Naomi Scott vs. Minka Kelly

(Results: Lookout! Words: Wiz)

BEFORE:
No need for hype here, as two of the top ten bantams on the planet step into the ring. And, both brunette beauties show plenty of respect for the other, at least in the prefight. "I have no IDEA why this girl hasn't had a shot at the bantam belts in five years," says Naomi with a shake of the head. "She's as good as anybody I fought when I had the title. But. She's NOT quite as good as I am, as I'm about to prove."

"Scott's a girl who has all the tools," Minka admits with a gorgeous smile. "There aren't too many girls I'd favor in a fight with her. But. I'm ONE of them."


ROUND ONE:
Lots of class early, and that's no surprise, considering both of these girls can BOX. Naomi likes to get physical, slipping, dipping inside, getting off, then dipping back out. Minka likes to work forward behind the jab. But, in the first, we see a lot of ranged work, with both brunettes jabbing and probing, looking for openings and filing away bits of information for future use. But, while there's a whole lotta recon going on, there's plenty of action, too, as both fighters are plenty busy, moving head, hands, feet, getting off in combination in spots. And, with both fighters plenty effective, there's not a whole lot in it as far as the cards go. It's pretty even stuff the entire way, with no one really creating any space. But, when the bell rings, it's the older beauty who's gotten a bit more done, so Minka claims the points and the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:
Now the ladies begin negotiating terms. Minka working that left, coming forward behind it. Scott moving the feet and head, staying off square, angling, slipping, dipping, popping forward for a quick flurry, then slipping away to reset. Both fighters getting some of what they want early, but nobody able to take control of things, and it stays that way throughout, with Kelly having moments when she's able to force the Hounslow Hammer to give ground using the jab followed by hard rights, while, at other times, it's Scott getting her terms and piling up the points. Result is another good, two way round that's in doubt the entire way. Final thirty seconds sees Naomi create some space, though, landing some solid shot that backs up Kelly and gives her the points, albeit narrowly, to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:
More two-way action early, with both brunettes again showing how slick and skilled they are. It's clinic stuff. Head, hands, feet, everything working in conjunction to create openings or close them down. Punches are landed while others are slipped and blocked. Some lands squarely, but others end up a bit short or as glancing blows due to excellent defense. It's stuff for the purists, and, despite some sallies from both fighters in the middle second of the stanza, it stays that way throughout with, for the third consecutive round, nobody able to take control of things. Instead, the points remain in doubt, once again, right into the final seconds, and, when the bell does ring, it's cat's whisker stuff, but it's Minka, and the older brunette moves back into the lead 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:
Same again as the pattern is set. Skilled boxing with both former champions working to get the most advantageous terms possible and no one able to gain much of an advantage. It's, once again, good, two wa...BOOM! Right hand, NAOMI and Minka is HURT! Scott slips, dips inside, and lands a CRUNCHING flurry that sends Minka wobbling backward and that quickly it's ON! The Hounslow Hammer is calling in the heavy artillery, driving Kelly into the ropes and battering her with both hands. Ref is looking in as Minka stays in a tight ear muff, taking heavy fire from, seemingly, everywhere as Scott looks to finish this thing. But, once again, Kelly's class comes to the fore. She's slick and skilled defensively and manages to avoid the stoppage. She takes a licking, but, when the bell rings, she's still ticking. It's Naomi's round, though, and that evens things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:
Scott pressuring, looking, if not to finish, at least to clean up. Minka giving ground early. Spider. Fly. BOOM! Keyholed right hand counter, Kelly and now it's NAOMI who's GOBSMACKED! Scott wobbles and nearly goes down and Minka is ALL IN, driving all before her as the shaky Scott is driven to the cables and given a thorough going over. Kelly clearly one good shot from ending this thing, but now it's Naomi showing her class, as she keeps the guard high, rolls with, slips, blocks, hangs on desperately, doing just enough offensively to keep the referee at bay. It's a near thing, but Naomi manages, with great skill and determination, to ride out the storm. When the bell rings, there's no doubt Minka's taken the points and pulled back into a 48-47 lead, but Scott's squirmed off the hook.

ROUND SIX:
Kelly applying the pressure early, but Scott holding canvas, firing back in kind, and Minka eases off the accelerator, not interested in a firefight with the younger woman at this point. Instead, we go back to the good, two-way stuff we saw in the first three rounds, with both brunettes getting some good work done and no one taking cont...BOOM! Right hand, SCOTT and Minka is HURT! And Naomi pounces immediately, backing the older woman up with a TON of heavy leather and then DROPPING HER with a straight right hand! Scott, arms raised, heads to a neutral corner and the ref counts down on Minka, who's flat on her back, eyes wide and blinking. Kelly struggles to a sitting position at seven, but an effort to rise results in Minka crumpling back to hands and knees and it's OVER! And your winner by KO6 is 'The Hounslow Hammer', Naomi Scott!

AFTER:
Naomi's clearly been in a fight, but she's all smiles, her three-fight losing streak broken in style with an impressive win over a girl who was right in the middle of the title picture. "Like I said, it's ridiculous that this girl hasn't had a shot at the belts in half a decade. She's just about as good as it gets in this division. Just ABOUT. Because, she's not as good as I am. Then again, no one IS."