Tale of the Tape:
Kelly Gale:
Age: 28
Height: 5'9 ½
W/L: 20-12 (19KOs)
Vs
Holly Valance:
Age: 40
Height: 5'8
W/L: 19-23-1 (12KOs)
Current ACB lightweight champion.

(Girls Friday Vs The Metermaids)

Intro:
We have an intriguing bout that sees Kelly Gale and Holly Valance look to try to get back on the winning path. Kelly lost her last bout to Sandra Kubicka. While Holly lost to Federica Nagri. So a win is important to regain some momentum.

There is also the interesting fact that Holly's little sister Olympia Valance is in the same stable as Kelly Gale. Has Olympia been passing information to either fighter? Well she is quick to say when asked about the bout "I am not supporting either. I have told both that I don't want either falling out with me. After the bout I will check on Holly of course but Kelly is a good friend."

While Kelly posted on social media "I can't wait to fight a legend like Holly. Of course I want to add her to my legacy. I am working hard to get myself back into the title picture." Posting a picture to prove her point.

While Holly replied "you are cute Kelly. You show off your boxing pictures all the time but I can show off my world title. So bring your best Kelly because I won't be added to your CV." Posting a picture of the ACB world lightweight championship belt.

Fight Night! Kelly is out first with her coach Taryn Terrell and cut woman Eva Carneiro. She walks to the ring with a relaxed look. Soon climbing into the ring wearing a yellow sports bra with blue trim, matching trunks and shoes, blue gloves and her hair tied into a braid finishes her look off. She bounces on her toes as she awaits her foe.

Holly now walks out with her coach Tara Moss. Holly raises her arms in the air as she struts down the aisle to show her confidence. Stepping into the ring wearing a black sports bra with silver trim, matching trunks and shoes, silver gloves as her hair is tied into a ponytail. She kisses her gloves before waving to the nearest camera as she looks sure of herself.

The fighters jog to the center of the ring. Final instructions being read out as both look more serious now. They fist bump with a nod before walking back over to their corners. The bell soon rings to start 10 rounds of lightweight action.

Round 1:
Out they come showing a little respect to start. Trading single punches as Kelly looks to move more up on her toes, Holly planting her feet trying to thrust through with her hips on her punches. Near the end of the opening minute, Holly just misses with a left cross as Kelly leans out the way to land a counter left square into the face of the Aussie to push her back a step.

Kelly starts to open up more after that success. Landing several nice combos as she switches up her targets. Holly being forced to move around the outside part of the ring. Not quite matching the intensity of her younger foe. Ending up having to move around looking for a opening to strike back with something big.

Problem for Valance is she isn't able to land anything big as she hoped. Instead getting crowded back into a neutral corner after taking a jab/straight combo into her face. Kelly making Holly shell up as the seconds tick away in the round. Which soon comes to an end with Holly tapping her gloves together. Not how she wanted to start this bout off.

Round 2:
Holly is being more forceful to start this round. Kelly lands some nice two punch combos. Holly though looks to stand her ground while throwing in some stiff punches back into the chest of Kelly. She catches Kelly over the top with a short right hook before landing a jab to push her back two steps.

Now it's Holly pushing the pace of the fight by stepping inside to work away. Looking to sap the energy from Kelly by pressing her against the ropes with her left forearm while digging at her body with her right glove. Kelly pushes off Holly and looks to get back to range with a double jab into her forehead.

But Holly soon dips under a straight to ram one into the stomach of Kelly. She then drives her back into a neutral corner, where she works the body again till the Swede can clinch up. They are broken up just before the bell dings. Holly showing Kelly why she is seen as an Aussie legend. Kelly nods to Taryn when she is told not to be bullied so easily.

Round 3:
Back out they come with more stiffer punches being exchanged as Kelly plants her feet more. Holly though slips a straight to land a short right hook to the body, followed by an overhand left into the cheek of Gale to twist her head to the side. Giving Valance the chance to press her backwards.

Having to try to fight her way off the ropes. Kelly is getting dragged into heated exchanges. Crowd loving this as they yell for both. Holly using little quick shoves to try to knock off her foes rhythm. Kelly getting caught with some hooks over the top as Holly shows her experience.

But with under a minute to go Kelly catches Holly with an uppercut as Holly lost a little focus there. That allows the Swedish star to push back her opponent to the center of the ring. Holly resets herself and both go toe to toe in the final moments. Soon the bell rings to end proceedings with both women looking fired up as they return to their corners.

Round 4:
Back on the move goes Kelly after Taryn told her to not plant her feet as much. Holly smirking as she looks confident as they trade around the ring. Holly gives Kelly a shove to her chest but Kelly holds onto her to stop her unloading there. Things getting a little scruffy as they hold and hit at times as Holly's roughhousing tactics are well... Being held onto by Kelly.

The referee looks a little frustrated breaking them up. With Kelly catching Holly coming in with a counter double jab after Holly misses with a right cross. A straight to the forehead snaps back Valance's head before a crisp left/right cross slams into her face.

Holly is guarding more tightly as Kelly seems to have found her mojo again. Landing some crisp punches into the breadbasket of Holly to make her grit her mouthpiece. Holly lands some punches over the top when Kelly's guard dips a little too low. Both trading hard shots till the round comes to a close. Kelly looking happy enough that she has taken the fight back to Holly. Who looks a little annoyed that she hasn't broken down her opponent yet.

Round 5:
Out they come with Holly stepping inside to work the body of Kelly. Who nudges her back to create space so she can land a few short digging punches to the cheeks of Holly. They exchange at midrange as both are trying to gain control of the action. Holly catches Kelly with an uppercut to knock her back a step.

On comes Valance as she presses Gale onto the ropes. Swinging in hooks over the top till Kelly clinches with her. Both women break apart when ordered the second time with Kelly moving into space. Still Holly is moving after her, being the more aggressive fighter between them as she tries to pin down the younger woman.

Problem for Holly is as they near the end of the round. She misses with a straight and eats a counter left onto her right ear. She stumbles a step before a right hook into her face knocks her back a step. Kelly unloads a flurry on her to knock Holly back into the ropes. The bell rings to possibly save Holly a fall to finish this round that she looked great on at times. Kelly meanwhile is told by Taryn to watch for an opening and to strike. Kelly nodding along as she stares hard at Holly.

Round 6:
Holly looks a little slower to step out her corner as Kelly bounces on her toes. They exchange a few jabs with Kelly starting to use some feints, looking for that opening. Holly misses with a right cross and takes an uppercut that wobbles her backwards. KELLY SWARMS HER WITH A FLURRY OF PUNCHES! NOT ALL LAND BUT A RIGHT HOOK SENDS HOLLY DOWN ONTO HER BACK!

Jogging over to the neutral corner as soon as Holly hits the deck. Kelly bounces on her toes in the corner watching the count looking amped. 1....2....3....4... Holly groans as she holds her left glove to her face. 5....6....7... Planting her left foot on the canvas as she bends her leg. 8... Beyond that though Holly isn't moving too much. 9....10 that's it! Holly is counted out!

Winner Kelly Gale KO Round 6

After:
Kelly lets out a "woo!" As she turns to the crowd with her arms in the air. A good solid win for her over a top fighter still. She returns to her corner to a hug from Eva and a fist bump from Taryn. A big beaming smile on her face once she spits out her gumshield.

All the while Holly has to be helped up onto her stool. She spits out her gumshield with a little blood from a cut inside her cheek. Holly still looks a little shook up as Tara checks her over. The ringside doctor does a few tests and deems that she will be okay. Holly looks upset with herself and you do wonder how long can she hold onto her ACB lightweight title if she goes back to Australia in such bad form.

Over comes Kelly once both fighters have their gloves off. There's an embrace between them, which will surely make Olympia happy wherever she is watching the PPV. Holly telling Kelly not to be bragging too much back at the Girls Friday gym or Olympia will knock her out with a wink. A playful demeanor between them now as Kelly jokes back about Olympia being welcome to try, making both laugh.

Once Kelly returns over to her corner. Holly is helped out of the ring and walks proudly, if a little gingerly to the backstage area. She will need to find something extra going forwards as right now she looks to be not running quite on all cylinders when she is fighting.

Inside the ring Kelly gets her left arm raised in victory, she smiles warmly to the crowd as she waves to them. Before posing with her arms flexed and her eyes shut as she tilts her head up to face the heavens as if she is a goddess posing for a painting.

Leaving the ring not long after with her ring crew. It will be interesting to see the dynamic in the Girls Friday gym right now as Dua Lipa has also set her eyes on the BBU lightweight title these last few months. Could there be any internal issues between them?