again. Kerr works her slugging into Nargi's body and backs her onto the ropes where she moves into an uppercut drive on the rack while Fede runs out of jabbing steam and seems to be affected by the jug muggin' efforts that allow the Aussie champ to steal the round late.

Round 7:
Miranda tackles the challenger to the body but finds more success on the uppercut rack attack again and suddenly Nargi looks flat while getting punched in the boobs. A couple of Kerr's uppercuts carry all the way to the Italian's jaw before a looping right-on-right exchange nails her on the brow ridge and wobbles to her heels. Miranda plugs another series on the solar plexus and stuffs Federica in the center of the ring; she dekes underneath a high swing and tags the younger brunette on the chin from the inside. Nargi gets stuck on her heels and just can't push off in time while Kerr slams her on the ear and carries a follow up on the nose with massive power supply. Ugh! Federica is HURT as she stumbles to the side with a loud whimper and Miranda launches an immediate hooking drive... she turns it from the hip and SHATTERS the Italian's jaw with a brutal uppercut blast.... DOWN GOES FEDERICA!!! The challenger crashes flat on her back with eyes closed and Miranda can barely hold back her emotions as she knows she landed a good one! Federica rolls to her left side but remains visibly shaken and doesn't make a genuine effort to beat the count! It is over!!! KO7 and STILL BBU lightweight champion Miranda Kerr!!!

AFTER: Nikki Visser feels more relieved that satisfied as Miranda basically pulled off a come-from-behind title defense that will earn Federica Nargi more praise instead! The Italian challenger was actually ahead on the cards when she was caught flush on the jaw but Denise van Outen still thinks these elite fighters like Kerr can salvage a mind over matter result like that against the odds! Maybe fighting Kate Upton in the Ice Hotel back in October warranted a longer break but Miranda doesn't buy that excuse and tells Denise that "Federica can really throw a mean punch! She's gonna make more noise for years to come!"

All that praise doesn't help the Italians get over this result though. Federica cuts a dejected figure when leaving the ring and she truly knows how close she was to scoring an upset victory over one of the world's best lightweights. So close but no cigar... for now! There's every chance Federica mounts another elite run and we'll see her battling for the divisional straps sooner rather than later.

Official Result: Ch Miranda Kerr def. Federica Nargi KO7.