Elisabetta Gregoraci vs Alex Gerrard (nee Curran)

(BBU Independent vs Lioness Club)
(7-1, 7 KO vs 13-13-1, 11 KO)
Results: BBU; Story: Vassago

BEFORE: Elisabetta Gregoraci returns to action following her unsuccessful bid for lightweight championship last season to face the experienced Alex Gerrard who remains a valuable gatekeeper across the welterweight division. Gregoraci is no stranger to these kind of match-ups though having stopped welter tweener Miriam Leone back in 2016 already and she tells BBU TV's Georgie Thompson that "Alex is still a better fighter than Manuela Arcuri whom I could have whooped tonight as well!". That's a bold statement which is destined to ruffle some feathers on the Italian market but the bigger question is whether Elisabetta is ready to move up north side of 130 lbs or is this a mere one-off to warrant the Main Event buzz? 

It's still a dangerous match-up for anyone even if you consider Alex last tasted success back in October 2017. However her husband's old faithful Liverpool came back from the dead in the Champions League literally two days ago so writing Curran off would be foolish to say the very least. The Merseyside model is 2-1 career-wise versus the Italians but Denise van Outen points out that Elisabetta is much better than Manuela Arcuri these days so this could be a real tough one for the sturdy blonde!

Elisabetta Gregoraci wears a black bikini set & red gloves. Long black hair tied in a sleek ponytail. Alex Curran wears a red bikini set & white gloves. Long blonde hair tied in a loose bun at the back of her head. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the welterweight division.

Round 1:
Elisabetta hopes that speed beats power in this match-up however she's a power-hitter herself and Alex moves around quite well considering the extra pounds on her side. She avoids a quick jabbing rush from the local woman before blasting her on the jaw in response and suddenly Gregoraci reels backwards finding the blonde's head-hunting attack too hot to handle in the early stages. Alex's durability raises a question or two and she wastes no time in dishing out the strikes which force the brunette into a hectic dribble but the premium power hits remain at large during a back & forth opener. Alex really wants to drive one into Eli's face but gets caught out with a swinging hook on the temple as the Italian rallies to land her shots late.

Round 2:
Not much hitting impression early in the second but Elisabetta slowly dances her way into a commanding position while rattling Curran to the body. The Mersey tourist becomes glued to the spot too often and has to be reminded of the tactics by coach Mel B. alas Gregoraci rallies with more gut shots to keep the blonde stuck in close range struggle. Alex clinches the older woman and tries to wrestle her onto the ground in a sign of frustration but Eli breaks free and nails her with a quick uppercut while landing more blows to the chest thereafter. Alex yelps in pain as she receives the jug muggin' treatment which only fuels the brunette's attacks and the Foro Italico audience goes wild when the blonde bends in visible pain just before the bell; Eli slammed a vicious hook into the liver area that did the extra damage!

Round 3:
Alex tries to nuke a proper haymaker upstairs to throw the local heoine off her stance but it goes nowhere and Elisabetta digs a jabbing series from the inside to strand the blonde in more close range menace. She punishes the jugs to keep Alex ailing out there before another wicked hook on the liver DROPS THE TOURIST ONTO HER KNEES!!! Ugh! This is getting ugly for the Mersey girl who might have partied a little too much this week already! Elisabetta drops her with a custom gut shot and even she looks shocked how quickly the other girl headed south. Alex soaks up the full eight count and looks annoyed enough to warrant a hectic response that tags the brunette on both temples alas without instant damage. Gregoraci settles for the clean-up job and weaves away from the one-punch danger to frustrate the Lioness entourage even further. Alex yells something at the Italians but she's reeling badly against the odds now.

Round 4:
Elisabetta smells a quick rush response from the frustrated Alex and she's right... the blonde seeks another proper haymaker delivery but cuts thin air instead and gets smacked on the jugs with the Italian working the inside attack. She clobbers the statesque tourist and bends her into spasms before a wicked left hook tears a small gash under the eye... Ugh! Alex reels onto her heels and can't even lay a glove on her opponent who opens up from both flanks and pounds her back onto the ropes. Elisabetta thrives on the loud support from the crowd and bangs one hit after another to split the blonde's guard and bury the leather into her jugs again. Curran disappears behind a desperate earmuff and leaks resistance in bucket loads however Gregoraci can't quite finish her off as she finds the welter regular a little stubborn here even given the struggles. Alex can only clinch the local woman come the final stretch but still gets thumped on the ribcage as Eli walks away with a whitewash here in the fourth!

Round 5:
More bad luck for the blonde tourist who gets beaten for the initial punch and begins to bleed from that cut under the right eye. Elisabetta barks in her head-hunting efforts but she glues the statesque blonde to the spot and tears into her exposed midriff shortly thereafter. Curran wilts under the sustained barrage and sinks on jelly knees with her aching volume going up as she struggles to even land a single punch before Gregoraci NAILS her with a perfect uppercut on the chin to DROP HER DOWN ON HER BACKSIDE!!! That's strike two, folks! Alex manages to get back onto her feet at eight but looks hollow in the eye and the Italian babe just whoops her to the body again trucking all over the wilting target... Alex lands a wayward hook on the nose but is DECKED WITH ANOTHER WILD HOOK ON THE JAW moments later!!! She goes down on all fours and the ref waves off the fight as Mel B. signals she'd throw in the towel if he didn't make that call! KO5 Elisabetta Gregoraci!!!

AFTER: That's as impressive as it gets for the former lightweight title challenger who dwells on the rampant ovation from the Foro Italico audience. She might not have enough power for a dual FCBA/BBU champion like Alessandra Ambrosio but she can do some damage north side of 130 lbs and that's even more impressive considering Alex Gerrard is no slouch out there despite a mixed record. Italian freelance coach Martina Colombari claims Eli is actually the best power-hitter in the game but lacks a managerial support that Ms Ambrosio enjoys over at the Girls Friday. She might just be the best free agent in BBU and her elite run is by no means over. And she actually wants a piece of Manuela Arcuri next which Georgie Thompson confirms in her post-event report!

Final result: Elisabetta Gregoraci def. Alex Gerrard KO5.