Hailee Steinfeld vs. Lea Seydoux
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE: Not the easiest assignment for the still-green Steinfeld. In her last five, Seydoux's beaten Emma Stone, Amy Davidson Megan Fox, and, former bantamweight champion Olivia Munn. The French blonde has proven herself to be a major threat at bantam, but the 19-year-old brunette, a solid light, doesn't appear phased. "As I said before the Hennig fight, I know this won't be easy, but an easy fight won't help me learn. I know I can beat Lea, and that's what I'm going to do."

"She has guts, you must admit," says Seydoux with a shake of the head. "But, brains? Not so sure. Because, tonight, she's going to take a beating at the hands of Lea Seydoux!"

ROUND ONE: No stylistic contrast in this one. Both fighters like to work the jab and box at range, no surprise, considering that both have excellent length. The blonde does a bit more moving in this stanza. She's got quick feet and, like a lot of European fighters, she boxes well. Steinfeld, though, finds some success with the left. She's getting the jab on. She's not able to follow, due to the good footwork and defensse of the French beauty, but she's scoring with the jab, and she's clearly getting comfortable early, an important step for a young fighter against a fifth-year veteran of twenty-plus fights across two organizations. Seydoux unbothered by all the snapping leather coming her way. She keeps working the feet, probing with her own jab, looking for openings she can use as the fight goes on. It's recon stuff for the blonde, and she likely gets lots of intel. But, it's Hailee who does the majority of the scoring and takes the first close to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:
More ranged boxing. Both fighters like this kind of stuff and neither is eager to change terms. So, the terms don't change. Instead, we see a slow counter-clockwise turn with both ladies circling away from power. The movement is smooth and crisp on both counts, and the jabs snap out with more power and more frequency. We see some rights getting on target in this round as well. Not so many, mind, but here and there. Nobody hurt, but both feeling some power. As the round goes on, Lea gets a bit more aggressive. She's slipping jabs, stepping forward, banging some body and then going upstairs, backing up the sturdy brunette. Steinfeld initially taken aback by these tactics, but the teen quickly adjusts. She clinches, tying up Seydoux and forcing breaks, getting the range back and getting back to boxing with that lead left. And, those are the terms the fighters are on at the bell. This time, Seydoux's taken it close, and we're even at 19.

ROUND THREE: 
Ranged boxing continues. Until it doesn't. Early in the round, Seydoux slips forward again, hooks the left into Hailee's belly, and, before Steinfeld can clinch, BLASTS a right uppercut to the chin and HAILEE'S HURT! The brunette's knees do a shimmy and she reaches to clinch, but Seydoux sends her staggering backward with a barrage of leather that nearly sends her to the canvas. Only the ropes stop Hailee's retreat, and they may also be the only thing holding her up. Seydoux is all in immediately. She's become quite the finisher in the last year, and that's clearly the plan here. Steinfeld taking a ferocious beating, just like the blonde promised, but, the brunette takes it. She ships the shell and keeps standing, not forgetting to counter when she gets the opportunity. She's holding off the ref while those sturdy legs hold her up, but Seydoux keeps threatening to cut the power right to the bell. When it rings, Lea's got the round wide and leads 29-28.

ROUND FOUR: 
Seydoux pouring forward at Hailee. Steinfeld in full retreat, giving ground in gobs as the French beauty looks to clean up and finish up. Lea sitting down on her punches, firing away with both hands and GETTING ROCKED! It's a right-hand from Hailee that catches the blonde coming in and now SEYDOUX IS HURT! Steinfeld actually hesitates, surprised to see her rival take a step backward and cover up. Then, everything clicks into place and the brunette swings for glory against the buzzed blonde. Seydoux immediately cedes back all the canvas she took and soon finds herself backed to the ropes just as Hailee was in the last round. And Steinfeld more than happy to pay the blonde back with interest for the beating she took in the third. She's ravaging the French beauty, hammering away with both hands, shaking her again and again with the ref seemingly ready to end it at any second. But, the bell comes first. Hailee stops immediately, and gives the French girl a stare before turning back to her corner. She's taken it wide an evened the fight again, this time at 38.

ROUND FIVE: 
We've turned 180. And, now it's Steinfeld pouring forward at Seydoux. And, it's Lea giving ground, though not quite as easily as Hailee did in the fourth. It's a fighting retreat, with the blonde countering in spots, looking to slow the brunette offensive. But, Hailee keeps coming. She may be 19, but she's a big, sturdy bantam and she packs a punch. She's driving Lea back, looking to work her to the ropes again and consolidate the gains she made in the fourth. Until a WHISTLING right hand from Seydoux turns the world upside down again. And sends Hailee crashing to her back. That quickly, the brunette is staring up at the lights as Lea turns to a neutral corner and the referee begins his count. Steinfeld rolls to her hands and knees but can get no further. She's still on all fours trying to rise when the count passes her by. It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 is Lea Seydoux!

AFTER:
Seydoux matter-of-fact in the post-fight. "As I told you I would, I gave her a beating," Lea says with a nod. "She is not in my class. But, that's to be expected. She's an inexperienced teen. And, I am one of the best bantamweights in the world. And, I am aiming for the top. I plan to be the first Frenchwoman to win the FCBA's Unified Bantamweight Championship. Remember that I told you I would."