World Cup Boxing on the Beach #2
Ivana Knoll vs Sayuki Matsumoto
(Croatia vs Japan)
(1-0, 1 KO vs 17-6-1, 15 KO)
Results: BBU; Story: Vassago

BEFORE: Croatian model Ivana Knoll celebrated an upset victory over Ann-Kathrin Brommel few days ago and she's ready to double down on her boxing on the beach adventure by following the national team's World Cup schedule. In comes Japanese model Sayuki Matsumoto who has all the experience & results to make Ivana regret her decision. Croatia won the football match but the odds are stacked against Knoll despite a superior crowd support on the Dubai beach. Sayuki keeps it low profile during the introductions while Front Street Japan manager Ayako Hamada admits they accepted this fight on short notice only because Ivana remains an unproven fighter and was probably underestimated by Brommel on her BBU debut. Sayuki won't make a similar mistake so get ready for some early fireworks!

Round 1:
Sayuki is still affected by the jet lag so it makes Ivana's jabbing pounce that much easier and she finds little resistance from the slow moving opponent anyway. She lands several quick shots into the Asian model's face but then starts working on the jugs which finally forces the former BBU champion into a much-needed reaction. Both women dish out the leather in the center of the ring to raise more noise from the beach patrons and Sayuki lines a hard right into the fellow brunette's face to let her know just who offers the elite performance in the ring after all. Ivana shakes off the big punch and keeps working on the Japanese rack before she lands an uppercut combo on the chin and shoves Sayuki onto the ropes. She's unable to close her down with more attacks come the final stretch but still wins the louder support from the audience at the bell.

Round 2:
More of the same in the second, Sayuki just doesn't pull the trigger early and has to deal with Ivana busting her in the rack before a looping cross nails the otherwise lethargic Asian on the mouth. Ayako Hamada is getting a little restless is the corner but the pre-fight favorite remains stuck in neutral and fails to mount a significant response while Knoll knocks her back to the ropes with another aggressive drive and begins to drill through the exposed midsection as well. Sayuki clinches the charging model but almost gets tackled to the sand and eats a quick hook on the jaw that leaves her bellowed out on the ropes while the younger brunette resumes the slugging pounce and buries the shockingly subdued Asian behind a tight earmuff come the final stretch. Ivana is truly having a great run here against all the odds and belts Matsumoto in the liver area right the bell raising even more noise around the Dubai beach!

Round 3:
Sayuki needs to wake up soon or else she's gonna bite the proverbial dust any second here as Ivana rolls out with another slugging drive and picks the fellow model up the middle during a hectic exchange. Matsumoto finally lands some crisp shots into Knoll's face but gets beaten for a swift overhand double on the counter and remains stuck on her heels when the Croatian model slams her in the boobs before thumping an uppercut rally on the jaw. Ugh! Sayuki bails out into mid-range and has to circle back from contact during the second minute which only fuels Ivana's pursuit. However she can't quite match the Asian's mobility and cuts thin air in a fruitless effort to extend her advantage; Sayuki lands some counter-punching response and knocks Ivana's head back in the closing seconds before driving a hard right into her guts at the bell alas coach Hamada is visibly upset in the corner with the fight not following the Japanese script whatsoever.

Round 4:
Hard slugging from both models early in the fourth as Sayuki jumps into a hectic head-hunting pursuit that finally overwhelms the Croatian stunner and leaves her eating leather from both flanks until she bends sideways and has to yield real estate following an uppercut combo on the rack. She wobbles onto the ropes and doesn't have enough time to avoid a hooking blast that rocks her head on the spot. Sayuki unloads the premium performance and works upstairs to split the stubborn guard bouncing crisp shots all over Knoll's face until the younger model cries out in pain. Uh-oh!! Sayuki winds up and slams a left/right series before thumping the exposed midriff and Ivana tails off from there. No response from the buxom model to speak of and it's all Matsumoto who kicks up some sand as she tries to find that haymaker glory but just can't make the most of this great opportunity and gets clinched into a stalemate in the end.

Round 5:
Sayuki is ready to take over this fight now and squares up to the seemingly weakened opponent but Ivana fends off the initial haze and cracks a sudden uppercut combo that bounces off Matusmoto's boobs and clips her on the jaw. Both women go in right-on-right and Sayuki comes off worst as she gets cut under the left eye and wobbles to her heels while Ivana drills her on the solar plexus and flicks a vicious belter around the elbows. Ugh! Sayuki takes a couple of steps back and is slow to raise her arms as Knoll NAILS her with a right hook on the ear to SEND THE ASIAN MODEL CRASHING DOWN ON HER BACKSIDE!!! Ugh! Another rookie upset on the cards as Sayuki is visibly shaken up by that punch! She battles back to her feet at seven amid a loud roar from the Dubai crowd but needs more time to recover while Ivana simply won't give her any! The fight resumes with the Croatian model spraying leather all over the subdued Asian who stops most of that with her face and gets pinned to the turnbuckle where Knoll settles down to punish the rack and she makes Matsumoto cry her heart out! Ugh! More punches crash into the Japanese cleavage and Sayuki GOES DOWN ON HER BACKSIDE again and rolls face down on the sand with her eyes closed!!! This one is over!!! Ref waves off the count at six and even Ayako Hamada knows that was the correct decision! KO5 Ivana Knoll who makes it two-for-two during the World Cup!!!

AFTER: Massive upset in boxing terms as Ivana knocks out the former BBU champion who accepted this fight on short notice but never found her groove on the Dubai sand. It's perhaps time to acknowledge Sayuki has lost that elite edge and might never mount another championship run while the future looks very bright for Ms Knoll instead. The buxom Croatian vows to keep this epic run going and with the national team advancing into the quarter-finals the next challenge is aimed at some of these special Brazilian models. Alessandra Ambrosio is very much retired so Izabel Goulart has come forward to protect the national pride with the fight set to take place some time next week. It's anyone's guess if Ivana has enough juice left in the tank but she's striking iron while it's hot and the betting odds suddenly look very promising for the dark-haired newcomer! Stay tuned for chapter #3!

Official Result: Ivana Knoll def. Sayuki Matsumoto KO5.