Tale of the Tape:
Sasha Luss:
Age: 29
Height: 5'8 ½
W/L: 4-2 (4KOs)
Vs
Manuela Arcuri:
Age: 44
Height: 5'8 ½
W/L: 13-13 (12KOs)
Former BBU lightweight champion

(Free Agent vs Free Agent)

(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)

Intro:
An international clash as Russian model Sasha Luss takes on Italian model and former champion Manuela Arcuri in Cardiff's BBU Arena, both have struggled for form, one will return to winning ways tonight, while the other continues to look for the path back to success.

Sasha comes into the fight on two defeats, losing to former BBU welterweight champion Joan Smalls, followed by Alexina Graham, while Manuela has lost her last two too, first to Diletta Leotta then to Stana Katic.

Before the bout both women were interviewed by BBU TV reporter Georgie Thompson, first stepping into the locker room of Sasha, who is sitting on the bench in a white track suit with black stripes down the sides listening to some music, she takes out her head phones and points at a chair nearby while smiling.

After Georgie sits down they exchange pleasantries, then get down to business, Sasha is asked how she is feeling going into this fight, Sasha replies "well I need to pick myself up after the last fight, losing isn't a habit I want to pick up, so I have been working hard in the gym, seeking out new sparring partners and trying to figure out what I have been doing wrong, hopefully it all works out for me" smiling warmly as she looks relaxed about tonight.

Asked about her opponent, Sasha tells Georgie "I know Manuela kicks ass and has held gold, she isn't the fighter she once was, while she might give me a few small headaches, I expect that my power, speed and technique will be too much for her, it should be a fun fight to be involved in while it lasts" Georgie smiling at the confidence of the Russian, whose coach asks Georgie to leave so they can get ready for the fight.

Heading into Manuela's dressing room next, Georgie sees her getting her hands wrapped by her coach as she wears a blue hoodie, black yoga pants and black trainers, Manuela looks all business as she nods for the reporter to come in, Georgie sits nearby as Manuela tests the tightness of the wraps on her right hand by clenching her fist.

Georgie asks about the bout, with Manuela replying "I am simply here to knock out Sasha, I am not interested in it going the distance or being a punch bag for some rookie, I get that she has some hype around her, I'm far from finished as a fighter" nodding to her coach the wrap on her right is OK.

As her left is being wrapped, Manuela adds "once I'm done with Sasha I want to be treated with respect, too many of these young fighters assume when a woman hits forty she is done, that we should step aside for them, I step aside for nobody, Sasha better come at me with all she is worth because if not, then she will suffer" a stern tone to her message, Georgie nods before she leaves, not wanting to upset the legend by overstaying her welcome.

Fighting time, out first through the curtains comes Sasha with her coach behind her, the blonde bombshell has her head braided, waving to the crowd with her red gloves, while she wears a red sports bra with one white and blue stripe next to each other on both sides, matching trunks and boots, she steps into the ring with a deep breath to relax any nerves, shadow boxing as her coach drills her on what they expect to see tonight.

Now here comes Manuela with a hard look on her face aimed at the ring, she is wearing blue gloves that she bangs together, a light blue sports bra with white trim, matching trunks and shoes, her hair is tied into a ponytail as she steps through the ropes into the ring, where she nods to her coach after fist bumping them.

Brought to the center of the ring by the referee, both shake their arms loose as they tensely lock eyes, neither blinking as the instructions are read out, once completed by the referee, the fighters crack their gloves into their opponent's set, jogging back to their corners as the crowd whistles and cheers the beautiful models, once everything is set the bell rings to begin 10 rounds of welterweight action.

Round 1:
Early on it's clear to see the differences in style, Sasha up on her toes more looking for openings, Manuela more straight forwards with her attacks, looking to land a hard shot as she swings her hips in more to her punches, it is the Russian landing the cleaner shots out the gates.

A double jab catches Manuela on her lips, making the Italian beauty snarl as she just misses with a right cross, eating another straight to her face as Sasha is looking up to speed already, keeping her opponent at range with some beautiful combinations to get her coach applauding her.

Slowly Arcuri is starting to read Sasha better, leading to her landing a straight onto the abs of the younger woman, then landing a left cross to turn the head of the blonde as she now starts to pressure Luss, knocking her back near the ropes as she opens up more.

Late in the round Sasha is able to slip a straight to land a counter left hook to the body, then lands a straight under the chin of Manuela to knock her back a step, Sasha has the veteran covering up tight as she sends a barrage towards her, most hit the gloves of Manuela, when the bell rings it is a statement of intent from the younger woman.

Round 2:
Back out they come now fully warmed up to the task at hand, they are both landing some beautiful jabs through guards, Sasha again starting off the quicker though, using her jab to set up punches towards the stomach of her opponent, moving back out the way when power punches come her way.

Manuela is struggling to deal with the quickness of Sasha, who plugs her to the face with more clean shots to cause Manuela's nose to start trickling blood, making Sasha grin till she is caught with a left cross, losing focus there causing Luss a little trouble as on comes Arcuri.

Another left cross catches Sasha as they enter the final minute, Manuela bodies up to her, showing her experience as she works the body, wanting to take the younger woman's legs out of her, Sasha clinching up with both women exchanging a few insults in their native tongues, not understanding clearly what the other is saying, knowing it isn't a compliment though.

Broken apart Sasha is quick to rifle a one-two into the face of Manuela, at the bell Sasha raises her arms into the air to let her opponent know whose winning this fight so far, Manuela just stares daggers at her till the referee can nudge them back to their corners to get cleaned up.

Round 3:
Out they come with Manuela trying to protect her nose more, Sasha enjoying the freedom early to jab away at range, almost looking like she is dancing as she gracefully moves around the ring, catching Manuela to the top of her head.

But Sasha gets timed by the veteran, who deflects a jab and lands one of her own to the top of the blondes head, a right cross follows to knock Sasha's head to the side, now Arcuri is using her power to drive back Sasha onto the ropes, again using piston like shots to the body of the younger fighter.

Pushing Manuela off gives Sasha a little breathing room, but it's not long till Manuela is back in Sasha's face, cutting off the ring to slam more punches back into Luss's face, the Russian beauty finding out she won't have this all her own way as she is knocked into a neutral corner with a flush one-two to her face.

Sasha to her credit is trying to fight her way out of trouble, she is getting knocked back though as Manuela has the power between them, at the bell Sasha has a mouse under her left eye, Manuela bounces on her toes arms in the air to rile up Sasha, this is becoming a bit of a grudge fight as they tensely lock eyes on their stools.

Round 4:
Back out they come with Sasha not on her toes as much, falling into the trap of letting her emotions get to her, leading to a slugfest early in the round, one that suits Arcuri more as she lands a right across the cheek of Luss, opening a cut under the left eye of the blonde.

With Manuela pressing forwards as Sasha covers up, several punches land around the body of Sasha to make her grit her mouthpiece, she fires back over the top with straight punches into the top of Manuela's head to make her think about it.

Pushing Sasha onto the ropes, with Manuela drilling punches into the abs of Sasha, making her groan out till she is clinched, both women with a little dirty boxing as they land rabbit punches to the back of their opponent's head, till they are broken apart so they can fight on.

Late in the round Arcuri looks to keep the pressure on Sasha, she misses with a left cross and takes a one-two square onto her nose, causing more blood to start running from it, with Sasha coming on the front foot now to hammer back Manuela with straight punches to the face, at the bell both women return to their stools to be patched up.

Round 5:
Coming back out to resume fighting, Manuela misses early on with a straight as Sasha moves to the left, with a jab landing square onto the nose of Manuela, A RIGHT THEN LANDS CRUELLY ACROSS THE NOSE OF ARCURI, WHO GOES DOWN TO HER RIGHT SIDE HOLDING HER NOSE!

Sasha flexes her right arm over Manuela, getting nudged away to the neutral corner, 1...2...3... Manuela sobbing as she lays on the side, 4...5....6...7.. Manuela is kicking the canvas as she rolls to her front, blood dripping off her nose to the canvas, 8...9...10 Manuela can't get up or hasn't the will to do so, she is counted out!

Winner Sasha Luss KO Round 5

After:
That's Sasha back on the winning road again, she shows off her blood stained gloves to the nearest camera with a beaming smile, heading to her corner to be met by a high five from her coach, who tells her "that's how it is done" an impressive victory even with the rough patches.

While Manuela needs to be helped onto her stool, where her nose is checked over, she gets the all clear that her nose isn't broken but clearly it bloody hurts as she winces when it is touched, after tissue paper is used to stop the bleeding, she has a towel with an ice pack in placed on her nose.

Her mood doesn't improve when she sees Sasha getting her left hand raised in victory, Sasha smirking at Manuela as they lock eyes, Manuela just shaking her head before she is helped out the ring by her coach, needing to go to the back to lick her wounds and hopefully come back stronger.

Sasha meanwhile goes on a lap of honour, while her face is marked up with the cut, she is still acting like she is on the catwalk with her strut, ending it by pointing at the camera to say "I won't be kept down you bytches" a warning to her rivals in the division before she leaves the ring, a confident look on her face as she seems back to her usual self.