RACHEL MCADAMS VS HAILEE STEINFELD

Results: Lookout Writing: Archer

Rachel: 42 YO, 5’4 (1.63m), 54-46-1, 32 KO since 2005. Foxfire Boxing

Hailee: 24 YO, 5’6 (1.68 m), 7-10-0, 7 KO since 2016. The Fighting Academy

Before: “My management and I thought it was time I took on a quality veteran like Rachel McAdams,” says young Hailee Steinfeld. “I’ve won 5 in a row now, but I want to show what I can do against a tough, seasoned fighter like McAdams.”

Rachel McAdams smiling cynically: “That sounds very respectful, but I can see behind the words. Hailee’s younger than me by over 15 years, taller than me by 2 inches, and I am 1-5 in my last six fights. You can see it: I’ve got a name, I’m a former champion, and think how good a win over me would look on her record. Very strategic, but I’m not some jobber. I still have what it takes to beat someone bigger and younger—as you’re going to find out, kid.”

Hailee looks innocent: “I have no idea what you are talking about. I should think you’d be flattered at my challenge.”

Rachel smiles cynically again: “You will find out just how flattering I think it was. See you in the ring!”

With that Rachel McAdams leaves the stage. Hailee looking annoyed, but then shrugs: “That old bytch is going to regret talking me like that! See you in the ring, too, you old has-been!”

On Fight Night,Rachel McAdams enters the ring in her favorite red and black one piece with red boots and gloves (black laces). Rachel’s hair is blonde, loose and wetted down. Hailee in a black one piece swimsuit with white gloves and boots (black laces). Hair pulled back into a single battle braid. Rachel and Hailee giving each other hostile looks, but ring instructions are covered without ado. Sharp smack, though, when it is time to “tap” gloves. Then they go to their corners. The bell sounds and out they come…

R1: Hailee moving quickly to establish control of the opening round. She fires quick jabs to light up Rachel’s face, then goes to the body with slashing hooks that tear into Rachel’s rib cage and abs. Rachel staying calm, gets her mitts up to protect her face and use her own jab to work oe Hailee’s chest and side the head. Hailee swinging around to the side to drive stinging leather into Rachel’s flank ribs. Hailee look to be trying to move Rachel back into the ropes, but Rachel able to steer clear and keep that jab going. However Hailee putting in the hard smack and it helps her win the round on the judges’ cards once the bell rings.

R2: Rachel moving out much more aggressively this round. She puts pressure on Hailee early with head shots alternating with pounding hooks to the body. Hailee knocked around by these head shots, but she strikes back with solid hooks of her own that smack into Rachel’s midsection again and again. Rachel trying to stand her ground, she answering Hailee hook for hook, but then Hailee sneaks in an uppercut to the chin that rattles the veteran. Hailee then pounds in the hooks sending a doubled up Rachel spilling back. Rachel rallies and lands some good shots to the sides of Hailee’s head. Hailee slows up but she continues to trade body blows down to the bell. It’s a close round and judges give it to Hailee.

R3: Hailee must have felt she let Rachel steal a step on her last round, because she comes barreling out of her corner. Furious barrage of leather slams into Rachel’s head and face and she is thrown back into her own corner. Rachel manages to get her face buried in her mitts, but Hailee is sending thundering sheets of leather into Rachel’s exposed torso. Rachel writhing and jerking under these relentless blows, but she stays up and finally grabs Hailee in bearhug of a clinch to buy herself s few moments of relief. It is only momentary respite for Hailee quickly resumes the attack and keeps Rachel trapped in her own corner. Bell sounds to end Rachel’s ordeal. Hailee looks annoyed that Rachel is still standing.

“Next round I’ll end this,” she declares. Rachel just gives her a defiant grin.

R4: Foxfire corner crew works hard and gets Rachel out for the new round. Hailee comes galloping in, ready to finish off the veteran, but suddenly Rachel jumps forward. Rachel slams off right uppercut and then a left uppercut into Hailee’s chin. Hailee comes to halt and Rachel pounds in more punches to Hailee’s jaw, cheekbones and mouth. Blood starting to leak as Hailee comes out of it jabs back frantically to get Rachel off her. Rachel hit in mouth and nose and has to fall back to regroup. Now they both lurch forward and another blazing body punching battle rages. Elbows pumping in and out like piston rods as they slam home the punches. This time it is Rachel McAdams digging in her feet for leverage and she is pushing Hailee back inch by inch as the round draws to a close. Judges felt it was close and give it to Rachel McAdams.

R5: Hailee patched up by her corner crew, but she is slow coming out. Last round seems to have taken some energy out of the brunette, but Rachel McAdams looks recharged. After some initial skirmishing with Hailee, Rachel makes a calculated assault on Hailee’s ribs and stomach. Pounding hooks have Hailee grimacing in pain and she is sluggish in her counters. Then Rachel detects Hailee’s high guard is weakening. She drives a right and then left between Hailee’s mitts and into her face. Hailee’s nose bleeding again and then Rachel finds Hailee’s jaw with her right. Hailee’s head spins around in a spray of blood and sweat. Hailee falls back, her legs now turned to rubber and Rachel is pushing her towards the ropes. Hailee trying to counter, but it’ not enough and her butt is against the ropes. However she has stall long enough for the bell to ring and Rachel McAdams isn’t able to get the beatdown she clearly wanted. Rachel does win the round by a wide margin.

R6: Hailee again is worked on by the Academy corner crew. They clean up the blood and get her out as 6th stanza begins. Rachel is circling and countercircling around a highly defensive Hailee. She sees to be looking for openings while punching Hailee’s side ribs with steady rising pressure. Hailee starting to feel the white hot ache in her ribs and tries to move Rachel back with her jab. Rachel getting hit, but ignoring the impacts to focus on scoring the decisive blow. Suddenly, she sees Hailee falling her a fake to the left, and an opening appears. Rachel drives a right into Hailee’s already bruised and swollen jaw. The impact seems to hit Hailee like an electric shock. She shudders and shakes, her high guard suddenly wide open. BOOM! BOOM! It’s the classic left hook/right cross combo crashing into Hailee’s chin. DOWN GOES HAILEE! Hailee’s arms fall to her sides and she just crashes forward like a felled tree. Rachel steps aside as Hailee bounces off the canvas at her feet. Then it is off to the neutral corner for Rachel. Rachel looks back as the referee counts. Hailee stirring groggily pushing herself up onto her elbows, but she can do no more.

“NINE!....TEN!...YER…OUT!” cries the referee.

THE WINNER: RACHEL MCADAMS DEFEATS HAILEE STEINFELD KO6!

After: “Guess this prove I am no ‘has been’.” Rachel McAdams gloats to the press as she watches a shell shocked Hailee Steinfeld being helped from the ring. Oh, the kid’s not bad she did give me some tough rounds, but I just hung in there. She seemed to use up a lot of energy and that’s something else I took advantage of. Very nice win, if I do say so myself.”

No comment from Hailee Steinfeld or The Fighting Academy, but sources suggests this was a loss young Hailee was not expecting. Will it shake her confidence? We’ll just have to see.

Meanwhile Rachel McAdams gets to savor a win that could be called an upset. Certainly the odds were with the younger, taller woman, but Rachel beat those odds and put the FCBA on notice that she’s yet ready for Cougar status.