Tale of the Tape:
Lorena Rae:
Age: 29
Height: 5'11
W/L: 7-14 (7KOs)
Vs
Joan Smalls:
Age: 35
Height: 5'10 ½
W/L: 15-4 (15KOs)
Former BBU welterweight champion.

(Black Eagles Boxing Vs Girls Friday)

(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)

Intro:
The comeback trail for two fighters looking for title glory now sees them meet here tonight. Lorena Rae has been trying to build a run of victories to get into title contention. Joan Smalls meanwhile is looking for her third straight victory this year since returning to the ring after taking a break to be the sparring partner of the recent welterweight champion Josephine Skriver.

Before the contest both women put their thoughts on the bout out on social media. Lorena posted "this is a big opportunity for me to finally grab my chance at being a top fighter. Joan Smalls had her day years ago, it is now my time, she isn't going to stop me."

While Joan would reply "Lorena talk is cheap. I will be bringing my best and if you don't... Well see my actions say." Clearly not in the mood for her comeback to be halted by someone she sees as disrespecting her. Most would simply see Lorena as hungry for success.

Fight Night! First to come out is Lorena with her coach Gina Wild to her left. Lorena bangs her black gloves together as she walks to the ring, wearing a white sports bra, matching trunks and shoes, her hair is tied into a ponytail. Lorena climbs into the ring looking in the mood to cause an upset and push herself right up the rankings.

Here comes Joan now with Taryn Terrell and Eva Carneiro following behind her. Joan has an ice cold stare aimed at the ring. She gets into the ring in her corner wearing a black sports bra with red trim, matching trunks and shoes, red gloves with black thumbs, along with her hair in a ponytail too. Joan shadow boxes in her corner to warm up.

The referee waves the fighters to them at the middle of the ring. Both women stand with hands on their hips staring each other down. They do bump gloves with their opponent, though it's more a quick swipe as they are more interested to get things started. The bell soon enough rings to begin 10 rounds of welterweight action.

Round 1:
Kicking off the action trading jabs before just missing with their big right punches. Lorena dipping down more of the two to whack in some punches around the jugs of Joan, trying to throw the former champion off her game. Joan landing several straight punches into the forehead of the German beauty to ward her back.

First mistake by Joan as she steps in with a straight that Lorena deflects with her left glove. A right buries itself into Joan's stomach, before a short left hook lands around her cheek to turn it around. Lorena starting to get her combos going as she herds Joan around near the ropes.

But the former champion is firing back at her. Lorena not having things her own way as several clean cross punches come from Smalls. Rae though is landing the better volume of punches up until the bell rings to end the round.

Round 2:
Already Joan looking more aggressive as she steps in with her jab more. Both sneak in punches around the others chest as they exchange. Lorena misses with a left hook as Joan leans out the way and counters with a right cross into Lorena's face to knock her back a step.

Lorena needing to swing more off her back foot as Joan now is the one pressing the action. Lorena gets hit with a straight onto her chin before a left hook lands on her cheek to twist her head around. Finding herself forced back into a corner as Joan looks to smack her head around. Lorena smartly grabs hold of Joan to stop her really getting her punches off. Referee needed to break them apart so Rae can get into space.

Back at it they go as Lorena isn't going to be pushed around too easily. Some meaty shots being exchanged as the cracks of leather on flesh ring out around them. That's till the bell rings, Joan banging her gloves together as she returns to her corner. Lorena getting a taste of what happens if she makes any mistakes here.

Round 3:
Hard fought start to the round as both come out exchanging flurries before moving back. Eyes are locked as they circle, trying to force their opponent back. Ending up clinched when they get in too close and nearly bump heads. Referee splitting them up as a few curse words are traded by the gorgeous fighters.

Joan catches Lorena with a double jab square onto her lips when they resume. Lorena for her part takes a step back and lands a left hook off her back foot. Both thinking hard about this now as Joan isn't having things as easy as she probably expected. Lorena definitely came to fight as they trade in close range.

But Joan uses a little nudge with her left forearm to create space to land an uppercut, it doesn't land flush, it does knock back the head of Lorena. Who finds herself bullied back to the ropes with several body shots and hooks around her head. The round ends with Lorena looking miffed to say the least. Probably losing the round on that flurry over the last twenty seconds from Joan.

Round 4:
After a pep talk from her coach; Lorena gets back to putting two punches together before moving. Joan looking to land more aggressive punches but Lorena is doing well to keep the fight on the outside. There are some heated exchanges when Lorena goes near the ropes, she gives Joan a shove to her chest then gets into space again as the Puerto Rican fighter looks annoyed by Rae.

A double jab catches Joan on her nose before a right hook lands on her cheek. Lorena now muscles back Joan onto the ropes, targeting the body of Joan with piston like shots. Joan lands a few cuffing punches near the back of the head of Lorena, earning herself a warning by the referee. Joan needing to hold onto her opponent to force them to be broken apart.

Before Lorena can get overly confident, Joan lands a sweeping left hook when they resume to turn her head. Lorena covering up more tightly as back comes Joan at her over the last forty five seconds. Working the German fighters body, Lorena lands a few straight punches back into the face of Joan to keep her from bullying her back. The round ends with both knowing they are in a fight now.

Round 5:
They resume with both scowling a little at their opponent. Joan trying to land a big shot early to make her opponent respect her, instead a right cross counter lands on her chin to send sweat flying off her brow. Lorena's eyes light up as she drives back Joan with a flurry of punches into her face. Joan needing to grab hold of Lorena to slow her assault.

They are split up and blood can be seen dripping from the bottom lip of Joan to her boobs. Joan covering up more tightly as Lorena steps in and pounds away at her flanks. Joan pushing Lorena off and lands a few short punches. Another straight into her lips though has Joan backing off as she hisses.

Lorena is hurting Joan when she can land flush through her mitts to her face. Joan shelling up as the round soon ends. Lorena with a big round for herself as she marches back to her corner with gloves stained with Joan's blood. Taryn Terrell meanwhile having to earn her money here as she tells Joan to get her head screwed on and think through what she needs to do to win this one.

Round 6:
Lorena looks to push the pace right away with Joan circling in the left of the German fighter to keep her from charging through her. Several jabs are exchanged by both women with Lorena staring from behind her guard, looking keen to win this now but she misses with her right hook and gets caught with a counter right harpoon like punch into her breadbasket.

That punch looks to have winded Rae as she takes a step back. Joan sees that and lands a right cross on the chin of Lorena to snap her head back. Gina in Lorena's corner looking worried as she watches her fighter get pounded back to the ropes. Lorena holds onto Joan as both women grapple for space as Joan tries to keep her pinned to the ropes.

They are split up with both women scowling behind their gloves. Lorena tries to fire back as Joan comes in to look to beat her back. A left into the stomach of Lorena has her wincing before an uppercut lands to send her backwards. Joan is rocking back her foe until the bell rings. Lorena rubs her stomach as she walks back to her corner. Gina working on getting her ready for the next round. While Joan gets wiped down as she shakes her arms to keep them loose.

Round 7:
Out they come with both women slugging it out early. Another punch to the body of Lorena has her crying out though and a left hook around the ear has her retreating. Joan won't let her off the hook as a she step in to land a right cross to push Lorena into a neutral corner. LORENA TRIES TO GRAB HOLD OF JOAN BUT IS MET WITH A RIGHT HOOK ON HER CHIN TO ROCK HER HEAD! A LEFT HOOK SENDS LORENA DOWN TO ALL FOURS!

Walking to the opposite side of the ring. Joan takes a breath as sweat drips off her body to the canvas. 1....2....3....4... Lorena spits out her gumshield as she is fighting back tears. 5....6....7... Rubs her stomach as it is still bothering her. 8....9....10 Lorena is counted out!

Winner Joan Smalls KO Round 7

After:
The winner breaths a sigh of relief as that fifth round was far from a cake walk for her. She returns to her corner to a fist bump from Taryn and a hug from Eva. Joan even though she won, she looks upset with herself for not being more dominant in a fight that she was expected to win.

While Lorena is slowly helped to her stool. She gets an ice pack on her body as she groans. This was a sore reminder of what someone the level of Joan can do to you if you drop your guard for a moment. Lorena is told by Gina not to beat herself up too much about this loss. Consoling her fighter as they saw how close the upset was and don't want Lorena to lose confidence in herself.

Both fighters are cleaned up and slowly walk to the center of the ring for the final result to be announced. Joan gets her right hand raised by the referee. After that Joan offers Lorena a fist bump, which is accepted after a tense few moments as the stares they are giving each other certainly isn't friendly.

Lorena leaves the ring moments later as she isn't in the mood to stay around Joan. She shakes her head knowing how close she was to being the victor here. If you are a fan of hers this has to give you hope that she can turn things around in her boxing career. Gina certainly doesn't look too downbeat as she walks to the right of her fighter, proud of her effort tonight.

All the while Joan still looks annoyed. Taryn having to remind her that you get nights that you are not at your best. Joan waves to the crowd as she does a quick walk around the inside of the ring. Leaving it once she is done to get to the back. The title aspirations for Joan might have to wait a little longer as she gets herself into contender shape after a long lay off before her comeback started.