Post by Lookout! Boxing on Nov 27, 2021 at 1:19am

Brie Larson vs. Eliza Taylor (Results: Lookout! Words: Wiz)

BEFORE:

Pair of blondes both trending in the right direction. Brie's as good as just about anyone in the bantam division, and, after years of impressing in the wilderness, Taylor is getting the job done under GBS's management. But, there can only be one winner tonight, and neither fighter is lacking confidence.

"Eliza's a great story," says Brie with a nod. "She's worked hard and had success because of it. But. As good as she is, she's not good ENOUGH. Not tonight. Not against ME."

"Is this a little step up in class for me," asks a hard-eyed Eliza. "Sure. But, let's keep in mind, you're talking to the girl who went ten rounds with Chloe Bennet. I can fight in this class. And I can WIN in this class, as Brie is about to find out."

ROUND ONE:

Brie moving, boxing, doing what she likes to do, but the Aussie's having none of that. Taylor has LOTS of power for this division and she wants to bring it to bear. She's stepping to behind the left jab, sitting down on right hands and, all of a sudden, backing up the American. Brie's trying to get some space here, but having zero success doing it. Instead, Taylor's crowding, banging, working body, making her fellow blonde very, very uncomfortable. This is excellent stuff from Taylor, who's staying sound but being very, very aggressive. Late in the round, Eliza actually backs Brie to the ropes and has her covering up as Taylor bangs away with heavy leather right to the bell. There's no doubt about the results of the first. It's Taylor and it's wide and the Aussie leads 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Aussie pressuring, but Brie handling it much better this time around. Larson moving, angling, boxing very well. Eliza's still having moments where she can crowd and bang away, but those are fewer and further between now. The rest of the time, Larson's getting the terms she wants. And, you can count on one hand the number of fighters who are going to beat Brie Larson on Brie Larson's terms. Result is good, two-way stuff, with Eliza piling up points when she can get in Brie's grill, and the American offsetting that when she's able to get her box on. There's very little in it as we head down the stretch, and Taylor knows it. She bores forward and backs Brie up with a couple of big flurries, eating a rejoinder or two, but doing enough to grab the points and pull into a 20-18 lead.

ROUND THREE:

Taylor pressuring and EATING A RIGHT HAND! Larson times one perfectly and ELIZA IS HURT! Aussie wobbles and nearly goes down and the American goes ALL IN, driving her rival back to the ropes and going to work in a MAJOR way. Larson calling in artillery strike after artillery strike as Taylor plays defense in a high guard. Ref looking in closely, but Eliza doing enough to keep him at bay while riding out the assault from the American. Larson's piling up the points and hurt all in an effort to get Taylor out of there, but it's not happening. Despite Brie's best efforts, Eliza's able to hold on, and, by late in the round, is firing back in spots. When the bell rings, there's no question that Larson has taken the points wide, but Taylor's won a victory of her own by remaining on her feet. And, the Aussie still leads on the cards, 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Brie getting things going early. She's angling, boxing very well. She's at long range, scoring in combination, then stepping to middle distances and scoring from there as well. Taylor looking to pressure, and, at times, she's able to get that done, but Larson's doing an excellent job of staying off square and creating space...when she wants it. When she doesn't, the American closes, gets off, and gets back to range again. It's great stuff from Brie, and reminds everyone of why she's oft referred to as one of the best bantams in the world to have never won the tile. Taylor remains game right to the final bell, but she gets taken to the proverbial woodshed for most of this one, and, when that bell rings, Larson's got her second-consecutive wide round to even things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Larson's established control now, and, despite her best efforts, Taylor can't break it. The Aussie's scoring in spots, of course, but the American's calling the match. And, it's not just that Brie is outboxing Eliza, it's that she's landing the harder, cleaner shots, too. Things look grimmer and grimmer for Taylor as the round goes on, with Larson getting more and more the better of thin...BOOM! Right hand, ELIZA and Brie is HURT! Larson stumbles backward and Taylor LETS THE HANDS FLY. Brie in desperate trouble as the Aussie's dropping BIG right hands on her and it's ALL TOO MUCH! DOWN GOES BRIE! Larson puddles to the canvas at Eliza's feet! Taylor raises the arms in victory as she high-tails it to a neutral corner. Larson manages to get to all fours, but, before she can do anything more the count passes her by and it's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is Eliza "Juggs" Taylor!

AFTER:

Taylor a little scuffed but all smiles. "Yeah, this is a huge win for me," she says. "Obviously, I haven't beaten a Top Ten fighter before today, but that's all changed now. So, if anybody has any questions about whether or not I'm for real, well. Just ask Brie Larson."