TROIAN BELLISARIO VS MARGARET QUALLEY

Results: Lookout Writing: Archer

Troian: 35 YO, 5’7 (1.70 m), 35-27-0, 31 KO since 2011, Pretty Little Punchers

Margaret: 26 YO, 5’8 (1.73 m), FCBA Debut, Global Boxing Syndicate

Before: “I have to admire, Margaret for making her debut against me. Most newcomers look for the easiest opponent in their weight class, but she chose me,” Troian Bellisario comments. “I must warn her, I NOT the easiest opponent in our weight class.”

“I wanted someone to challenge me,” Margaret says frankly, “I need to have some idea of where I am at as I start out. I began has a ballet dancer then went modeling and acting. I am used to challenges. I hope I am up to this one.”

“I assure you,” Troian says, “you will find out.”

Come Fight night the fighters enter the ring. Margaret Qualley is wearing a yellow halter-top one piece with golden boots and gloves. Troian Bellisario is wearing a light purple one piece with dark purple boots and gloves. Margaret looks a bit nervous as the moment of her debut w near, Troian her usual cool and collected self. The ring instructions are covered, gloves are tapped and the fighters dispatched to their corners. The bell rings. It’s on…

R1: Margaret on the attack early, firing jolting blows into Troian’s head and body. Troian answers with hard blows of her own to Margaret’s head and body Two now circling each other and exchanging sharp punches to the jaw, Then they start shooting hooks into each other’s lanky bodies. Steady smack smack as the leather strikes in deep against ribs and stomachs. Troian and Margaret not backing off, but then Margaret shakes the veteran with fast strikes to the jaw and chin. Troian falling back as the round concludes and Margaret Qualley wins the round close.

R2: Troian starts moving around Margaret much more evasively this round. She’s drawing Margaret off balance and then striking her with strong rights and lefts to the head. Margaret trying to counter, but the mobile veteran is staying one step ahead of her and forcing the newcomer to eat leather as now Tro is lighting up Margaret’s face. Margaret’s face lumping up from this treatment, but she doggedly tries to keep up with Troi. Margaret trying to force Troian to fight in close, but the effort is driven back by Troian hooks to the stomach and ribs. Troian just maintain steady pressure, shifting her punches between head and body to keep Margaret guessing. Round ends with Margaret looking much the worse for wear as Troian wins the round wide.

R3: Margaret not abandoning her plan to fight Troian in close. However this round, she is careful to be the first one out of her corner and the first one to start punching. Troian now takes a rapid-fire series of punches to the ribs and then down into the stomach. Margaret pounding away as fast as she can push in her mitts until she’s got Troian tipped forward at the waist. Then Troian fights back with hooks to the stomach and ribs of her own. Margaret tipping forward too, but she continues to fire away at Troian’s torso. The two are now boot tip to boot tip and jerking up those short, punishing rights and lefts. Stays equal most of the way, but as the ground draws to a close, Margaret has Troian falling back step by step. It’s a fighting retreat, but Margaret has done enough for the judges to award her the round by a narrow margin.

R4: Troian not pleased with being roughed up for a second round by Margaret and seems to come out with determination to answer this. Troian strikes first at Margaret to the stomach with hooks and Margaret returns with body hooks of her own. However Troian then suddenly shifts tactical gears and goes for Margaret’s chin and jaw. Sudden lightning strike uppercuts connect solidly to Margaret’s chin and follow up right and left shots to the jaw twist the newcomer’s head one way and then the other in a spray of sweat. Then more uppercuts as Margaret is suddenly frozen in place and Margaret’s long legs suddenly shoot out from under her! DOWN GOES MARGARET QUALLEY! Lanky brunette lands on her back, arms thrown over her head with legs spread out—a perfect starfish. Troian heads for the neutral corner as Referee takes position and starts his count. Margaret trying to rise, but she can’t seem to get her legs to cooperate. She rolls onto her side and gets to all fours, but that is the best she can do:

“SEVEN!...EIGHT!...NINE!...TEN!...YOU’RE OUT!”

THE WINNER: TROIAN BELLISARIO DEFEATS MARGARET QUALLEY KO4!

After: “Margaret has a lot to learn,” Troian pronounces to Archer News reporter Skip Tracey after the fight. “She’s got some skill and plenty of spirit, but not enough skill to cope with someone at my level. I think she’ll need a lot of work, but if she and her management stick with it, she’ll make a decent fighter around here.”

Margaret Qualley tells Skip Tracey: “I wanted to find out how much more work I needed to do and the answer is: plenty. Of course, I am not happy that I lost, especially in only 4 rounds, but I am not about to give up. I am here for the long run and I hope my management is too. I’ll be back and a better fighter. I want to thank Troian for giving me this opportunity, but I hope if we meet again, the outcome will be much different.”

Not a very surprising outcome as a rookie gets knocked out in 4 by a proven veteran. Still, Margaret Qualley did show (as Troian Bellisario said) some skill and a lot of determination. It just wasn’t enough to help Margaret beat Troian. Hopefully lessons will be learned and applied to future Margaret Qualey fights. Meanwhile Troian can savor her winning her first two fights in 2021 and no doubt is looking ahead to possible title contention later in the year.