BEFORE: Victoria Pendleton has retired from active competition as one of the most accomplished track cyclists in the history of the sport but she tells Michelle Joy Phelps all about her secret love for boxing which led her into the Riocentro where she'll make her official BBU debut:

"I simply can't wait to prove my worth, Michelle! I know I can do it and while the pressure to perform is enormous, it's nothing new for me since I was expected to win gold medals for years when I was still riding my bike. When Louise Hazel was chosen ahead of me to fight Laci Kay Somers I was angry at first but then I said to myself I will get my chance one day and well, that day is TODAY! Just bring it on!"

The BBU front office had a hard time of finding a suitable opponent for Victoria but with the athletics programme scheduled for the second week of the Games the choice was eventually made and Bulgarian sprinter Ivet Lalova accepted it after a small delay. The likes of Daria Klishina and Ivana Spanovic were also considered for approach but eventually rejected due to the height difference at Pendleton's expense.

Lalova stands 5'6" tall and just an inch over Pendleton who's 5'5". However the former British cycling star weighs in five kilos heavier than her Bulgarian opponent at 60 kg which technically makes her borderline welterweight. Thankfully the sprinter said she doesn't care about it and hopes to give Pendleton a good beating regardless of the weight handicap: "I'm all about speed, baby! She won't land two mean punches on me and then I'll knock her out with my supreme skills. If you Brits hoped for another success story after London Games, well, you will be shocked by what I can do to your pin-up girl!"

Ivet Lalova wears a red bikini top, green knickers and white gloves. Brown hair tied in a custom ponytail. Victoria Pendleton wears an Union Jack themed bikini, white knickers and red gloves. Light brown hair pulled in a short ponytail. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the welterweight division.

Round 1:
Lalova utilizes her undisputed speed advantage in the opening round and buries the Brit under a steady leather assault; Michelle Phelps believes the Bulgarian is no stranger to boxing drill after all and Pendleton is handed an heavy task here from the word go. She fends off the initial charge but gets bumped into the ropes as Lalova keeps firing away and does more than enough to freeze the older woman out on the ropes. The accuracy is one area where Ivet struggles but Victoria only fires back with single shots and struggles to match the Bulgarian's intensity right until the bell.

Round 2:
Pendleton is almost caught out with a drilling hook on the mouth but Lalova skims off the top of the head head and wobbles into a crunching right hook on the brow ridge herself. That makes her knees buckle visibly and finally the Brit opens up from both sides and clatters into the fellow brunette's face with more rampage. Lalova checks out of the close range thanks to her superior footwork but hangs back thereafter looking a little spooked by that nasty hook that nailed her in the opening tangle. Victoria tries to chase her down into the corner but struggles for pace and the fight becomes more cagey come the final minute with neither woman looking so aggressive anymore.

Round 3:
Ivet seeks another head hunting success and buries the older brunette under a steady jabbing rush but this time Victoria's guard withstands the test and the response catches the Bulgarian on the brow ridge again. Lalova refuses to back off and whacks another cross over the top but skims off the Brit's gloves and eats a quick hook on the mouth that sends her spinning into the ropes squealling. For all her aggressive intentions, Lalova looks suspiciously hittable and Pendleton thrives on the power assault in the second minute as Ivet fails to escape the heat and bellows out into a desperate earmuff. She was stranded on her heels for too long and never had a chance to jump into safety and Victoria spends most of the final minute crashing juicy shots into the midsection and making the younger brunette scowl in pain at the bell. Impressive change of targets for the Brit leaves her slightly ahead on the cards after nine minutes of action.

Round 4:
Lalova seeks an early respite and tries to measure her approach but the slower pace of the fight only fuels Pendleton's plans to knock the Bulgarian out and she hoofs the mitts clear with a close range drive before adding more crisp shots on the face shortly afterwards. Ivet tries to duck underneath the onslaught but her clinching ideas are stopped with a gut-checking drive and Victoria catches her on the chin with a hooking blast before crashing a left hook spot on the liver. Oiii!!! Lalova slumps against the Brit's shoulder with eyes closed and cries out in pain but Pendleton's in the groove, she shoves the aching sprinter away and WRENCHES HER ACROSS THE NOSE with a monster right hand.... AND LALOVA GOES DOWN ON HER SIDE!!!! Massive punch from the former multiple Olympic champion earns instant applause from the Riocentro audience and poor Ivet looks downbeat as she sits up and ponders whether to continue her boxing debut. Thankfully there's no blood spillage which could have forced her hand and she's up on her feet at eight even trying to smile back to the audience. She backpedals to the ropes and runs the clock down well to avoid instant demise but Victoria nods back to Michelle Phelps and is well aware she's got the sprinter right there where she wants her to be!

Round 5:
Ivet remains much faster on her feet but bravely tries to attack the Britsh opponent rather than spend the round in continuous retreat. She becomes too focused on protecting her head though and leaves plenty of space downstairs which Pendleton exposes quickly, a couple of nasty hooks pierce the liver area and bends Lalova on her heels, she drops her gloves but fails to react when Victoria SMOKES her with a left hand on the nose!! AND DOWN SHE GOES AGAIN!!! Just too much pressure applied by the track cyclist and Lalova's defense crumbles underneath it. She sits down staring at the canvas and eventually shakes her head in submissive fashion. There's almost no way back from two knockdowns and well, there's still some athletics to be done next week! Ivet climbs back to her feet at seven but tells the ref she's had enough. Tough call but very much the correct one! TKO5 Victoria Pendleton!!!

AFTER: Both women are in good spirits following the stoppage. Victoria wishes her fallen rival good luck on the track next week and vows to continue her boxing dream herself if someone else steps up to the plate! Both in Rio de Janeiro or back home in UK! She's on BBC Radio 5 duty here at the Games so she's got plenty of action to focus on during the next several days yet. Upon hearing of a 42 year old American winning another time trial gold, she even ponders her own return to active cycling but Michelle Joy Phelps would have preferred to see more boxing action from the 35 year old former Olympic champion instead. Only time will tell what's next in store though.

Final result: Victoria Pendleton def. Ivet Lalova TKO5.