Minka Kelly vs Katie Cassidy
(Lioness Club of America vs Empire Boxing)
(58-26-1, 54 KO vs 12-17, 7 KO)
Results: Lookout!; Story: Vassago

BEFORE: It's been ten years in the making but a rubber match between Minka Kelly and Katie Cassidy is finally upon us! These two Los Angeles natives split a pair back in 2011 but Minka still claims the bonus tie-breaker since she knocked Katie out while dropping a decision loss herself.

Minka has another high-profile bout lined up later this month and admits she needs ring practice more than anything else: "Katie hasn't been in the ring since 2018. I hope she worked her butt off in the gym or else I'm gonna look desperate by chasing the rubber fight! But I'm calling my own schedule so bring it on, tramp!"

Minka Kelly wears a black bikini set & red gloves. Long dark brown hair tied in a half-up ponytail. Katie Cassidy wears a red bikini set & silver gloves. Long dyed blonde hair tied in a custom ponytail. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the bantamweight division.

Round 1:
Minka isn't the fastest of starters by any means but even she knows how to dominate a rusty opponent like Katie who hasn't entered the ring in years... Katie tries to weather the southpaw storm but leaks crisp punches up the middle and remains glued to the spot for too long to make Minka's job all that difficult. She lands one quick overhand to let the Lioness brunette know she's actually here but gets thumped onto the ropes down the stretch and can only clinch the older woman. Minka barges into her breadbasket and keeps the slugging pressure alive while Katie looks relieved just to hear the bell after a completely subdued performance.

Round 2:
LCA coach Eva Mendes wants Minka to dial up a huge early lead and Katie's sluggish only doubles down on those ideas. The Empire blonde just can't make her presence felt and only lands single punches while Minka triples the numbers without having to actually work at 100% according to Erin Andrews in the booth. The one-sided jabbing show continues and has Katie dancing around on her toes in shear avoidance for majority of the round; if only Minka wanted to blow her up Lowndes-style she could have done it with ease and even coach Mendes wants to see more aggression from Kelly instead of just making Cassidy look out of her league at this stage. Easy round for Minka but the LCA corner is boiling hot during the break!

Round 3:
Minka steps up with more aggressive jabs but suddenly Katie answers right back and whacks the fellow Cal native over the top triggering a hectic slugging dispute in the center of the ring. Ugh! Even Minka did not see that coming as she gets swamped by the shocking blaze and Cassidy keeps thumping her downstairs which does all the damage as Minka bumps her head off the top of her shoulder as well. Katie scowls in pure determination as she cleans up Kelly's midsection before a brutal uppercut clips the jaw and sends Minka reeling onto the ropes. The Lioness fighter remains trapped there for remainder of the round with Cassidy adding more gut-checking harpoons for a good measure.

Round 4:
Katie settles into her groove and pounds away at Minka's tummy which leaves the Lioness southpaw scowling in discomfort and suddenly Eva Mendes is the loudest person in the arena... but the LCA coach can only watch as Minka gets pummelled onto the ropes with Katie looking in supreme body assault control having shaken off all the rust and then some! Kelly gets pinned onto the ropes and just sinks under the onslaught, a horrible look for a durable veteran who thrives on her punching resistance! Katie wants that rubber match glory and goes all-in here in the fourth to shut the former champion down but she's not quite done... a late booming hook on the jaw opens Minka up high and she fails to react when Cassidy bombs her on the ear with a nasty follow up... and DOWN GOES KELLY!!!! Disaster strikes seconds before the bell as Minka gets floored to silence the DAZN virtual fan wall! Bell doesn't save Minka outright as she rises upright at seven but prevents Katie from pouncing on the wounded foe and that's the best news for the stunned LCA entourage!

Round 5:
Katie feels the rush of blood to the head and races into stride to knock Minka out... but she gets carried away by the late knockdown experience and gets outworked by the seemingly hurting southpaw before a brutal hook on the ear stops her in the tracks. Katie swings from the back foot but Minka ducks underneath the effort and BLOWS the blonde up from the inside rattling her with an uppercut double... Katie gets caught flush on the jaw before a left hook nails her on the eye and SENDS CRASHING FLAT ON HER BACK moments later! Payback time, bytch!!! Katie goes down hard and bangs her head against the canvas which delays her recovery... and she wobbles down on her bums at six... gravity takes over and she's counted out just as she makes one last effort to beat the merciless call. Too late! It's KO5 Minka Kelly!!!

BEFORE: Katie can't believe she just missed it and storms out of the ring still fuming at the ref but she probably should have avoided blowing her gasket early in the fifth and focused on working over the seemingly wounded opponent. Instead she gave Minka a perfect counter-punching opportunity and the former champion cashed in another victory despite a questionable overall performance.

"Hey, I'm still the Dodgers prime time and she fits right into the Angels of Anaheim type! What can I say? I'm sooo sorry she let me off the hook!", Minka picks up a funny line from the virtual fan wall before calling out her next opponent: "There are some rumours out there so I might just confirm it. My next step is the Southpaw Derby versus that overrated blonde bimbo Scarlett Johansson! It's time I give her a REAL Ghost in the Shell experience!" (giggles).

Official Result: Minka Kelly def. Katie Cassidy KO5.