Tale of the Tape:
Alessandra Ambrosio:
Age: 39
Height: 5'9 ½
45-19 (45KOs)
Former BBU lightweight champion.
Former FCBA lightweight champion.
Vs
Yasmin Verheijen:
Age: 26
Height: 5'11
9-6 (9KOs)

(Girls Friday vs Lioness Club)

(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)

Intro:
On now is the latest retirement tour fight for Alessandra Ambrosio, this time she takes on young Dutch prospect Yasmin Verheijen, a win her for Yasmin might be the breakout moment for her.

In the last year Alessandra has been on her journey out of celebrity boxing, last month she defeated Stella Maxwell to show some of the fire that made her a hall of famer here in the BBU.

Sitting on the BBU TV set with presenter Denise Van Outen, Alessandra admits "with each day that passes and I get closer to my birthday when I retire, it is getting harder emotionally, but I realised last year when I was losing that I need to be ruthless, so the tears can wait till my retirement party" laughing to herself as Denise smiles warmly at her.

The subject turns to Yasmin, Alessandra straight away says "she looks a hell of a talent, the fundamentals are definitely there as you'd expect from any Lioness fighter, the fact she is sweet means I have a soft spot for her" smiling warmly herself as clearly she has taken a shine to the young woman she is going to be trying to knockout in a few days.

"I'm going to show Yasmin what this level is though, she can see what she needs to do first hand what to do to be a champion, I will bring my best and hope she does" finishes Ambrosio as she stands up to shake Denise's hand.

Yasmin meanwhile had a great 2020, going undefeated in three fights, taking the scalps of Micaela Schaefer, Anne Vyalitsina and Esti Ginzburg, beating Alessandra will really put her into title contention in most peoples eyes.

The Dutch model doesn't go to the BBU studio, she instead gets interviewed by Georgie Thompson in the Lioness Club gym, after finishing her workout, she stops outside the locker room wearing a navy blue sports bra, yoga pants and trainers, smiling as she wipes sweat from her brow with her towel.

Asked about how she is feeling heading into this fight, Yasmin says "first I want to say thank you to Alessandra for giving me this opportunity, I know she doesn't have many dance cards left but it is an honour to share a ring with her" beaming as she looks excited at the prospect.

Yasmin after taking a quick drink of water from her bottle, she adds "don't get me wrong though, I am not coming to be star struck, Alessandra is a great fighter and I am here to prove myself, I have been working as hard as I ever have to get ready, beating her will cement myself as a contender, that means more to me then anything right now" a more serious look on her face as she makes that point clear.

She finally is asked about what 2021 holds for her, Yasmin answers "I want that lightweight title, I have been working hard to get into contention, now is the time to build my résumé up, it begins on Wednesday when I beat Alessandra" she thanks Georgie for coming to speak to her before heading off to take a well earned shower.

Fight night, first to step through the curtain is Alessandra as she has Taryn Terrell and cut woman Eva Carneiro either side of her, she pumps her right fist in the air as she jogs down the aisle.

She is wearing a yellow sports bra with green trim, matching trunks and shoes, green gloves as she channels her Brazilian heritage in her gear, hair tied back into a braid to finish her look, stepping into her corner as she gets into her fighting mode by using Taryn's hands as punch pads to warm up.

Out comes Yasmin now flanked to her left by coach Mel B, she poses with hands on her hips at the top of the aisle with her trademark beautiful smile, walking to the ring with a relaxed look.

She is wearing an orange sports bra with black trim, matching trunks and shoes, orange gloves, her hair is tied back into a ponytail, stepping through the ropes into the ring, shadow boxing as she stands in her corner looking in the zone now, taking a breath as she listens to Mel tell her to take Alessandra's head off.

Coming to the center of the ring, both women look each other over as they get a chance to really see what the others build is, nodding to the referee as they finish their final instructions, before they touch gloves then head to their corners, the bell rings to start 10 rounds of lightweight action.

Round 1:
There's a quick fist bump before they start trading jabs, getting a feel for the others skills with probing punches in the opening moments, Yasmin moving around the more prone Alessandra, looking for an angle to land a big punch from.

It's Ambrosio who pushes the tempo up a notch, landing a jab to the chest of her opponent, following with an overhand right to the cheek of Yasmin, she tries to press her advantage by sticking in close, Verheijen gives her a nudge before moving away to reset.

Next time Alessandra tries to get in closer, she is met by a left across her face, a straight knocks her head back as Yasmin starts to show off her own skills, forcing the veteran back with a one-two combo straight through the gloves to the beautiful face of Alessandra.

Past half way in the round, Alessandra dips under a jab to bang in a right hook under the ribs, an overhand left doesn't land flush up top, it gives Alessandra the chance to drive forwards though as she tests out the trim body of her opponent with three punches landing.

Nudging back Alessandra again, Yasmin tries to come back at her, she misses with a left cross that leaves her open to a right to her chest, a left cross from Alessandra then smacks across her cheek as Ambrosio pushes her back onto the ropes.

Where Alessandra crowds the younger woman, landing more punches in their exchange as Yasmin tries to match the aggression of Alessandra, the round comes to a close with Alessandra jogging back to her corner with a relaxed look compared to her opponent, knowing she probably took that round with those late drives.

Round 2:
Realising that she probably showed Alessandra too much respect in the opener, Yasmin comes out doubling up her jab, stepping in more herself to force exchanges, with the crowd enjoying the up tempo action.

Alessandra just misses with a left cross, she pays for it with an uppercut that knocks her back a step, Yasmin quick to pound in a follow up double jab/straight combo that knocks back Ambrosio further.

Covering up more as she finds herself under constant attack, Alessandra is finding it hard to come out her shell as Yasmin is putting her punches together better, switching them up to work the body before throwing hooks up top.

With just under a minute to go, Alessandra is finally able to land really her first big punch of the round, leaning out the way of a right hook, she comes back with a straight onto the nose of the pageant model that stops her in her tracks.

On comes Alessandra now as Yasmin soaks up as much punishment as she can on her arms and gloves, driven onto the ropes as the Brazilian beauty bangs away to the body, leaving herself open to a right cross up top as Verheijen tries to show she won't be bullied around.

The final moments of the round sees both women letting their hands go to the delight of the crowd, the bell rings with both giving a rye smile as they raise their right arm in the air, Alessandra nods though as if admitting that round went to Yasmin.

Round 3:
Now they seem fully warmed up to what they need to do, Yasmin starts off strong again, her hand speed giving Alessandra some trouble early on as the veteran tries to close the gap between them, eating punches to her face that makes her need to tighten her guard up.

A left cross/straight combo catches Yasmin flush as she leaves herself a little too open, Alessandra working back the younger woman with several more punches through to the face of Verheijen, getting her corner team smiling.

But she misses with a right hook as Yasmin leans out the way, coming back at the former champion with a left cross on the jaw, an uppercut doesn't land flush, it does though knock back Alessandra a step as momentum switches.

Yasmin is looking great so far, rifling punches into gaps in her opponent's defence, using Alessandra's own tricks against her by landing into the chest of the Victoria Secret alumni to make her hiss.

Late in the round Alessandra is able to land a left under the ribs of Yasmin, she steps in closer as both women stretch their elbows, banging away to bodies mostly, with several clean hooks up top to make their opponent groan out.

At the bell they step apart then turn to their corners, both fighters cheeks are reddening up, it's the Lioness corner looking the more relaxed, Yasmin showing some very silky skills to keep the former champion under wraps for the most part there.

Round 4:
Pushing a bit earlier with her attacks, Alessandra maybe realising that she can't let Yasmin gain a head of speed behind her, landing some crisp jab/cross punch combos to force back Yasmin to the outside part of the ring.

Back comes Yasmin with a double jab after Alessandra misses with a left cross, the opening minute seeing Yasmin drive back Ambrosio to the ropes with two uppercuts to the body, then a left cross to the side of her head.

Giving Yasmin a nudge with her left forearm, Alessandra slams a right under her ribs, moving off the ropes so she can open up a little more as Yasmin gets clipped across her left cheek with a right hook, retreating back so can reset her stance.

There's a good back and forth quality forming in the round, with less then a minute to go Alessandra slips a jab to counter with a left hook to the body, then an uppercut lands to knock back Verheijen onto her heels, Alessandra pressing forwards with some hard headhunting punches.

Covering up in a corner, Yasmin has to endure the assault now, her guard holding up well but some punches find a home flush on her abs to make her grit her gumshield, the bell soon enough ringing to allow her to return to her corner with a shake of her head, knowing that was probably her worse round so far in the fight.

Round 5:
Both fighters come out their corners quickly, Alessandra looking to build off the last round as she lands a flush one-two punch combo to the face of Yasmin, when she looks like she is going to press the Dutch fighter back, Alessandra eats an uppercut on her chin to send some sweat flying as her head goes back.

Driven back into a corner by Yasmin's three punch combo square in her face, Alessandra covers up at first but when several punches drill through her guard into her face, Alessandra pulls Yasmin into a clinch, the referee needing to pull them apart as Ambrosio moves out the corner.

That success fuels Yasmin to want more, pushing back Alessandra with several more crisp punches with a straight causing blood to trickle from the nostrils of the Brazilian, Mel yelling at her to really hurt Alessandra now she has her near the ropes.

Going into the final minute Alessandra uses her experience, timing her attack as she parries a straight so she can step in with an uppercut to the body, then a left hook to the ribs that make Yasmin grunt out with a grimace.

Getting into each other's face as they try to show they are the dominant force in the ring, things get a little scruffy as they work the others magnificent bodies, grappling when they get too close that the referee needs to pull them apart when they go into the ropes.

The round comes to a close with both women turning on their heels with an all business look on their faces, Alessandra's nose is worked on by Eva, Taryn giving her a pep talk as they know the danger if Yasmin isn't stopped from building momentum, across the ring Yasmin has a little swelling to her cheeks but looks in better shape, Mel telling her that she is wearing down the veteran.

Round 6:
Circling as Yasmin tries to keep out the firing line of Alessandra, both land crisp punches with Yasmin landing more with her hand speed still looking her key weapon to subdue the older fighter.

She mistimes a right cross as Alessandra gets her head out the way, instead it's a straight landing in her chest from Ambrosio, followed by a left hook to the side of her head that lands flush to turn the tables again.

Yasmin trying to box off the back foot to get back her control, she takes a right across her jaw that allows Alessandra to force her onto the ropes, punches starting to go through her guard more now flush to her face.

Pulling Alessandra into a clinch, Yasmin blinks to clear her head, both women grapple along the ropes till the referee can step in to break them up, Yasmin moving away into space as she looks glad to be able to reset her stance.

Both are landing hard punches as they fight around the ring with less then forty five seconds to go, blood starts to run again from the nose of Alessandra as Yasmin continues to show impressive fight, not allowing Alessandra to walk her down when she has been under pressure.

When the bell rings Alessandra is happy with herself judging by her grin, Eva working on stopping the bleeding as Taryn praises her, in the Lioness corner Yasmin has a little swelling around her left eye now, while her corner works on it, Mel tells Yasmin to keep on going, feeling confident still this is her fight.

Round 7:
Slamming punches more flush into the opponent's faces as they box around the center, both proud fighters are giving their all as the crowd is behind them yelling for them to keep on going.

Missing with a straight, Yasmin eats an uppercut on her chin that sends her head back, a left hook to the side of her head sends her wobbling back two steps as Alessandra is starting to put her power punches together and it is really effecting Verheijen.

A double jab seems to give Yasmin some breathing room as she gets on the move to the side, a left hook catches her flush on the jaw not long after, A RIGHT HOOK TURNS YASMIN AROUND AS SHE FALLS TO HER KNEES, THE MIDDLE ROPE STOPPING HER GOING DOWN ON HER FACE!

Yasmin blinks as she tries to clear her head, 1...2...3...4.. Trying to use the ropes to get up, 5...6.. Yasmin's legs look like jelly as she slips down to her backside facing inside the ring as she sits against the ropes, 7...8.. Nodding as she looks at the canvas, 9...10 accepting defeat as the referee counts her out!

Winner Alessandra Ambrosio KO Round 7

After:
That's two for two this year for Alessandra, she is quick to jog over to Yasmin, slipping her gloves off so she can help the fallen fighter with Mel to stand up, giving Yasmin a pat on her back as she tells her "you are going to be a legend here" with Yasmin nodding her thanks for the kind words.

Helped back to her corner, Yasmin would have preferred the win, Mel telling her she did a great job against a hall of fame level talent, Yasmin still doesn't say anything though as she just nods along, as if lost in her thoughts.

Across the ring Alessandra gets a high five from her corner crew, Taryn telling her "that's the old girl" making Alessandra pretend she is insulted before all of them laugh, Alessandra embracing with Taryn as she thanks her for all her help over the years.

Both fighters get cleaned up and Yasmin thankfully is OK to come to the center of the ring, smiling now as she thanks Alessandra for the fight with a hand shake, Alessandra nods with a warm smile of her own, the referee then raises the right hand of Ambrosio to make the result official as that is win 19 in the BBU, 49 overall for Alessandra.

Climbing out the ring with help from Mel, Yasmin walks up the aisle getting applause from the crowd for helping to make a great fight, it will be interesting to see how Yasmin builds off this performance, there's plenty of potential here, it's taking that step up that is the big question for her.

Going on a lap of honour around the inside of the ring, Alessandra blows kisses to the fans as they start to chant her name, it will be strange not seeing moments like this with the legendary model.

For now it is off to the locker room as she steps out the ring, getting to celebrate tonights win, with one more fight needed to get to the twenty fight mark in the BBU, who will get that honour of fighting her?