AMANDA RIGHETTI (Welterweight Champion) (38 y/o, 5 ft 8, W: 117, L: 32) vs KAREN GILLAN (34 y/o, 5 ft 11, W: 18, L: 9)

Results: Lookout!, Writing: Bonzo

Before: Karen Gillan‘s trajectory for welter glory‘s been long, tough, and resilient – at 34, and with full movie-star swagger (“Jumanji“) behind her, the pretty Scot‘s finally ready to take the last step, pundits think. Can Karen now add the FCBA welter title to her BBU straps?

“I‘m hungry for Amanda,“ Karen says cooly. “Last fight was just a test – can I hang in with her power? Can I take her best shots? Can my oomph bring her chin into serious danger? Yeah, I lost the fight, but my answer‘s still a firm yes on all counts! I‘m competitive – now watch me sweep Big Red right off her feet, as I steal her title!“

Amanda Righetti‘s making herself comfortable atop the welter division again – she‘s spent 2021 undefeated (the third time she‘s achieved that feat in one calendar year since 2013 and 2019), and she‘s on a twelve-fight winning streak since a loss to Kate Upton in December 2020. Is she afraid Karen might end her title run early?

“Redheads just get out the best in me!“, Amanda smiles. “And Karen‘s gotta be put in her place, right behind the woodshed, just like Bridgy Regs, Cass Freeman did - I‘m Big Red, girl, and you‘re not!“




 

Fight: R1: Karen‘s gangly, lanky style‘s on display early – she‘s taking a bob n‘ weave approach against Righetti‘s hard, shelling mid-ring jab work. ‘Manda‘s set firm, rigid in her clockwise pursuit of a mobile, leggy Karen Gillan, pushing off her right foot‘s ball, as she‘s drivin‘ the tall, stiff, trademark jab – Karen‘s alert, her gloves collected at the chin, as she‘s slippin‘ under Righetti‘s shots, answering firmly via vigorous counters from the crouch/slip. Early inside the trade, Gillan‘s sluggin‘, rippin‘ power‘s suddenly on display – Righetti‘s jaw‘s *grazed* by a whistlin‘ hook off Karen‘s crouch! Amanda‘s blinking in surprise, backing off, as her legs take a lil‘ tremble on surprising *slap-bang* impact of Karen‘s power – Gillan‘s able to put pressure on redhead, as pivots lead champ to the apron! Karen‘s built tall, strong, but she‘s also got taut, springy legs, and she‘s working them, boppin‘ in n‘ out of range, as Righetti‘s back‘s always just shy off the cables – Karen‘s fast hands/crisp delivery‘s got Righetti‘s face/guard taking a considerable amount of shots, as Gillan‘s hooks rise, uppercuts shoot, jabs tap!

Second, third minute – Karen‘s able to consolidate her strengths, as Righetti‘s jab‘s just not rollin‘ yet!

Gillan‘s showing a confident, yet cautious respect of Righetti‘s power/danger, but her aim‘s clear – she‘s gotta be on top of Big Red at the friggin‘ ropes! Amanda‘s long, mid-ring jabs not yet a factor, as Karen‘s slippin‘ head, masterful foot work‘s got her backing off time and again after plenty of hard, grazin‘ chin n‘ cheek shots – and big bad Righetti‘s just a big girl trapped at the ropes! Karen‘s being pushy n‘ strong, grinding up with her head right under ‘Manda‘s chin, pawin‘ at the arms, maulin‘ the jugs, rubbin‘ against her head – it‘s not enough to put Righetti‘s sturdy legs in danger, but redhead‘s blinking rapidly, her head/torso taking lil‘ jolts, jerks on impact – she‘s hurt early, baby!

Down the stretch – Karen‘s on top of Righetti in a corner/turnbuckle again!

Gillan‘s proving her big-girl credentials – her left cheek‘s on Righetti‘s meaty (left) shoulder, her own shoulder‘s on Righetti‘s chest/neck, as elbows, arms push into redhead‘s tummy – girls maul, brawl, but Karen‘s on top, as girls try to put short-shrug uppercuts to each other‘s head/chin from clooooose range!

Game plan‘s executed fine for challenger Karen, getting praise from corner during the break - “Your power‘s established now, girl – you‘re definitely inside Righetti‘s head now!“

R2: Girls slide, pivot close early, laying into each other with big, strafin‘ right hands – Karen drifts a beaut across Amanda‘s chin! Righetti‘s legs give a scary lil‘ shimmy, as her eyes go blink-blink – Gillan‘s eyes light up, up as she‘s taking over the action again! ‘Manda‘s ropeside – butt‘s on a cable, leaning back n‘ forth, as Karen‘s maintaining her position, blocking redhead‘s sly, rolling off-rope counters, drilling right hands to the champ‘s mouth/cheek/jawline/ear. Righetti‘s in a big-girl defense: she‘s laying into the ropes, taking strong dips to her left, right, leaning away from shots, falling in against Gillan‘s lanky frame, showing her physicality to deny Karen‘s attempts to overwhelm her!

Mid-round – Righetti‘s finally able to get into range, rotating clockwise in rangy one-two action!

Redhead‘s planted strongly, yet being lithe, mobile – the long, stepped-in jab gets into Karen‘s rib/tummy, slowing some of Gillan‘s lust, vigour. Karen‘s rallying soon – she‘s forced to go sturdy, as Amanda‘s jabs/hooks lunge into her mid-section, right hands cut to challenger‘s ear/cheek before side-stepping. Righetti‘s best shot of the night so far – girls trade the long jab, slip close, and Amanda‘s rising, batting hook *cuffs* Karen‘s left ear with a hard WHACK! Gillan‘s rocked, stooping a little behind her gloves, stepping away from Righetti deliberately for the first time tonight.

Final minute – Karen reacts, stepping up her own jab, showing heart, wresting back authority!

Plenty of sudden, jolting power in Gillan‘s lanky frame/hips, as she‘s sliding across the ring, planting herself, lashin‘ out the shots – once Righetti‘s going into a crouch, drawing her elbows close, tightening, Karen‘s ready to attack, sloshing hard, whipping hooks/crosses at her fellow redhead‘s silky flanks, really peppering her to the body/head. Gillan‘s coming forward again – she‘s weavin‘ in, hands at chest, as she‘s stamping a stiff, poking jab to Righetti‘s tits/pecs. Righetti‘s slowing late, stepping on the spot, hands at either temple - *eats* a quick, rugged shot across her left ear, getting her legs into shimmy mode again!

During the break in Righetti‘s corner – “You ain‘t dictatin‘, Rigs. You gotta dictate – get that butt out the ropes, girl!“

R3: Righetti‘s slowly adjusting against Karen‘s aggression, putting more tempo/rhythm/variety into her jabs/pivots at this point – quick jabs to the head/body close range/distance between the fighters, freeeeezze Gillan just enough for Rigs to lean in via the *crisp*, stiff right hand, attacking for redhead‘s temple/skull/jaw! Karen‘s hurt, even a little rocked when both girls stand and deliver from their planted, set-piece stances – she‘s jolted on the spot, her legs taking a shimmy, smartly back-pedalling to re-group in range. Amanda‘s all over Gillan during first minute – long, strong jabs shell her skull/guard, tap her to the jug/flank/shoulder. Karen‘s just trying to stay patient, resilient, bull-strong as Big Red‘s doing Big Red things – she‘s riding the action out in steady, tight earmuff, her arms at temples, doing lil‘ hip/leg sways to shuttle the champ‘s best shots, keep those legs sturdy, hold her stance.

Second, third minute – Righetti‘s switching things up a bit, testing to see how Karen‘s holding up.

Her footwork‘s stop n‘ go, pedalling out to her right in smooth, leggy pivots, as Gillan‘s trying to cut off the ring - ‘Manda‘s keeping her tasty jab constantly at Karen‘s face, sometimes directing it to redhead‘s jugline in stiff, sturdy fashion, as Righetti‘s right hand‘s cocked at her own chest, ready to smash it home. Karen‘s going into a bob n‘ weave to manage Amanda‘s bursts of aggression – but Righetti‘s reading her, getting her hands on Gillan‘s shoulders, shunting her left/right, left/right, letting her power flow! Just down the stretch, Karen‘s hopping out, hands low/outstretched – Righetti hisses, lunges into pursuit, *pitches* a long, slam-bang lefty uppercut right into pit of Gillan‘s tummy, oomph!, bringing a ghastly grimace to challenger‘s pretty face, as Karen‘s all loose, shaky in Righetti‘s follow-up clinch!

Break – Righetti sittin‘ down with a satisfied smile, as early adjustments clearly got Karen puzzled a bit, put some hurt on her.

R4: Righetti‘s getting physical, trying to bull-rush the slimmer, lankier Gillan into compliance in rude style – ‘Manda‘s bobbin‘, stubby-jabbin‘ to Karen‘s chest, setting up on top of her at ropes! Gillan‘s in constant, circular retreats, taking little spurts out, trying to turn Amanda‘s flank for sneaky counters to rib/jug – just can‘t do much against Righetti‘s sturdy jab/left cross slammin‘, shovelin‘ into her gut/shoulder, slowing as a result, falling back to cables again n‘ again! Girls rub/jolt against each other, redhead on redhead, as ‘Manda‘s relentless, pressing Karen down against the rope/turnbuckle in sturdy, full-bodied presses/clinches around her hips, on her shoulders. Righetti‘s set up tight, enjoying swathes of physical control over her fellow big-girl, fighting off Gillan‘s chest – brutal, *slamming* forearms to Karen‘s shoulder/heart, *shoveling* right hands into gut/flank/breast! Karen‘s alert, wide-eyed, but she‘s a sputtering, dipping beauty – can‘t just push off a sturdy Big Red when she‘s on top of you!

Second, third minute – Karen‘s grimly starting to accept Righetti‘s fight terms, workin‘ back some, stayin‘ strong/resilient, lookin‘ to ride out redhead‘s control until Amanda slips. Gillan‘s lanky, gangly frame‘s keeping a secret – she‘s STURDY n‘ rigid, taking Amanda‘s body bombs, chin checks well!

Down the stretch – girls workin‘ it near the ropes, as Karen‘s drag-stepping away from Righetti‘s stubby jab set-ups. Gillan rolls, pumps back a left/right combo hard, flat across the champ‘s stomach – short right, Amanda! Righetti strikes, bites, triggers the righty, landing it smoothly against Karen‘s mouth/upper jaw – oh, Karen‘s eyelashes go into a flutter, as her body/torso relaxes against the ropes! Righetti grins, pressing Gillan‘s frame deep past the cables, feeling Karen‘s body all loosened up under heavy grip, trying to set her up for more – it‘s the BELL, so Righetti can‘t pile it on further!

Smiles, head-nods, appreciative back-pats for their girl in Righetti‘s corner during break, as challenger Karen can‘t put pressure on redhead champ so far – “Keep workin‘ her, ‘Manda – you‘re in control, girl!“

R5: Karen‘s proving her mettle – lanky redhead slugger‘s coming back out strong n‘ spunky!

Gillan‘s initiating the trade via short-right hands, not the jab, messing up Righetti‘s own jab rhythm – short, *pulverizing* right hands to Amanda‘s tits/shoulders, followed by stiff, straight lefty uppercuts to the ear/cheek! Amanda‘s eyes wide, as she‘s weavin‘ the incoming slug n‘ poke – catches a brutal right hand on her mouth, loses her step after *flush* left to right cheek/ear! Big Red‘s crossing arms in back-pedal, showing earmuff, peek-a-boo looks in defense, riding out Karen‘s attacks, but slowly driven back by Gillan‘s trackin‘, tappin‘ combinations – Karen‘s pushing atop Righetti, workin‘ both sides of redhead‘s waist/paunch, chop!, chop!, pounding away to foe‘s strong arms/pecs, *punishing* her jugline/ribs!

Mid-round – Righetti‘s blinkin‘, seeming a little startled, as she‘s repeatedly punched off-stance.

Redhead‘s champ a little passive, staying on the spot, circling out, as leggy pivots grow unsure, hectical – and Gillan ups the tempo again! Karen‘s a fast weaver, rollin‘ her hands at the chest, then slinging it out – raises a stiff, rigid jab/right cross to Righetti‘s sternum/jug, lickin‘ away steamy, swatting bats across both of Amanda‘s flanks, whackin‘ her left, whackin‘ her right! Righetti‘s face‘s pinched into a grimace, grunting under the effort – she‘s turning at the ropes, sliding away from Gillan, repeatedly trying to slow her foe, wrap her up in body-up clinches.

Down the stretch – Righetti‘s closing the angles, edging her shoulder into Karen, confronting her directly. Girls planted all flat/rigid on their feet, as hips pop for leverage, and punches just start to roll – girls twist, land ‘em to opposite tummy/flank, slapping each other wobbly-butt! ‘Manda‘s rising first, pitching a top hook upside Karen‘s hairline – Gillan bobs n‘ rolls, *flashes* up Righetti‘s face with a startling righty counter to moutch/chin! Righetti duly gives ground until the bell – she‘s all eyelashes a-blinkin‘, legs a-stompin‘, as Karen‘s power‘s sneaking up on her again!

Girls sighin‘ heavy, grimacin‘ during break – witness the grim, confident determination on Karen‘s pretty face, as she‘s listening to her coach‘s advice: “Righetti can‘t handle your variety, speed – you gotta stay fast n‘ sudden, girl!“

R6: RIGHETTI GOES DOWN!

Girls take a strut to mid-ring, lean into chest-jabs to measure – and come up swingin‘ for uppercuts! Girls bobbin‘, fittin‘ uppercuts to flank/chest from wide, flat-footed power-stances – Karen‘s able to come off the bod first via a heavy, strappin‘ right hand looping to Righetti‘s head/ear! Amanda‘s left arm sails out, as torso tilts right in sheepish slant, thighs start to quiver in see-saw – she‘s DOWN! Righetti‘s pitched onto all fours, looking dizzy, disoriented for a couple of looooonng seconds, propped up on right forearm, rump out, chest a-heaving, her pretty head a sweaty, disheveled mess! Karen‘s crowin‘, screamin‘, bullied off by ref comin‘ in for the count – Righetti‘s in a struggle, visibly fighting against the lazy daze of KO! Redhead champ‘s eyes harden, as leg/thigh quivers stop for good, torso goes back rigid/strong – she beats the count at “7“, “8“ on lioness heart, will power! Sighs, slaps, screams of “No!, No!“ in Karen‘s corner – Scottish vixen‘s waved back in, as Righetti‘s already forming earmuff, sliding away!

Second, third minute all but long, grinding, MISERABLE for Big Red – it‘s push n‘ stack time!

Gillan‘s patient, yet clearly greedy, *hungry* to crack Righetti‘s sturdy jaw for good right now – stiff, stomping jabs drive ‘Manda ropeward against the apron soon, and upon each of ref‘s further breaks – lots of left-elbow push-offs against Righetti‘s solid chest, as Karen‘s lookin‘ to stack up n‘ work her! Righetti‘s eyelashes flutter on occasion, her torso sloshing left/right on rigid hips – but she‘s still defending herself, keeping eyes wide/alert, shrugging back short-contact left/right straights from the rope crouch, fall in heavy against Gillan‘s frame for tuff, time-intensive breaks/clinches.

Karen‘s eyes sparkle in fascination, feeling SO strong/dominant here – just can‘t find the off-switch again, as Righetti‘s all gritty, going into relentless stamina mode to ride things out until the bell!

During the break - both girls looking like warrioresses, as corners rush to help with cuts/sweat/exhaustion. “Gotta stay patient, now, Karen – don‘t rush it, but stay *dominant* with your jab! Rigs can‘t take four more rounds of your apron work, girl – get it!“

R7: Karen‘s jabs stiff, rigid, orderly at mid-ring, trying to take over the canvas in strong, rangy work – Righetti‘s got other plans! ‘Manda‘s immediately weavin‘ into range early/fast, takin‘ risks, going angle-in, shoulder-up, just blastin‘ out freaking bombs at Gillan – Karen‘s puzzled, rolling back in pedals at first, then electing to answer, swap ‘em back hard! Girls trade, dipping left, right, bending at the waist, planting strongly, staying flat-footed – Righetti‘s effective via the wide, right body haymaker across Karen‘s ribs/flank, as Gillan‘s rolling back sneak-right hands just above Amanda‘s hip. Thunderous, smashing body work‘s followed by chin checks, as girls quickly look to switch upward, torquing into shrug-uppercuts up top – girls bob, roll, blasting to shut each other *out* to the chin!

A minute inside, Righetti‘s firepower‘s starting to hurt Karen – she‘s increasingly stumblin‘ back stunned, crossed-arms, as ‘Manda‘s constantly clobbering her upside the ears/shoulders, taking Gillan out of her stance/stand. Karen‘s forced into little retreats, counters, still showing a good, leggy slide – she‘s still shruggin‘ the counter left/right across Righetti‘s pecs/guard in retreat. Leggy side/back-pedals take Karen out of danger zone mostly, but she‘s driven to the ropes – Amanda‘s short, stepped-in uppercuts to the head/shoulder/ear got Karen stumble-stepping into the ropes, hands at temples, until breezy legs can free Gillan from Righetti‘s siege again.

Final minute – Karen‘s still hoping to work more at range, control Righetti via the stiff, pumping jab up top, but she can‘t hold her opponent back, so the girls inevitably move back into hammer n‘ tongs! Lots of hard, smashing one-shot trade, as girls dip, punch, absorb, mostly keepin‘ right hands strapped at the cheek, as left hands sling from gut, trading swats n‘ hammers - girls always stay close/dangerous, as Righetti‘s bigger firepower‘s starting to bludgeon Karen back into retreats, step-outs, slide-backs again!

Bell – Karen‘s a little disheveled, taking deep, hurting sighs/heaves during the break. “I *am* trying to dominate with the jab, coach“, she says, shrugging her shoulders in disappointment. “ We know! Can‘t have your back in the ropes – you still gotta *punish* Righetti whenever she‘s getting into range, babe!“

R8: Girls raising tempo/intensity again, showing dynamic big-girl boxing despite seven rounds of all-leggy, physical action – but Karen‘s struggling with Righetti‘s power!

‘Manda‘s taking the initiative, pursuing Karen along the ropes, as girls take counter-clockwise pivots, the action entirely driven forward by Righetti‘s stiff, clubbing jab-work now – strong, mean long-jabs pound at Gillan‘s skull/raised arms, as wide, smashing left crosses knock at her ear/temple, STUNNING her! Karen‘s eyes wide/gritty, exhibiting her lioness‘s heart/stamina, always boldly trying to break up Amanda‘s rhythm, *rock* her a counter across the friggin‘ chops – but she‘s mostly a stumblin‘, pedallin‘ beauty, chipping back sly jabs/crosses on her way back, as Righetti‘s able to slip under her shots, step her body-sling hook into Karen‘s ribcage/flank with nasty power, authority! Karen‘s torso‘s showing an increased sideway tilt, as Scot‘s counter haymakers start to stray wide, her knees trembling in see-saw – she‘s huuuuuuurrrt!

Past the minute mark – Righetti‘s invading Karen‘s range, body-stacking her up at the cables!

Girls locked in grim, mauling push n‘ shove battle at the ropes/turnbuckle, but ‘Manda‘s on top, being hungry, relentless – Righetti‘s working non-stop, her short, shruggin‘ work slowly punching Karen‘s head into little lolls/jerks, making her torso tilt left/right, bullying Gillan‘s arms away once Scot‘s gamely looking to tie up, push off! Karen‘s grimly laying back into the ropes, her hands clutched at either temple, trying to ride things out on sturdy legs – left hook, Amanda! Righetti‘s poppin‘ the hips, slingin‘ a body hook upside Karen‘s ribs/mid-section, cramping her girl up – KAREN‘S IN SWOON!

Proud Karen Gillan‘s tilting a little sheepishly off the ropes, her legs a shaky mess, as she just can‘t stop Righetti‘s pasting – left hand to the tits! Clobber right upside the ear! Shrug left brushing across the hairline! Righetti‘s stepping back once she‘s feeling Karen‘s bod easin‘, relaxin‘ under the barrage – Karen‘s eyes show a blank glisten and she‘s SPRAWLING onto her belly in dizzy swoon! The proud Scot‘s not entirely out of it, but she‘s a sniveling, crawling beauty, raising a knee, her rump up high, her hair sweaty/disheveled, unable to rise any further past the ref‘s count – KO8 for the reigning welter champ, Amanda Righetti in stone-age brutality!

After: Karen‘s stunned, hurt, rolling onto her back once the ref‘s finished, taking deep, heaving sobs of disappointment, one arm across her face – she was SO close! Welter big girls stayed competitive, intense all throughout the night – early in the sixth, Karen‘s shock n‘ awe knockdown had her fellow redhead Amanda on the brink of defeat, but the champ came back, raised the level of brutality again, and pounded out Karen herself! “Karen‘s the real deal,“ Amanda admits. “She‘s crafty and smart – and oh, she‘s got power! I‘m just happy I was able to up my game – I was so relieved once Karen finally started to relax under my fists and go down – I really had to dig deep tonight!“