Rachael Leigh Cook versus Anna Popplewell
(Words: ABC / Results: Lookout!)

Pre-fight:
Rachael Leigh Cook has been a dynamo since signing with Alpha Boxing Club. Nobody saw it coming, except for perhaps Sophia Bush, who originally advocated for her friend to be a part of the rookie stable. All the pundits however, billed Cook as too old to start making a splash in an incredibly competitive Flyweight division. Fast forward a year later and Cook is 6-0 since joining her new stable. The question is, can she mix it with the freshly budding superstars of the next generation?

Anna Popplewell has been with her stable since her debut in the FCBA. And, she has been both a promising and successful fighter since day one. She has also won her last six fights, and shows no signs of slowing down. Her last win was against Virginie Ledoyen, who currently sits one ranking below Cook, so it makes sense that she is confident in her abilities to stop Cook’s impressive run.

“Rachael has been really impressive,” Popplewell admitted. “To do what she’s done at THAT age… wow, very impressive. But she’s not going to be as fit as someone as young as me, is she? And I’m top 26 for a reason. Her run ends tonight.”

Cook was looking at things very differently. “Anna has been great lately as well, but she better not get too cocky. Let’s face it, she’s higher in the rankings because she hasn’t faced ME yet. I know they’re not taking me seriously because I’m older than most, but they’re forgetting that I’m an anomaly. I’m smart enough, talented enough, and you better believe FIT enough, to get myself to the top of this division. Young Anna is going to find that out first hand tonight.”

Round 1:
Both women come out confident, and why not with their impressive win streaks? Young Anna looking light on her feet, dancing around Cook with the swift jab peppering her high guard. Cook not panicking at Anna’s pace. It’s usually her doing the dancing, so she knows how to work it, feet shuffling to keep her facing Anna, guard tight, patiently picking out the right time and spots for frustrating jabs. Anna slightly getting the better of Rach as she dances about, landing a little, but not getting tagged too often. Both women looking fresh and ready as they take to their corners after the first.

Round 2:
These two fighting a very close match still, seemingly neck and neck for talent. Anna still moving about with pace and effort, while Rachael looks content to absorb a few shots but save a little energy. She’s experienced enough to know she’ll need it in the later rounds against a fit young thing like Popplewell. Anna getting in some stinging jabs to Rach’s face, but Cook slipping some crisp hooks to ribs in reply, and the tradeoff seems pretty even, not much of an advantage being found by either as they continue to test their foe through round two.

Round 3:
Anna finding an opening and blasting pretty Cook cheek with a quick right cross! Rachael staggering, guard coming up, and Popplewell happy to punish ribs and belt her experienced opponent along the ropes. Rachael mostly trying to cover, stuck on the ropes and now being outgunned by Anna. Ribs turning red as Popplewell pistons away, and it’s a sore looking Cook that takes to her corner after the third. Anna with a decided advantage now, and clearly the confidence to succeed after finding the better of Rachael in the third.

Round 4:
Cook not to be blasted out early, fights her way back into the match with dogged determination and that wiley Rachael approach that we’ve seen succeed so often the last year. Anna’s confidence suddenly dipping when her older opponent shuffles the feet, slipping inside and delivering a heavy combo of hooks to tummy. Anna bending, grunting, and Rachael slips an uppercut between gloves that smarts her right on the chin! Anna stumbling, eyes wide, and Rachael pursuing and hammering away at ribs and abs again, trying to break down her cute opponent.

Anna unable to stop a lot of the rib onslaught, and while it was Rachael’s midsection taking a battering in the third round, Anna’s has been given a double dose of her own medicine this round. Anna holding her red abs as she winces her way onto her stool in her corner, and Rachael is huffing her way to hers, but grinning as she does.

Round 5:
Anna has lost confidence after just one dominant round from Rachael, and Cook looks to capitalise early, not wanting to let Popplewell back into the fight as was done for her in the last round. Cook pounces early, smacking a few slowing shots to already bruised ribs, and while Anna is groaning and wincing, and trying to cover, Rachael whips a left cross up high through cheek, then a right cross through jawline, and Popplewell staggers towards the ropes!

The hits seem to have knocked Anna a little loopy, Cook reminding us that she packs much more in that punch than may be expected. Anna is bullied into the ropes via bruised tummy, and then a hard right ploughs straight through her pretty nose, drawing blood! Anna is staggered, bewildered, and Rachael doesn’t need to be asked twice to capitalize. Cook starts pumping hooks up high at temples and pretty face and Anna is lolling against the ropes, when Rachael dips and RIPS a massive right uppercut straight up through Anna’s chin!

Popplewell bounces back against the ropes and those pretty eyes may have been closed before she even fell forward, face first onto the mat, out like a light. Amazing! Rachael Leigh Cook moves to 7 straight, with a win at KO5!

Post-fight:
Popplewell is just coming to, groaning on the mat as Cook approaches, gloves off, arms up, waving to the cheering crowd. Anna looks a little sheepish as Rachael bends down before her, but instead of any form of humiliation, she offers her a hand. Anna takes it and is hoisted up into a hug a few well-wishes we can only assume whispered into her ear.

Anna confirming the assumption in post-fight interviews. “She congratulated me on a hard fought bout,” Anna stated. “Apologized for ending my streak, actually. Told me age doesn’t mean a damn thing, and that if any of us work hard enough we can beat all the rest. She was quite sweet actually. At least, AFTER she belted the hell out of me. I had no idea she could hit so hard. That old duck is for real.”

Rachael visibly happy after the bout, and far more polite than before the fight. “I feel amazing. I’m still winning, and winning well, and the whole process has just been so positive and really feels right. I thought Anna was going to push me a little harder than that tonight, but I think I just surprised her. She showed early that she has the goods. She just didn’t have a plan B for when I worked a few things out. But she’s only going to get better and she’ll be a contender in that division for a long time. I’m ecstatic that I could beat her.”