If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.
You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

27 January 2017 Alicia Vikander vs Leighton Meester

Page history last edited by anonononononononon 6 years, 8 months ago

Alicia Vikander vs. Leighton Meester
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Meester has struggled when she's stepped up to bantamweight, which is why current management has kept her at fly. At 110, Leighton's taken a step forward and become a contender, albeit not one of the top echelon threats, at least not yet. So, it's somewhat curious that we find her back at bantam tonight to take on one of the division's better young prospects. "It's true," says the redhead with a shrug. "I've done better at fly. But, I've won fights at bantam. I can WIN fights at bantam. And, I can win this fight tonight."

"I'm not at all thinking that she's at a disadvantage tonight because of her size," says Alicia. "Oh, she's not going to win, but the weight has nothing to do with it. She's not going to win because I'm a better fighter."

ROUND ONE:

Vikander gets physical early. She's coming forward behind the left, taking the fight to Leighton. Meester wants to work at range, but Alicia having none of it. She's all about backing Meester up, getting big on her. Leighton, who's a big flyweight and isn't used to this, does not handle it well. At all. She's unable to hold ground, unable to slow Vikander down. Alicia dominates, in every way it's possible to do that. Meester isn't just forced into retreat, she's routed. She's on her back foot the entire round, unable to mount any kind of offense, doing almost nothing but backing and covering. Vilkander sitting down on her punches as the round goes on, looking to hurt Leighton, take her out early. The redhead's legs hold up, but that's about the only positive thing that can be said about the round from her point of view. It's all Alicia all the time until the bell finally rings, giving Vikander the first wide.

ROUND TWO:

Meester goes to the legs. She begins a slow circle, using the left jab to create the range she wants. Vikander tries to close, but can't do that and get square at the same time. Instead, when she steps forward, she gets a face full of leather, and, by the time she tries to counter, the geometry's all wrong. Now, the Swede has been in the FCBA under a year, so she lacks experience, but, she's got plenty of ring savvy. She's not about to continue pressing a losing offensive. So, she settles in at range and begins to box with. This goes better for Alicia. She's not taking the brunt of things anymore. She's holding her own. Then again, it goes pretty well for Meester, too, because she's managed to get the terms she wants and turn a fight that was completely one-sided a few minutes ago into a competitive endeavor. It remains good, two-way stuff right to the bell, but Meester's early advantage claimed the day and we're even at 19 after two.

ROUND THREE:

More ranged warfare. Alicia tries, on occasion, to shake things up by quickly closing, but Meester's ready for this sallies, and she uses the feet to disrupt them, leave Alicia in bad spots, and punish her with the leather for being there. Swede's corner's had done with this, shouting at their girl to "stay out of there". And, that's exactly what Vikander does. She's back to range and she stays there, working her own jab, dropping right hands off it, boxing with and boxing well. For the last half of the round, these are the terms, and both fighters show they've got plenty of pure boxing ability. There's plenty of head, hand, and foot movement and high work rates. It's professional stuff, all about creating openings and filling them quickly with leather. And, again, it's good, two-way boxing with Alicia holding her own against Leighton. Yet again, though, Meester's early edge plays and, at the bell, Leighton's claimed the round to lead 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Back to range and now Vikander's staying there, just like her corner's instructing. She won't close, even when Meester uses a little drop step to create some distance, try to bait the younger woman forward. Instead, she boxes, and boxes well. As does Leighton. Again, it's good, professional stuff from both fighters, and, of course, it's slightly more impressive coming from Vikander, who hasn't been at this nearly as long as the Front Streeter. To her credit, Leighton continues to work at laying traps, but, the Swede again shows ring savvy most fighters of her experience level can't come close to matching. She maintains her range, works hard, keeps the feet and the hands moving, and, in general, boxes with and gives every bit as good as she gets. Late in the round, both fighters look to turn it on and steal the thing, and, while neither is able to create distance, it's Alicia who does just enough to claim the points and even the fight at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Another good, two-way round. The fighters have settled on terms now and both are clearly comfortable here. Vikander's not able to get physical like she clearly wants to do, but she's able to play on this field and play well. For Meester's part, she's unable to dictate, as she often can at flyweight, but, she's found a way to stop Vikander's offensive and hold her at range, which is a major victory following what happened in the first round. Thus, we're where we sometimes are in situations like these, fights between two good, smart fighters. No one's getting everything they want. In fact, no one's getting nearly enough for her liking. But. They're getting enough to be effective, enough to stay competitive, and enough to make this a fun fight for the fans to watch. There's plenty of action, plenty of movement. The only thing there isn't plenty of, yet again, is space in the scoring. Once again, it's close, this time to Meester, who's back in the lead at 48-47.

ROUND SIX:

More of the same, boxing at range with neither girl able to separate. Both work hard. Both fight smart. Both show excellent defensive abilities, but, despite those, punches are landed and scoring gets done. But, again, neither girl's getting enough of what she wants to take any sort of control. It's back and forth all the way. Until it isn't. It's one punch and it changes the course of the fight. It's a right hand that lands perfectly in a sharp exchange and MEESTER IS HURT! Leighton's legs shimmy and she nearly goes down and now Alicia is ALL IN. Vikander getting big just like she wanted early, roughing Meester up, backing her up and DROPPING HER WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Leighton blown to her back, stunned, as the Swede bounces to a neutral corner. Vikander watches as Meester gets to her feet at seven and takes the mandatory. And, on comes Alicia. She's ALL OVER Leighton, wobbling her repeatedly with heavy shot. Meester looking ready to go and then it's OVER! Referee leaping between the fighters and waiving it off and your winner by TKO6 is Alicia Vikander.

AFTER:

Vikander matter-of-fact. "Like I said prefight," Alicia says without expression. "It wasn't about size. I'm just a better fighter than she is. Sooner or later, that was going to show up. It did. And, I stopped her. It's that simple."