BEFORE:
"It's true that I don't fight regularly anymore," says Lishy with a smile. "But. I'm every bit as good as I ever was...and, since I'm a four-time champion, that's pretty good."
"She's a test, no doubt," says Lili with a nod. "And, one I'm going to PASS."
ROUND ONE:
O'Dell: "Back at ringside and that's 'Just Dance' by Lady Gaga, but, that blonde coming to ringside is not Lady G, but former Unified Bantamweight Champion Elisha Cuthbert."
McCarthy: "And, Cuthbert isn't wrong. She's a top shelf bantam and has been for a long time. Of course, J-MAC beat her, but, J-MAC is the greatest fighting Playmate of all time, so..."
Tess: "I think I threw up in my mouth a little..."
O'Dell (sighing): "Three more to go. The bonuses we're getting for this card aren't big enough. Cuthbert into the ring and helped off with the robe by the Lookout! corner crew. She's looking VERY good in a navy number that's gotten the crowd's attention, and that's 'What I've Done' thumping through the arena, and here comes 'Diamond' Lili Reinhart!"
Cassie: "Lili has had a very good start for Front Street, but she has plenty of in-house competition in her division. She's looking to get a push at the straps this year, and she probably needs a win tonight for that to happen."
O'Dell: "Lili into the ring and helped off with the robe by Jewel and Neve. She's wearing that white number we've seen before, and the crowd showing its appreciation. Ladies about ready to go. Time for some picks. Tess likes Lili. Mac?"
McCarthy: "Cuthbert's a REAL fighter. She'll beat this Dancing Hooker."
O'Dell: "Cassie?"
Cassie: "I agree with Tess!"
O'Dell: "Split panels have been the theme tonight. Blondes getting it going quickly. Lili wants to work at range, but Elisha not going to play on those terms. Former champ giving away reach, so she wants to work inside, and she's working forward and getting in the younger woman's face."
Cassie: "Cuthbert extremely good at in-fighting."
O'Dell: "Is, indeed. She's very sturdy and can hit. Also likes to work body, and you see her doing that now. Reinhart banging back in there, but she's coming off second best at the moment, as Elisha's gotten quickly into rhythm and is taking the fight to the younger blonde."
Tess: "Cuthbert a girl who definitely stepped away with a bunch still in the tank."
O'Dell: "Sure did, and she's showing there's still plenty left as she plants the promising Reinhart in the middle of the woodshed as we come down the stretch. Lili tying up. Lishy shoving off, working those abs. Lili ties up again. Ref in between them and there's the bell. Lishy. Wide."
McCarthy: "The woodshed. That's where I'm taking DENNINGS as soon as this is over!"
ROUND TWO:
O'Dell: "Cuthbert again forward, but Lili now getting more active with the jab, she's popping it in Lishy's face, slowing the older blonde, then following on with right hands. All of a sudden, Cuthbert can't get to her spots, and it's making a big difference, because Reinhart's taking command of the fight..."
Cassie: "All about distance right now, and, Lili's getting what she wants."
O'Dell: "Is, indeed, and she's stopping Lishy from getting to her spots, which is every bit as important. Cuthbert being left out on the end of Lili's punches, and she does NOT want to be out there. Reinhart piling up the points and the punishment right now, ladies..."
Tess: "There were questions about whether or not Lili was going to make the cut last year, and some folks were surprised she made it instead of King, but, what you're seeing here..."
O'Dell: "Yes, and we've seen it before. Reinhart definitely has plenty of tools and could have a very bright future in the FCBA. And, the present looks pretty bright, too, as we head into the final seconds of the second round. NICE combination by Lili at the bell. Reinhart. Wide."
McCarthy: "19-19 after two."
ROUND THREE:
O'Dell: "Third begins with more ranged boxing from Lili. Lishy now angling forward, getting inside, working some body. Reinhart ties her up. Holds on. Forces a break. Circles away to get back to range and gets back to the jab. Again, Lishy moving in, working body before the tie up."
McCarthy: "Ref should warn this girl for clinching! If Dennings tries this on J-MAC, she's going to be SORRY!"
O'Dell: "Pattern set in this stanza. Reinhart working from the outside, scoring at range. Lishy working in, scoring from there until Lili can tie her up, get a break, and get back to gunnery range. Back and forth they go, and the result is a close round to this point anyway..."
Cassie: "Nobody getting much of what they want this round."
O'Dell: "But, both continuing to try to impose the terms they favor. Neither all that successful, so it's been two-way all the way, and, as we come into the final fifteen seconds, not a lot in it. Reinhart ties up Cuthbert. Gets a break. Circles away. Jabs, lands a nice combination and there's the bell. Close to Lili."
Tess: "And, that puts Reinhart up 29-28."
ROUND FOUR:
O'Dell: "Reinhart working at range. Lishy angling forward, getting to the body. Lili tying up. Elisha levers, works the abs and then ROCKS LILI WITH A RIGHT UPPERCUT! Reinhart all wobbly-butt as Cuthbert lets the hands go! BIG right from Elisha and DOWN GOES LILI!"
McCarthy: "Get ready to say 'Down goes Dennings!' in a few minutes!"
O'Dell: "Elisha to a neutral corner. Lili down on her back. Ref's count at three. Four. Five. Reinhart rolls to her belly. Pushes to hands and knees at six. Seven. Eight. Lili to her feet at nine. Ref taking a long look as he gives her the mandatory, but he waives on Cuthbert!"
Tess: "And Elisha looking to finish..."
O'Dell: "No doubt about it as she wings away with both hands. Lili driven back into the ropes and she is taking a POUNDING. Ref looking in closely. Reinhart tying up, hooking a little body. Lishy stacks her, thumps the body, then lands a SHARP right to the head. Lili ties up again and there's the bell. What a round for Cuthbert!"
Cassie: "Lishy goes into the lead 38-37."
ROUND FIVE:
O'Dell: "Lishy rolling as we start the fifth. Reinhart still buzzed, and the veteran Canadian taking full advantage. Cuthbert backing her rival up with heavy shot. Lili firing back in spots, making this a fighting retreat, but it's a retreat, no doubt of that. Elisha trying to work the American back to the ropes..."
Cassie: "Lili doing well to stay off them at the moment."
O'Dell: "Is, indeed, but Elisha's continuing to back her up, controlling the round as Reinhart tries to buy some time to get those legs back. NICE right by Cuthbert sends Lili back a step, and Lishy now works her rival to the cables and pins her there before going body."
Tess: "Cuthbert REALLY tearing into those abs!"
O'Dell: "Lili keeping the guard high. Crouching. Tying up. Lishy levers, goes back to the body. Reinhart firing back with a nice combination and Cuthbert responds and they are TAGGING IT OUT as we head into the final seconds. TONS of heavy leather fly right to the bell and there it is!"
McCarthy: "Cuthbert's round wide and she's up a pair, 48-46 at the half."
ROUND SIX:
O'Dell: "Second half begins with Cuthbert going right after Reinhart and Lili letting the hands go! Ladies hot tossing in the middle of the ring, loads of heavy leather flying and nobody backing up a step. NICE left hook by Lishy and LILI NAILS HER WITH A RIGHT HAND!"
Tess: "Cuthbert's hurt!"
O'Dell: "And Reinhart knows it! Lili now making with the heavy artillery, backing Elisha up with flurry after flurry. Cuthbert backing and covering, taking some serious fire. Reinhart forcing her to the ropes and going to work. No body now, all head-hunting stuff designed to end this thing..."
McCarthy: "If this kid were TRAINED right, she'd know to mix in body work..."
O'Dell: "GOOD right from Lili shook Elisha. We've got twenty seconds to go and Cuthbert hanging on, rolling with punches, now trying to tie up. Lili punches free as the ref looks on. Ten seconds. Nice left hook from Reinhart shook Elisha, but there's the bell. Lili. Wide."
Cassie: "But Elisha still standing and still up 57-56."
ROUND SEVEN:
O'Dell: "Reinhart on the advance as we start the seventh. She's backing Elisha up once again with hard combinations to the head. Cuthbert covering up, giving ground, firing back here and there and GETTING DROPPED WITH A RIGHT HAND AND CRASHING TO HER BACK!"
Cassie: "That might do it..."
O'Dell: "Lili to a neutral corner. Referee's count at three. Four. Five. Elisha rolls to her belly at six. Crawls to the ropes. Seven. Eight. Pulling herself up. Nine. And, she BEATS IT! Cuthbert to her feet just in time. Ref gives her the mandatory and waives on Reinhart..."
Tess: "Lili wants to finish here. Don't want to let a champion like Cuthbert off the hook."
O'Dell: "That's definitely the plan. Reinhart all OVER Lishy! Cuthbert hanging on, taking fire in the middle of the ring, tying up and GETTING DROPPED TO HER BACK BY A RIGHT UPPERCUT! Lili to a neutral corner again. Lishy staring wide-eyed up at the referee. Count at three. Four. Five. Rolls to her belly at six. Seven. Crawling to the ropes. Eight. Slumps over the bottom rope at nine! TEN! It's OVER! And your winner by KO7 is 'Diamond' Lili Reinhart!"
McCarthy: "Lucky. Now, I've got to go, because Dennings ISN'T getting lucky!"
AFTER:
O'Dell: "Let's go up to the ring and Tess Valmore!"
Tess: "I have our winner, Lili Reinhart, and it being physical in there is becoming a theme tonight..."
Lili (nodding): "Yeah. She can hit and she wanted to bang in there. Wasn't the plan I had coming in, but, if you want to thump with me, I'll thump with you and. Well. You saw the result."
Tess: "Lots of competition in the Front Street bantamweight division. What's your plan to stand out?"
Lili (smiling): "It's simple. Just keep doing what I just did. That's all you have to do here. Win. And, I will."
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