Post by Lookout! Boxing on Apr 28, 2017 at 6:44pm

Kira Kosarin vs. Chloe Bennet

(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Kira Kosarin is 19 years old and has been involved in the FCBA a little over four months, splitting a pair of fights in that time, but, she's had a "girl to watch" label from the first day she was signed to a management contract, because, well, that's what happens when you join an elite group like Bonzo's Gym. Fitting, then, that a girl who's expected to be "The Next Big Thing" is climbing into the ring with a girl who's moniker is "The Next Big Thing", Chloe Bennet. But, if Kosarin's a bit taken aback by facing, in just her third FCBA fight, a girl who took Emily VanCamp seventeen rounds, well, she's not showing it. "See, this is a good match up for me," says Kira with a smile. "Because, she's all about being physical in there. And, as she's about to find out, there's nobody in this division who's more physical than me."

"You know, the run up to this one has been kind of interesting," says Chloe with a nod. "I mean, I get that this girl's got potential, but, one of us is in the top fifteen and the other one is her, you know?"

ROUND ONE:

Kira wasn't kidding. She brings the physical early and Chloe's a bit taken aback by that. Bennet was clearly expecting a bit more circumspection from the teenager, but that's not what she gets. Instead, Kira's forward soundly and bringing the heavy leather. Chloe finds herself thrown onto the defensive and backed up repeatedly as the younger woman gets off lusty and lands solid shot to both the head and the body. For her part, the Front Streeter spends most of the round trying to find a way to slow Kosarin down. Hard return shot doesn't do it. Kira simply keeps coming, determined to out-physical her more-experience rival. And, that's exactly what she does for three consecutive minutes, despite the best efforts of 'The Next Big Thing.' At the bell, it's not really close. Kosarin's controlled the round and taken it wide to lead 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

More Kira, who, again, is just getting as physical as possible with Chloe and having the better of doing so. Bennet can't find a way to slow down the offensive. She can hold canvas in spots, but, only in spots. Eventually, Kosarin forces her to cover up and then backs her up with the heavy leather. It's impressive stuff for a girl in her third FCBA fight...and it would be impressive against anyone, let alone a four-year veteran with nearly 20 FCBA fights. But, the teenager clearly cares nothing for any of that. She's not here to impress, not her to make statements, not here to look good. She's here to win, and that's exactly what she's doing by bullying the lovely Ms. Bennet around the ring for another three consecutive minutes. Again, it's not really close at the bell. Kosarin has controlled things and taken the round wide. She now leads 20-18.

ROUND THREE:

Kira keeps rolling. She's in rhythm now and she's got just about everything working. Bennet can't find a way to get her offense started. She's been reacting instead of acting the entire fight, and that shows no signs of changing. Things then go from bad to worse for the Front Streeter. Because, in yet another exchange of hard shot, Kosarin lands a brutal right hook and Bennet's HURT! Chloe staggers and IS DROPPED BY A STRAIGHT RIGHT HAND! Kosarin cool as a cucumber. No celebration. No surprise. Just steps over her rival and walks calmly to a neutral corner. Bennet pounds the mat in frustration. Watches the ref. Takes the entire nine seconds. Gets to her feet at ten. After the mandatory, on comes Kosarin...and we see our first signs of inexperience. She's a little wild, a little too aggressive. She misses too much and doesn't really get much done during the final minute of the round. But, still, she's claimed it 10-8 and stretched her lead to 30-26.

ROUND FOUR:

Bennet spends about five seconds getting an earful in the corner before shouting back, "Shut the f*** UP!" Yeah. She knows. And, she's got her back up. And, it looks good on her. Kosarin's right after the older woman again, but, this time, Bennet DOES hold canvas. She fires back, giving as good as she gets, willing to take a punch to land a punch. She's aggressive, far more so than she's been so far. THIS is the Chloe who made Emily VanCamp's life a living hell. And, she's tossing a little of that hellfire at Kira Kosarin. Not that Kira cares over much. Kosarin's ALSO willing to take a punch to land a punch, and the result is some serious hot-tossing that goes on for almost the entire three minutes of the fourth round. There's not much in it, as both fighters get plenty of leather on and score plenty of points. At the bell, it's close for the first time, but, it's Kosarin again, and she's now up huge, 40-35.

ROUND FIVE:

Hot-tossing continues in the fifth. Kosarin's imposed a lot of will tonight, and she's determined to keep doing it. For her part, Bennet's about done being imposed ON. Result is that both fighters are determined to make the other bend, and neither's willing to do any bending. It's good, two-way stuff, with both brunettes landing some good shots...until Chloe lands a REALLY good one. It's a right hook that sends sweat flying and Kira stumbling away! Kosarin's hurt. And Chloe's all in! Bennet just HAMMERING away at the younger woman, driving her immediately to the ropes and giving her a terrific thumping to both head and body. Well aware of how ugly the cards have to be looking, Bennet's all about finishing right here and now. And, let it be said that there are plenty of bantams who WOULD have been finished by the onslaught the Front Streeter throws at the teen. But. Not Kira Kosarin. She takes the licking and stays on her feet, doing just enough to keep the referee at bay to the bell. When it rings, Bennet's won it wide, but Kira still leads big, 49-45.

ROUND SIX:

Bennet in seek-and-destroy mode. She's all over Kira from the opening seconds of the round. Kosarin still wobbly, and Chloe taking full advantage, giving it to the teen with both fists. Nothing sloppy about any of it. Sound as can be. Setting up her punches, working upstairs, down, then back up, filling every hole in the younger woman's defense with leather. Kira game but getting by far the worst of things. She's trying to get something going offensively, but simply can't. She's reduced to a counter here and there, as Bennet's preempting her, forcing her to back and cover. Last minute of the round is almost as bad as the final minute of the last one. Chloe pins Kira to the ropes and works her over with both hands. Kosarin in a high guard, rolling with, jabbing back, but getting absolutely thumped to the bell. No doubt, it's Bennet wide, and Chloe's working her way back into this thing, though she's still down 58-55.

ROUND SEVEN:

Bennet continues rolling. Kosarin in trouble from the moment she comes out of her corner. Chloe's just thumping her now, battering her around the ring. Teen still game, still trying to fight back, but, she can't get anything done. Bennet's just firing on all cylinders, landing hard shot with both hands. HARD straight right hand wobbles Kira and she nearly goes down. Chloe smells more blood in the water and goes all in again. She's hammering the younger brunette sending her stumbling backward and then DROPPING HER WITH AN OVERHAND RIGHT! Bennet a BRUTAL right hand to the chin that swivels the head and sends Kosarin crashing to her right side. Kira down and unmoving as Chloe goes to a neutral corner. Referee counts and the teen doesn't move a muscle as the numbers rise and the count finally passes her by. It's OVER! And your winner by KO7 in comeback fashion is Chloe Bennet!

AFTER:

Bennet definitely a little scuffed, but all smiles. "Yeah," says Chloe with a nod, "She had me in trouble. But, I've been in trouble before. I know how to work my way out of it and get back in the fight. That's something she still has to learn. She will, though, and she's going to beat a lot of people when she does. Not me, though. Not me."