Sophia Bush (Burton&Bush) vs Candice Patton (Free Agent)

(Results- Lookout; Words - HB)

Pre-fight: 

Welcome to the first ever fight for Sophia Bush under her new management, me, Hilarie Burton! We are set in Pasadena, CA, hometown of Bush, and my gosh is the crowd giving their girl an appropriate hometown welcome. I almost feel sorry for Candice! 

Sophia Bush was an absolute fairytale with Alpha Boxing Club, and made a particularly successful comeback well after the FCBA elite had forgotten about her. But, showing fierce determination and a renewed focus on the league with help of her new stable, Soph had brawled her way to the top echelons of the league and even booked herself a Bantamweight title challenge against none other than Chloe Bennet late 2017. Unfortunately she got romped in that fight in five rounds, but she says the pressure of finally having a Bantam title fight after all these years might have gotten to her. As if that wasn’t enough pressure, Bush has recently lost management. ABC, the stable that rekindled her boxing career, went under, December 2017. And now, with all the pressure in the world, Bush tackles this daunting league alone.

“Getting back in the ring straight after that disappointing loss was difficult for me,” Sophia admitted. “I spent so much time and energy training for the title fight against Chloe that I kinda lost my touch in an actual fight. And it was obvious as soon as I got out there against the champ. I needed to just get back to basics and work my way back up. So I took my time. And then the stable went under, and that threw me completely. So here I am, back and willing to work hard to yet again recover my fucked up career. I just pray that wasn’t my last title opportunity. After the road I’ve had, I’ll be so disappointed if that’s the way I’m remembered.”

Candice Patton is coming off a fresh win this year already, against the shorter Nicki Minaj. And Candice is full of confidence.

“I don’t care what her story is,” Candice Patton huffed when asked about her older, more experienced opponent. “What’s important is MY story, and it’s just beginning. Sophia’s story is merely a stepping stone for mine. I’ll be the one who is remembered. Especially after this fight.”

Round 1: 

Sophia comes out looking hungry and determined, and after a few months on the sidelines that is a VERY good sign for fans of the FCBA beauty who were afraid their girl might be feeling her age or pressure of being ABC’s lost golden girl. But she bounds to the centre of the ring and rips emphatic hooks into Candice’s midsection, driving the sexy starlet backwards and forcing her to cover those impressive abs. Candice looks intimidated and unprepared early as the experienced Bush simply runs through her with relentless force, pummelling Candice’s guard and giving her no chance to mount any offense. Candice looks a little starstruck, bet let’s hope for her fans’ sake that it’s just first round jitters and that she can fight back after the short break.

Round 2: 

Sophia coming out with the same determination, but even more confidence now after showing the youngster how it’s done in the first. But, Candice has had a wise word with her corner and isn’t keen on letting Sophia repeat that opening round. Candice sidesteps the first hook as if expecting it, then the second, and as Sophia’s frustration suddenly surfaces, Candice slams a surprising straight right out of nowhere into the centre of Bush’s face, stunning the superstar. Sophia staggers and now Candice exacts sweet revenge, pummelling the older midriff and testing those sexy abs. The crowd are on the edge of their seats, eager to see which set holds up better, and then the bell goes. Both midriffs are red and sore and each girl sits in her corner glaring across at the other with grave determination and focus.

Round 3: 

Both girls come together and strike abs, and it’s Candice’s whose seem to give out first as she winces and backs off! The crowd erupts at the revelation, and the mightily fit Bush keeps up the pressure, sinking another underhook to tummy and then blasting an uppercut through pretty Patton face!

Patton is wobbly and Bush helps herself to some more midsection, bruising it up and softening the poor girl. Patton is in a world of hurt and desperately needs to turn things around before Sophia puts that body down. 

After three, Bush looks to be in control and is grinning across to the far corner where Candice takes a seat miserably holding that red midsection.

Round 4: 

Candice hurt but determined and showing she is no quitter, puts in a tremendous effort in the fourth as she attempts to fight back against the powerful veteran. As Sophia seeks to wilt that softening form of Patton’s, the younger athlete blocks fiercely and absorbs where required, biding her time and showing great patience for a girl on the back foot, picking her timing well and stuffing leather into Bush’s face at each opportunity but no sooner. Bush seems to be growing frustrated as her pretty face is jolted mid-ambush of Candice’s tummy at every turn, and she eventually gives up the pressure for the good of some self-preservation, wheeling away from Patton and using a less powerful jab to keep her under control now.

Patton still in pain as she takes a seat, but has a steely look of determination as she realises she still has the game to get back into this, having taken Bush on points in that round.

Round 5: 

Candice with tight guard, looking patient as we begin the fifth, and you just know she’s biding for that perfect opportunity again, not willing to give Sophia any easy openings. But, Bush has been revered in this league for a reason and she knows how to control from the front with confidence. Sophia’s first trick is to fake the underhook, knowing Candice will be wary of her softened abs, and as Patton’s guard tightens lower, Bush hooks the other fist up high, cracking through jaw and staggering her gorgeous opponent!

Candice is on the back foot instantly and Bush goes into hunter mode, pressing her advantage with fury, slamming lefts and rights through pretty Patton face, rocking the babe and wobbling her on those lovely stems. 

Bush completely controls the fifth round and Candice’s fans are fearing the worst for their girl as she takes the full brunt of the revitalised Bush’s offense; not a position ANY girl in the league would want to find herself. Candice’s corner screaming at her to turtle if she has to, fearful as they watch the less experienced girl get hammered pillar to post, somehow keeping her feet, but offering no resistance.

Bush looks calm and confident as she takes a seat after the fifth and Candice looks barely awake, pretty face bruised, a cut open under her left brow, midriff black and blue. She’s slumped miserably, exhaustedly, and the referee is having a good long word with her corner about her willingness and ability to continue.

Round 6: 

Candice is clearly willing to continue, which is an absolute testament to her courage and attitude, as it is clear the girl is on the verge of collapsing. But she puts in what she can, swatting at Bush with largely ineffective shots, Sophia just playing with the cutie, dodging the swings and letting Patton wear herself down further, popping little jabs into her chest and jumping those jugs for the sake of the audience and some taunting rather than for offensive strategy. 

By the third minute Candice is all but spent, and with a sleek sidestep, Sophia evades another straight right, and follows with a devastating left cross that crashes through beautiful Patton cheek. Candice collapses on her bruised face at Sophia’s feet and the referee begins his count as Soph smiles proudly down at her slumbering prey.

The count soon reaches ten and this match is called. A dominating performance by Sophia Bush, who bounces back well from that devastating Bantamweight title loss last month and slight change in management.

Sophia Bush wins, KO6!

Post-fight: 

Sophia is cheering with the crowd and blowing kisses, before heading over to the stirring Candice, kneeling beside her and putting a hand on her shoulder. “That was a good fight, cutie. You’ll get there one day. Hopefully I never have to fight you again, for my sake. Don’t worry, my story started with losses, too. You’ll be fine once you curb that tongue and train those fists a little more.”

Candice is barely able to look up, spent, tummy down, struggling for breath. She meekly nods, clearly humbled by her experienced opponent, and taking the lesson in. She’s breathless, unable to respond with words, but she is listening. 

“I can’t wait to see your next bout. You’ll be all over it,” Sophia says encouragingly. “Don’t worry, I’m not in the business of parading my victims around the ring. That’s something showy bitches need to do to overcompensate. Remember that…”

And with that, Sophia helps her younger opponent up, and lifts her hand for the audience in a great show of sportsmanship, clearly just happy to be back in the ring and with success.