(Results: Lookout!, Words: Caspian)

3. Kendall Jenner vs Elsa Hosk

Kendall:
(25, 5’10, 56:20 FCBA, Girls Friday)

Elsa:
(32, 5’9, 5:8 FCBA, Free Agent)

BEFORE:
Kendall's riding high, quite literally, entering the LA Memorial Sports Arena on a float of cardboard clouds, her Lightweight title status means her contractual obligations to the Victoria's Secret tournament are grander than usual. Jenner has of course walked the VS catwalk multiple times before, and this time making it memorable as she's carried to the ring, her legs crossed and the rest of her body relaxed in a baby pink frock and lingerie set. Jenner almost looks bored, one fist propping her chin up as the contraption slowly makes its way down the ramp.

Her opponent, Elsa Hosk, has seen better times by contrast. The Swedish blonde is beaming as she struts into the arena with both hands thrown into the air, a navy blue bra and brief set for her fight attire. Hosk has bounced between stables in recent months like a pinball working off broken levers, keeping her boxing ambitions alive with one last jam of the button to (possibly) catapult her into the stratosphere with a win over the Lightweight champion. Can she do it? She sounds confident enough when speaking to reporters earlier.

“I think Kendall is the best in the business today. She’s a two-time Lightweight champion, and is up to her fourth consecutive defense against her sister Kylie at the end of the month,” Hosk says by ring-side whilst removing her elaborate get-up. “But she’s doing too much, in my opinion. She’s not giving herself breathing space between fights. That will be her downfall tonight. She can’t possibly win them all.”

Jenner, on the other hand, has every reason to believe she can. The current Lightweight champ is paying her opponent no mind, pacing confidently in her own corner with both hands on her hips, earlier stopping briefly to address reporters’ questions in turn:

“Heh. Hosk doesn’t stand a chance. I plan to smoke her five rounds and then focus on the main opponent at hand: my sister, Kylie.”

Brief but tough comments made as both ladies square off in the center of the ring for the cameras to go off. Kendall is sporting a slight one-inch height advantage but Hosk makes up for it with her lean and mean Swedish figure. It’s only the third match in this qualifying round of the War in Heaven II boxing tourney, and the crowds are still on their feet, awaiting the bell!

Referee signals for the start of this Lightweight contest, and HERE WE GO with ten rounds of action!

ROUND 1:
Elsa comes in hot and almost too much for the Lightweight champ to handle, surprising Kendall with vagrant shots to her head and then blasting her to the side with an unexpected hook to the arms. Hosk means business and wants to take the upset tonight, chasing after Kendall and planting more leather on her arms and body. Kendall, meanwhile, is left stunned and shocked, grappling with the blonde’s aggression and keeping her head covered up as best she can. The Girls Friday starlet tries to fight back, firing off her own one-two combos back into Hosk’s face even on the retreat, but Elsa’s repeated rushes means the Swede’s just getting more punishment in right to the very end, ending the first round with a straight cross between the arms, which catches Kendall on the chin to make her stagger backwards. Wide round for Hosk, who raises a tired arm high into the air, her chest heaving from the vast amounts of energy expended.

ROUND 2:
BUT HERE COMES JENNER, ready to show the world why she’s the champ! Hosk eager to brawl as well as the two ladies CLASH in the center in a hail of swings and misses, Kendall this time not giving ground, showing off her agility as she ducks under a hook and then smashes one of her own into the cheek, which turns Hosk clean to the side. Ouch! Kendall follows up with more calculated strikes, letting her forearms take the brunt of the punishment before chopping low hooks into the blonde’s body, side of the head, keeping Hosk on the backburner instead. Hosk’s lead evaporates like a snowflake on a hot furnace, her mouth wide as she takes another ringin’ shot to the side of her face, which throws her back towards the ropes. Wide round swings back to Jenner, who looks like she’s back in tip-top fighting shape!

ROUND 3:
Elsa refuses to give in, however, growling as she PLOWS into Kendall early on, literally slamming her body inwards and trying to overwhelm the thinner brunette in forehead-on-forehead action. Jenner shocked again, eyes fluttering as Hosk’s gloves are shoved into her belly, her own arms locked over her head as she tries her best to maneuver back out of range. Hosk dominates in close quarters action, keeping Kendall pressed into the ropes most of the time and batting leather off her sides and paunch. Kendall gets a breather here and there, chin resting on shoulder as she clinches up with the blonde, tries to get her close if she can’t get her off. Round ends and it’s a proper war between these two lovely ladies!

ROUND 4:
Ladies are moving faster now, Hosk trying to keep up with the champ and Kendall doing her best to maintain distance. Blonde and brunette continue to jab at each other from afar. Slower round compared to the others before but Hosk still doing her best to knock down the girl right in front of her, taking wide swings and power step-in crosses but they don’t have the same effect - Kendall weaving her torso fast, swerving to avoid most of the incoming sluggers, before tagging Hosk back on the chin with a counter-hook, another uppercut hitting her square on the belly, momentarily stunning the Swede. It’s clear that Elsa is slowing down fast, laboured breaths and sweat-slicked skin as she tries to pin the champ down, but fails.

ROUND 5:
Kendall ROARS in to fill the empty space, and Elsa’s left helpless in the wind! Early rush from the champ as she POUNCES on Hosk with a flurry of strikes, which sends Hosk squealing backwards and across the ropes. Elsa OUT of energy and it shows, the blonde just trying to protect her head and body as Kendall picks her off from afar before closing in with rocking shots to her stomach and chest, a snap hook scored to the chin again sends the poor girl spiraling into the ropes, her mouth agape. Jenner shows no mercy, walking in and folding Hosk in half with a buried glove to the tummy, another hook to the face seals the deal, and Hosk CRASHES to the floor in the first KNOCKDOWN of the evening!

THAT’S IT! THAT’S IT!! Hosk ain’t moving, folks! The Swede lies sprawled by the ropes, her arms on either side of her head, as the referee gives her the benefit of a 10-count but it ain’t no use! There’s the sound of the bell to declare this fight OVER!!

Official Decision: Kendall Jenner defeats Elsa Hosk via KO5!

AFTER:
“She’s cocky as hell, I’ll give her that,” Jenner later speaks to reporters by ring-side, looking tired but sporting a big smile on her face. “But there’s a reason why I’m the champ and she ain’t. Kylie’s gonna receive the same treatment when we face off at the end of the month.”

Hosk, meanwhile, has to be carried from the ring by her fight team. The poster girl of the tournament getting KO’ed in the first round ain’t a good look. But for now, both ladies move on to different pursuits, with Jenner eyeing a possible showdown with fellow Girls Friday starlet Josephine Skriver (if she makes it past Huntington-Whiteley).