Intro:

Times Square - New York

We’re about a week after the iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square, New York, but it’s hard to tell if anybody has left since then, the entire square packed in with FCBA fanatics, all braving this chilly winter night to take in some seriously sexy boxing action.

ABC have put together a little two-card event to bring in the new year and help the following girls work off any ring rust picked up during their lazy holiday vacations before the stable gets stuck into proceedings at the FCBA main PPV at the end of January.

Results by Lookout!

Pre-fight:
Lightweights Barbara Palvin and Phoebe Tonkin are set to do battle first up, and each have a lot to prove here tonight. Barbara, desperate to string a few wins together, needs to get 2017 off to a strong start, while Phoebe is desperate just to stay relevant in the top 50 lightweights after seeming to have so much promise not so long ago.

In 2016, Barbara Palvin had a very up-and-down rookie year for Alpha Boxing Club. She looked very promising debuting in January with a win over Nina Agdal, and after a fifty-fifty year, rounded things out with a December loss to… Nina Agdal. So, we’re not quite sure what we learned about young Barbie in her rookie year. Hopefully she’s not going backwards already, and she’s here to prove just that.

Phoebe Tonkin, however, we know much about. The higher ranked Aussie beauty was once the BBU Lightweight champion. But, that was back in 2012, when she seemed to have so much promise. Her FCBA debut went well, defeating uber-talented Margot Robbie by decision, and then she even won her next two fights in dominant fashion. So, with a 3-0 start to her FCBA career, things were looking great, right? Not so fast. Phoebe has lost all five bouts since. That’s right, she has only had five FCBA fights since having a winning streak mid-way through 2013. She has inexplicably fallen off of the boxing radar, appearing in only one fight in each of 2014, ’15 and ’16. Now, she desperately wants to start fresh in 2017. Can she do so and defeat the inexperienced, inconsistent Palvin?

Tonkin sure seemed to think so. “Barbie’s a cutie, sure, and it’s gotten her a ton of support in this league,” Phoebe smiled, “but, that’s not going to help her in the ring, now is it? It’s not the substitute for fighting talent that the fans seem to hope it is. Anyway, we’ll see how cute you all think she is once I’m done with her. Sorry, but I’m not letting some poster-girl for the sport take away my chance to get back on top when I have genuine talent.”

Palvin was slightly less hostile. “Phoebe could have been something. She sure had talent. Emphasis is on ‘had’ though, isn’t it? I mean, if she still had talent after this long she’d be fighting in the top 50. Instead, yes, she’s facing little ol’ cutie pie me, who is, spoiler alert, about to break into the top 50 when I knock her smug ass out tonight!”

Round 1:
Either Phoebe’s pre-fight words had a serious impact or Barbara may have carried over some of the hateful aggression from the Agdal rivalry fight at Christmas, because Palvin storms straight into Tonkin’s taller range and starts unloading bombs. But, Phoebe wasn’t born yesterday, nor was it when she began boxing, and she is light on her feet, evading most swings and blocking the rest.

Then the counter is on, with Tonkin jabbing the right straight into Palvin’s cute nose, following that with a left cross up high and a right underhook to the midsection when Barbara’s guard starts to form in front of her face.

Palvin unprepared as Tonkin takes her to school in the first round, teaching her a little thing or two about patience as she frustrates the young model with counters, clearly getting the better of the bout early. Barbara takes a seat in her corner after the first looking frustrated and a little foolish, and trainer Alyssa Milano is giving her a rather loud pep talk and some stern instructions.

Round 2:
Phoebe comes out looking cool calm and collected, while Barbie looks a little flustered. Tonkin all too happy to blow her opponent a teasing kiss before getting down to business, probing with the jab a bit more, stinging pretty Palvin cheek.

Once Phoebe does try to work the body over with some heavier shots however, Barbara remembers how to guard, absorbing most of the hard blows with her leather or arms. Palvin still forgetting to move as much as she should, but she’s looking far sterner in defence and not nearly as troubled by Phoebe’s hard work.

Barbara even manages to pop a few connecting jabs back, keeping Phoebe on her toes and giving the Aussie something to think about. It slows Tonkin’s onslaught down, but Phoebe still seems to be getting the better of her opponent, and even resorts to a few cheeky shots to jugs, jumping Palvin’s bikini top much to the delight of the gathered crowd here in New York.

Round 3:
Barbara looks like she’s settled in a little more now, not so on-edge or hap-hazard with her offence. The jab, and timing, is slightly more composed, and while Phoebe is able to stuff out a lot of the shots, her counters are less effective now as Palvin sees them coming and has time and room to adjust the guard and footwork.

Phoebe is coming on less now as Barbara keeps the jab up, even side-stepping with some thought-provoking hooks to ribs when Phoebe does try to make a bigger move. Barbara slowly seeming to find her groove here and while she’s not causing irreparable damage, she is certainly frustrating her opponent and probably taking the lead in the mind games at the very least.

Round 4:
Barbie seems to have transitioned into focused assassin now, obviously needing to shake out the nerves in the first few rounds. The talent is there, and she’s starting to allow it to shine through as she dances around Phoebe, jabbing sharp shots into pretty face anytime Tonkin gets near, head snapping back, face grimacing in frustration. It’s a hard round for Phoebe as she is now completely outplayed, Barbie countering her restless opponent at every turn.

Phoebe has had enough and flies in with the head-hunting right, only for Barbara to duck, and explode back up with an uppercut that almost shuts down Phoebe’s facets where she stands!

Phoebe is blinking, trying to back away, and now Barbara goes to work, slamming fist after fist into tight rig, bruises forming where Tonkin’s abs were, the Aussie actress gagging for breath, bending, arms useless at her sides.

Palvin bangs rising leather into Tonkin’s face, getting blood and sending her sprawling into the ropes. Phoebe looks dazed, her bruised face contorted pain, and Barbara looks set to finish this!
And then the bell. The referee ushering Barbara away to her corner, and Palvin looking more focused for what is to come rather than disappointed at being robbed the chance to finish things now. Tonkin suddenly looking like the student in this ring, perhaps her constitution, mental as well as physical, failing her after some time on the sidelines.

Round 5:
Phoebe looks a little tentative, slowly in with the jab, and while Barbara looks like she wants to jump in swinging to put her opponent down, she thinks better of it after the first round shenanigans.

Barbie blocks most, though takes a few stinging shots to cheek and temple. The reply is worth it though, as Palvin crushes her right glove into Tonkin’s tummy, doubling the wilting starlet over, only to crack an uppercut right under the brunette beauty’s chin.

Phoebe is staggering backwards towards the ropes, eyes blinking, body language abysmal. Barbie takes chase and now she does swing for the fences, rights and lefts pounding into Phoebe’s face. The Aussie bounces against the ropes and straight into a haymaker and a half from Palvin that THUDS against Tonkin’s left temple. And Phoebe is down!

Barbara backing off, eyes keenly watching her opponent as Phoebe lays motionless face-down on the mat. The count is a mere formality, and we have a winner.
KO5, Barbara Palvin!

Post-fight:
Palvin is instantly on top of her corner’s turnbuckle, arms raised in the air, grinning, waving to fans. After a brief celebration though, she is over to where Tonkin is being helped, offering the respectful sportsmanship show of support. Only, Phoebe doesn’t want it, weakly pushing her victorious opponent away, grumbling about a rematch. Barbie looks taken aback, but heads back to turnbuckle to climb and blow kisses to the adoring fans, and she’s soon grinning again.

The huge crowd here in New York seem happy to see young Barbara Palvin earn herself a handy win over former hopeful Phoebe Tonkin with a devastating right handed KO, and the ABC beauty is also suitably ecstatic.

“I’m SO happy!” Barbie is cheering with a giant grin on her face at ring-side. “I’ve been fighting good competition with mixed results, but to get a solid win against an opponent like Phoebe is a real confidence booster. She does have talent, but I’m feeling pretty good about proving mine as well. I just hope I can start stringing a few good wins together now. We’ll see. Anyway, I wonder what Phoebe thinks of my talent now.”


Result: Barbara Palvin Def. Phoebe Tonkin, KO5