Brooklyn Decker vs. Miranda Kerr

Front Street Gym vs Downunder Boxing

(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

This is more than a poster fight. It's fraught with interesting storylines. First, there's Decker, who's back in the ring for the first time since losing the lightweight straps to Blake Lively. Where Brooke goes from here in a crowded Front Street lightweight division is anyone's guess, but there's no question a second straight loss isn't going to help. Then, there's Miranda. A girl who's lost one fight across three organizations, and has held titles in all three. But. She's also coming off a loss, to Gisele Bundchen,  girl Decker didn't even believe worthy of a fight. So, while there's not much personal going on, there's plenty at stake and plenty to prove.

"Look," says Miranda, eyes flashing. "I beat Refa'eli and I beat Yustman. I can beat the best girls in this organization, and I've proven it. Yes, Bundchen caught me. It happens. But that doesn't change the fact that I'm as good as any lightweight on the planet. And, that's exactly what I'll prove tonight."

"I've heard," begins Decker with a haughty look, "that people think Miranda's getting me 'at the right time'. They think I'm vunerable because of the loss to Lively. They couldn't BE more wrong. This is the absolute WORST time to step in the ring with me, as Miranda's going to find out."

ROUND ONE:

No surprise that the two rangy beauties want to get to gunnery range and begin firing. Lots of range finding early, with both blonde and brunette going jab and mostly reserving the right hand. The leggy models show good feet and plenty of athleticism as they work to square, probe defenses. It's mostly recon stuff, though both fighters toss a bit of power in, just to remind one another that both are big hitters. Nobody's hurt, however. And nobody backs up a step. As the round goes on, the fighters settle in and things get a bit busier. And the punches become more accurate. It's clear both ladies are getting the lay of the land and both are getting into an offensive rhythm. By the final thirty seconds, some big flurries occur. Both fighters land solid stuff, and both take the punches well and fire right back. It's a good, close, two-way round that, in the end, goes to Decker, who leads 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

The first thirty seconds of the second resemble the last thirty seconds of the first. Both fighters busy, getting off in combination, landing some heavy shot. Decker slowly begins getting the better of it, backing up Kerr for the first time. But, Miranda quickly turns things around, catching Decker with a blazing straight right in counter that shakes the blonde's knees. Kerr's nothing if not a finisher, and she's all over Decker immediately, banging away with both hands as the blonde covers up and tries to weather the storm. A short left hook buckles Brooklyn's knees again and the referee seems ready to step in. For some reason, he doesn't. And the Aussie simply continues the assault, trapping the American against the cables and battering her for the balance of the second round. Kerr can't put Decker down, but she does plenty of damage, claiming the round wide to even the fight at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Kerr continues the offensive. She's all over Decker early, backing the blonde right back to the ropes and having at her. The Aussie sitting down on her punches now, giving the former champion everything she has. Then, it all turns around again. In a complete 180 from the last round, this time it's Decker with the counter. It's a straight right hand and it freezes Kerr. But, she doesn't stay frozen for long. She's quickly in full retreat as the blonde blasts her way off the ropes and drives the Aussie before her. Miranda fires back some in retreat, but the legs aren't there and neither is the power. Decker walks through her , walks her down, gives her a beating. And then traps her on the ropes and simply continues the abuse. Now it's Decker going for the finish and Kerr's legs denying it. Miranda's holding on desperately, but, hold on she does. And, at the bell, she's still standing. But, it's Decker who's grabbed the round wide and taken the lead at 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Decker continues the offensive. Kerr in almost complete retreat from the beginning of the round. The blonde, perhaps wary of what she was able to do in the third, methodical, but still plenty aggressive. She's firing bombs, especially with the right, but she's taking the time to set them up with her hard left jab, and she's making sure to keep her defenses sound while she does it. Kerr fighting off the back foot, countering on occasion, but that's about all she can manage. That, and staying off the ropes for the first two minutes. That changes in the third when Decker wobbles her with a hard right and then backs her to the cables. What happens next isn't pretty for the Aussie. It's a mauling of the first caliber, a battering that, frankly, most FCBA lights would have wilted under. Miranda Kerr, however, is made of sterner stuff. She hangs on again. But. The round ends as a shutout for Decker, who's now in control both in the ring and on the cards, where she leads 39-37.

ROUND FIVE:

Decker damning any and all torpedoes now. She's after Kerr and determined to finish her. But. To quote Maxwell Smart. "Would you believe..." Kerr lands a a right hand counter early and staggers Decker with it. It's a combination of Brooklyn being a little sloppy and Miranda placing a punch as well as you can place one. But, whatever the cause, the result is another turnaround in the fortunes of the two fighters. Now, it's Decker hurt and covering and Kerr, though still scuffed and wobbly, going onto the offensive. Miranda goes all out and all in, winging away with both hands, damning torpedoes of her own. She was in deep trouble a moment ago, and now she's turned the tables and she's looking to ride this all the way to victory. She's all over Decker from the moment the right hand lands until the bell sounds ending the round. Brooklyn survives it, but, that's about all she does. It's a shutout for Kerr, who's cut the lead to 48-47 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Miranda right back to the offensive. She's coming forward hard behind a stiff left jab, forcing Decker back, landing heavy leather. Brunette in command. Until. Are. You. Serious. Right. Now??? BOOMING right hand from Decker and DOWN GOES KERR! Miranda dropped to her back, stunned. Referee counting over her as she stares up at him. Decker in a neutral corner, can only shake her head as Kerr struggles to her feet at eight. Referee gives her the mandatory, hesitates, but waives Brooke forward. Blonde has one thing on her mind, and it's mayhem. And, she's able to create same in a big, big way. Decker pummels a game but fading Miranda all over the ring, finally getting her to the ropes in the last thirty seconds and piling up the hurt. Piling it up so high that the referee yet again seems ready to waive this thing off. But, he doesn't. And, mercifully, the bell rings. It's Decker, 10-8 and she's now up 58-55 after six.

ROUND SEVEN:

Both fighters looking more than a little worse for the wear. Kerr still wobbly, but Decker not really taking much advantage. She's a little gassed and a little scuffed and it all adds up to her not being able to clean up or even consolidate. And Kerr can't take advantage of that. All she can do is back and cover, back and counter. The result is that we get the round with the least action of the fight. Decker jabs some, tries to fit in the occasional right. Kerr counters when she can, usually off the back foot. Neither can generate a lot of power at the moment, and, in fact, neither can generate much sustained offense at all. Still, they give it the best they have. Neither are lacking in want to. Especially Miranda, who, as the round goes on, switches from survival mode to holding her own with the blonde. At the bell, not much has been accomplished, and, as a result, the round is close, but it goes to Decker, whose lead is now 68-64.

ROUND EIGHT:

More of the same. The fighters are pretty much all in at this point, and that's definitely an advantage for the blonde. Not because she's in any better shape than the brunette, but because she's got the lead on the cards. Neither girl fights the way the cards would seem to dictate, though. Decker doesn't play defense and Kerr doesn't throw in the reserves in an all-out offensive. Likely because neither are able to do much more than jab at range at this point. The legs aren't gone, but they aren't what they used to be. And the arms are clearly tired. But. Just when you thought this fight didn't have any twists or turns left, Decker misses a right hand and gets caught by a short left hook in counter. The blonde wobbles, and, after a good right hand follow, TAKES A KNEE! Kerr gets to a neutral corner as quickly as she can and watches, but, she's as disappointed as Decker was in the sixth. The blonde gets to her feet, takes the mandatory, and the referee waives Kerr forward. Miranda uses the last 45 seconds to back Brooklyn up, land the odd right hand. But, she can't finish, and, with two rounds to go, she still trails 76-74.

ROUND NINE:

Again, no real clean up attempt is made. Kerr comes forward, as you'd expect, backing the blonde up, trying to use the left hand to set up a finishing right. But, she's not able to generate a rally. Just some one-punch stuff. Decker, meanwhile, gives ground, counters. Plays the same role Kerr did in the seventh. Eventually, Miranda's forward motion peters out, and the fighters are back at range, jabbing, moving a little. Not getting a lot accomplished. Then, something does get accomplished. Decker again misses with a right hand and Kerr lands a sharp counter. Decker wobbles AND TAKES A KNEE AGAIN! Kerr seemingly takes a week to get back to a neutral corner as Decker's on all fours waiting for the count to begin. But. It DOESN'T. The referee has seen enough and HE WAIVES IT OFF! It's over! And your winner by TKO9 in comeback fashion is Miranda Kerr!

AFTER:

Decker not at ALL happy in the post-fight. Giving the referee the what for, but he's unmoved. Decker argues and argues until the Front Street corner arrives to lead her out of the ring. Meanwhile, there's definitely jubilation in the Aussie corner, but, the fighter herself is restrained, because there's simply not enough left for any kind of a celebration. There's just a tired smile for the interviewer. "I told everyone that I could beat the best fighters in North America. Well, there's a former Unified Lightweight Champion. It wasn't easy. But, I got it done. And, if I continue to get opportunities over here, I'll CONTINUE getting it done."