4. Miranda Kerr vs. Alessandra Ambrosio

(Words: Girls Friday, Results: Lookout!)

Miranda:
(34, 5’9, 10:2 FCBA, Downunder Boxing)

Vs
Alessandra:
(36, 5’10, 11:3 FCBA, Girls Friday)

BEFORE:
The last 16 of the Victoria’s Secret tournament continues, with Miranda Kerr and Alessandra Ambrosio looking to advance to the Quarter finals.

Miranda is 34 years old, she is 5'9 and holds a record of 21 wins, 19 knockouts with 2 defeats, she is the current ACB bantamweight champion, a former BBU bantamweight and lightweight champion and a former Queen of the ice hotel.

Alessandra Ambrosio meanwhile is 36 years old, stands at 5'9 1/2 and holds a record of 14 wins, all by knockout, lost 3 fights and is the current BBU lightweight champion.

Both these fighters are known to be close friends, even known to celebrate their birthdays together as they fall close to the others, questions being asked how hard these two will fight for this spot.

The press conference saw both girls come together, hugging each other and kissing the other cheek as they smile and ask the other how they are.

Heading to their tables, both are smiling as they look over the sea of journalists, interested in this tournament and the future the winner may have in the FCBA.

Miranda is told to speak first, nodding to the organiser; she says, "I'll be honest, me and Alessandra never expected to fight each other, I mean we are like sisters, we are just missing Lily (Aldridge) to have the full clan here.” Adding "but we spoke before the tournament and knew that it may come down to this, we are grown ups and know that when it comes down to it, we have to do what is best for ourselves, there's only one VS crown and we both want it"

Smiling to Alessandra, she finishes by saying "but I have to admit, it will be interesting to find out who's actually the better woman, so how about this; loser buys the drinks?"

Alessandra laughs as she replies "I can totally agree to loser buys drinks, know I don't plan on losing bestie" winking to Miranda. Before she continues "I have had so much fun with Miranda that honestly this is the first time that we may fall out" both girls faces drop as it dawns on them that they are going to have to put their friendship aside to batter each other into a mess.

They nod at each other before Alessandra finishes by saying solemnly, "I promise that win or lose, that I will not hate you, that I will make sure we are friends babe, but I don't plan on losing.”

The girls stand up and are asked to come face to face for the final face off photos, the girls staring hard at each other as they psyche themselves up for the fight.

Both shake hands as they look hard at each other, before heading off the stage to the back to finish preparations for the next day.

Fight night, Miranda Kerr is first out, she has Nikki Visser by her side as always, she is wearing a red bra and knicker set from the Victoria’S Secret line and matching gloves.

She is smiling as she waves to her fans, trying to hold back the idea of beating her friend up for as long as she can. Climbing into the ring, she jogs around the ring, pumping her right fist in the air as the crowd cheer her on, before she stops in her corner, warming up with Nikki's help.

Now out comes Alessandra, she has her coach Taryn Terrell with her and cut woman Eva Carneiro, she is wearing a yellow bra and knickers set from the VS line and green gloves.

Heading to the ring, she has a small smile, struggling to have a full on smile as she looks at Miranda, knowing soon only one of them can have their hand rested.

Stepping into the ring, Alessandra does a little samba dance for the crowd, both fighters smiling at each other, before she dances to her corner.

Asked to come to the ring centre, the girls come together, looking each other up and down as they start to work out how to take each other out, knowing they will have to get serious as the opening bell nears.

That doesn't stop them as they are asked to touch gloves, instead they embrace, wishing the other the best of luck, before heading back to their corners.

The referee makes sure they are both ready to start, they nod in reply and he waves for the bell to be rung to start 10 rounds of lightweight action.

ROUND 1:
"Ding" out come the fighters, neither rushing out to fight as they start off with probing punches, normally they were be testing defences, but it almost feels like they are trying to will themselves to hit harder.
The crowd watching closely to how these two will tackle the other, both dancing around each other and finding the others guard early on. Alessandra seems to take the hint off a mostly silent crowd that they need to up the tempo or this will just be a sparring session. She steps forwards and lands a hard right to the ribs of her opponent, then a left around the guard, starting to look to back Miranda up. But the Aussie steps back and as Alessandra overextends, she counters with a straight and two punches to the cheeks of Ambrosio. Both nod as they step inside and suddenly the action comes to life, both girls pumping their fists into the others abs, then swinging around the other's guard. Alessandra looking to have the slight edge on power, knocking Miranda onto the back foot, she looks to keep pressing forwards with two punches that snap onto the gloves of Kerr. Then as she tries to land a right to the body, Miranda steps out the way and lands a left cross and a right to the body of the Brazilian. Miranda pumping her fists into the gloves of Alessandra, the older fighter forced behind her guard as she gets pushed back towards the Ropes. The round coming to an end with Alessandra looking to sneak an uppercut through, missing as Miranda dances back out the way and digs a straight through the gap in her opponent's face to knock it back and lands a right hook just before the bell. Both girls bump fists before jogging to their corners, their coaches telling them that they have to up the tempo, picture the other as an enemy, not a friend.

ROUND 2:
Both girls come out circling each other and trading single punches, Miranda slipping inside to land a right to the body and moves out the way of a counter right hook with some real power on it. Miranda starting to move into gear as she starts to land several straight punches over the guard of her opponent. But as she steps in again, Alessandra times her, landing a right hook to the chin of the Aussie, knocking her head around to the side. Now Alessandra powers forwards, forcing Miranda behind her guard as she lands a right to the ribs and a left cross around her guard. Miranda finding herself being pressed to the ropes, Alessandra starting to work the body, looking to have finally overcome the friendship barrier in her head as she starts beating her friend. But Kerr nudges her back with a left jab and moves away from the ropes back into space, Alessandra turning and stalking her backwards around the ring. Alessandra missing with a left hook as Miranda leans out the way and fires back with a straight to the lips of the Brazilian. Then she lands a right across the cheek of her opponent to start backing her up, both girls actually starting to grin as they are enjoying this. Miranda gets her right punch parried and eats a double jab and right hook that makes her stumble back a step and leaves her open to Alessandra. Who gets back into her friends face, slamming a right to the ribs of Kerr and a left cross up top to force her onto her heels. The round coming to an end with Miranda taking a few punches to her body and a right just misses her head as Kerr stepping out the way and landing a jab to the side of her friends head. The bell ringing with both girls nodding to each other, things managing to stay civil as they jog back to their corners, both getting told off their coaches that they looked better. But it's Alessandra's corner who looks happier with her work that round rate and finally looking to have gotten the measure of Miranda.

ROUND 3:
Miranda looks to move around Alessandra, digging her jabs into the gloves of her opponent, looking for an opening to strike through. But her jab gets parried and Alessandra steps inside to land a right hook, Miranda forced onto her heels as the Brazilian has kicked up her gears. Pressuring Miranda back to the ropes with a flurry of punches, that mostly snap off the forearms and gloves of her friend. But as Miranda is forced to the ropes, Alessandra starts to slam punches to the abs of Kerr and around the guard of the Aussie to her face. Miranda grunting loudly as she gets hit, she tries to step out to the sides, but gets clipped to her cheeks to press her back into the firing line. Alessandra looking utterly dominant as Miranda is struggling to find a way out of her friends punches, some blood runs from the nose of Miranda, a straight punch to it causing blood to run from her nostrils. Miranda is forced to clinch up, taking a stiff straight to her lips to do it, but happy not to be getting hit, the referee tells them to break and cleanly they do. The Aussie moving into space as the referee orders them to resume, she catches a keen Alessandra to the face with a jab to her lips and steps out the way of a left cross. Alessandra looking to continue stalking Miranda back around the ring, both fighters trading single punches as one goes on the attack, the other on the defence. Just missing a right cross, Alessandra takes an overhand right to
knock her head to the side and Miranda dives in tight to try and get something going in this round. Both girls fighting in tight, slugging it out to the body as they try to push each other back, just before the bell rings and the girls step back. They don't look as quick to show each other respect, more keen to get back and get cleaned up, Alessandra of course looking the better after the last two rounds. Miranda needing her nose to be cleaned up, but she looks keen to get back out there and to win this.

ROUND 4:
Alessandra looking to continue pressing Miranda, digging her jab into the gloves of her opponent, then landing a straight to her abs. Miranda though catches her with a left cross and a straight of her own up top, both falling in close again, letting their hands go as they start trading hard punches. But Alessandra again starts backing the younger fighter up, a right cross smacking Miranda just under her eye, forcing Kerr onto her heels again. This time though Miranda sneaks an uppercut through that doesn't catch Alessandra fully, but it stops her drive forwards and turns the tables again. Miranda digging two punches to the top of Ambrosio's head, then adding a right hook that reels Alessandra into the ropes. Alessandra now forced to cover up as Miranda starts digging away at the body of the Latin fighter, Alessandra can be heard grunting loudly as she is now being punished. But she fires back, a straight to the nose of Miranda opens up space for Alessandra to escape into, both fighters staring hard at each other as their competitiveness takes over. Both land several punches at a time as they circle, till Miranda slips to the inside and lands a right hook up top, Alessandra again finding herself being knocked onto her heels as the camera catches her left eye starting to swell up. Miranda pressing her towards a corner, but again she gets a left parried and a left cross slams into her ribs in reply, wincing as she gets caught. With the round coming to an end, the fighters step in close again, nearly bumping heads as they start slamming punches around the other’s guard. The bell rings soon enough with the girls just turning around, not bothering with each other as they jog back to their corners, the crowd starting to notice the real tension in the ring as the fighters stare at each other. Both getting worked on and advice from coaches as they are both looking slightly puffy to the cheeks and Miranda's nose is still flowing somewhat, but she looks happy to have shown she can stand toe to tow with her bestie.

ROUND 5:
Alessandra continuing to stalk Miranda, the Aussie happy to fight off the back foot, catching her opponent over the top of her guard with counter punches as the Latin fighters temper seems to be bubbling up. She feints a left punch and as Miranda reacts, Alessandra steps in to land a right to the temple of Miranda to cause her legs to wobble slightly and suddenly she's stuck back behind her guard, maybe Alessandra playing into Miranda's expectations of her and making her pay.
Ambrosio working Kerr back to the ropes, Miranda having to retreat quickly and side step out the way of a right hook. The Brazilian giving chase, landing to the body of Miranda with her left and trying to Shepard her to the ropes or a corner. But Miranda not as badly hurt as thought, parries a straight aimed at her nose and coming back with her own straight punch, snapping the head of Alessandra back. Miranda now the aggressor, stepping forwards to land another straight, this one presses Alessandra onto her heels as the younger fighter starts digging to the face of her opponent. The Brazilian is far from finished though, parrying a left and stepping in close as the girls throw a flurry each to the other’s bodies. Stepping back and staring hard at each other, circling as they are starting to feel this fight, the round ending with both girls digging punches through the others guards. A cut now opened up on the nose of Alessandra as the bell rings to end the round, the girls looking like they want to keep throwing punches, just holding back as they stare holes through the other. Instead they head back to their corners, needing to be cleaned up as their coaches look slightly worried for both as they have reddened faces, blood on them and are starting to breath harder.

ROUND 6:
Both fighters start the round similar to the end of the last round, circling and digging punches to the others head, till Alessandra steps forwards and slips a right to the ribs of her friend. Miranda groaning as she takes two more body shots and a left up to the force her to retreat, Alessandra looking to get her onto the ropes once more. But Miranda is wise to that, slipping under a right haymaker and moving into space near the ring centre, she moves under the punches of Alessandra to make her look silly. Now Miranda steps in to land a chopping right and left punch to the cheeks of Alessandra, a small cut now opening under the cheek of the Brazilian, giving hope to Miranda's fans. The Aussie building off the punch with a straight to the nose and Alessandra is being forced onto her heels now, knocked towards the ropes as Miranda grunts with effort as she tries to end this fight. Alessandra snapping a straight through a gap left into the nose of Miranda, then stepping in close so they can work the other over. Both fighters going head to head as they look to end this now, again they separate as they take some hard shots to the other’s face. Alessandra pounds her chest, waving Miranda to bring it as the girls nod and urge the other to bring all they have, stepping back in and trading punches till the bell rings to end the round. Both girls nodding as they know they are so evenly matched, heading back to their corners, Eva quick to get to work on the cut under her fighter’s eye. Miranda meanwhile gets her face cleaned up by Nikki, both coaches telling their fighter "give your all babe, you are so close to winning this" in uncertain terms.

ROUND 7:
Out come the girls, both head hunting as Alessandra tries to get on the front foot again, both landing hard shots that knock the other’s head around. Alessandra though slips under a right and lands her own right to the chin of Miranda, her legs giving way and down goes the Aussie! Ambrosio moving to a neutral corner, hoping that Miranda stays down, hating having to beat her up and wanting this to be over. But Miranda pushes herself up to all fours at 3, looking up at Alessandra, she shakes her head at her and pushes herself up to her feet to beat the count at 8. Alessandra banging her gloves together, taking a deep breath as she urges herself to end this, both fighters are told to fight. The older fighter hunting her fight down, digging a jab into the bloody nose of Kerr, then swings a hard right hook that Miranda leans out the way of. Alessandra looking to land a big shot to end this, but in her desperation, she's missing and Miranda is slowly getting herself back into this round. The Brazilian tries to land a straight punch, but Miranda moves out the way and steps inside to land a right hook, it catches Ambrosio on that cut under the eye of Alessandra. Who cries out in pain, taking an uppercut next wobbles her legs and a right hook puts Alessandra down to her side now! The crowd cannot believe the way this round has played out, Miranda looking down at her friend, now she's the one hoping she stays down, not wanting to punish her any more. Alessandra stirs but she turns to her back, too dazed to even attempt to get up and the referee counts to 10 to end the fight!


Official Decision: Miranda Kerr defeats Alessandra Ambrosio via KO7!


AFTER:
Miranda with another massive win, outside of Lima, she may be the girl with the best record this year of any fighter. But at this moment, she is wanting to know if Alessandra is OK, rushing over to her and kneeling next to her, asking "Alessandra, babe tell me you are going to be OK" Alessandra looks at her, her face looking messy as blood runs from her cut and down down her face, but she replies "I should be once you pay for a masseuse"

Miranda smirking as she says "I don't remember that being part of the
bet" as both friends smile and the tension between them from the fight Disappears. Nikki and Taryn helping both women to their feet, with the crowd applauding the fighters on giving their all to win, putting an even bigger smile on their faces. Both are taken to their corners to be cleared up, with Taryn telling Alessandra "you did great, I hope this loss doesn't dent your confidence"

With Alessandra replying "Miranda is one of the best in the world, of course I am not that downbeat, she deserved to win and I'm so happy for her" Taryn nodding with a small smile.

While Nikki tells the victor "one more down, just a little more to go babe, this tournament is yours to win and hun..." Miranda looking up as her coach pauses.Nikki finishing with "I am so proud of you, I know that was the most difficult fight of your life" Miranda smiling and replying "thank you"

Both fighters are brought to the ring centre for the final result to be announced, Alessandra asking the referee for a favour, he nods to the request and as the result is announce, she lifts up Kerr's arm to a loud cheer from the fans of both women. Miranda wiping a tear away before embracing with Alessandra, the Brazilian telling her "you better win this tournament now you've beaten me, OK!"

The Aussie sweetheart laughing and replying "of course babe, I plan on winning this for us, just make sure you are in the stands"

Alessandra quickly says "I'll happily be in your corner babe, just tell me where you need me to cheer and I'll be there" the two now shed tears as they laugh about how silly they look.

Ambrosio lets Miranda have a moment with her fans, clapping her as she heads to the ropes, before leaving with Taryn and Eva up to the locker room. The winner waves to the fans, bowing to each side of the ring, regretting it as she feels how sore her body is, before she leaves the ring. Now she has visions of the last 8, one step closer to glory, just a few more roadblocks to that success.