Post by Lookout! Boxing on Mar 31, 2017 at 11:18am

Gemma Atkinson (Beevers Babes) v Hannah Ferguson (Vixens) (Welterweight Championship)

(Words: Knowlesey / Results: Lookout!)

At 24 years old, and 5 feet 10, Hannah’s only defeat in 10 was in a JMDD fight against Tahnee Atkinson, and she fancies her chances against the 32 year old champion, who seems determined to show her quality by beating every girl in the top 10 of the welterweight rankings, and she has boasted before the fight, “I need to show this upstart that I’m the better girl!”

Challenger Hannah is first to appear, stunning in her red bikini, gloves and boots, and is joined by Gemma in her baby blue bikini, gloves and boots. They both look superbly prepared for this fight, and both want to win, of course, but from the looks on their faces, the loser will be devastated.

Round 1

The girls are tentative as the fight starts, but Hannah begins to bear down on Gemma and pokes her backwards with a couple of smart punches, then gets tagged as Gemma counters quickly, and the champion looks good as she hits Hannah hard, first to her face, then to her body, roughs her up when she gets in closer, and works her backwards, Hannah still snapping out her jab, but Gemma outmuscling her in the opening round, working her backwards again, Hannah jabbing, but taking punishment as Gemma tries to weaken her resolve with heavy punches to her body, using her experience against the younger girl, and bossing the round.

Round 2

Gemma moves quickly across to confront Hannah again, and the girls swap jabs, Hannah rocking Gemma backwards, and giving her a sweet right cross to her jaw to follow, Gemma teetering backwards and covering as the taller girl wades in, thudding punches into Gemma’s body as her elbows flap, then she tests the Brit with an uppercut, which Gemma partially blocks, but which has discouraged her from moving forwards, the Brit defending as Hannah uses her extra reach to constantly jolt her head backwards with solid jabs, Gemma getting outboxed in this round, and she looks hurt as she takes a couple of hard right hooks to her body, solid punches which have her bending at the waist, and, although she fights back in the closing seconds, she’s lost the round to the energetic challenger.

Round 3

The girls swap punches early in the round, and Hannah’s coming out on top in these exchanges now, finding Gemma’s face an easy target, and she’s leaving some marks on the older girl’s face, a little lump on her right cheekbone, but she comes back again, lands on Hannah’s body, but Hannah undoes her with a left uppercut, and Gemma’s in trouble, staggering after that shot, and a sweet right hooks sends her down! Up at 6, but still unsteady, Gemma faces Hannah again, and she takes some hard shots from the challenger, who seems intent on driving forwards, sensing victory – the third challenger in a row to floor Gemma in round 3 – and she gives her some heavy punches as she keeps her pinned in a neutral corner, Gemma’s face bruising now, Hannah unmarked, as the round closes with Hannah well on top.

Round 4

Hannah comes off her stool bristling with aggression, and lands two jabs and a hook on Gemma before the champion really knows where she is, and this might not last much longer, as Hannah tages Gemma again, connecting with a good left hook to the Brit’s jaw, tries another uppercut, which flies past Gemma’s nose, and the champion seizes her chance, swats Hannah offguard with a right hook, and a left to follow, and puts her down! Hannah shakes her head as she gets to her feet, back and ready at 7, a thin dribble of blood coming from her right nostril, and Gemma’s taking her time to try to unravel the youngster’s defence, giving her the treatment with hard punches to her body, before swatting her face with a left hook, and keeping her away with neat punches, Hannah looking as though she’s recovered from that knockdown, but not brimming with confidence any more.

Round 5

Gemma’s after Hannah from the bell, but Hannah’s in retreat, letting Gemma come to her, then clinching her up, not winning any points really, but she’s stopping Gemma from making any progress, and the Brit starts to use her experience to rough Hannah up at close quarters, giving Hannah short hooks to her flanks and ribs, plus one or two to her midriff, Hannah not sure whether to clinch any more, and when the referee breaks them she stands off, trying to keep Gemma off with her leading jab, but Gemma’s still landing good punches, making Hannah work as well, the champion in the centre of the ring, Hannah circling, using energy, while Gemma conserves hers, then she closes Hannah down in the final stages, hitting her to her body, even though Hannah clips Gemma’s face with a sweet combination at the bell.

Round 6

Both girls are showing signs of wear on their faces, and they don’t help each other as they swap punches again, both of them aiming for each other’s face, and Gemma’s getting the worst of this, Hannah finding her with three left hooks in quick succession, and that little lump on her right cheek is growing and bruising, and she’s now standing off, shielding her face as Hannah slams the punches into her, Gemma clinching, and this time not hitting Hannah’s body, just in need of a break, and the referee’s struggling to break her off, although Hannah doesn’t seem to mind, as she mutters in Gemma’s ear, “I can take you when I like, now!” Gemma snaps back, “Try it!” and she punches Hannah’s mouth on the break, then takes a solid left jab and right cross, her head snapping backwards, Hannah ending the round on top, thudding two straight rights into Gemma’s belly.

Round 7

The early spoils in round seven go to Gemma as she lands her right hook hard in Hannah’s body, and makes her stand back again, Hannah taking time to recover, but fighting back, thudding a couple of big hits into Gemma’s body, and lifting her head with a quick left uppercut, the punch which undid her in round three, but Gemma gets clear this time, and doesn’t give Hannah chance to follow up with her blistering hooks, the younger girl working hard again, getting to Gemma, and prodding her back, but Gemma stands her ground, and fights back, refuses to get backed into the ropes, and turns Hannah, using her strength and smacking the challenger’s face with a left and a right, then left hooks her to the flank, and gives her a right to the ribs, Gemma shading a very physical round, and maybe she’s just about ahead on points right now, but it’s close.

Round 8

These girls have thrown so much leather in this fight, but it looks like they both want more, and there’s another trade of fierce punches in the opening minute, Gemma looking good again, but she gets pinged with Hannah’s right hook, and she’s off balance and stumbling to her left, and Hannah hits her with another right hook to the side of her head, and she’s down. Up again at 4, Gemma’s claiming that to be a slip, but Hannah’s shaking her head, and ploughs into her again, lands another right hook, and Gemma’s looking unsteady, reeling sideways again, Hannah after her, throwing more punches, and she’s got her down again! This time Gemma doesn’t get up too quickly – takes a count of 8 – and she’s not going to be able to deny that knockdown, looking glassy eyed as she sways away from Hannah’s savage punches, her face looking very sore and swollen now, her left eye almost closed as she stumbles to her corner, Hannah raising her tired arms aloft as she senses victory.

Round 9

Clearly in charge now, Hannah switches to southpaw, probably just to finish off Gemma’s left eye with a series of jabs, and the Brit surely can’t see those punches coming any more, but she must feel them, Hannah staying southpaw for now, and unleashing a series of left hooks as she opens Gemma up, then a couple more jabs on that eye, and Gemma’s not offering much resistance now as she backs into the ropes, and in goes Hannah’s left uppercut again – and down goes Gemma again, her back arched over the ropes before she slides to the canvas, motionless as she’s counted out

Result: Hannah Ferguson knocked out Gemma Atkinson in round 9, and Hannah is the NEW welterweight champion!

Leaping around like a crazy horse, Hannah celebrates her victory – and what a victory it was! She took Gemma Atkinson on toe to toe, and she just battered her until she couldn’t take any more.

Gemma’s medical team have brought her around, and she’s on her stool in her corner, Hannah standing before her, and grinning, asking the Brit, “I think you need to remind me – which of us is the better girl?” Not sure what to expect, Gemma responds slowly, “You were the better girl tonight, Hannah – but I hope to fight you again!” Laughing, Hannah responds, “Sure thing! I’ll beat you up quicker next time!”