(Words: DBC / Results: Lookout!) 

Rematch of a July 2017 clash on the beach, and the press is hungry to see the two flyweights clash again. Anna Kendrick was the victor last time with an eighth round knockout, but most oddsmakers have this fight listed as almost even money. Though the combatants will be the same, most of the other details will be different in the rematch. The venue moves from the sands of Brazil to Wembley Stadium. Anna ceding home turf to the Brit as a sign of confidence. The money will be evenly split, quite a change from Jenna taking a reduced purse last time to secure the fight. And the national pride on display in the first match will be replaced with standard stables and fight attire. Each girl fighting for herself and her stablemates. May the best girl win.

“I do remember.” Anna Kendrick speaks first at the podium. “I remember the last fight very well. I’ve been studying it, as well as many of her other fights. What I see is a tough girl, who fights hard, with the heart of a lion. She can be a bit… brusk...sometimes… but she is an excellent fighter, and I’ll have to be at my best to beat her.” Anna takes a quiet moment to consider if she should continue. She holds back a smile for a moment, then lets it burst forth. “Of course, KNOWING you can beat a girl does give you a bit of a spring in your step. I mean, I did admire that Union Jack bikini she wore in our last fight. It looks great framed and hanging in our gym.”

Jenna bristles at the mention of the trophy Anna received. She takes a moment to close her eyes and collect her thoughts “Cheers, Love. Well done. No denying you won the last fight. But I choose not to live in the past. I’ve been focused on the future. I’ve been focused on the night we step in the ring again. Anna, darling, you know I had you hurt in our last fight. I know you tasted what I can do. And I wouldn’t dream of missing out on an opportunity to avenge a loss. You’ve been on my list for a while now Ms. Kendrick. And I assure you, I aim to even the score.”

Final questions to each girl on a lighter note. Kendrick asked about sightseeing while in London. “Oh, yes! I love it here. Such a wonderful city with history and culture. Of course, I had to see Buckingham Palace. I am fighting Queen Victoria after all! Being a boxer in the FCBA definitely has some benefits. Maybe I can make another Pitch Perfect movie about that!” Anna says with a laugh.

Jenna asked about her thoughts on fighting at home. “Best fans in the world. Hands down. They give off so much energy and passion. These fans care so much about the fights and they can really give you the boost you need to tilt the fight in your direction. Of course, they’ll also let you know when you make a mistake!” Jenna giggles as her smile fills the room. “But I love fighting in front of them. It is great to be home. And I’ll be sure to bring them a victory.”

On fight night, the stadium is buzzing as fans fill it to the brim. The American guest marches to the ring first, accompanied by her standard crew of Diamond trainers. Her hood is drawn down, but her pace is steady and even. She shakes off the robe to show off her matching royal blue sports bra and trunks, with the DBC logo emblazoned on the hip. The crowd roars as their hometown girl parades out of her locker room. Quite the spectacle and Jenna is accompanied by heralds and trumpeters. Eagle-eyed fans spot a smirk on Jenna’s lips as she slips through the ring ropes. Coleman elects for all black attire. All business. Nothing to distract from all her hard work in the gym, or the hard work she’s about to put in tonight.

Girls at center ring for an intense stare down during final instructions. Each knows it’s going to be a battle, but it’s a surprisingly sporting touch of gloves before the bell. Beneath the bluster, bravado, and posturing runs a deep respect between these two fighters.

Round 1: Though the girls are familiar, they need time to re-introduce themselves. Standard first round dance. Jockeying for position. Feints and footwork. Both girls snapping out the jab just to see what the other will do. Anna content to probe at distance but Jenna begins to pick up the pace, perhaps hoping to please the hometown crowd by being the aggressor. Her attacks are quick and varied, her offense hammering out a staccato rhythm on Anna Kendrick’s gloves. The American safe behind her guard as she uses her legs to navigate distance. Jenna throws another flurry of probing punches. As it subsides, Anna springs forward and lands a crisp shot to Coleman’s jaw. Kendrick follows up with some body work that is defended well. Jenna is no worse for wear, but she worries the judges might be swayed by the offense. In the final ten seconds, Coleman loads up to win the round… but Anna beats her to it! Stiff jab up the middle to freeze Jenna, then a shot to rack and a final body blow. Jenna shocked at the bell. She let the round slip away and she knows it.

Round 2: Easy work in both corners as the girls look fresh as they close in. Jenna showing a bit more respect as she pulls her foot off the gas a bit, willing to look for new avenues of attack. Anna takes the reprieve as an opportunity and begins to advance behind a crisp jab and quick footwork. She’s on Jenna, stinging and chipping away at her defenses before disappearing like a phantom. Coleman can handle herself, but she’s on the losing end of exchanges and it’s starting to show on her face. With frustration creeping in, she’s unable to stay razor sharp. Anna begins tucking her gloves behind those elbows, helping herself to that delicious British torso. Jenna taking grumpy as she leans in on the American, pressed against that chest she so desperately wants to claim. Kendrick willing to stay inside and battle in the pocket. She’s shifting her weight well, bumping and slugging, slipping punches where she can. It’s masterful work as she piles up the points. Jenna finally shoves Anna away by planting her gloves on her rack and practically shoving Kendrick back into the ropes. Anna surprised as she ricochets back towards Coleman, just managing to get her gloves up in time to protect against Jenna’s final infuriated punches. Ref dives in to separate them, but Anna and Jenna remain face to face. “This isn’t JMD, honey” Anna whispers as they stare each down. “But you can try all you want.” Seething underneath her calm British exterior, Jenna responds. “Awww… worried what I’ll do when I get to them? There’s plenty of boxing left. Plenty of time left to humble an inferior girl.” Each chests up into the other before being hurried away by their corners.

Round 3: No more distance. No more posturing. These girls came to fight. Jenna springs forward first, looking to catch the American unaware. Anna catches a few punches on her glove, but Jenna lands a hard shot to tummy and a hook that cracks Kendrick on the cheek, snapping her ponytail and drawing a roar from the crowd. Jenna looks to press her advantage, but Kendrick comes right back! A left hook is blocked before Anna can BURY a shot in Coleman’s body, knocking the wind out of the British lass! Jenna falls in and grabs Anna to steady herself, holding her tight while she takes a moment to recover. Kendrick momentarily stifled as she’s frustrated she can’t attack while she has her girl hurt. The ref forces a break and Jenna looks ready to fight. Anna wastes no time in diving back into punching range… OH! But Coleman tucks a short right uppercut on that pretty chin! Kendrick is staggered as her legs lock! Jenna storms forward as Anna stumbles back to the ropes, still woozy from that shot. And Jenna. Wants. Rack. Like a shark smelling blood, Coleman is sustained rising action as she hammers away at Anna’s chest. Kendrick looking stunned as she can’t seem to stop the assault. Jenna just so good at working the angles, the timing, getting everything she wants in each punch. Her years of JMD fighting shining through as she works Anna over! Kendrick finally able to wrap Jenna up, but as their chests come into contact, Anna winces at the damage. The bell is a welcome reprieve for her, but Jenna holds her firm for a moment. “That was just a taste, Love. Plenty more where that came from. You really think you can go chest to chest with a Queen?” Kendrick can only stammer in response, as she is gratefully retrieved and guided home by her trainers.

Round 4: Plenty of ice during the break as Anna’s face is a mask of discomfort in her corner. Jenna all smiles as she can see the concern on Kendrick’s face. She’s up at the bell looking for more of the same. An extra spring in her step as she sees the trainers having to make last minute adjustments to Anna’s bra, a sure sign that Kendrick was still feeling the effects of the last round. But the look of determination on Anna’s face says she’s ready to fight, and Anna bangs her gloves together, waving Coleman in. Jenna only too happy to oblige. She is putting her whole body into powerful hooks and uppercuts looking to blast away that guard. Anna holding strong as she absorbs the blows and manages to come back firing. Perhaps surprising Coleman as she is caught with her guard down! Anna lands a wide hook to chin and Jenna is stunned! Now it’s Coleman chin checked and staggering as Anna is surging forward! She’s throwing caution to the wind as she’s all attack, looking to work body with big brawny hooks. Jenna hurting as she tries to catch on elbows, but she’s just a hair slow to react. Anna now feasting on British tummy and cheek, until Jenna can smartly wrap her up. Both girls thankful for the rest as neither tries to break free. Anna, winded from her offense, is content to ride out the final moments of the round without engaging. Jenna equally thankful for the bell.

Round 5: Jenna Louise Coleman a bit ginger as she rises before the bell. Anna Kendrick looks much the same as she adjusts her bra one more time. This brings a smile to Jenna’s lips “She is still feeling it…” she whispers to herself. It’s all the information Jenna needs to go to work. She’s working off the front foot, forcing Anna to give ground as she circles around the ring. Jenna content to play the aggressor for a while, backing Anna into corners that Kendrick is forced to escape. The American is very resourceful as she dodges, weaves, and jabs her way out of trouble time and again. Until Jenna cuts off the ring and starts heaving power punches! Anna is caught by surprise as the first shot ROCKS her, staggering her immediately as her legs unhinge. Kendrick is wobbly and hurt! Her instincts take over as she pulls her guard in tight, hoping to ride out the damage or find an avenue for escape when she has her legs under her. But this time, Jenna is patient. She doesn’t try to take rack. Not yet. She’s digging deep to body, her gloves slicing and hammering away at that toned Kendrick tummy. Anna rolling and tucking to try and stop it, but that just leads Jenna upstairs! Big hooks to cheek snap Anna’s head from side to side… but they also wake up her fighting instincts! Kendrick is wildly punching back, when she catches Jenna with a sneaky uppercut! Chin checking Coleman as now she has to deal with the hurt! But Kendrick is so drained, she can’t spring off the ropes. Jenna maintains her dominant position. She takes a few moments to steady herself, study her wounded opponent, and find the most vulnerable targets. Kendrick woozy, and now so concerned with her body and face, she doesn’t quite guard her chest well enough. Jenna works her gloves in and pries apart the guard, inviting herself to a second helping of rack! Anna stunned as Jenna lands clean, crisp punches. Kendrick hanging tough, but her face is a mask of hurt at the bell. It’s all she can do to sit on the middle rope as her legs will barely hold her up. Jenna doesn’t miss a chance to rub it in. “Awww… Is that all you can take? I quite enjoy humbling American chests. Wouldn’t mind doing it all night long!” 

Round 6: Deep breath from Anna Kendrick. She is clearly hurting, but she’s still game to fight. Small cheer from the crowd as they are loving this kind of action. Jenna pauses for a moment to let it all sink in. Wounded prey. Home crowd. Impending knockout. Quickly, the smile fades and she is all business. Knows she has to go out and earn it. Anna showing desperation as she’s loading up on punches that Jenna easily avoids. Each punch draining Anna further and leaving her less able to defend against the coming storm. Jenna snaps out a one-two that lands clean to Anna’s cheek. Kendrick unable to respond, so Jenna tries again. Another combo that lands fast and hard. Anna all twisted up as she can’t seem to stop it. Jenna marches forward, muscling Anna back to the ropes, practically using a crowbar to open up Kendrick’s gloves. Anna shaking her head, as Jenna lands one...two...three...four hard shots to jug! The crowd counting along and loving it, as Anna crosses her arms across her battered chest. Jenna considers her options for just a moment, eyeing Anna up and down. Then, it’s a quick pair of hooks to jaw that snaps Anna head around and sends her sprawling down to the mat. The crowd explodes as their girl struts away, ever the resplendent Queen. Anna Kendrick swimming in hurt on the canvas, but the fighter in her refuses to give up. She stirs… manages to get to all fours… grabs the ropes… then collapses back down and can rise no further. No doubt about it! Your winner by KO6… Jenna Louise Coleman!

After: Jenna basking in the love from her fans, giving the home crowd everything they could want. A Union Jack brought to the ring and Jenna waves in proudly as she parades around the ring in celebration. A dominant performance and Coleman is beaming as she managed to win her kind of fight. A win over a highly ranked flyweight will look good on her resume and might help her to establish herself on both sides of the Atlantic.

Anna still very out of it as she is helped to her stool. Those final punches bruised her up and Kendrick can only lean back against the corner padding as her trainers get to work. Jenna works her way over to the Diamond corner with a spiteful smile on her lips. 

“Well, well... Couldn’t go chest to chest with the best, could you?” Jenna reaches in and hooks her finger in Anna’s sports bra. “You’re lucky it’s not a bikini top. Or it would be mine, right here, right now.” Fear flashes in Kendrick’s eyes. Jenna leans in and kisses her on the forehead. “Not to worry, dear. Last fight, you took my gloves as a little trophy? Think it’s time to return the favor?” Anna offers up her gloves with a downcast look. Jenna holds them up to another roar from the crowd as she saunters away. “Oi!” Coleman calls over her shoulder. “You can send the bikini in the post, yeah?”

As requested, one week later, a package arrives for Jenna. It contains Anna’s Stars and Stripes bikini from their fight on the beach. “I know this wasn’t what I was wearing when you beat me, but it seems more appropriate considering what I have of yours. You were excellent that night and have made me want to keep improving and become the best boxer I can be. Thank you for hosting the fight and you deserved the victory. Love, Anna”

“P.S. We can’t very well leave it tied at 1-1, can we? xoxo