Post by Lookout! Boxing on Oct 28, 2017 at 1:56am

Sophia Bush vs. Chloe Bennet (Unified Bantamweight Championship)
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Two girls who've had very different FCBA experiences meet for the bantamweight gold. Challenger Sophia Bush was 23 when she began boxing in the bigs, and, after struggling through most of five years and two stables, she pretty much disappeared at 27 and was given up for dead by most observers. But. Reports of her demise were greatly exaggerated. Brought back to life by Alpha Boxing at age 33, Bush fulfilled all the promise of her early years, putting together win after win and earning first a shot at the JMD Title and now an opportunity to get the linear belts.

By contrast, Bennet stepped into the bigs with management and the moniker "The Next Big Thing", and, while there were a few stumbles along the way, her path to the top was about as direct as it gets in the FCBA. Now, after an impressive win over rival Emily VanCamp last month, she's wearing the gold Bush has spent more than a decade chasing.

"Look, I know I'm the underdog," says Bush with a nod. "But, remember, I beat the odds just getting management again, just getting into the Top Twenty, just getting this shot. I can beat them again."

"Oh, don't buy that 'underdog' stuff from her," says Chloe. "I don't. This girl's won twelve out of thirteen against good fighters. I don't think she's an underdog, and I'm sure not treating her as one."

ROUND ONE:

Surprisingly, considering the two girls involved, this one starts slowly. Both Bennet and Bush are known for their aggression, but that's muted somewhat in the first as the fighters begin a feeling out process, jabbing, moving, probing defenses for potential weaknesses. Plenty of respect being shown by both fighters for the first two minutes. Things get rolling a bit after that, with the two brunettes looking to put punches together, get some heavy leather on. It's good, two-way stuff with both champion and challenger landing a hard shot here and there, but neither managing to hurt the other. In the final seconds, we see the kind of thing you'd expect from these two, a long, sharp exchange of punches that send sweat flying, but, before any follow up can occur, the bell sounds ending the first. It's close, but, it's Chloe who claims the points and the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO:

NOW we see the aggression from Bush. She's forward after Bennet immediately, and, to no surprise, Chloe's not going to give ground. The physical Ms. Bennet is more than willing to stand and bang with Bush, and the result is more exchanges like the one we saw at the end of the first. Until. A short right hook from Bush and BENNET'S HURT! Sophia with an absolutely perfect right hook and the champion is in trouble. Now, the challenger is all in, letting the hands go, backing Bennet up, pinning her to the ropes, and going to work. Here's the chance she's been working for since the comeback. Find the switch now, and she's going to have come from oblivion to bantamweight champion. Or, maybe just convince the referee, who's looking closely, to jump in. Bennet, though, has been here before. She takes the licking, rides out the storm, makes it to the bell. It's Bush wide, though, and we're even at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Bush takes it to Bennet. Chloe's still wobbly and Sophia knows it. Bush calling in all the available artillery now and calling up more big guns from the rear. She wants to end this now, before she has to worry about the inevitable Bennet comeback, the one that's derailed so many fighters who've had Chloe in trouble early. Again, she's backing the younger woman up, forcing her to cover up, keeping her on the defensive with barrage after barrage of heavy shot. For her part, Chloe running clock, jabbing back in spots, keeping the guard high. She's been here before, more than once, and that experience is helping her if not check the Bush offensive, at least keep it contained to a point. But, only to a point. It's almost all Sophia in the third, and, when the bell finally rings, she's claimed another round wide to take her first lead, 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Cue Bennet comeback. Bush starts things coming forward against and EATS A RIGHT HAND! Chloe quickly follows with a big flurry and now Sophia's hurt! Bush now backing and covering as Bennet gets the offense rolling and begins bringing the physical. Older woman now trying to run clock like her younger rival did in the past two rounds. She's doing enough to keep the ref at bay while keeping the guard up, playing defense, and trying to stay off the ropes. Chloe eventually gets her there, though, and gives her a thorough thumping. Bush is rocked twice more against the ropes, but she manages to stay on her feet and the referee decides not to jump in and stop things. None of that troubles Bennet, who just keeps firing away, working hard, looking for the finisher. She doesn't find it, but she does claim the round by shutout to even things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Bennet on the march to start the fifth. She's using the left hand to walk forward, drop rights on a retreating Bush. Sophia has some leg back, but not all of it, and the champion's doing her best to make sure she doesn't GET all of it back. She's throwing a blizzard of hard, well-placed leather at the older woman. BOOM! Straight right hand. And. DOWN GOES BUSH! An absolute missile of a right hand from Chloe blows Sophia to her back. Bennet quickly to a neutral corner. Bush rolling to her belly, struggles to hands and knees at six. Pushes to her feet at seven...stumbles...falls back down on her face! Challenger pounding the canvas in frustration. Legs won't work and she can't get off the mat! The count passes her by, and Bush stays where she is, long past ten, face buried in the mat. It's OVER! And your winner by KO5 and STILL Unified Bantamweight Champion is 'The Next Big Thing', Chloe Bennet!"

AFTER:

Bennet all smiles. It wasn't easy and she knew it wouldn't be, but she got Sophia Bush done. "Got to respect her," the champion says. "She comes right after you. She's not afraid of anything. She was going to give it everything she had to get these belts. And, that's exactly what she did. But, it wasn't enough. It would be against most girls, but, not me. Because, I'm the best bantamweight in the world."