BEFORE:

"I've been hoping to get a chance to come to Philly," says Laura with a smile. "And, to get a chance against Meg? Even better!"

"Laura's a girl I have no problems with," says Meg with a smile of her own. "But, tonight it's about taking care of business...and I WILL get that done."

ROUND ONE:

O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Boombox' you hear behind us, and here comes the singer of that tune, the lovely Laura Marano..."

McCarthy: "Yawn! Typical Dancing Hooker Opponent. NO FCBA wins..."

Cassie: "I'd point out that Laura only has TWO FCBA fights, but, then Mac would challenge the laws of time and space and tell us SHE had FCBA wins BEFORE she had FCBA fights..."

McCarthy: "Because I DID!"

O'Dell (sighing): "Laura into the ring and helped off with the robe. Crowd popping for that rose pink bikini she's looking plenty good in. And, that's 'BAAM' booming through the arena, and here comes the singer of THAT song, 'The Peapack Punisher', Meg Donnelly!"

Tess: "Donnelly's had a solid sophomore year here at Front Street...but the big shake up has already started...so, she's going to want to keep things rolling tonight."

O'Dell: "Meg into the ring and helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve to reveal that yellow number we've seen before. And, the ladies are about ready. Time for some picks. Tess likes Meg. Mac?"

McCarthy: "NO FCBA wins. Donnelly."

O'Dell: "Cassie?"

Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"

O'Dell: "Unanimous in the first and we're seeing a dialed-back Laura in the early going. She's moving, jabbing, bobbing, weaving, taking some inventory here. And, the blonde willing to go recon with her brunette rival. Donnelly moving the feet, working the left hand..."

Cassie: "Wondered which Marano we'd see, the one who boxed against Bicondova or the one who brawled with Hanratty."

O'Dell: "Could be, we'll see a little of both, but, in the early going, the brunette's about tactical stuff, and, as we mentioned, Meg more than willing to play on these terms. Donnelly likes to box, move the feet, show that athleticism. And, there's not a lot in it at the moment, Mac..."

McCarthy: "Not much. Nobody going for it yet."

O'Dell: "Heading into the final fifteen seconds. Sharp exchange there and both fighters landed a good right hand. Meg circles away. Laura steps forward, gets off in combination, backing up the blonde and there's the bell. Close one in the first, but Marano going to grab the points and the 10-9 lead."

ROUND TWO:

O'Dell: "Ladies back to boxing and both fighters having success on these terms. A little more action now with the recon mostly over. Blonde and brunette playing the angles, looking to get to spots where they can get off in combination. Both doing it here and there..."

Tess: "But, nobody taking control."

O'Dell: "Not at the moment. Instead, we're seeing good two-way stuff with both fighters having their moments, and, I've got to say Marano showing something here. She's only had a couple of fights, but she's hanging in there very well with Meg, who's 10-1 since joining Front Street..."

McCarthy: "Don't talk her up, O'Dell! She's a Typical Dancing Hooker Opponent!"

O'Dell: "We're down the stretch in a competitive second. Donnelly a solid combination and Laura fires right back, landing a couple of nice punches. Meg circles, popping out that jab then landing a NICE right hand follow that snapped back the brunette's head and there's the bell. Close again. Donnelly."

Cassie: "And, we're even at 19."

ROUND THREE:

O'Dell: "Third underway and THERE'S the other Laura Marano! Brunette all OVER Meg right away, backing up the brunette with flurry after flurry of heavy shot. Donnelly on the back foot, trying to jab for space, but not going to get it. Laura's pressuring a TON right now and it's working..."

McCarthy: "Got to admit, nice tactical change for the kid."

O'Dell: "Donnelly completely on the defensive, backed to the ropes now! Blonde isn't hurt, but the brunette's taken over the fight on the basis of this effective aggression. Meg covering up, jabbing here and there, trying to slip away, but Laura doing a great job of keeping her pinned."

Cassie: "Excellent stuff from Marano..."

O'Dell: "Sure is. Meg ties up now. Holds on. Ref gets in there and breaks them and Donnelly starting to circle wide behind the left jab. She's using it to create the space she wants now. Laura bobbing, trying to get forward and pressure, but being held at bay to the bell. Not close at all. Laura's round."

Tess: "And Marano leads 29-28."

ROUND FOUR:

O'Dell: "Fourth begins with Laura looking to pressure, but Meg not having it. Blonde getting that jab in the brunette's face, stopping her cold, then dropping in solid right hands behind it. Marano game, working hard to get forward, but it's not happening and the whole fight has changed because of it."

Tess: "Meg getting more aggressive here."

O'Dell: "Sure is. She's actually stepping forward behind that jab now, moving Laura back. Marano trying to get back into 'drive' here, but can't do it. Donnelly's powdering her face with leather and frustrating the heck out of the brunette. GOOD right from Meg there, gets Marano's attention..."

McCarthy: "Donnelly needs to be even more aggressive, go for it here!"

O'Dell: "We're down to just fifteen seconds left in the round. Meg another solid combination that stops Laura in her tracks. Marano covering up as Donnelly gets off in combination. ANOTHER good right for Meg and there's the bell. Again, not close. But, this time, it's Donnelly's round."

Cassie: "And, we're even again, this time at 38."

ROUND FIVE:

O'Dell: "Fifth begins with Donnelly applying the pressure. Blonde is in rhythm now and she's looking to take the fight to the brunette. Laura trying to hold canvas here, but can't get it done. Instead, Meg's forcing her backward with flurry after flurry, landing some HARD shot..."

McCarthy: "Kid needs to get off square."

O'Dell: "No doubt about it, but Donnelly's getting her lined up again and again. GOOD right from Meg and THAT HURT LAURA! Marano wobbles and now the blonde going all in, winging away with both hands and DOWN GOES MARANO AFTER A SHORT RIGHT HOOK!"

Tess: "And, that might just do it..."

O'Dell: "Meg quickly to a neutral corner. Laura flat on her back, eyes closed. Referee's count at three. Four. Five. Brunette not moving at all. Six. Seven. This is going to be academic. Eight. Nine. TEN! It's OVER! Laura still flat on her back as the count passes her by and it's OVER and your winner by KO5 is 'The Peapack Punisher', Meg Donnelly!"

AFTER:

O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"

Tess: "I have our winner, Meg Donnelly, and Meg, once you got control in there, you didn't let her back in the fight..."

Meg: "She's not a bad fighter. Just hasn't gotten chances. So, once I got her where I wanted with her, I wasn't GIVING her any chances."

Tess: "The big reorg is a month away. How are you feeling about 2022?"

Meg: "Excited. Things have gone well for me here, and I'm looking to take a big step next year."