BBU International from Melbourne
Mallory Jansen vs Karolina Kurkova
(ACB Independent vs Lioness Club)
(4-1, 4 KO vs 15-10, 12 KO)
Results: BBU; Story: Vassago

BEFORE: Former ACB lightweight champion Mallory Jansen returns to the ring in her Melbourne backyard where she faces the Czech model Karolina Kurkova who "earned" herself this opportunity by beating Aussie-based Chilean Pia Miller at Wembley Arena last month. Several local pundits including Green & Gold's Sarah Cumming are curious what Jansen brings to the ring having last fought in March 2020 but the model-turned-actress claims she stayed in perfect shape knocking out many sparring rivals in the so-called meantime. While Kurkova is a household BBU name, she might struggle with fitness in her age 38 season and that seems to be the main reason Jansen cuts such a confident figure ahead of tonight's contest.

Mallory Jansen wears a turquoise bikini set & golden gloves. Long dark brown hair tied in a curled ponytail. Karolina Kurkova wears a light blue bikini set & silver gloves. Long blonde hair tied in a sleek ponytail. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the lightweight division.

Round 1:
Karolina gets off to a hot start and lands several crisp shots into the brunette's face but Mallory regains her stance before she gets backed onto the ropes and fires over the top to threaten a swift recovery only for the Czech model to find that all important power punch first. She nails Jansen on the nose and continues to pour more head-hunting leather forcing the local favorite to think better off it after all. Mallory spins out of the close range dispute and tries to control the distance with a steady jab but Kurkova remains the slugging lane and pummels the somewhat subdued foe onto the ropes come the final minute. She switches low to punish the brunette's abs and leaves her in quiet spasms at the bell when she lands more gut shots to underline her early dominance.

Round 2:
More of the same in the second, Mallory gets busted upstairs and struggles to match the blonde's intensity before biding her time in mid-range while Karolina keeps working the high delivery and gradually backs the Aussie actress into heavy defense. Mallory's counter-punching efforts fail to impress the older woman and she has to weave around the head-hunting pounce as Kurkova lashes out from both flanks and wobbles the Melbourne native into an earmuff cover down the stretch. Jansen has to clinch the Czech tourist and gets away with a blatant headlock to delay the action but even Sarah Cumming thinks the judges won't like this performance at all and Karolina only offers the Aussie corner a cheeky smile at the bell.

Round 3:
Mallory finally gets going as she pancakes a left/right combo into the blonde's face before settling for a wild slugging exchange where she nails Karolina on the nose and halts her run of good fortune. Another wild hook finds the ear and sends the blonde reeling while the Melbourne audience has something to scribble on with Jansen trying to cash in with more head-hunting combos. She drops Kurkova onto the ropes and tears a small gash across her nasal ridge before another huge swing connects with the ear one more time. Huh! Karolina tries to push off the ropes but just misses on the response and gets caught by an uppercut double from the inside as Mallory punishes her rack and drains the fuel tank with hardcore assault against the run of play. Kurkova gets pinned on the turnbuckle and bellows out behind a tight earmuff but the bell eventually comes to her rescue at the last moment.

Round 4:
The Lioness response meets a stubborn guard and when Karolina tries to switch low to punish the brunette's abs, she eats another cross hook on the nose and wobbles forward to embrace an uppercut pounce that allows Mallory to settle down with authority. All those punches into the blonde's cleavage leave her vulnerable inside the opening minute and Jansen shakes off the clinch to fire a left hook on the ear that rolls down Kurkova's windows. She trips backt to the ropes and doesn't have enough time to cover off another right hook from the charging Aussie... look out... MALLORY FLOORS THE MODEL with a hard shot on the nose which also spills some blood for a good measure! Uh-oh! Karolina crashes down on her right side and has a hard time beating the count here. She gets up at eight but looks to be rattled enough for the local fans to expect a swift finish... only for the clock to save the wilting tourist from more punishment in this round moments later. However Mallory doesn't even look upset...

Round 5:
...as she quickly resumes the slugging charge and beats the Czech model back to the post seconds into the fifth and dwarfs her counter-punching efforts before landing another vicious left/right combo on the nose. Ugh! Karolina wobbles forward with a whimper and can't keep her mitts in tact as Mallory finds room to deliver one more uppercut blast that LIFTS THE BLONDE OFF HER FEET and sends her crashing down in a heap amid a wild ovation from the audience. There's no coming back from this one so the ref duly waves off the count! KO5 Mallory Jansen!!!

AFTER: "It feels good to be back and I'm ready to show everyone I'm still a Top 5 talent in this country... and beyond! I heard Pia Miller saying she doesn't want to fight Krystal Forscutt for lunch money. Hah! Then get lost and allow ME to pick up that opportunity! Or maybe more European models want to check out how rusty I really am? There's one blonde #### who made that mistake already!", Mallory doesn't hide how delighted she is with her boxing comeback and she might as well hit speed dial on the match-making front given all those months she spend on the sidelines. Watch this space.

Official Result: Mallory Jansen def. Karolina Kurkova KO5.