Anna Kendrick versus Emma Stone

Before: A deep breath from Kendrick before she speaks. “This fight will be tough. No doubt. Emma Stone is a tough girl and a strong fighter. Am I nervous for this fight? I always get butterflies before the match. I mean, we are pretty exposed in the ring. And there’s a kind of… nervous energy that you can harness as a fighter, you know? So I feel that, which is a good sign.” A question comes about a championship hangover. “No. I don’t believe in that. I lost my last fight. It was for the championship. And it was not how I wanted that night to end. But if you look back in the history of this league, every girl that has won championship fights, has also lost championship fights. The loss doesn’t make me gunshy. It doesn’t make me afraid. I know who I am in that ring. I’m a great boxer who is taking on some of the most beautiful and skilled female boxers in the world. And I train to take on the best girls in boxing. And I know that’s who I’ll be facing tonight.”

Emma Stone almost blushing as she responds. “Don’t think you can charm me into taking it easy on you…” Emma giggles as she responds. “Anna Kendrick has been a big surprise in this league, and I’m definitely not looking past her. She’s had more fights lately, but I’ve been boxing longer than her. I think this is going to be a great match-up between two girls who love to fight. And I think beating Anna will remind the rest of the girls that Emma Stone is still a top boxer.”

No nonsense introductions for both girls. Tight, conservative two piece in blue with white accents for Anna Kendrick. Stone with a matching outfit in red. Clearly a coordinated effort and the outfits lend an air of professionalism to the bout. It’s still an intense staredown and a solid touch of gloves before the girls retreat to the corners.

Round 1: After the bell, there’s a quick touch of gloves. The last reminder that it’s just business in the ring. And Emma Stone is ALL business! The redhead is coming out firing, sticking that jab onto Anna’s cheek and following up with heavy, thudding shots. Kendrick throwing back and landing, but she’s forced to retreat as they trade. Anna’s eyes pop when she feels the ropes at her back. She’s forced to slug it out with the redhead! Emma has the advantage, pressing against Anna chest to chest and forcing Kendrick to take wait as she sags into the ropes. There’s little room to punch, but Emma manages to push off in strange rhythms before tucking her glove off Anna’s tummy and tits. Kendrick’s being smothered in the ropes… until she turns the tide! She grabs Emma by the waist and uses the redhead’s own momentum against her. Stone is surprised by the shift in position as she is now trapped against the cords, with an angry Anna Kendrick right in front of her! Anna ducks in behind a tight guard. She’s burying her forehead against Emma’s chest, helping herself to Stone’s tight torso. At the ten second warning, Anna puts the hammer down! Kendrick landing heavy to Stone’s tummy and picks her up clean to chin just before the bell! Emma shaking her head as she walks back to her corner trying to show she’s not hurt. A tiny wobble in her step suggests otherwise.

Round 2: The redhead looks undeterred as the second stanza begins. She’s got the height advantage and she’s going to bully the shorter Kendrick. Emma closes with a slow, loping advance. She’s throwing out a pawing jab, trying to land it but also negotiating the distance as she forces Kendrick to retreat. Anna’s eyes are clear and bright, but she’s getting lumped up by that rangy jab. It’s constantly stinging her on her cheeks and forehead. Anna looks to duck under the jab and land to the body… but Emma adjusts using a tight, low left hook to catch Anna clean on the chin. OH! She’s woozy after that punch! Kendrick stumbling off to her side, defences in disarray… and the ropes break her fall! She’s leaning back in the ropes again, with the fiery Emma Stone bearing down on her with full force. Anna desperately covers up to protect her chin, but that leaves precious real estate on her tummy exposed, and Emma Stone helps herself! Stone is digging and churning up Anna’s guts, pushing the wind out of her lungs as she’s rampaging to Kendrick’s body. Anna is desperate to stop the chaos, and she launches two huge hooks at Emma’s chin. The redhead sees the first punch coming and slides back to avoid it… but the second thunderbolt crashes directly on target! Stone is stunned, but Anna only has the time to tuck a few hard shots to Emma’s breadbasket. A little repayment for a round of abuse.

Round 3: It’s all tender words of encouragement and strategy talk in the Diamond corner. Kendrick winces as the medical team does their job, and though she’s still tender in places, she looks good to go as the bell rings for round three. No changes from Emma Stone. It was all smiles in her corner and she’s got the smirk all over her face as she’s landing that pawing jab again. Anna realizes she can’t let the redhead dictate terms in this fight. Kendrick has to change the script. And with a deep breath, she stands her ground and fires right back! Stone coming forward, met by Kendrick… their bodies tangle as the jockey for position. Each girl bumps off to make room for fists to fly! It’s toe to toe slugging at mid-ring as the girls just blast away at tummy and chin! Neither girl giving an inch. Anna winds up that big hook, looking to floor the redhead. She swings in that compact, deadly arc… and hits nothing but air! Emma Stone ducks under the blow and comes up firing! She rockets two lightning bolts to Anna’s chin, knocking her mouthpiece into the front row and sending Kendrick tottering backwards on her heels… before she trips and crashes down to the mat! Emma raises her gloves to the sky as she knows she tagged Anna right on the button. Kendrick SO hurt on the canvas! She’s motionless with eyes clamped shut as the count starts. But at three, her eyes flutter open! It’s a slow, creaky rise as Anna grabs onto the middle rope struggling to get her legs under her. It’s a big push at nine, and Anna sags back in the ropes with her gloves barely above her waist. The ref takes a deep look in her eyes. Anna pleading with the official, “Please… don’t stop it… I’m ok… I can still fight… please…” The Diamond corner is scrambling to find another mouthguard, and the ref brings Anna over to fit in the protective equipment. Emma Stone waits in the neutral corner practically fuming! The whole affair takes quite a while and gives Anna significant recovery time. When Stone is finally waved in and the fight resumes, there’s not enough time to decisively press her advantage. Kendrick suffers a few more blows but survives to the rest period.

Round 4: It’s a five-alarm fire in the Diamond corner as Anna stumbles home after a disastrous round. She’s jerking her head away from the smelling salts, but the treatments get her ready to face the redhead again. Emma stands at center ring, daring Kendrick to come out for more punishment. Anna not having it, and begins a circling retreat. She’s desperate for time to clear her head and figure out a new strategy. Kendrick is forcing Stone to chase, and Emma is only too happy to oblige. Now that both girls are moving, Anna can time her counters. She’s getting off in fits and starts, trying to bust up Emma as she’s coming forward. It’s working… Stone is taking damage as Anna begins to pick her apart! Kendrick now tucking home tidy lead left hooks, and ramrod straight rights. But it’s the uppercut she lands to Emma’s chest that changes the round. Emma just speared by that blow, and it causes her to fall forward, wrapping her arms around Kendrick. Anna’s tries to shake her off, but Emma has control now! And she walks her girl back into the corner… Kendrick shaking her head with each back step! She knows how this story ends. Emma is all elbows and forearms as she stacks her girl up… but Anna cracks her on the jaw! HUGE shot from the brunette, but when she tries to follow up, Emma Stone is a woman enraged! She’s smothering and crowding Kendrick in the corner. Scrubbing up tummy and chest, piling on the damage and racking up the points! At the bell, the ref has to pull Emma off the sagging brunette. Stone lost in full bloodlust. Yes, Emma probably won the round… but how was Kendrick still fighting back?

Round 5: Both girls looking damaged in their corners. Light bruising on the cheeks, slight pinking on the torsos, and a small cut over each girl’s left eye. Nothing that might stop the fight, but a clear indication that these girls have been in a war. They close at mid-ring as hostilities resume. Anna stops short and looks to resume probing Emma’s defence from the outside. But Stone isn’t hearing it! She’s marching forward again! Though both girls are hurt, Emma Stone is still looking to slug it out. She’s advancing behind that lead left hand. Emma’s jab constantly crashing home on Kendrick’s ever weakening guard. Anna tries to dip and dodge away from danger, but her legs just aren’t quite where they need to be to execute her fast and agile evasions. With escape not an option, Anna knows she has to slug back! Kendrick starts with a jab that’s caught on Emma’s guard. Followed by a big right hook that swats the guard away. Then it’s a slick left hook to cheek… and finally, a booming right uppercut to snap Emma’s head back. It’s red alert for the redhead as she’s rocked by those heavy shots… and Anna looks to pour it on! Kendrick is throwing the kitchen sink at Emma! It’s overwhelming for Stone as she stumbles back on shaky legs. She reaches out, trying to wrap up the rampaging Kendrick. The intertwined boxers shuffle towards the ropes. Anna now the bully, shoving her girl into the ropes and pushing off to create space to punch. And it’s Kendrick throwing big body shots, cracking hooks to cheek and chin, and even landing thudding shots to Emma’s shocked jugs! HOW can Stone keep taking this kind of abuse!?! Her huge heart is holding her up on shaky stems! The ref is hovering… but the bell calls an end to the beatdown with Emma still on her feet! A HUGE grin from Anna as she prances back to her corner. She knows she’s got her girl desperately hurt now. Anna just has to finish the job.

Round 6: Even in her weakened state, Emma Stone comes out with her guard up ready for action. Her fighting pose earns and encouraging cheer from the fans. Anna showing respect to the redhead by closing cautiously. Kendrick clearly wants to go for the KO, but doesn’t want to see all her hard work erased by a moment of carelessness. Anna is getting off in ones and twos. She’s landing solid on any open target that Emma presents. The redhead is sponging up the damage and firing back when she can. But as the round progresses, Emma falls off the punch count. Stone can’t keep up the pace and she refuses to go in reverse. She’s standing and slugging, desperately heaving shots to halt the diminutive firecracker in front of her. But it’s too much damage, and Emma can’t mount an effective offense. She’s off balance and not getting her full weight behind her punches. And Anna continues to hammer away at her girl. Emma tries to spear Kendrick with a straight right… but Anna dips her shoulder and lets the punch fly harmlessly by! With Stone off balance, Kendrick impales her with a hard-hearted body blow! Then follows it up with a cracking left hook that turns out the lights for Emma Stone! The redhead is SO spent! She’s all used up there on the canvas! The count is a mere formality as Emma Stone is OUT! It’s a decisive victory for your winner, by KO6 ANNA KENDRICK!!!

After: Kendrick leaping and climbing in the ropes in jubilation! Almost finished herself in the third, it’s a great comeback win for Anna. She says as much in her post-fight remarks.

“First, can we get a cheer for Emma Stone?” The crowd responds with a healthy roar for the downed redhead. “That girl is tough as nails, and she is an amazing boxer.” The reporter asks about the knockdown in the third round and the mouthpiece. Anna can only stammer in response. “I don’t… I’m not sure…” Kendrick tries to hide a downcast look. “Emma tagged me pretty good… I don’t remember much from that round…” The reporter tries to steer Anna discussing her fight plan. “We knew her size was going to be a bit of trouble. But I knew if I could just get my gloves on her, I could hurt her. I believe in my punches. And as long as I can land one shot, I’ve still got a chance to win the fight, you know? I’m… very excited… and maybe a bit lucky to get the win tonight. It feels good to be back on the winning side of things!”