Demi Lovato vs. Elodie Frege
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)



BEFORE:

Lots of contrasts in this one, including styles, but, the biggest might be in the current directions of the respective fighters' careers. Lovato, who fought through a tough FCBA start, has become a rising star, beating solid competition to work her way into the top twenty, while Frege, after having a couple of solid years in 2014 and 2015, has won one FCBA fight in the past two campaigns. Still, Elodie's beaten good fighters before, and she's not lacking confidence. "Yes, she is talented, and she's physical," says the French beauty. "But, so are Alba and Pressly. I beat them, and I can beat her."

"Elodie's tricky for anyone," admits Demi. "But, as I've been proving over the past few years, I'm as good as anyone in this division. And, I'm going to continue proving it tonight."

ROUND ONE:

Frege wants to move early. No surprise. French beauty is an excellent technical fighter, but she's giving away power and physicality to the American. It's also no surprise that Demi wants to GET physical. It takes the younger woman some time to make that happen, as Frege uses the jab and her feet to create space, but Lovato begins working past the glove and bringing heavy leather to bear about half way through the round. BOOM! A right hook from Demi and Elodie's HURT! Frege staggered, grabs Lovato and holds on to stay on her feet, Demi shoves off, bangs away with both hands, gets the French beauty to the ropes. American letting the hands go. Frege in deep trouble with the referee looking in, but if there's one game Elodie plays very well, it's defense, and she plays it well here. She rolls with punches, blocks, slips, jabs back in spots, works the clock, bogs Lovato down, and makes it to the bell. Big first round for Demi, who leads 10-9, but Elodie's dodged one.

ROUND TWO:

Frege to the ropes immediately now. She's going to work from the pocket. Lovato's certainly trained for this, as Frege consistently fights this style, but, she has trouble dealing with it. At first, she's aggressive, going after the French beauty, but, Elodie makes her pay with hard counters, and Lovato becomes more and more cautious, hesitating, not wanting to throw something that will give her rival an opening. Frege patient, willing to wait on the brunette, slow the pace, play a tactical game, a game she's winning. Final minute sees Lovato's corner shouting at their fighter to get busy, go after her rival, but Demi tentative, not putting punches together. It's all single shot stuff, and it's not enough of that. Final seconds sees Elodie going to the offensive, landing some solid combinations to seal the round up tight. After two, it's 19-19.

ROUND THREE:

Frege back to the pocket. Lovato's heard it in the corner between rounds and she's aggressively after the Frenchwoman. But, again, Elodie makes her pay. Demi's landing glancing blows or getting them caught on Frege's gloves or arms...or slipped completely. And, each one of those punches that fails to score opens Lovato up for a hard, accurate counter from the older woman. Demi's game. She keeps pressuring. But she's taking far too much leather and landing far too little. By the final minute, she's actually being backed up and Elodie comes forward off the ropes to land a series of solid flurries. Now, Demi's covering up as Frege gets off lusty. Lovato's not hurt, but she's getting buzzed with fire from, seemingly, everywhere, accurate, suppressive stuff that continues right to the bell. It's Elodie wide and Frege now on top 29-28 after three.

ROUND FOUR: 

Corner all over Demi between rounds. "We trained for this!" Well. Yes, they did. But, this is live fire not a sparring session, and there's a big difference. Lovato simply can't find the sweet spot in dealing with Frege's pocket. She can't get to "aggressive enough" without going on past to "too aggressive". And, that doesn't change in the fourth. Lovato's working hard, but, again, getting little in return save hard, accurate leather to the face. About half way through, the brunette changes tactics and goes body. She's banging away at the ribs and midsection, head down, digging for all she's worth. Frege keeping the elbows tight, crouching, protecting the body without dropping the guard. BOOM! UPPERCUT, DEMI! Lovato splits the gloves and Elodie's knees buckle! Frenchwoman sags against the ropes and Demi lets the hands go! Elodie buffeted by a blizzard of leather! She's out on her feet! Get IN there ref! Frege slumps against Lovato! Demi steps back and DOWN GOES ELODIE! Frege noses in at the feet of the American! Lovato to a neutral corner and the ref finally begins doing something, counting. And. He can count all NIGHT! Elodie is OUT! And your winner by KO4 is Demi Lovato!

AFTER

"I told you," says Demi shaking the head. "She's tricky for anyone. She's so slick defensively, and she's such a great counter-puncher. I just couldn't get anything going. But, I kept after her, like the corner told me. And, eventually, I got her."