Karlie Kloss vs. Emma Corrin (Results: Lookout. Words: Wiz)

BEFORE:

Pair of hard-hitting welters square off in this one, with the needles pointing in opposite directions, so to speak. Corrin hasn't come near to breaking into the welter elite, mind, but she's managed to move into the Top Twenty after winning five of her first eight FCBA fights. Kloss, meanwhile, had an even faster start to her FCBA career, grabbing a title shot in her eighth fight after winning the first seven. She's been a below .500 fighter since, and is just 6-15 since the start of 2019. But, if Karlie is sweating Emma, she's not showing it in the pre-fight. "She's beaten a few second-level girls," says Kloss with a shrug. "Nothing more than that. She's not in my class."

"Karlie's been living off a hot start for the past six years," says Emma. "The fact is, she's nothing special, and I'll prove it."

ROUND ONE:

Emma showing no signs of proving it. Kloss has a TON of height and reach advantage here, and she puts it to good use immediately, getting the long, long left into Emma's face, keeping the British beauty at bay. Quickly, Kloss gets into rhythm, dropping the follow-on rights onto Corrin, backing her up, stepping to, and giving her a beating. Emma's getting very little done, because she can't get to spots where she can get off. Late in the round, she's actually punching from too far out and leaving everything short, so frustrated has she become trying to get to where she can punch effectively. By the time the bell rings, Corrin's been giving a thorough beating by the American. She's not been hurt, but she has lost the first and plenty wide, too, to fall behind 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Corrin adjusts. She's moving now, both feet and head, making herself hard to find. As a result, she's able to slip past the American's defenses, and, when she does, she gets off immediately and in combination. Result is close to a complete 180 from the previous round, because now it's Corrin tossing Kloss onto the defensive repeatedly, and Karlie who's taking the thumping from her British opponent. Emma moving extremely well, all angles and geometry, fouling Kloss' aim, then getting to middle distances and tossing punches in bunches. It's great stuff for Corrin, who builds her lead throughout the stanza, even landing a couple of HARD shots that get Kloss' attention in the final thirty seconds. At the bell, it's very wide again, but, this time, to Corrin, who evens things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Corrin continues to work the feet, slip the jab, but now Kloss adjusts. She's giving a little ground, using the drop step. giving herself a BIT more time to find the Brit, and it makes a difference. Instead of Karlie dominating from range or Emma getting to her spots consistently, we now get two-way stuff. Kloss has moments where she's got the range she wants, and, she takes full advantage of them, putting hard, quick flurries together to pile up points. At other times, Corrin gets the geometry SHE prefers, and, during those times, it's Emma who's piling up the points, as she gets leather on target in a big way. Result is a very close round that's in doubt the whole way. When the bell does ring, it's very, very close, but it's Kloss who gets the points and pulls back into the 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

More of the same. The pattern has been set now. Both fighters have a good strategy in place to get the terms they want. And, both are able to work the plan successfully. But, this is one of those situations where, while both girls can get SOME of what she wants, neither can get ENOUGH of what she wants, and the result is another back-and-forth round, with Karlie in control at range and Emma getting much the better of things when she's able to get to those middle distances where she can get hard shot on target. And, for the second round in a row, things are in doubt the entire way, with neither fighter able to gain any kind of real advantage. But, also for the second round in a row, when the bell does ring to end the stanza, it's Kloss who takes it narrowly, extending her head to 39-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Kloss gets off with a couple of hard right hands early, and that sets the tone for the round. The taller girl gets the Brit on the back foot, and she keeps her there with steady, effective fire. All of a sudden, we're seeing a replay of the first round, except, the problem isn't that Emma can't get past Karlie's defenses to her spots, it's that she can't get out of reverse. Any time Corrin gets her feet set, Kloss suppresses her with heavy fire and gets her going backward again. Emma's never hurt, but she IS getting scuffed up and taking by far the worst of things, and, as the round goes on, Kloss just becomes more dominant. By the time the bell finally rings, Emma's taken a thorough thumping for the second time in five rounds. Kloss takes the points wide and extends her lead again, to 49-46.

ROUND SIX:

Kloss pressing, landing that jab, coming forward behind it, backing the shorter girl up. Corrin giving ground, countering in spots, but definitely taking the worst of things. BOOM. Right hand counter, Emma and Karlie is HURT! That quickly, the British beauty takes command as Kloss is GOBSMACKED by a perfectly-timed counter punch. Now, it's the American in retreat as Emma wings away with both hands, driving the taller girl back into the ropes and then making with the heavy leather, buffeting her with hard shot coming from seemingly everywhere. The ref is looking in closely, as Corrin seems to have Karlie ready to go, but Kloss hangs on, starts jabbing back in spots, does enough for the ref to let things proceed to the bell. When it rings, there's no doubt. It's Emma wide, but Kloss is both still standing and still in the lead, 58-56.

ROUND SEVEN:

Corrin now the one doing the pressing. She's backing up a wobbly Karlie again and again as the American plays defense looking to get those long legs back under her. Emma clinical here. Nothing sloppy about any of it. She's setting up punches, using the jab, working the hands and feet, creating openings and then filling them with hard, accurate leather. Kloss keeping the guard high, jabbing back here and there, playing for time. BOOM! Right hand, CORRIN and DOWN GOES KARLIE! Another keyhole right from the Brit and the American is dropped to her back! Emma quickly to a neutral corner as the referee counts down on Kloss. Karlie rolls to her belly at seven, but gets no further. She's still face down on the canvas when the count passes her by. It's OVER. And your winner by KO7 is Emma Corrin!

AFTER:

Emma matter-of-fact about a solid win over a girl who's beaten some top welters. "As I said pre-fight, I'm just a better fighter than she is. That's what it comes down to. I'm a top-level welter. And, she's NOT."