BEFORE:
Somehow or another, these two ladies have yet to meet in the ring, with Gemma Merna being both a former Flyweight and JMD champion, and Diana Korkunova making her eighth title defense after securing the belt from Cheryl Cole in May of last year.

“I can’t believe I’ve come this far,” Diana beams to reporters at the press junket, still a baby-faced ever-darling of both the media and the backstage locker room as well. “Beating Cheryl was one thing all those months ago, but now I’m facing off against Gemma Merna herself, who’s been in the business far longer than I have, so I’ve got to respect what she brings to the table.”

“Darn right you do, honey,” Gemma cuts her off from the other end of the table, her fingers curled around the base of the microphone as though she’s clutching at Diana’s petite little neck. “I’ve done too much over the years to lose out on another chance like this. Title opportunities don’t grow on trees, you know, or get handed out on silver platters, unlike some girls do...”

“I never said anything about…” Diana tries to respond, still retaining her cool, but gets cut off again.

“Zip it honey. You may be the champ tonight, but I’ve been doing this boxing thing since you were, what, 15-years-old? I’ll be the one taking that belt home with me by the end of the night, and I don’t see what you can do about it.”

Well, that certainly escalated fast. Ladies pose briefly at the podium for the cameras, but that look on Diana’s face is more of confusion than animosity, with Gemma further refusing to bump fists with the Siren even when they’re offered. 

Fight night rolls around and Korkunova however appears nonchalant about what happened earlier, rolling into town in a white bikini top and dark blue boxing trunks cut off short at the thighs. She waves to the crowd in her pair of yellow gloves. Gemma lets it all hang out by contrast, a yellow sunshine bikini perfect for the start of summer, her hair tied up into a neat bundle with her red gloves. Referee calls for the bell and HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Flyweight action! This here’s for the BBU Flyweight championship of the world!

ROUND 1:
One of course left wondering if this fight might be a repeat of Diana’s earlier disappointment against a certain Danielle Sharpe, who was another JMD contender who knocked the Siren’s light’s out in five rounds back when she was first starting out. Gemma is certainly known for her above average assets more than her fighting prowess, and she makes that point quite clear in the very opening minute, by slamming a hard right hand straight into the champion’s chest! Diana lets out an involuntary shriek, more surprised and shocked than anything else, but quickly has to cover up to avoid another swing aimed at that sensitive area of her body. Gemma seen smirking, sending the signal that that punch wasn’t no accident, not by any stretch of the imagination - the blonde continues using her JMD experience to target Diana’s chest area, alternating between her body and whaps of leather to the nose, in the end giving her the round by throwing the champion’s plans into disarray.

ROUND 2:
Diana tries to steel herself for this uncertain future (she really should compete in a JMD match or two in the future, we feel), but gets caught by Gemma’s power in this second round. The Siren having charged forward, looking invigorated at first, using her speed and smaller stature to pepper Gemma’s guard with jabs, but then gets caught by a well-timed right hook swung into her guard, Gemma’s power still taking a good chunk out of her self-esteem as Korkunova almost goes flying off her feet right there and then from the sudden impact! Things ain’t looking good for as the champ fails to make any sort of dent in the challenger’s armour, instead gets herself hounded across the ring and back, with Gemma mixing up her own attack pattern with jabs sent to the head and then larger swings tagging the body and chest, once more leaving Korkunova out in the cold!

ROUND 3:
More punishment inflicted on the champ’s frame as Diana’s many wins and longish title run might mean she’s getting a little sloppy and complacent here. She pokes a few fast hands from out of cover, but quickly realises she’s made a mistake of letting Gemma get in too close for comfort. The blonde huffs, then letttttssss ripppppp a hook that catches Diana on the side of her head, bashing the poor brunette to one side. Diana groans, gets carried off by the impact and then sent into the ropes looking for support. Quick as a whistle, Merna’s on her case like white on rice, steps in with a quick HUP HUP uppercut to exposed belly before swinging upwards to try and rock the champion’s chin to kingdom come. But Korkunova manages to hang in there still, even in close quarters danger, decidedly wraps up her arms around Gemma’s shoulder to control the bigger blonde’s movements for the rest of the round. It’s sloppy action but if it staves off disaster for the Siren, who are we to judge?

ROUND 4:
Merna’s still relentless, however, knows she’s got the champion on the run now and gives chase like a dog witnessing a bone descend from heaven. She stuns Diana on multiple occasions with a rocking glove sent down the middle, drawing exasperated gasps from Korkunova’s lips, the Siren’s only respite to hold onto her wits and try not to go down so easily. The Siren occasionally pokes back with her own jab or two that lands clean to the face, but it’s nothing in comparison to those slobberknockers that Merna’s throwing back at her direction. Another left-right combo bashes her arms, leaving the poor Siren further wide open - Diana gets smacked across the mouth a third time, and finally loses her balance, tripping over her feet and involuntarily falling down to her side!! It’s a shocking KNOCKDOWN indeed for the challenger, as Gemma Merna already seen parading about the ring, doing a little sexy twirl of her hips before gesturing for the belt to be placed around her golden waistline. But Diana’s not done - not by a stretch, as she wipes some spittle from her lips before forcing herself back upwards one foot at a time. It’s not a complete whitewash for the champ, and the Siren certainly has been through worse…. but one can’t help but be  delusional if they still think Diana’s out of the danger yet.

ROUND 5:
Well, whaddaya know!? Diana with some JMD training of her own as she ducks under one of Gemma’s high hooks before SLAMMING her glove straight into the blonde’s breast, another hard kiss across her puppies for good night and good luck as she drives home her message with a punting straight hand to the nostrils! Gemma’s now the one left in shock as she covers up and clutches at her glams in pain, taking small steps backwards as she wonders what the hell just happened. No more little miss nice girl is what’s going down, with Diana slowly walking the Lookout! starlet backwards with power punches of her own, the Siren gritting her teeth and letting her fists do the talking now that her smiles are all dried up. Gemma’s fortunes having turned like a hurricane making landfall, her face getting turned hard to the left, then right, before a snap uppercut sends her chin upwards in a world of hurt. Just three minutes ago she was the one laying the smackdown on the younger woman… now her arms are flying about in multiple directions, trying to prevent the sudden onslaught, as Diana torques another hook across her shocked face to DROP HER RIGHT THERE AND THEN!! Good lord - this is getting personal! Diana Korkunova with a KNOCKDOWN of her own in the final few seconds of this round, leaving Gemma floored and splayed about in the middle of the ring! Korkunova nods her head with satisfaction as she makes for neutral corner, leaving Gemma barely stirring as the challenger makes her way back up by the count of 8! If this wild action is set to go on for another five rounds, who knows who will be left standing??

ROUND 6:
Slower start as these two ladies take a brief intermission, circling left and right whilst taking occasional pot-shots at each other’s arms. The fans know an action-packed slugfest when they see one, and the ladies give them exactly what they want in the second: mutual slugging action as they take turns sending fists into each other’s chests, as if both girls all of a sudden agreed by silent consent to go after the JMD championship as well. Gemma with more experience here, of course, seems to be renenergised the moment her jugs feel the scrap of leather across nipple. She perks up immediately, begins whacking her own punishment into Diana’s chest, but the Siren somehow isn’t giving up so easily either, growls with rage as she stacks Gemma’s left breast upwards too far for its own good, then gives the blonde another hard SLAP across the cheek that seems to be the final nail in the coffin. Gemma goes URRRRK as the hook almost takes her off her feet, her head and torso rotated to one side as she goes crashing into the ropes for support. Diana gets methodical in the final seconds, slow chugging of fists into the blonde’s midsection, followed by more crashing left and right waves sent across her failing arms, trying to snag that chin or cheek and finally put the blonde out of her misery.

ROUND 7:
Merna’s lead all but evaporated at this point, as you can probably guess, taking shellacking after shellacking as she finds out the hard way that the champ has some power of her own packing in those tiny fists of her own. Gemma attempts a comeback in the opening seconds, snagging a low swing to Diana’s body and then another one grazing across her chest, but Diana at this point is too enraged and focused to care, returns fire with a swing of her own across the chin, utterly smoking the older woman silly, and spinning Gemma on the spots like a marionette on tangled strings. Last couple of shaky steps from the blonde are just for show as Korkunova bounces in with a one-two gut-checking uppercut, before a final BLAST up into the jawline literally WHIPS Gemma off her feet and down onto her back, where she bloody well stays this time! Referee performs the customary 10-count but it ain’t no f-ing use, folks - Merna just laid out on her back, lying completely still throughout! This fight is OVER!

Official Decision: Diana Korkunova defeats Gemma Merna via KO7!

AFTER:
Well, Korkunova does it again! The Siren celebrates this win as though it were her first ever victory in the ring, leaping up into the air and then running back to her corner to celebrate with her teammates and manager. She’s beaten some of the best of the best in the BBU, and some might even argue it’s high time the Siren crossed over to the other side of the Atlantic to test her mettle.

Gemma on the other hand looking utterly bruised and battered, her eyelids fluttering as she struggles to even sit up by the ropes, her blonde mane dishevelled and matt around her face as she ponders her future in the ring. Still, some might say she’s  35 years young, and plenty of other girls have secured the title at a much older age. 

For now, all of us are just curious beavers as to who Diana might pick for her next opponent will be.