Tale of the Tape:
Asuka Kuramochi:
Age: 34
Height: 5'1 ½
W/L: 6-1 (4KOs)
Vs
Ivana Baquero:
Age: 29
Height: 5'3
W/L: 26-6 (26KOs)
Former BBU flyweight champion.

(Front Street Japan Vs Girls Friday)

(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)

Intro:
Up next we have two women hoping to be in the title picture soon. Asuka Kuramochi has been on a roll and arguably this has been her break out year. While former champion Ivana Baquero is after getting the title back. Who will emerge the victor tonight in the BBU Arena?

Heading into the contest, Asuka put on her social media (translated from Japanese) "I am ready to take that next step forwards. Already I have beaten a clown (Maki Itoh) and my former mentor (Mikie Hara). Ivana Baquero had her time in the spotlight, now it's time for me." Along with a photo to maybe try to get into Ivana's head.

Ivana didn't seem to interested in what Asuka is thinking. Putting on her own social media account "time for me to get back in the ring and remind the world why I am a former champion. Jade Thirlwall and me will meet again but right now all I can focus on is Asuka. She might feel like she is floating on air but I'll happily bring her back down to earth with a bang." Along with her own photo to show how her training is going.

Fight Night! First through the curtain to the stage comes Asuka with her coach/manager Hamada. She is wearing a black sports bra with white trim, matching trunks and shoes, black gloves, her hair is tied into a ponytail. She steps into the ring looking serious. Certainly not taking this fight lightly as Hamada tells her to bring home the victory.

Now here comes Ivana with her coach Taryn Terrell behind her. Ivana bangs her red gloves together as she marches down the aisle. She is wearing a red sports bra with yellow trim, matching trunks and shoes, hair tied into a braid. She climbs through the ropes into the ring, bouncing on her toes with eyes firmly locked onto her foe.

Both women march to the center of the ring when waved to it by the referee. They square up with eyes firmly locked. The referee has to nudge them apart before they are told to touch gloves. Thudding their gloves hard into their opponents set, certainly no love lost here. They jog back to their corners, the bell rings moments later to start 10 rounds of flyweight action.

Round 1:
At the bell Ivana is looking to close the distance early on but she is getting caught with stiff jabs as Asuka uses her footwork to dance around the former champion. Ivana manages to catch Asuka with a left cross before she steps in with a short right hook to the body. Both showing intensity right out the gates here.

Dipping under a left cross, Asuka lands an uppercut to push back Ivana to her heels. Where Ivana finds herself driven back towards a neutral corner with a flurry of punches. Most land through into the face of the Spanish star. That Latin spirit on show as Ivana swings back, problem is she hasn't the space to really load up compared to Asuka.

Pushing her opponent away. Ivana moves off the ropes and catches Asuka coming at her with a jab square on her lips. Ivana looks to come back at her with hooks to the body. Asuka digging her toes in as she swings back as they slug it out. The bell dings to end the round with both nudging apart staring daggers before walking to their stools.

Round 2:
Back out they come with Ivana being more measured this time. Both exchanging flurries as they try to push each other back. Asuka dips down to dig at the body of her opponent. Ivana lands a short left cross on the chin of Asuka before landing an uppercut to straighten her up.

The Japanese star being knocked back onto the ropes. Ivana bangs away at the torso of her opponent, Asuka grabs hold of her to slow her down. They are split apart with both staring at each other with hard expressions. Resuming with both stepping in to trade as leather smacks onto flesh.

A nudge by Ivana opens her opponent up to a short right hook on the chin to turn her head. Asuka finding herself shelling up as Ivana is looking to hammer her. The bell soon rings to end the round. Ivana tapping her gloves together as she marches back to her corner. Asuka meanwhile is told sternly what is expected of her by Hamada as she nods along.

Round 3:
They resume with Asuka starting to send in more punches around the chest of Ivana as she dances in and out of range. Ivana looking to press after her. Both landing short hooks when they get in close range before Asuka moved back out to a safe distance.

A short left cross catches Ivana on her chin as she tries to step in closer. A straight follows into her forehead to knock her head back. Asuka looks to control the middle of the ring with Ivana looking pissed off, especially when her jugs get hit. Ivana firing back but being outworked by the Japanese fighter.

Into the last thirty seconds, Ivana cools off enough to take a straight to her chest but lands a left hook over the top to the chin of Asuka to twist her head around. Ivana bangs in a straight followers by another left as she looks to step in after her opponent. Asuka covering up more tightly up until the round comes to a close. There's a little shoving by both before they walk over to their stools to sit. Ivana having a little redness on both cheeks.

Round 4:
Both women drilling punches through to each others face right out the gate. Asuka crouches to land a left/right into the stomach of Ivana. Who fires back with a left cross onto the top of her opponents head. Asuka steps back with a straight landing on her forehead to push her further back.

Ivana drives forwarded to get Asuka backed into her own corner. Ivana switching her targets nicely till she is clinched up, now there's some visible redness around the cheeks of Kuramochi. They are split apart with Asuka staring with a fury in her eyes. Both come back together and slug it out in a messy manner.

Asuka manages to catch Ivana with a sneaky uppercut to force her back onto her heels. Ivana covers up as she finds herself now backed up to the ropes. Both women certainly looking to hurt their opponent here. The round ends with both women walking to their corners with looks of fury.

Round 5:
Trading more punches around their guards. Ivana feints before stepping back as Asuka swings in a left hook that finds thin air. Instead Ivana steps in with a straight into the liver area of the model to make her back off. Ivana stepping in after her with more body shots as Asuka cries out with each clean hit. A SHORT UPPERCUT TO THE LIVER AREA SENDS ASUKA DOWN ONTO ALL FOURS!

Ivana walks to the neutral corner with an icy stare ahead. Ivana taps her gloves as she looks at Asuka. 1....2....3....4... Asuka spits out her gumshield so she can suck in air. 5....6....7... Asuka rolls to her left side with her right arm holding her stomach. 8....9....10 Asuka is counted out!

Winner Ivana Baquero KO Round 5

After:
Ivana marches over to her beaten opponent and tells her "you aren't ready for the spotlight." She walks back to her corner after making her point to Asuka. Who can only sob as she lays on her side, cheeks flushed red as she tries to catch her breath.

The winner getting a hug from Taryn as she is told that she toughed that one out. Ivana gets her gloves off and raises her arms into the air as she looks out to the crowd with a smile. Her supporters chanting her name to make this victory even more worth it for her.

Asuka is helped up and over to her stool after an ice pack is placed on her stomach to numb the pain. Asuka looks to have her breath somewhat back under control, Hamada isn't best pleased she lost this bout. Asuka has taken a small step back but that's one too many for Hamada as she berates her. Asuka nods as she fights back tears.

Once she is able to, Asuka climbs through the ropes gingerly before walking off up the aisle to the back. Her head is down as she looks ashamed to have lost. She should remember this was to a former world champion but the Front Street Japan stable demands excellence in all its fighters.

In the ring Ivana heads to the center to get her right hand raised by the referee. She looks like a chip has been taken off her shoulder after losing her last bout. Even with this victory she is probably not in the running right now for a title shot, it has helped her feel better about herself after her loss to Jade a few short months ago.

She gets out of the ring with Taryn to her left. Both chatting away about their plans for tonight as Ivana's fans applaud her. There's a few big fights Ivana will most likely have in mind now before she can earn herself a shot at the best in the division.