BBU BANTAMWEIGHT BOUT

Results: Lookout     Writing: Archer

Katie: 36 YO, 5’5 ½ (1.66 m), BBU: 9-1-0, 9 KO since 2017 Foxfire Atlantic Boxing

Daisy: 27 YO, 5’1 (1.70), BBU: 4-0-0. 4 KO since 2019 Knockout Babes

Before: “I am thrilled that Katie McGrath has given me this opportunity!” an eager Daisy Ridley tells the press ahead of her BBU title fight with Champ Katie. “This is my very first year in the BBU. I am proud I have won all four of my fights here, but a title shot was such a pleasant surprise. I assure everyone out there that I will be a worthy challenger for the title!”

Katie McGrath explains her reasoning in the selection of Daisy: “It wasn’t that long ago I started in the BBU, just two years ago. I think it is important for the continued success of the BBU that rising stars get chance to show what they can do at the highest levels. Daisy is undefeated and certainly deserves to her chance. Now, I say that expecting that she will not succeed in defeating me. I have become rather fond of my title belt and I mean to keep a good while longer. I am expecting a challenging fight, but one that will again prove I deserve to continue on as BBU Bantamweight Champion.”

Daisy, the challenger comes to the ring on fight night in a blue sports bra and white shorts with blue stripes down the sides. She has blue gloves trimmed in white. Her bobbed dark hair is loose, but wetted down. Knockout Babes trainer Jennifer O’Dell accompanies her fighter.

Defending champion Katie comes to the ring in black shorts with gold stripes down the sides and a dark green sports bra. Her gloves are green with gold trim. Katie’s dark hair is pulled back in an elaborate battle braid. FAB trainer Sophia Myles accompanies Katie to the ring.

The two fighters meet with the referee for instructions. Katie looking cool and composed. Daisy trying to be cool and composed, but shows some nervousness as she waits for the formalities to conclude. At last the instructions are given. Katie and Daisy exchange a quick tap of the gloves and they go their corners. The bell rings.

Round 1:

Katie goes straight at Daisy and launches quick strikes head and head. Daisy trying to dodge the incoming and reply with her jab. Katie showing early interest in rattling Daisy with head shots. Daisy has to keep her gloves up to guard her head and then Katie starts driving solid hooks into Daisy’s body. Daisy strikes back with strong punches to the champ’s body. Two soon are very close as they pound away at breasts, ribs, and stomachs. Katie breaks the stalemate with sudden strikes to the chin that put a shudder through Daisy’s body and cause her to give ground. Daisy steadies herself behind her jab down to the bell, but Katie is able to edge her out on the judges’ cards to win the round.

Round 2:

Daisy now pressing Katie hard as the new round begins. She brings sharp rights and lefts to Katie’s jaw and put the champion on the defensive. Then Daisy starts pumping those blue and white gloves into Katie’s midsection. Katie lashes back with the jab and does score against Daisy’s face, but Daisy shows determination in keeping up her attack. Katie jabbing back fiercely, but she’s getting bent forward by Daisy’s stubborn attack on her abs. Katie slowly giving ground as the round draws to a close. Daisy Ridley wins her first round of the bout, though it was by a close margin.

Round 3:

Katie McGrath didn’t look happy during the break. Daisy Ridley’s feisty aggression not going over well with the champion.  Bell sounds and Katie moves quickly to start driving leather into Daisy’s face as they meet at mid-ring. Daisy momentarily stunned by these blows and then takes worse when Katie swivels her head with a right and then a left blow to the jaw. Daisy hastily covering up as she falls back on rubbery legs. Katie drives strong clouts into Daisy’s ribs and then hooks her to the belly. Daisy all hunched up, trying to hold Katie off with her jab, but Katie seems fired up and she brushes off Daisy’s jab to continue her attack. Daisy backed towards the ropes and tries to keep herself clear of them, but Katie body punches her into the strands. Daisy clinches to try to break up Katie’s attack, but she keeps being pushed back into the ropes. Daisy able to protect her head, but her body is worked over right down to the bell. Daisy leaves the ropes on unsteady legs, though she has a determined look as she gets back to her stool. Katie allows herself a grim smile of satisfaction as she already knows she’s won this round wide.

Round 4:

Daisy attempts to answer Katie’s offensive with one of her own. She is quick out of her corner and strikes at the champ with a head rocking right to start things off. Katie falls back. But gets her dukes up and jabs back steadily as Daisy tries to follow up. Daisy blocked by the jabbing to her head and body, now circles around and then plunges forward again. Katie fights Daisy to a stand-still with a hot punching exchange in close. Daisy trying to pull back to reorganize, but then Katie lunges hard and bangs a crushing right/left combo into Daisy’s chin. Daisy staggers backwards and then Katie rips a right uppercut to Daisy’s chin. DOWN GOES DAISY! The challenger sits down hard on her bottom and falls to one side. Katie looks quite pleased with herself as she heads for the neutral corner. Referee moves in and starts to count. Daisy pushes herself up on one arm and looks around to realize she’s on the canvas. Daisy pulls herself together and beats the count at “EIGHT!” Fight resumes after Daisy is checked by ref. Katie goes for the finish, but Daisy shows defiance as she battles back with the jab. Katie has to work to get in her punches and Daisy shows good defense as the round draws to a close. However that knockout assures Katie McGrath has won the round by a wide margin.

Round 5:

Daisy Ridley seems determined to show the knockdown doesn’t matter. At bell, she is out of her corner going right at Katie McGrath. The champ is smacked hard with Daisy’s fast jabs into her face and jaw. Daisy continues to press forward and Katie is now trying to hold off the rampaging challenger. Katie tries circling away from Daisy which does buy her some time as Daisy has to scramble to keep in front of the champ. Hard fighting in close now as Katie Is now able to slow things up and then she tries to press forward with a counterattack. Daisy then hooks Katie hard to the belly to stall her attack and then bangs her hard to the chin with quick left and right uppercuts. Katie on her heels, but still punching to keep Daisy from taking advantage. They battle to the body down to the bell. This time the judges find in favor of Daisy Ridley by a narrow margin.

Round 6:

Katie and Daisy struggling for control of the bout and come at each other swinging with power. Katie lands the first blows that strike Daisy in the head and send her veering away. Katie moves after her, but Daisy recovers and blasts Katie with strong right uppercut to the chin. Katie now reeling back as Daisy follows up. Katie jabbing back fiercely as Daisy tries to drive her punches into Katie’s face. Katie able to rock Daisy with a jab that catches Daisy between the eyes and sends the challenger wobbling back. Katie lunging forward to build on this but Daisy rallies behind her jab and then gets a solid right to Katie’s jaw that staggers the champ. Daisy then goes for Katie to the body with a flurry of punches as Katie backs up. Then Katie swings to open side and brings a right crashing into Daisy’s jaw. Daisy now the one staggering away and Katie slides with her and unleashes a body battering series of punches that push Daisy into the ropes. Daisy is fighting back with the jab and slides along, trying to avoid being pinned against the strands. Crowd is loving all this action and is cheering both fighters on. Katie no able to pin the stubborn Daisy, but she does win a close, hard-fought round.

Round 7:

Katie again able to land the first blows in the new round—a right/left combo to the chin that sends Daisy lurching back in distress. Katie smoothly moving forward to attempt more shots at Daisy’s chin, but Daisy able to use her gloves to block these punches. Katie then shifts to attack Daisy’s belly and ribcage with scouring lefts and rights that have Daisy hunching forward in distress. Katie working Daisy back to the ropes, but then Daisy suddenly steps to one side and Katie is caught off balance as she punches empty air.  BANG! Daisy brings a crashing right into Katie’s jaw and suddenly the champ is in trouble. Katie’s legs have turned to jello and she can’t seem to get her jab to function properly to hold Daisy off. Daisy just pounding Katie head and body as Katie desperately struggles to survive the onslaught. Daisy drives Katie into the ropes where Katie huddles there under lashing leather storm from Daisy. Time runs out in the round and the bell sounds. Daisy backs away as Katie clings to the top rope with a shell-shocked look on her face. She totters off to her corner. Daisy Ridley has stolen a round from the champ and won it wide to boot!

Round 8:

Foxfire Atlantic corner works frantically to revive Katie during the all-too-short break. Sophia Myles looking very concerned, but Katie McGrath apparently won’t hear of losing the belt by quitting on her stool. Sophia lets Katie have her way and champion does make a determined effort to show fight as Daisy Ridley comes charging in on her. You can just tell she is already feeling that title belt around her waist! Katie tries to drive punches into Daisy’s face, but Daisy able to dodge these shots and then unloads to Katie’s chin with quick rights of her own. Katie comes to a shuddering halt as the impact of those chin punches slams into her brain. Then Daisy doubles her up with hooks to the belly. Katie’s knees giving way too! Daisy jumps back as Katie sinks to her knees and huddles there, arms around her waist. Daisy trots to the neutral corner. Referee counts. Katie somehow staggers to her feet by “NINE!” Referee looks Katie over and then waves Daisy in (which draws some boos from those in the crowd who think Katie’s finished). Katie bravely trying to stop Daisy’s now all-in attack. Punches are flying into Katie McGrath from all directions and she is quickly driven towards the ropes. Daisy now banging Katie’s chin with repeated blows making her head look like a bob-head doll! Katie helpless! Do something ref! FINALLY the referee thrusts himself between the fighters and catches Katie McGrath as collapses into his arms. Daisy Ridley runs to center ring her gloves held high in triumph!

THE WINNER AND NEW BBU BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE HOLDER DAISY RIDLEY DEFEATS KATIE MCGRATH TKO8!

After: “That was one terrific fight!” says Daisy Ridley following the bout. “I knew beating Katie McGrath would be hard, but this was REALLY hard. She’s one tough lady and I am proud that I was able to overcome her to now wear this title belt. I want to be as great a champion as Katie has been and I will always thank her for giving me this opportunity!”

Katie McGrath kept away from the press until the following day and then she one speaks for a short time: “I congratulate Daisy Ridley being the new champion. It was, as she said, a very hard fight and I came up short. I thank her for her kind words in the post fight. I will regroup and be back in the chase for another chance at that title next year. I loved being champion and I appreciate the support of Foxfire Atlantic and the wonderful supporters out there in the arena and at home. I assure you all: Katie McGrath will return!”

Excellent title fight now sees rookie Daisy Ridley  the undefeated (5-0) BBU Bantamweight Champion. Surely this will make her a serious candidate for BBU Rookie and BBU Bantam of the Years honours. Katie McGrath fought hard to defend her title, but it wasn’t quite enough and it is to be hoped that she will soon be back in contention in the coming year. In the meantime, the BBU fans can savor the memories of this great fight.