Post by on Aug 31, 2017 at 3:38pm

BEFORE:

"It's just unbelievable," says Hilary with a shake of the head. "A former bantamweight champion, right in my prime at 29 years old, and I've had ONE fight in the last four years. Apparently, everyone around here has forgotten about Hilary Duff. So, tonight, I'm going to remind them."

"I haven't forgotten about Hilary Duff," says Chloe without the hint of a smile. "In fact, I haven't been thinking about anything else for nearly a month now. She has my completed and undivided attention."

ROUND ONE:

O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Wake Up' and that can only mean that the singer of that tune, former bantamweight champion Hilary Duff of Houston, Texas, is on her way to the ring."

Cassie: "Duff, of course, pulled one of the bigger title fight upsets in the history of the FCBA back in 2011, when she beat Eliza Dushku to claim the bantam crown. Amazingly, she's won only two fights against bantamweights since that victory and, as she points out, has been in the ring just once since 2013."

O'Dell: "Duff into the ring and helped off with the robe to reveal a fuchsia number and a body that makes it clear she's been training hard for this one..."

McCarthy: "She's not in bad shape, but, she's a little stumpy for 'Playboy'..."

O'Dell: "Aaaaannnndddd, that's 'Uh Oh' you hear hammering through the arena, and that means that the singer of THAT song is coming to the ring, and that would be 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet!"

Tess: "Bennet coming off yet another big win, this one last month against Tracy Spiridakos, and, at this point, she's not only putting pressure on Allison Mack at the top of Front Street's bantamweight division, she's threatening to shove her way into the middle of the title picture."

O'Dell: "Chloe into the ring to be helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve. She's wearing that blue bikini we've seen before. And, the ladies are about ready to go. Time for some picks. Tess likes Chloe. Mac?"

McCarthy: "Duff's not only a former champion, she's won a title. Bennet is one of Campbell's fighters, meaning she doesn't know anything. Duff."

O'Dell: "Cassie?"

Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"

O'Dell: "Here we go. No mystery about Hilary's plans in this one. Duff a shorter bantam in the Danielle Fishel mold, and she likes to fight the way Danielle Fishel does, working forward, looking to close and bang body. Blonde is plenty sturdy, and there's no question she can hold her own on the inside."

Cassie: "And, she isn't having any trouble getting there, at least early. Bennet not making any attempt to keep her at range."

O'Dell: "Also not a surprise, because, while Chloe's shown she's plenty good at long range, the brunette is not at all averse to banging inside with just about anyone. And, that's exactly what she's doing with Duff in this first stanza. Both fighters working plenty of body, but not ignoring the head."

McCarthy: "This is actually good stuff from both fighters. They're moving the feet, head, and shoulders, showing good defense, and also working hard and smart on the offensive end."

O'Dell: "Are indeed, and there's not much in it as we roll down the stretch. Bennet digging into the ribs of Duff and Hilary fires back with a solid one-two that backed the brunette up. Ten seconds to go in the first. Bennet hooks the midsection of the blonde and there's the bell. Close. Duff."

Tess: "And Hilary gains the first points in what may well be a close fight."

ROUND TWO:

O'Dell: "Second underway on the same terms as the first. Duff wants to work in the phone booth, and Chloe OK with that. Ladies digging body in tight, working upstairs and then down. Both landing some solid shot, while, as Mac points out, we're seeing plenty of good defense..."

Tess: "Lots of punches being blocked or slipped in there, no question about it. Plenty of tactical stuff right now."

O'Dell: "No doubt. They aren't just throwing slop in there, that's for sure. GOOD right hand by Bennet backs up Duff and a left hook and HILARY'S BUZZED! Duff staggered by that left hook and now Chloe letting the hands go. She's got the blonde in full retreat. Brunette landing with both hands now..."

Cassie: "And, Duff's in some trouble. Chloe's worked her to the ropes and is now working her OVER."

O'Dell: "Bennet looking to finish this thing early. Hilary, though, hanging on in a tight guard, jabbing back in spots, running some clock here as she tries to get the legs back. Chloe a good left hook AGAIN! That one shook Duff a little. Referee looking in, but there are only five seconds left and there's the bell. Duff weathers the storm, but it's Bennet wide in the second."

McCarthy: "And we're even at 19 after two."

ROUND THREE:

O'Dell: "Into the third with Bennet now looking to come forward behind the jab. Duff holds ground, fires back, and we're back in the phone booth for the third consecutive round. Chloe looking to press the advantage here, but it doesn't look like she'll be able to. The former champ's got those sturdy legs back."

Cassie: "And, she's giving as good as she's getting in there."

O'Dell: "Is, indeed. This is impressive stuff from Hilary, who definitely still has the tools that won her the bantamweight championship. She's banging with Bennet, hooking the ribs, tenderizing the tummy, all while finding openings upstairs as well. Chloe returning sharp fire, lands a good right hand that backs Duff up a step..."

McCarthy: "But, Hilary right back in Bennet's grill, going right back to the body."

O'Dell: "Twenty seconds to go in the third. Bennet another good left hook that backs Duff up a step, but Hilary responds with a nice combination of her own. Forced Chloe to cover up. Duff back to the body. Ten seconds to go. One more sharp exchange and there's the bell. Close. Duff."

Tess: "And, the blonde's back on top 29-28."

ROUND FOUR:

O'Dell: "Back in close for the fourth. Neither lady seems to have a problem with these terms, so it looks like we're going to continue to battle under them. Brunette working some more body. Both fighters have made an investment down there, but, with as sturdy as these bantams are, they're going to pour plenty more effort into any attrition."

McCarthy: "Absolutely will, Jenny, but that effort will eventually pay off."

O'Dell: "Good right hand by Bennet. Left hook Duff and a RIGHT UPPERCUT HILARY AND DOWN GOES CHLOE! Oh, Bennet got caught pretty clean with that uppercut and she's dropped to her back. Duff to a neutral corner. Count at three. Four. Five. Six. Bennet to hands and knees at seven. Eight. And Chloe on her feet..."

Tess: "I was not at all sure she was beating that..."

O'Dell: "Referee gives the brunette the mandatory and waives the blonde forward. And. On. Comes. Hilary. Duff going all in now, looking to end this thing. Bennet backed into the ropes and taking just like Duff was a couple of rounds ago. Chloe wobbled by another right hand. Referee not going to watch much more of this. GOOD left from Duff shook Bennet's knees. Duff just winging punches now, looking for the one that will do the trick...but she won't find it. Five seconds to go. One last flurry from the blonde and there's the bell."

Cassie: "Bennet did well just to last the round. But, she's in a hole on the cards. It's 39-36 in Duff's favor."

ROUND FIVE:

O'Dell: "Duff after Bennet to start the fifth. Chloe giving some ground now, jabbing for space. Hilary not going to give her any, getting right back inside to go to work. Chloe firing back. Bennet landing some good body shots. Duff trying to back the younger woman up, but not getting that done..."

Cassie: "Just like we saw from Duff in the third, Bennet able to shake off the damage and get back in the fight."

O'Dell: "And, she IS back in it. Chloe scoring plenty to the body on the inside, as is Hilary, and, for the third time in five rounds, we've got good, two-way action, with both fighters scoring and both playing solid defense. Good hook from Duff and there's a solid rejoinder from Bennet!"

Tess: "This has been a good fight, no question of it. And, I think Duff's showing she can definitely still compete at this level."

O'Dell: "Forty seconds to go in the fifth. Not much in it right now. Both fighters working hard, thumping body but not ignoring the head. Good combination, Bennet. Chloe follows on with another and backs up Duff. Brunette getting very busy late, looking to steal this round. Five seconds to go. Solid right from Bennet at the bell!"

McCarthy: "She stole it. Did enough late to grab a round that was pretty even and cut Duff's lead to 48-46 at the half."

ROUND SIX:

O'Dell: "Hilary right back at Bennet. Chloe not giving any ground this time. She's staying right in there and firing back and we're seeing the work rate increasing dramatically as both women are banging away looking to take control of this fight and DUFF IS HURT! Right hook from Bennet and Hilary stumbles backward and nearly goes down!"

Cassie: "Most of this division is on its back after a shot like that..."

O'Dell: "But, not Hilary, at least not for the moment, because the brunette's looking to put her there. Chloe absolutely all in now, just bombing the blonde with everything in the arsenal. Duff backed to the ropes and getting absolutely ROCKED right now. Referee looking in as Hilary jabs back, trying to keep him at bay..."

McCarthy: "Veteran stuff from Duff. She's got the guard up, moving the head, hands, and shoulders, rolling with and trying to run clock."

O'Dell: "Indeed, she is, and, she's gotten to the final minute on her feet. Chloe going body now, trying to bring the guard down, then right back upstairs for a solid right hand. Duff clinching. Bennet stacks her up, goes back to the body. Just a few seconds left. Good right from Bennet and there's the bell. Shutout, Chloe."

Tess: "And, Duff's lead is now one point, 57-56."

ROUND SEVEN:

O'Dell: "Bennet looking to follow up now, and she's backing up Duff with hard shot as we begin the seventh. Hilary firing back, trying to hold canvas, but can't do it as the brunette's getting off lusty at the moment. Chloe a SOLID right hand that forces the blonde to cover up and backs her up a step..."

Tess: "Chloe's really lining Duff up at the moment."

O'Dell: "Is, indeed, and Hilary's bearing the brunt of that. Chloe just REEFING punches at the blonde, sitting down on everything. Duff can't get enough leg under her to create power that would slow this down. All the blonde can do is back and cover and try to ride this thing out and DOWN GOES DUFF!"

Cassie: "I can't believe that's not going to do it!"

O'Dell: "Duff dropped to her right side by a booming right hand from Bennet! Chloe to a neutral corner. Count at three. Four. Five. Six. Not a single movement from the blonde, who looks to be both down AND out. Eight. Nine. TEN! It's OVER! And your winner by KO7 is 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet!"

McCarthy: "Another lucky punch..."

AFTER:

O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"

Tess: "I have our winner, Chloe Bennet, and, Chloe, she got you in a hole tonight, but you've shown you can work out of those before..."

Chloe (nodding): "She won a title for a reason. She's a very good fighter and she's got excellent power. She caught me a good one, but, as you said, I've been there before. No need to panic. Just work back into the fight, and that's what I did."

Tess: "Speaking of catching someone a good one, that right hand in the sixth turned the fight around."

Chloe (smiling): "That was my best punch of the fight until the last one. I couldn't believe I didn't drop her with that, because I caught her solidly. But, I kept after her, even after the break. I knew I could get her if I did that, and I got her.