Summer Glau vs. Melissa Benoist
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE: 

Glau not getting a lot of the attention going into this one, which strikes her as a bit strange, since, you know, she'd won seven of eight before failing to wrest the titles from red-hot Minka Kelly last month, and, of course, she's a former bantamweight champion with scalps like McCarthy, Beckinsale, Cuthbert, Hewitt, Pressly, Spears, and, oh, yes, Kelly, on her belt. While her opponent has a grand total of four FCBA fights and one, albeit impressive, victory. "For some reason, this is all about her," Glau says with a shrug. "But, you know, I'm used to that. My fight against Spears was all about Britney, and my title defense against Beckinsale was supposed to be some coronation. But, it was my hand that got raised. And that same hand will be raised tonight."

"Don't hate me because I'm popular," says Melissa with a smile. "I can't help it if the fans and press are interested in me. I've got nothing but respect for Summer. She's a top-flight bantam. But, I've beaten a top-flight bantam before. And, I'm going to do it again tonight."

ROUND ONE:

We know which Summer Glau we're going to get. It's the rangy, lithe boxer with the great legs and the slightly unorthodox style that involves looping outside punch trajectories that can drive an opponent nuts. What we don't know is which Benoist we'll see. Is this going to be the girl who got physical with Vandervoort, or the one who boxed against Bennet? Early on, we get Boxing Benoist. She's moving the feet along with Glau, who circles wide, legging all over the place. She's trying to locate with the long left jab, while Summer makes that difficult and continues to find angles with those wide punches, angles that enable her to get leather home. As the round goes along, however, Melissa proves to be a quick student. She begins to adjust and is able to box with Glau, if not out-box Glau. It's good, two-way stuff for the second half of the round, with both fighters getting some stuff done, but, Summer's early advantage carries the day as she wins it close and leads 10-9 after one.

ROUND TWO:

More coltish movement from Summer, who hasn't lost any of her quickness and athleticism at age 34. The younger Benoist, though, can pretty much match the veteran in both categories, and she also has something many Glau opponents lack, an advantage in reach. And, despite being in only her fifth FCBA fight, she knows how to use it. She gets the range she wants, messing up some of Glau's angles and creating the angles Benoist wants, and, the result is Melissa taking control of the round early. Summer, however, is, again, a veteran and a slick, crafty one at that. She quickly adjusts to Melissa and, again, by the middle of the round, we're back on even terms, with both fighters having some offensive success, but neither getting as much done as she might like. Nobody's hurt, but plenty of leather lands, and, in a reverse of the first round, now it's Benoist's early advantage that tells the tale. Melissa grabs the close one this time to even things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Chess game of adjustment and counter-adjustment continues. Give plenty of credit to Benoist for being able to play at the level of Glau, because she's proving that she can, indeed, play at the level of a fighter sitting on ten times the number of fights Melissa herself has had at the FCBA level. And, these are subtle adjustments now, little things involving slight changes of footwork and head and hand position, things that take advantages and turn them to disadvantages, that change angles and distance, that mess up timing or wrong foot an opponent, creating just enough of an opening to get some leather home. It's R-Q1 followed by B-K3. Move and counter move. Adjust and readjust. All the while keeping up a steady flow of fire. The defenses, pretty slick in the first two rounds, are even better now, as both fighters are getting used to the tactics of their respective opponent. But, still, work gets done from both sides in a solid two-way round. This one is the closest yet, won by Benoist, who now leads 29-28.
        
ROUND FOUR:

More of the good, two-way boxing action early, with move and counter-move creating the even playing field we've been seeing for almost all of this one. Glau begins to find some weaknesses in the Benoist defense as the round goes on, however. She's able to break through with that wide, looping stuff again, coming in palm down from over the gloves of Supergirl, creating space for leather and flustering her fellow brunette. Eventually, Benoist begins covering up, thrown onto the defensive for the first time, and Summer dials up the aggression. She meets some spirited resistance, however, as Benoist fires back in kind when Glau sits down on punches and lengthens exchanges, and, in fact, it's the younger woman who begins getting the better of these. Summer responds quickly by easing off the pedal and getting back to the ranged boxing before Benoist can eat away her advantage. At the bell, it's close again, but Glau's got it, and we're knotted at 38.

ROUND FIVE: 

Glau right back to what's been working, with yet another slight adjustment. She's giving a little ground now. Not much. So little as to hardly be noticeable, in fact. But enough to draw Benoist forward. Which, of course, is exactly Summer's plan. She wants to walk Melissa into a right hand, and she succeeds in doing just that. It's a solid right that doesn't exactly land flush, but it certainly gets the younger woman's attention. It does not, however, hurt her, nor slow a right hand counter from Supergirl that's nothing less than perfectly timed and SUMMER'S HURT! And Melissa is, immediately, all-in. Benoist may be inexperienced, but she knows well how important it is to put away a fighter like Glau if you get an opportunity to do so, and throws all the reserves into the fight to get that done. Summer's backed up and touched up, eventually being pinned to the ropes, but the veteran keeps her senses about her, keeps her guard up, keeps moving the head and hands, and hangs on. She takes a licking, but is still ticking when the round ends. It's Benoist wide, but, while Melissa leads 48-47, a big opportunity has passed her by.

ROUND SIX: 

Benoist wants to turn up the heat. NOW, she wants to get physical with Summer. But, Glau isn't having any. The athletic former champion has those great legs back, or, at least far enough back that she can still move, and it quickly becomes obvious that Melissa isn't going to be able to close and bang like she wants to. Instead, we go right back to the terms we've had for most of the fight, a war of movement, with both athletic brunettes having their moments throughout the round. Glau continues to cause defensive problems for Supergirl with her odd angles and outside punches, while Melissa continues to use her length and speed very effectively. The result is another two-way round, with not much in it for the last two minutes plus. But, again, it's the early moments that end up making the difference, those moments when Glau was getting the better of things as Benoist tried to force the pace. So, at the bell, it's Glau close and we're even again, this time at 57.

ROUND SEVEN: 

Slick boxing continues to be the name of the game as we approach the late rounds in what's been every bit as good a fight as anyone could have expected. Both fighters have shown a ton here, no surprise in either case, frankly, especially Glau's, but, for Benoist at least, solid confirmation of what educated observers have already seen, a girl who has the skills to be an elite bantam, and, despite her lack of experience, one who can already fight with them. It's nip and tuck early, nip and tuck into the second minute. Until Benoist catches Glau with another brilliant right hand. The straight right blasts into Glau's chin and unhinges her knees. Summer manages to stay on her feet, but she's steppin' in fence post holes. And, then she's looking at them very closely. Because a follow up flurry from Supergirl includes a nasty left hook that swivels the ex-champ's chin and sends her crashing face first to the canvas at Melissa's feet. Benoist is quickly to a neutral corner, but there's no need to rush. Glau is down and Glau is OUT. And your winner by KO7 is Melissa Benoist!

AFTER:

Benoist exultant. She's put the tough loss to Bennet and the disappointment at the hands of Cassidy behind her and confirmed the conclusions of her victorious effort against Vandervoort. Melissa can DO this. And few are doubting that anymore, especially Supergirl herself. "No, I'm not surprised," says Benoist in the post-fight. "I mean, obviously, she's Top Twenty and a former champ and all that, but, I've been saying all along that I can fight with these girls, and I've proved it again. And, the exciting part is, I'm just going to get better." And, even fewer are doubting that.