Robyn Lawley v Tahnee Atkinson: Thunder from Down Under

(results – Lookout, words – Sceej)

Head-scratching matchup - from the Lawley side, more than a little presumptuous for a girl with a 13 and 12 record to call out Atkinson, ranked 7th among welterweights by Tractorpull and 3rd by Boxing World Online. From Atkinson's side, what’s the upside of fighting Lawley and is it ever safe to fight a woman of this size - it is not for nothing that they hung the name “Godzilla” on her.

Asked about the huge step up, Sceej trainer Scrubby McGee replies, “We’re just tryin’ ta figure out what we got wit dis goil. Could be she’s a bust … but could be she’s a would champion! I do know dis - we put her in ta spar wit Addie and she makes Addie look like a small goil! And dat COULD be a very big t’ing!”

Pre fight: Atkinson, off record and ranking, a prohibitive favorite but some of her bettors feeling doubt when they see the fighters getting instructions. Atkinson was always a smallish welter and Lawley fully six inches taller and over forty pounds heavier - it's like seeing a flyweight fighting a welterweight!

Round 1: Fighters out of corners, both in classic boxer-puncher style, dukes high, right hand cocked. Atkinson using speed and class to work the perimeter, in and out. Does her work and gets out. Lawley tentative, slow to get off, lunging with right hand after Tahnee gets her licks in. Scrubby scolding, “Don’t reach, dammit!” when off balance Robyn takes a hard lead right from speedy brunette model. Impressive first round from Tahnee Atkinson!

Round 2: In Sceej corner, McGee lecturing Robyn “Just move your damn hands, goil! Don’t worry about settin’ up some damn poifect shot - just put hand on dis goil and let her know dere’s anudder goil in dis ring!” Atkinson again tarting Lawley up with quicker hands but now she is taking thudding shots in return - Tahnee using defensive skills to take them on shoulders and forearms but the sheer size of “Godzilla” and impact of her punches is still rattling the model. Atkinson takes the second but Lawley is in this fight.

Round 3: Odds & Ends corner exhorting Aussie battler to “Get her out of here! Don’t play with this girl - nothing good will come of it!”. Sceej corner has McGee telling Lawey, “She t’rows one - you t’row two! I don’t give a damn if you hit her or not but you t’row two to her one - got it, Stretch?” Lawley nodding assent. Atkinson out of corner with renewed focus, back heel raised, looking to out jab the bigger woman with mixed results. Tahnee’s hand speed lets her score but she’s also taking shots back from the long Lawley jab. Mid round, for first time, Lawley takes initiative. She begins to feign left and throw the right hand lead. Tahnee able to slip the shot and counter to tan midriff of the blonde … MOST of the time! When the Lawley right does land it rattles the smaller woman. Spooked, Atkinson fighting backing up and allows Lawley to steal round on judge’s cards - more for being the aggressor than for actual scoring.

Round 4: Round 3 a wake-up call for Tahnee! Read the riot act in the corner, “Don’t back down to her … bigger they come, the harder they fall!”. Tahnee moving side to side, dipping and banging body, not letting the bigger woman set and get off. Lawley’s counters mostly catching air. Tahnee making a concerted effort to work body more > Slipping Lawley jab, dipping inside, bang both hands to the body but taking punishment back in the form of cuffing shots to shoulders by Godzilla - who gets a warning from referee about hitting to the back of the head. Suddenly brunette twists hips into a left uppercut which clips big girl’s chin and has her sagging into a clinch. Atkinson violently gets hands free and lands left hook to jaw, and straight right to forehead - Lawley on wobbly legs as bell rings to end s big round for Tahnee.

Round 5: Tahnee Arkinson out of her corner with a purpose - looking to finish! Left hook to the body, then looks to bring left hook to the chin and is startled by a straight right from big Lawley! Atkinson stumbles back a half step .. frowning - this was supposed to be a tune-up! Lawley now extending with the jab - working it up and down - making Tahnee pay a toll to get inside. Once inside, brunette looking to bang the body but kanky blonde quicker to tie up and no way Tahnee wants to wrestle with ‘Godzilla”. Slow round but it goes to the big girl.

Round 6: Odds & Ends corner admonishing Atkinson to “get rid of this chick!” - nothing to be gained by going round after round with this giant. Atkinson with dukes at chin, weaving side to side, avoiding the long Lawley jab and working inside to flurry to body. Big girl taking it pretty well - sheer size means she has reserves - but she is being backed up and like a lot of tall women, she does not fight well backing up. Tahnee putting hands on Robyn - steady output ribs … shoulders … chin … and always back to ribs … making opponent sage forward and when she does, clipping short uppercuts inside … starting to stumble and brunette in hot pursuit … and walks into a long straight right hand on the chin! Atkinson’s knees buckle - eyes with disorganized look? Lawlet leaps forward and lands a clubbing right to temple - suddenly Tahnee, who was controlling the fight - is reeling! Lawley misses with a left hook … Atkinson, legs gone, fighting back - flurries to body … Lawley with big amateurish overhand right … clubbing top of Tahnee’s scalp … Atkinson back with sweeping left hook that misses and Lawley right crashes on jaw and DOWN GOES TAHNEE! Blasted straight to her back by big girl power! Rolls onto side at “3” … up on elbow at “5” … makes effort to rise to feet at “7” but legs not there … and the count passes her … winner by knockout in the 6th round … a stunning upset … Robyn “Queen Godzilla” Lawley.

Post fight: Lawley gracious “Thanks to Tahnee for giving a fellow Aussie a chance! She’s such a tough girl - gave me a rough going over but i was in great shape and well prepared. Thing about signing on with Sceej boxing is … I spar with bloody Adrianne Palicki … unless Adrianne’s training for a fight herself … then I get the legend herself - Big Bad Gena Lee! You spend a few days in the ring with the Nolin meat grind and the fight itself feels like a spa day!”