Anna Kendrick vs. Vanessa Hudgens (Flyweight Championship)
(Words: DBC (Benny) / Results: Lookout!)

Before:

Anna: “What did I do wrong last time? Well… I lost? I’m going to try not to do that again! I think that’s what’s so difficult about fighting an elite girl like Vanessa Hudgens. You can have a good fight, and still come away with a loss. She is dangerous in so many ways, but her fitness is always a concern. She can keep fighting at a high level even into the championship rounds. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been training, and I can keep up. But I’m just saying that this thing could still be up for grabs until the final bell.”

Vanessa: “She’s a class act, no doubt. Offering me the shot to reciprocate was the right thing to do. It doesn’t mean that’s what always gets done in this league. “Will it be the same result as last time? Not necessarily. I could knock her out in… seven or eight rounds this time! Or maybe she’s improved enough to hear the last bell still awake. But I don’t see that from her. Kendrick is a warrior, through and through. She’s going to bring her best stuff, and she’ll find out again that it just isn’t enough.”

Hudgens comes down to the ring first. She shrugs off her purple silk robe to reveal a tight, athletic two piece in white. Vanessa bangs her pink gloves together as she gets herself into fight mode. Kendrick enters second with the championship belt in tow. She’s ignoring her opponent as she disrobes to reveal her standard bright blue boxing attire with Diamond logo emblazoned on her right hip. Ref calls the two beauties to the middle. Hard eye contact between the girls. Tap of gloves a bit more than professional and we’re ready for the bell.

Round 1: Quick out of the corners as the girls circle each other, each with the look of a predator in their eyes. Jabs shoot out and guards are tight as the probing of the defences begins. Vanessa with a little smirk on her face as her eyes dart up and down her opponent. Anna looking calm relaxed and focused as she keeps her jabs firing like pistons. Halfway through, Hudgens takes the initiative. It’s a hop to close the distance and short chopping left CRACKS Kendrick, right on the button. Anna’s head twists on impact and her legs lock as she teeters… and FALLS! Pandemonium in the arena as the champ is down in the first round! Hudgens strutting and preening all the way to the neutral corner, motioning for the championship belt to be brought to her as the count climbs. Anna in shock as she reclines on her butt, propped up on her elbows as she tries to shake it off. Worry plastered all over the champ’s face as she rolls and rises at eight. Looks to be a flash knockdown as Kendrick seems to satisfy the ref. Anna up on her bicycle with a little wobble on her legs as Vanessa looks to pile it on. But it’s too early and there’s still too much spring in Kendrick’s stems. Anna looking a bit disheartened as she returns to her corner. She’s dug herself and early hole and she knows it.

Round 2: Satisfied smirk from Hudgens as she surveys the damage she caused in round one. She’s looking to continue her early success. But she finds Anna has recovered near to full strength and she’s forced to back off. Kendrick is up and dancing, working hard with that rolling guard and flicking out a staccato jab. Vanessa catching on her gloves or slipping away. Now Hudgens is closing down the distance, forcing Anna into a retreat as Kendrick wants to maintain her space and engage on her own terms. The backward momentum limits Anna’s mobility and Vanessa starts to glance her glove off Kendrick’s cheeks and tummy. Hudgens pouring forward now, looking to press her advantage and make this a short night for the champion. She’s getting off hard thudding shots to the toned midsection of Kendrick. Anna taking grumpy, cramping up before throwing furiously back! Kendrick standing strong, whipping her gloves at Vanessa and touching up the fittest body in boxing. The sound of leather on skin reverberates throughout the arena as the two flyweights put on a display that brings the arena to their feet. Vanessa keeps her gloves moving throughout the exchanges, playing peekaboo and throwing punches from angles. Anna showing a more traditional guard, taking where she has to give where she wants. At the bell, each girl thumps a few more home before the ref can dive in and separate. HARD eye contact going both ways. Corners quick to usher their girls to safety before it all boils over.

Round 3: Kendrick looks determined now. She’s out of her corner fast and looking to trade, thinking she can win the exchanges. Anna closes and starts slamming home hard shots off cheeks and flanks and scrubbing up to the body. Vanessa not expecting this pattern of attack, and she’s flustered as she takes the abuse. Everytime she punches hoping to connect, Kendrick is already somewhere else. Vanessa backs off and regroups, hoping a fresh engagement will give her the reset she needs. Inside attacks move the back burner as girls return to fine art of proper boxing. Feet moving light and graceful as if the girls are dancing. Hips and shoulders cocking into hard shots or twisting quickly to feint and surprise the opponent. Kendrick on the front foot now, feeling like she has the advantage and aching to get back that early knockdown she gave away. It’s more pressure than we might normally see from Anna, and Hudgens is a bit surprised by the early aggression too. Vanessa shifting her shoulders to feint a straight right, then resets and launches her left to dig to Anna’s tummy… but in a flash, Kendrick tucks a chopping right to chin and Vanessa wobbles before landing on her butt! Hudgens down! It’s a glassy stare from the downed girl. A shake of her head at 5… pulling herself up from the ropes… and she’s standing at 9… ref checks her over. “Don’t even think about it.” Vanessa sternly warns the ref, who showed no signs of moving to stop it. But now he’ll think twice before thinking about it! Too late in the round for Anna to press her advantage, but she’s avenged her own early trip to the canvas.

Round 4: Vanessa gritting her teeth as she’s content to let the champ come to her. No reasons to chase, and she knows Anna wants the action just as much as she does. Anna happy to oblige, advancing cautiously behind a high guard and strong jab. Girls close the distance and now the real tough work begins. Kendrick wading in with her jab, wrapping up her girl, and rolling those gloves in the pocket. Bumping and slugging, churning punches to the gut. No one shot is going to get it done. Anna trying to hammer home the hurt as Vanessa is throwing each punch just a fraction too late. Open targets are quickly covered by Anna’s gloves, or vulnerabilities shifted out of the way at the last moment. Hudgens starting to feel the body work as Anna is glowing, Kendrick keeping her work rate steady. Never backing off or backing down. Vanessa starting to strain under intense, continuous heavy pressure.

Round 5: Deep, heavy breaths in the Diamond corner. Anna burned a lot of gas going after Vanessa’s chassis, and she’s desperate to replenish the tanks. Meanwhile, Vanessa has a look of pure vengeance as her body has been up to the challenge so far. Vanessa banging her gloves together as the girls rise for round five. The shoe is on the other foot now as Vanessa heads straight for the champ, and Kendrick is spooked out to circle along the ropes. A surprising amount of spring in Hudgens step as she advances behind a lead left hook. Cruel intentions behind every punch from Vanessa, and Anna is in no hurry to get caught. Kendrick falls back into the corner, continuing to execute her fighting retreat. But Hudgens hops to cut off the exit, and that big lead left SLAMS home onto Anna’s cheek! The champ is cut! The champ is cut! Anna on red alert as she fades back into the ropes with an angry Vanessa right in front of her! Hudgens manages to control her bloodlust, constantly aiming for the damaged area but happy to take any exposed skin the champ will give her. Kendrick taking a real pasting here. The bell can’t come fast enough for Anna, and she hangs in the ropes on shaky legs, head lolling for just a moment before sliding back to the safety of her corner.

Round 6: It’s all Vanessa pitching and Anna catching. The leather all flying one way as Hudgens looks to crack Kendrick’s defense once and for all. Anna hanging on best she can. Catching shots on her elbows and rolling in the pocket to barely dodge another Hudgens thunderbolt. Grabbing and clinching from Anna strategic as she’s buying time, trying to work out the problem in her head. But it’s hard to strategize when a girl is trying to knock you senseless! Seems like Kendrick is content to stay close and smother. She’s already tried using her legs to escape and that didn’t work. So it’s bludgeoning, heartless work from Hudgens and gritty, willful defense from Kendrick. Lots of grabbing and clinching as Anna tries to limit the damage. Vanessa still showing her strength and conditioning as she can wriggle out of the champ’s grip to bludgeon hard shots to the body. Bell can’t come soon enough for Kendrick! She’s definitely going to come out for the next round with a new game plan! Vanessa bellowing to the crowd as they cheer for her aggression and skill. Hudgens eating it up as she struts back to her corner.

Round 7: Anna snaps out a stiff jab to try and keep her tormentress off her. Hudgens smirking and snarling as she closes again, looking to pile more damage on her opponent. It’s a return to the brutal inside slugging from the previous round. Anna keeping her left glove high to protect her cut, and Vanessa helps herself to that tight little body. Muscular, tight action, every small movement critical as they carve out tiny windows to slam home punches. But as Vanessa ducks her head low, Kendrick rockets an uppercut that CRASHES into Hudgen’s chin!! Vanessa goes limp and collapses straight down to the ground! What… Just… Happened!?! Vanessa pressing her advantage gets caught clean and she’s in real trouble as she’s barely stirring on the mat! Hudgens on autopilot as her training takes over but she’s still swooning as she hauls herself upright. Ref eyes her warily. Is she even all there? Vanessa lifts her gloves and waves in her opponent. Hudgens comments to the ref, “Stop it and you’re career is over.” A little more spring now in Kendrick’s step as she closes on her wounded prey. Vanessa using the ropes to help her stay up. Anna probing what’s left of Hudgens’ resistance, landing clean hard shots where she can. It’s clear that Kendrick is still prioritizing her own defense. At the bell, the story is clear. Anna all smiles as she prances to her corner, waving to the fans as she bounces towards her trainers. Hudgens a mess as she starts walking to the neutral corner before her team can scoop her up.

Round 8: Vanessa still looking shabby as she answers the bell. Anna’s eyes bright and focused as she sees the task in front of her. Cautious approach from Kendrick, as that snappy, spearing jab has returned to her repertoire. Hudgens brave and defiant as she catches what she can on her gloves, but still eats some hard shots to tummy and flanks. Vanessa cringing in receipt and trying to coordinate her legs to get her out of there. Anna fighting crafty now, muscling her girl back into the ropes, planting a leg in between Vanessa’s thighs, bodying her girl back to carve out space to punch. Vanessa throwing back but her punches lack the zip she had in the previous rounds. Anna still tucking in thumping punches to Hudgens beltline when Vanessa grabs her by the shoulders and throws Kendrick out of the way. Hudgens escapes to mid-ring, face showing relief at the temporary respite. Ref watching close as Kendrick trudges out to clean up. Vanessa using a pawing jab now, desperate to keep the rampaging champion off of her. Hudgens looking to stab a big straight right behind her jab. But Anna manages to shift and dodge at the last moment… then FEASTS on that delicious rib meat! It’s torrid body work from Kendrick as Hudgens gurgles and wraps her arms around Kendrick. That’s how the round ends, Vanessa held up by fumes and pride. Kendrick coasts back to her corner trying to stifle a smile. The hardest work may still be ahead, but Anna knows she has the upper hand.

Round 9: Diamond corner still tending to the cut on Anna’s right cheek. It looks to be under control, but it must be weighing on her mind as she stands to face Vanessa again. In the opposite corner, Hudgens keeping her left elbow tucked tight to her body, not wanting to give Anna any more opportunities to attack her torso. Heads on shoulders now, as Anna continues to work away. Gloves rolling as she bangs away to body, then sets her targets higher to pick up Vanessa’s chin. Hudgens getting wobbly as her head torques back. But she’s fighting through the fog! Desperation heaves from Vanessa landing hard, sending shockwaves through the champ’s legs! It’s gut check time for Kendrick as she stands strong and roars back! Thup, thup thup as she pounds home punches, banking hurt into Hudgens tight tummy! Vanessa taking it grumpy, each sharp receipt sending her ashen face as she’s cramping up bad to the body. Anna bumps with her left shoulder, carving out a small window. She puts all her weight into an uppercut… that lands clean on the chin! Hudgens picked up clean and lit up! Lights out immediately for Hudgens as she goes still and topples back, landing spread eagle on her back! And... the count is a foregone conclusion! Vanessa Hudgens is starched! And it’s KO9 for your winner and STILL champion… ANNA KENDRICK!!!

After: Officials quick to tend to the fallen fighter. Vanessa Hudgens completely out as it takes a few minutes to bring her around. Anna jumping and prancing for an appreciative crowd. She’s flexing her bicep as she parades around the ring, smiling from ear to ear. A queen who has just defended her kingdom. A battered warrior who somehow emerged victorious.

“Vanessa… is so incredible. She’s so strong and tough. I’m not sure how I’m the one standing! She… she tagged me really good a few times. Girls like that? All-time greats like that? You only have two choices against girls like that. You can let her steamroll you. Or you can let her make you better. Hudgens forced me to dig down deep. Find parts of my fighting heart I didn’t even know I had. And now? Being the Flyweight Champion and defending my crown against the number one contender? I don’t think it gets any better than this!”