Hilary Rhoda vs. Katy Perry
Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!



BEFORE:

One of the more intriguing fights of the night. Former lightweight champ Perry, who, no doubt, walks around welter and has fought above 130, stepping up to take on former welterweight champion Rhoda, one of the biggest, strongest women in the FCBA. Be that as it may, Perry seems to believe she's up for the challenge. "Oh, she's about as good as it gets at welter, no question about that," says Katy with a nod. "But, I've beaten welters before, including Upton. I'm big enough and strong enough to handle Hilary. And, that's exactly what I'm going to do."

"She's elite," admits the former welterweight champ. "And, yes, I do believe she's got the size and power to compete at welter. But. I'm not just ANY welter. I'm the best welterweight in the world, as I've proven. When I beat Upton. Just like I'm going to beat Katy."


ROUND ONE:

Rhoda wants to do gun-platform stuff early, use all that length and power. The old Katy Perry would certainly have forced the issue, but not the Perry of the last several years. She's no longer a brawler, but a boxer-puncher who can use her athleticism to excellent effect. So, instead of coming forward and looking to bang, Perry angles, moves the feet, gets to spots, boxes with...and GETS ROCKED! A beautiful combination from Rhoda, starting with a stiff left jab and then a BOOMING right hand follow and Katy's GOBSMACKED! Taller girl all in immediately, sensing a chance to make quick work of this thing. She's winging away, battering Perry backward, trapping her on the ropes and letting her have it. Katy in deep trouble, as Rhoda's landing hard shot. Perry hanging on, jabbing back here and there, but taking a thorough beating. Take it she does, however, right to the bell. It's Hilary wide, but Katy still standing.

ROUND TWO:

Rhoda looking to press the advantage early, backs Perry up with some hard right hands, but, Katy quickly solidifies her front and fires back. Hilary too smart to get sloppy or overly aggressive. Instead, she's back to ranged boxing, something she does very, very well. For Perry's part, the legs aren't exactly all the way back early, and that allows Rhoda to get the better of things. As the round goes on, however, the blonde's base firms up and she's able to move, angle, box with. Second half of the round is good, two-way stuff, with both fighters putting punches together and landing solid shot. Both showing excellent defense, fast hands, educated feet. It's the kind of round you might expect to see from two top-flight fighters. For 90 seconds, there's not much in it. But, at the bell, Rhoda's first half plays. She grabs the points and takes a 20-18 edge.

ROUND THREE: 

Boxing at range. Both fighters do it well, and both appear to be comfortable allowing these terms, at least for the moment. Again, Rhoda all about that looooonnggggg left. She's using it to set up right hands and get off combinations. Perry, meanwhile, using the footwork to slip in, dip to a spot, get off her own flurries. And, about midway through the round, Katy slips, dips, and ROCKS RHODA WITH A RIGHT HAND! Hilary stumbles backward and only the ropes stop her from going down! And, now it's KATY who's all in, firing away with both hands looking to take the former welterweight champ out of there. Rhoda rolling with, keeping the guard high, doing enough to keep the referee at bay. Perry swinging for glory, getting everything on the punches, but unable to land the clean shot that would put an end to Rhoda's night. At the bell, Katy's on the board, having grabbed the round wide to cut the lead to 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

Perry wants to press the issue early. But, as Rhoda did in the second, she quickly realizes that her opponent's legs are working well enough to make that very, very dangerous. So, Katy, like Hilary in the second, goes back to range. And, with the taller woman still not 100 percent, Perry quickly begins getting the better of things. She's able to beat Rhoda to both spots and punches and begin building up a nice lead. BOOM! DOWN GOES PERRY! That quickly, the fight changes. A perfectly-placed right hand counter from Hilary and Katy's blown flat to her back. Rhoda quickly to a neutral corner as the referee begins his count. Perry staring up at him, glassy eyed. Sits up at five. Gets to her feet at eight. Ref takes a close look during the mandatory, but waives Rhoda forward. Hilary charging, throwing bombs, wants this over now. Perry rope bound and taking. Now, she's the one rolling with as Hilary gets the heavy leather on. But, like Katy in the third, Rhoda can't find the clean shot to end it. At the bell, Katy's still standing, but Rhoda's now up 39-36.


ROUND FIVE:

Early pressure from Rhoda backs up Perry. Katy has shaken the worst of it, but still doesn't have the legs back. Hilary taking advantage, getting her offense rolling, keeping her rival on the back foot. Perry can't seem to get out of reverse, and that's fine with Rhoda. Former welterweight champ getting off lusty, continuing to grab canvas, not giving Perry the time or space to recover from last round's beating. Katy firing back in spots, trying to slow down the Rhoda train, and, to a point, she does. But, she can only slow it as the round goes on. She can't stop it, can't get it rolling backward. From the first seconds to the last, it's Rhoda in command and Perry in retreat. The former lightweight champ isn't hurt in this stanza, but her chances of winning the fight certainly are. Rhoda pitches a fifth-round shutout and leads 49-45 at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Early Rhoda aggression stopped this time. Perry's got the legs under her and she's able to hold ground, and that sends Hilary back to range, where she begins working the long left again. When she gets it on target, she can follow with hard shot, put punches together, score points. On the other hand, Perry's athleticism plays, too. She's able to move the feet, slip the jab, step forward, land punches in bunches, and, when that happens, it's Katy who's piling up the points. And, that's how it goes. Back and forth. Good, two-way boxing between the two hard-hitting beauties. For three solid minutes, the fighters work hard and there's very little in it. Late in the round, three good exchanges send sweat flying and get the crowd buzzing. Nobody's hurt, but, everybody's felt that leather. At the bell, it's close to Perry, who's cut the lead to 58-55.

ROUND SEVEN:

Strange to say time is running short for Perry with fully forty percent of the fight to go, but, a look at the scorecard shows it is. Katy's got four rounds to make up three points, and not against just any fighter, but a girl who's, arguably, the best welterweight in the FCBA. It's quite the challenge, and, early on in the seventh, the former lightweight champ looks up to it. She's getting into a rhythm, getting past Rhoda's left, scoring well with both hands. But, as the round goes on, Hilary gets the geometry right, begins keeping Perry out on the end of her punches, and, starts making up ground. In the final 30 seconds, it's anybody's round to win. And, Hilary Rhoda goes out and wins it. She turns up the heat, works forward behind the jab, backs Perry up with her power, and grabs some very, very important points. At the bell, it's Rhoda close. And, Hilary now leads 68-64 with just three to go.

ROUND EIGHT: 

Perry well aware of the clock, so to speak, as the eighth begins. If there's any question about her knowing she's in a hole, it's answered in the opening seconds. She gets after Rhoda in a big way, damning any and all torpedoes. Hilary tries to work the jab, move the feet, stay off square, but, it's not going to happen. Katy's coming forward to bang and get physical. She's working body, going back upstairs, backing Rhoda up with hard shot. So, Hilary changes tactics. She's as physical as any fighter in the FCBA. She can play at this game. Result is a terrific FIREFIGHT that sees both fighters exchange bombs until PERRY ROCKS RHODA! A right hook sends Hilary staggering backward and Perry goes all in. She's firing away with everything she has looking to finish. Rhoda's quickly backed to the ropes and absolutely abused for over two minutes. Katy hammering at her with huge shots, but, Hilary able to ship it and stay afloat...and to do enough to keep the referee from stopping it. Last 20 seconds are absolute torture for Hilary's corner as Katy thumps her again and again, but, those sturdy legs hold up and Rhoda's on her feet at the bell. It's shutout, Perry, but Hilary's still up 77-74.

ROUND NINE:

Perry a girl on a mission now, and that mission is to seek and destroy Hilary Rhoda. Katy forward very aggressively, letting the hands go, sitting down on punches, looking for the finisher. Rhoda giving ground, trying to slow Perry with the jab, looking to manage, while also looking for the big counter that could change the flow of the fight. Perry banging a ton of body in the opening minute, shifts upstairs in the second. She's forcing Hilary to cover up, keeping her on the defensive, but Rhoda again able to ship all of this shot and stay on her feet. Third minute sees even MORE aggression from Perry, who's emptying the magazines now. BOOM! DOWN GOES RHODA! Katy hooks the body, gets Hilary to crouch slightly and then BLASTS HER TO HER BACK WITH AN UPPERCUT! Hilary crashing to the mat. Crowd going nuts. Perry actually stumbling in the follow through to the punch, then quickly heading for a neutral corner. Rhoda staring up as the referee begins the count. Rolls to her belly at four. Pushes to hands and knees at six. THEN SINKS BACK DOWN AT EIGHT! She can't get to her feet! The count passes her by! It's OVER! And your winner by KO9 in comeback fashion is Katy Perry!

AFTER:

That loud rumble you just heard was a seismic shift in the welterweight division. But, in the post-fight, Perry doesn't want to talk about any of that, pushing off questions about her future to focus on her opponent. "She's as good as anyone I've ever fought," Katy says with a nod. "And, she's the hardest hitter I've ever been in with. I can see why she's been welterweight champion, and I've no doubt she's going to be again. I appreciate the opportunity to fight a girl like that. And, if anyone has any questions about what I can do above 130, well. I just answered them."