Post by Lookout! Boxing on Apr 28, 2017 at 6:24pm

Missy Peregrym vs. Jaimie Alexander

(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:
Not much hype needed for this one. Four-time champion Missy vs. Alpha Boxing Club's Alpha, a girl who's a career nine of ten with the only loss coming in a title fight. So, yeah. And, as you might expect, both fighters are plenty pumped for the contest.

"There's no doubt this is a match up of two of the top lightweights in the FCBA," says Missy with a nod. "But, there's one difference between me and her. I have championship belts in my trophy case. And, she doesn't."

"Missy's a girl you need to measure yourself against in this division," says a hard-eyed Jaimie. "And, she's about to find out that I measure up just fine."

ROUND ONE:

Absolutely no recon or "feeling out process" taking place in this one. Instead, the two brunette beauties simply bounce to the center of the ring and get after one another. Heavy leather's exchanged from the get-go, with Peregrym showing all that athleticism and motion she's famous for, while Alexander uses the long left jab and the heavy right to stay right with her more-decorated rival. About half way in, though, it all changes. It's a lightning fast one-two from Missy, the second half of which is an absolute BOMB of a right hand. And, ALEXANDER IS HURT! Jaimie's staggered, stumbling backward, and Peregrym's immediately all in, firing away with both hands, driving the dazed younger woman to the ropes and letting her have it. Referee watching closely down the stretch, as Jaimie's not doing much more than hanging on. But, she DOES hang on to the bell. It's Missy wide, though, and with the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

Missy looking to make quick work of her rival. She's well aware of how dangerous Jaimie is, and it wouldn't do to let her off the hook once you have her there. So, Peregrym's aggressive as all get out off the opening bell, and Alexander's in full retreat. Until she isn't. BOOM. Now, what happens is not so much Missy getting sloppy or overly aggressive as it is Jaimie expertly placing a counter on her opponent's chin. But, none of that matters once it lands, because Missy's immediately steppin' in fence post holes! And, for the second time in just two rounds, the fight turns. Now, it's Missy covering up and taking heavy fire while Jaimie gets off lusty with both hands. And, for the last 45 seconds of the round, it's Peregrym on the ropes taking a beating. But, like Alexander in the last round, Missy takes the licking and keeps on ticking. At the bell, it's Jaimie wide and we're even at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Things slow down appreciably. That's no surprise, since both fighters have gotten their respective bells rung and both have burned a lot of energy after doing the bell ringing. Jaimie makes an effort at an offensive early, but Missy's able to hold ground and counter well, and Alexander thinks better of forcing the issue. Instead, the pair settle down to do some boxing, though the work rate isn't what you'd expect from these fighters. Instead, both are circumspect, refilling the magazines while working to create opportunities and taking advantage of those they are able to generate. A few heavy shells land, but none do any serious damage and neither fighter is able to create any separation. Peregrym, veteran that she is, tries to steal things late, but Alexander's seen that show and fires right back, keeping even with her rival. At the bell, there's nothing in it. It's a drawn round and the scorecards now read 29-29.

ROUND FOUR:

Pace picks up early. Both fighters rearmed, refitted and ready to go, and sharp exchanges are the result. It's good, two-way stuff. Until it isn't. And, it's another one-two from Missy that changes everything for the third time. The hard, straight jab and a missile of a right hand follow and DOWN GOES ALEXANDER! Jaimie blown to her back a minute in. Peregrym to a neutral corner. Watches. Waits. Hopes. Denied. Jaimie to her feet at seven. Takes the mandatory and ON COMES MISSY! Peregrym again determined to finish this thing. Jaimie's slipped away once, and she's not about to allow it to happen again. The Canadian is all in. The Canadian is on fire. The Canadian is DOWN! Missy is DOWN! Another right-hand counter from Jaimie and Peregrym is dropped to HER back! Crowd going nuts as it's now Alexander in a neutral corner watching and waiting and hoping. DENIED! Missy to her feet at six. Takes the mandatory. And, on comes Jaimie! Alexander doesn't have much time left, but she makes the best of it, giving Peregrym a pounding right to the bell. When it rings...it's another even round. 39-39 after four.

ROUND FIVE:

Alexander now all about finishing this thing. Fight has already had plenty of twists and turns, and, the American wants to make sure there aren't any others. She's immediately after a wobbly Missy, backing her up with heavy fire, forcing her to cover up, working her back to the ropes and then DROPPING HER WITH A RIGHT HOOK! Short right hook and Peregrym's on her knees! Jaimie to a neutral corner, again hoping. DENIED! Peregrym to her feet at eight. Referee takes a long look during the mandatory but waives Jaimie forward. Alexander absolutely all in now. She's firing everything she has at the Canadian, determined to finish this thing right now. DOWN GOES JAIMIE! ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME??? Peregrym catches Alexander with a beautiful counter, so perfectly placed that, even on wobbly legs, it sends Jaimie to all fours! Crowd going nuts again. Nobody in the back wants to follow this fight! Missy drags herself to a neutral corner and watches. Can only shake her head as Jaimie gets to her feet at seven. Again, ref watching during the mandatory, but he's going to let it continue. Missy has almost no time, and also little energy and no legs. Still, she's able to get a bit of clean up done before the bell rings. And, it's another even round. it's 49-49 after five, but, the scorecards are looking as unlikely to be needed as snow boots on Oahu.

ROUND SIX:

Nobody looking exactly minty fresh to start the second half. Both fighters scuffed, slowed, reduced. But, there's still plenty of want-to in both corners, and, that's amply demonstrated early. Missy tries to keep the momentum rolling by coming forward, but, somehow, Jaimie finds the legs to hold canvas. It's likely part determination and part Peregrym's own shaky legs, but, in any case, Alexander's able to do it, and the result is that the fighters simply set up at range and have at one another, albeit in a sound way. Nobody's throwing caution to the wind or getting sloppy defensively, but both are committing on punches and landing heavy leather. For two and a half minutes, they go at it on even terms. And, then Missy lands that one-two again. Alexander wobbles...stumbles...and GOES DOWN! Jaimie collapses to her right side and Peregrym's quickly to a neutral corner, again watching, waiting and hoping. Alexander rolls to all fours, begins pushing to her feet...and crumples back to the canvas! It's over! Jaimie can't beat the count, and your winner by KO6 is Missy Peregrym!

AFTER:
Crowd chanting "F-O-Y! F-O-Y!" And that ballot's becoming pretty crowded with two-thirds of the year still to run. Missy bruised, battered, but still jubilant in the aftermath. "You know," she says with a shake of the head. "I've fought them all. All the best at two weights. And, she's about as good as any of them. Took everything I had to get her out of there. But, that's the thing when you get in with me. Everything I have is always just a little more than everything YOU have. And, that's why I'm the best lightweight in the world."