Post by Lookout! Boxing on Oct 28, 2016 at 2:22am

LEAH PIPES VS SAOIRSE RONAN

Results: Lookout     Writing: Archer

Leah: 28 YO, 5’6 ½ (1.69 m), 1-5-0 since 2015, Pretty Little Punchers
Saoirse: 22 YO, 5’6 (1.68 m), 2-0-0 since 2016, Unmanaged.

Before: Saoirse (“rhymes with inertia”) Ronan looking very pleased as she heads into her third FCBA fight. She won the “New Blood: Bantam,weight tournament over Emily Ratajkowski and Hailey Baldwin, but now she moves on against a struggling PLP fighter in Leah Pipes. “I take Leah very seriously, she hasn’t won much, but she has a well-known management tram behind her and surely she’s learned a great deal from her 6 fights. I expect to get a real challenge from her, but that’s what I like—a real challenge. What am I coming as? It may seem a strange choice, but I have always rather admired Catwoman—I may not be the long, lean, willowy type associated with her, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun wearing the costume for one night.”

Leah Pipes sitting quietly suddenly looks up and smiles the smile of someone who has just had an inspiration: “Guess what, Saoirse? Catwoman is going to be taken down by Batgirl. Yes, Batgirl!”

“I would think Batwoman would have been a better choice,” Saoirse says drily. “You seem a bit too old for Batgirl.”

Leah’s eyes narrow: “If you can be Catwoman, I can beat Batgirl. You want to fight about that?”

Saoirse smiles: “I do believe that is the whole idea of this.”

“Good! I’ll see you there!” Leah snaps.

Into the ring on the night of the Halloween PPV in a blue halter top and close fitting trunks (both with purple trim) is Saoirse Ronan. She is wearing a Catwoman head covering mask, though she doffs this in the ring. She has purple gloves with black laces and black boots with purple laces. Red-hair hanging loose. Then comes Leah Pipes in a navy blue halter and trunks. The familiar golden bat symbol across the chest and back of the trunks. Black gloves and boots with golden laces. Leah also wears the head covering mask, though she, too removes it  Leah blonde hair hangs loose as well. The two fighters eye each other disdainfully  but instructions go quickly and the fighters are soon in their corners. The bell rings.

R1: Leah Pipes clearly out to show the newcomer who’s in charge. She dances around the redhead while popping away with quick rights and lefts, trying to keep Saoirse off balance and she is initially successful. The Irish redhead seems confused and keeps getting whacked from unexpected directions, but Saoirse remains calm. Pretty soon Saoirse has a decent jab going and she is scoring to Leah’s chest and ribcage. Leah showing less fancy footwork and now decides to just overpower the rookie. Saoirse not backing off and gives back as the blonde tries to force her back. Action grows heated as the redhead digs in and battles it out toe to toe, Leah going to the body and hammering Saoirse’s midsection. Gradually, Leah has the redhead backing up, though she fights back stubbornly to the bell. Leah able to take the round, but it’s close and she looks displeased at the amount of resistance mounted by the young Irish fighter.

R2: Leah still the aggressor this round, but she is more cautious in the opening minute. She and Saoirse exchange probing punches as they bob and weave around each other. Then Leah starts making licking shots into Saoirse’s tummy. She makes the punching heavier and sure enough the redhead drops her guard to protect her midsection. Instantly Leah has lightning left and rights slamming into Saoirse’s face and making her head get knocked from one side to the other. Saoirse in trouble as she tries to pull back and protect her spinning head. Leah now goes to the waist and works like a jackhammer across sweaty stomach flesh. Saoirse floundering gets driven to the ropes where she huddles against the strands unable to escape as Leah rains leather down on her body. Saoirse finally clinching to earn some time, but she is worked over to the body for the rest of the round. The newcomer looking pale and winded as she slowly retreats to her stall. Leah seems more pleased with her work as she takes the round wide.

R3: Saoirse answers Leah aggression with aggression of her own. She moves quickly and drives a hard hook deep into Leah’s belly.  Leah doubles up with a shudder and Saoirse just pounds away with straight rights and lefts to the blonde’s face. Leah rocked, stumbling backwards in search of escape from the redhead’s onslaught. Saoirse trying to cut Leah off, but the blonde slips away and gains some precious moments to recover. Leah then under heavy pressure as Saoirse again works the blonde’s aching belly. Leah jabbing back, but Saoirse moving her upper body very well and is evading many of the counters. Leah hanging on grimly, makes it to the end of the round, but Saoirse wins it wide on the judges’ cards.

R4:  Hard work by PLP trainer Nia Peeples and crew get Leah Pipes back in the battle this round. Leah exchanging with Saoirse scores with a number of well-aimed shots that makes the redhead’s noggin bounce from the impacts. Saoirse unable to mount a sustained offensive, instead has to work at her defense and she does manage to give Leah a few stiff counters as the round goes on. Leah finding it harder to land effective punches, but she does maintain her control as the round concludes. Leah now back on the cards with a wide win this round.

R5: Saoirse and Leah quickly into an all-out fury of punching as this stanza begins. At first it is from a distance as they draw near each other at midring, but very quickly they are right up against each other trying to bring shirt rights and lefts up into each other’s straining, sweat drenched bodies. Fierce glaring as the two are looking each other right in the eyes, foreheads nearly touching, heaving chests bumping at times. Saoirse able to get her shots into Leah’s stomach again and again. Leah not able land heavily enough to drive the redhead back. Finally, Leah yields space. It’s not much, but it is a clear reward for Saoirse’s all-out effort and Leah looks correspondingly disheartened. Saoirse can savor a narrow, but hard-earned win as Leah  turns away with the disappoint clear on the her face.

R6: Momentum of the fight continues to move in Saoirse’s direction as she feints to Leah’s much battered belly, but strikes at her head knocking the side of her head flat against her shoulder! Leah lurching into Saoirse in a sort of a clinch, but looks more like bear hug. Referee pulls them apart. Leah trying to pull herself together is able to move away from Saorise. The redhead getting better in pursuit and cuts the blonde off. Leah’s defenses weak and Saoirse sends a right uppercut into the point of the blonde’s chin. LEAH GOES DOWN. The PLP fighter totters back a step or two and then just collapses into the nearby ropes. Leah slides down the strands and ends up on her side under the bottom rope. Saoirse bounces to the neutral corner and watches the referee steps in. Leah pawing at the ropes, trying to pull herself up, but loses her grip and ends up back on her face as the count reaches “…TEN! YOU ARE OUT!”

The Winner: Saoirse Ronan KO6!

After: Saoirse Ronan all but licking her lips as her gloves are removed and she can go over to the PLP corner to see Leah Pipes. Leah glares defiantly at the redhead. ‘What?” She asks.

“I just wanted to shake your hand,:” Saoirse said simply. “I said I wanted a real challenge in this fight and you gave it to me. I don’t know a lot about you, Leah, but you know how to fight. Thank you.”

Leah looks astonished and finds herself shaking the Irish girl’s hand: “Well, thank you, I am glad you found the experience rewarding. Unfortunately, it’s another loss for me. That hurts. Not your fault, but it still hurts.”

“I understand,” Saoirse said quietly, “but I wanted to know I do respect you. I hope things get better for you soon.”

“So do I,” Leah said with a sigh and drawing her robe closer around her aching body let Nia Peeples lead her from the ring.

Newcomer Saoirse Ronan continues to progress as she wins this lively contest over Leah Pipes. Hard luck Leah sinks deeper into the losing column though the action was fairly even until Saoirse was able to gain the upper hand in R5. Ms. Ronan should add new fans with this effort and make her next bout they’ll want to catch. Meanwhile Ms. Pipes continues to search for her second FCBA which seems more elusive than ever after this loss.