BEFORE:



"Yes," says Jill with a smile, "I've been in a little slump here at Asylum. But, you know, since I'd never lost ONCE before last year, 'slump' is relative. And, we're about to put an end to that right now."



"Jill's a challenge for anyone and everyone in this division," says Katy with a nod. "She's skilled and quick and very, very smart. One mistake is all you need to make, and your night is over. So, I've been working very, very hard for this one. Very, very hard."



ROUND ONE:



O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'In The Hall of the Mountain King' by Edvard Grieg, and that can only mean that..."



Cassie: "Jilly WAGS! Jilly WAGS! Jilly WAGS!"



O'Dell (laughing): "Jill Wagner of the Bazz Fight Club is on her way to the ring."



Tess: "In case you hadn't already gathered that by my BFF's reaction."



Cassie: "Can I help it if Jill's a great fighter and I can't wait to see her in the ring?"



McCarthy: "I imagine this is the way that my millions...AND MILLIONS...of fans used to act when I came down the aisle..."



Tess: "Keep imagining..."



McCarthy: "Shut UP, Walmart!"



O'Dell: "Drink up, boys, and drink in Jill Wagner, as she's helped off with the robe to reveal that zebra-striped number that the fans always appreciate. And, that's 'California Gurls' you hear behind us, and here comes 'The Santa Barbara Slugger', Katy Perry!"



Tess: "We talked earlier about Gemma Arterton being in the lightweight title picture. Well. Katy Perry's in the middle of it, too, and she needs to find a way past Wagner to stay there."



O'Dell: "Perry into the ring. Helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve, and there's that red number she likes. And the fans like it even more."



McCarthy: "Don't make me say 'low standards' again..."



O'Dell: "Ladies about ready. Time for some picks. Tess likes Katy. Mac?"



McCarthy: "Wagner's no tomato can. Jill."



O'Dell: "Cassie?"



Cassie: "You know I'm going with Jilly Wags!"



O'Dell: "And, there's the bell. Wagner about movement here early, and that's no surprise. Jill very quick and an excellent boxer, but she's giving up power to Katy and isn't going to make a living standing in front of the California girl. Perry, of course, is very athletic, moves very well..."



Tess: "And, you're seeing that, as she's able to square Wagner, get off a quick flurry before Jill can angle on her again."



O'Dell: "Wagner a good combination there, as she continues to slip and dip, working to her spots and getting off as soon as she gets there. Perry showing quite a bit of respect for Jill. She's not trying to crowd or get physical. Working at range, which is something Katy likes to do, but..."



Cassie: "Exactly. But. Often with a girl who isn't as physical, Perry will GET physical. But. Not with Jill."



O'Dell: "Plenty of respect for Wagner's power. We're coming down the stretch in the first. It's been a close round as both fighters go through the recon process. Good exchange right there. Both ladies landed hard right hands, and there's the bell. Perry grabs the points, but not by much."



ROUND TWO:



O'Dell: "Back at it in the second, same terms. Katy working at range, getting the long left hand out there, looking to use it to set up those hard rights the former lightweight champ is known for. Wagner angling, moving the feet, using all that skill and quickness very, very well..."



Cassie: "Jill's a great defensive fighter, and you're seeing that now. She's not giving Katy much to hit."



O'Dell: "Is not. But, still, Perry able to get punches put together in spots, as is Wagner. Heading to the halfway point, and, again, we've got a close round between these two brunettes, and that's no surprise. You're looking at two of the best lightweights in the FCBA. Good flurry by Wagner right there!"



McCarthy: "Did that off the counter. Really let the hands go!"



O'Dell: "Perry banging out that heavy 'Front Street Jab'. When she gets it on target, she follows up with solid right hands. Wagner angling, lands another quick flurry as we head down the stretch. Jill getting something going right now, getting into a rhythm, and it's grabbed her this round. There's the bell. Close to Wagner."



Tess: "And, we're even at 19."



ROUND THREE: 



O'Dell: "Third underway and Wagner keeping that momentum going. She's slipping to good spots, getting off in combination, scoring well with both hands. Perry unable to get that jab on target frequently enough to control Wagner with it, keep her where she wants her for those right hands."



Cassie: "And, that happens a lot against Jill, because she's so great defensively."



O'Dell: "Perry banging out that heavy left jab. Wagner moving the head and feet, angling past, landing a solid combination and ROCKING PERRY WITH A RIGHT HAND! Katy wobbles and GOES DOWN after a follow on right hook! Perry dropped to her knees by a beautiful Wagner flurry!"



Tess: "Wow! There were about THREE perfect punches in there!"



O'Dell: "Jill to a neutral corner. Count at three. Four. Five. Six. Perry to her feet at seven. Referee gives her the mandatory, thinks on it, and waives Jill forward. Wagner going all in, throwing everything she has at the Front Streeter. Perry giving ground, keeping the guard high, staying off the ropes, but in full retreat. Ten seconds left. ANOTHER good flurry by Wagner and there's the bell. Jill, 10-8."



McCarthy: "And, she's up 29-27, but she may have let one get away."



ROUND FOUR:



O'Dell: "Wagner right after Katy early. She's looking to press this advantage, sitting down on punches, letting the hands go. Katy firing back now, holding her ground and we're seeing the sharpest exchanges of the fight so far! Some BIG right hands from both fighters landing now..."



McCarthy: "Wagner doesn't want to do this..."



O'Dell: "Right you are. And, Jill circles away. Katy still doesn't have the legs all the way back, because she's not following. Instead, she turns with and sets up at range and we're right back on the terms we saw before the knockdown. Perry working the left, looking to use her reach, and Jill angling to spots."



Cassie: "Again, this is why it's hard to fight Jill Wagner. Very smart. A lot of fighters would have kept trading there. But, Jill has the lead and she's in control of the fight. No sense taking chances."



O'Dell: "Coming down the stretch in round four. Wagner again gets to a spot and lands a nice flurry. Perry fires back and gets a solid right hand on before Jill ducks away and the fighters reset. Ten seconds to go. Ladies moving the feet and we get one more exchange at the bell. Close. Wagner."



Tess: "And, Jill now up 39-36, and, like Cassie said, in control of the fight."



ROUND FIVE:



O'Dell: "Terms are set as we begin the fifth. Both fighters continue to want to box. Wagner moving the feet, slipping and dipping, working hard to avoid Perry's left. When Katy gets that on target, it sets up her offense beautifully. She can follow on with hard right hands and get points scored..."



Tess: "But, as it has for the entire fight so far, Wagner's defense making life very, very difficult on Perry."



O'Dell: "Indeed, it is. Katy a nice combination there. Landed a solid right hand and forced Jill to cover up. Wagner, though, circling away, resetting. Former champ turning with, setting up behind that jab. Still no move to close or get physical from Perry, just as you predicted, Cassie..."



Cassie: "Again, it's because she has a healthy respect for Jill. Things might change late in the fight, though."



O'Dell: "Good point. If Wagner continues to lead when we get into the late rounds, Katy may be forced to take some chances. For now, though, Perry going to box with. Wagner angling forward and Perry lands another nice combination that forces Jill to cover up and circle away and there's the bell. Another close round. Katy."



McCarthy: "Wagner's lead is two, 48-46."



ROUND SIX:



O'Dell: "Second half starts the way the first half has gone. Perry setting up behind her jab at range, Wagner angling, getting to spots, getting off quickly. There's a NICE flurry from Jill, who landed a couple of solid shots in there, forced Perry back a step, before ducking away to reset."



McCarthy: "I hate to admit Scabbo's right about something, but Wagner CAN box."



O'Dell: "Wagner moving the feet, looking to turn the former champion. Perry a SOLID left and DOWN GOES WAGNER! Katy landed that left jab and dropped a BOOMING right on Jill and Wagner goes to her knees!"



Cassie: "She'll get up! She'll get up!"



O'Dell: "Perry to a neutral corner. Count at three. Four. Five. Six. Wagner to her feet at seven. Referee gives her the mandatory. Takes a good look. Going to wave Katy forward. And HERE COMES PERRY. Katy letting the hands go now, banging away, forcing Jill into the ropes and letting her have it with both hands. BIG right from Perry wobbled Wagner again and IT'S OVER! Referee leaping in and it's OVER!"



Tess: "He didn't waste any time and I don't blame him..."



O'Dell: "And, your winner by TKO6 is 'The Santa Barbara Slugger', Katy Perry!"



AFTER:



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



Tess: "I have our winner, Katy Perry, and, Katy, that was far from easy..."



Katy (nodding): "Never going to be easy against her. She's s good a boxer as you'll find at lightweight. And, she's got sneaky power, too, so you can't get too aggressive. It's a balancing act, and a really tricky one."



Tess: "But, you pulled it off..."



Katy (nodding): "I caught her. And, when I did that, I knew I had to finish. I didn't want to be sweating out cards with her, so I went for it, and I got her."