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1 February 2024 Title Ch Yvonne Strahovski vs Poppy Montgomery

Page history last edited by neon 4 months, 3 weeks ago

BBU NEW YEAR'S BASH 24

Posted by girlsfriday on 1 February 2024 at 5:53 pm

Tale of the Tape:
Poppy Montgomery:
Age: 51
Height: 5'5
W/L: 15-15-1 (12KOs)
Former ACB lightweight champion.
Former BBU lightweight champion.
Vs
Yvonne Strahovski:
Age: 41
Height: 5'8
W/L: 86-46 (72KOs)
Current ACB lightweight champion.
Former five time FCBA lightweight champion.
Tractorpull Hall of Fame inductee (2020)

(Downunder Boxing Vs Lookout! Boxing)

(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)

Intro:
The ACB lightweight title is on the line now as our coverage moves down under to Sydney's Qudos Arena. Former champion Poppy Montgomery hopes to turn back the clock one more time to reclaim the title she held back in 2014 to 2017. Yvonne Strahovski is hoping to make this her first successful defence of the title she won from Holly Valance last year. Both Sydney girls will hope to leave with bragging rights and the title.

These two have met once before. To think that was all the way back in 2013 as Yvonne did a tour of her home nation. Yvonne knocked out Poppy in five rounds. That night they were respectful of each other and friendly.

They come face to face at the press conference for the bout the night before. Both women came on stage in bikinis as Poppy shows she still is in phenomenal shape for being just over fifty in a red bikini to match her hair colour. While Yvonne is wearing a gold coloured string bikini with the ACB title wrapped around her waist. They come together at the center of the stage with hands on their hips intensely staring at each other. Poppy taps the title with her left hand, Yvonne slaps the hand away as things could kick off. ACB committee members rush in to keep them apart.

Both women are handed a microphone as Poppy is quick to say "look Yvonne I respect you but that title is something I made important. For you to finally take fighting in your home country serious instead of trying to be a Hollywood star and failing." Making Yvonne laugh in response.

"Poppy I respect you too but honey, keep your damn hands off my belt. I know you yearn for the old days but this is now and I am the best in Australia. I gave you this title shot because of that, I won't give you any leeway when we are in the ring" says Yvonne. Staring right at Poppy as she make it clear.

Poppy responds by saying "let's be real. This is about that title, I am after one thing and that's to finish my career on a high note that will never be done again. You are simply in my way and when we get in that ring I am going to hurt you from the opening seconds."

Nodding that she understands Poppy. Yvonne tells her "that's all I need to hear. I'll see you tomorrow night and Poppy... You can see me walk out with this belt around this toned waist" tapping the belt, walking off after making her point.

Fighting time! First out is the challenger with her coach Nikki Visser to her right. Poppy takes a deep breath to calm any nerves as tonight very well might be her final fight. She is wearing a red sports bra with gold trim, matching trunks and shoes, red gloves with gold thumbs, her hair in a ponytail. Poppy climbs into the ring with a nod to the fans as she bounces on her toes looking deeply serious about this bout.

Now it's the champions turn as she walks out with her coach Julie Benz behind her. Yvonne has the belt wrapped around her waist as she gets an equally loud cheer like Poppy did. The title is taken off her by Julie before Yvonne steps into the ring. The blonde is wearing a navy blue sports bra with white trim, matching trunks and shoes, blue gloves with white palms, her hair tied into a ponytail. She poses with her arms in the air looking out to the crowd as Julie hands the title over to the referee.

The title belt is held up by the referee as the fighters come to the middle of the ring. They lock eyes in an intense stare as the crowd is chanting for both women. Respectfully they do bump gloves before walking back to their corners. The bell rings to start 10 rounds of ACB lightweight title bout action.

Round 1:
"Ding!" Out the fighters come with Poppy looking to dig away around the body of Yvonne right out the gate. Yvonne nudges her back and digs in several straight shots back into the face of the older woman. Poppy dips under a straight to step in with a straight to the body before coming over the top with an overhand left to the jaw of the blonde.

Pushing back Strahovski into a neutral corner, Montgomery is looking to wear out her opponent with hooks to the body. Yvonne needs to push off Poppy to get into space. Both slugging it out in close as Poppy is wanting to be right into the face of the champion.

Back comes Yvonne later in the round after catching out Poppy with a short uppercut to her chin. Poppy needing to shell up as she finds herself backed up to the ropes. Yvonne digging her toes into the canvas as she swings in hooks. Some of her punches landing hard on the gloves of Poppy to make a crack of leather on leather ring out. The round comes to an end with both women already showing the intensity they have over trying to win the title.

Round 2:
Yvonne doubles up her jab to slow down the charges of Poppy, who is working more at midrange throwing her own straight shots. More hooks start to come towards the end of the opening minute from both as the crowd is roaring them on.

A straight slices open the guard of Poppy before a left hook clubs her around her temple to make her back off. Yvonne has Poppy under wraps as she picks her punches, showing her class to switch targets. Poppy throwing mostly single punches back as she can't seem to get out of her guard while moving around near the ropes.

Near the end of the round Poppy opens up to look to land more shots. Yvonne snarling at her as they exchange. Soon enough the round comes to an end with both women staring hard at their opponent before walking past them to get to their corners. Poppy looking annoyed at herself as she let Yvonne get into gear.

Round 3:
Both slinging in straight punches as they fight around the center of the ring. Yvonne looking comfortable at range as Poppy's cheeks are getting a pink hue to them. Poppy after forty seconds slips a straight to come in with an overhand left on the chin of Yvonne to twist her head around. A straight follows onto the chin of the champ to knock her head back.

Poppy uses her left forearm to push back Yvonne to the ropes. Yvonne finding Poppy like a terrier gnawing away at her body with hooks. Yvonne trying to slug it out with her but she hasn't the room to work. Strahovski needing to grab hold of Poppy to force the referee to step in to split them up.

They resume as they head into the final minute. Yvonne planting her feet more to try to match the intensity of Poppy. She looks to be falling into her opponents trap as Poppy blocks a right hook to land a counter right onto the nose of the Lookout! Fighter to make her cry out.

At the bell ringing both women exchange a few words before being nudged back to their corners. Poppy is certainly leaving it all in the ring as she sits on her stool tapping her gloves as sweat is on her brow. Yvonne meanwhile is staring intensely in return. The atmosphere around them is electric as this cities two favourite daughters are fighting for the ultimate prize.

Round 4:
Tapping her gloves as she steps out her corner, Yvonne is fired up as she stands her ground more then looking to move around up on her toes. The cracks of leather ring out from both fighters to show that this isn't a sparring session by any stretch. Yvonne lands a straight square into the forehead of Poppy to push her back a step before a left hook lands around the temple of the redhead.

Poppy finding herself being driven back into the neutral corner. Yvonne swinging hooks around the guard of the challenger. Poppy digging back with straight punches but she is being outworked by the champion. Poppy needs to grab Yvonne around her waist to get the referee involved. They are broken up by the referee as duelling chants ring out.

Back comes Poppy with short hooks before she is nudged back. Yvonne is starting to land with more venomous punches hammering into the face of her opponent. Soon the round ends with Poppy having a mouse under her left eye. Yvonne gets a pat on her gloves from Julie as she is told to keep this up.

Round 5:
Both are digging away in close. Yvonne nudging back Poppy repeatedly to keep the space where she wants it. Poppy needing to draw on her own experience to block some solid blows to land some counters in reply. A straight lands on the chin of Yvonne to knock her head back.

Poppy landing a left hook on the cheek of Yvonne before a short right lands into the breadbasket of Strahovski. The champion finding herself being moved near the ropes, Poppy not looking too pleased as she is taking several stinging punches landing on her face. Poppy is the one pushing the pace though.

Late in the round Yvonne lands a right cross to cause a cut to open below Poppy's left eye to make her cry out. Poppy covering up after a left hook lands flush on her chin to make her stumble back two steps. Poppy trying to dig in as they try to hold the center ground. The round comes to a close with both women turning back to their corners. Poppy getting her cut worked on as Yvonne has a fearsome look on her face as she is getting annoyed by Poppy getting into her face and pushing her buttons.

Round 6:
Pushing off their stools with punches being exchanged around the middle of the ring. Poppy trying to get inside again but she is met with straight punches square into her face. Yvonne landing a short left hook to the temple of Poppy to send some sweat and blood flying. Yvonne starting to hammer home more hard shots into her opponents face to force Poppy back.

The challenger trying to stand her ground but Poppy is taking some heat now. A missed right by Poppy is met by a hard counter right hook to her jaw. YVONNE PILING THE PRESSURE ON TO FORCE POPPY BACK INTO HER OWN CORNER. POPPY TRYING TO FIRE BACK BUT AN UPPERCUT LOOKS TO TAKE HER SOUL FROM HER BODY AS SHE COLLAPSES FIRST TO HER KNEES! THEN ONTO ALL FOURS!

Yvonne jogs to the neutral corner to the right of Poppy. 1....2....3... Who spits out her gumshield onto the canvas with a groan. 4....5....6... Poppy tries to push herself to her knees. 7....8... She ends up leans against the middle turnbuckle with arms on the ropes as she moans out in pain. 9....10 Poppy can't beat the count!

Winner and still ACB lightweight champion Yvonne Strahovski KO Round 6

After:
Yvonne looks out to the crowd and blows kisses to them with a big beaming smile. She walks back to her corner to be met with a high five from Julie. Who tells her "that's my Champion" with a nod. Yvonne can't hide how much it means to retain her title in her home city.

Poppy on the other side of the equation needs helped up to her stool. Head down as she has Nikki rubbing her back and telling her she fought hard and pushed Yvonne. Poppy nods as she sits upright and leans against her corner. A few tears running down her cheeks.

Both women are cleaned up and patched up. Poppy asks for a moment when she walks to the center of the ring, Yvonne looks puzzled as she expected to get the title handed to her. Poppy unlaces her gloves and places them on the canvas, then unlaces her boots before taking them off. Blowing kisses to the crowd as she is shedding tears. Is this her retiring?

Yvonne looks stunned and before Poppy can turn to leave the ring. Yvonne rushes to pull her back to the center of the ring. The champion gives Poppy a hug before she raises the left arm of Poppy to a standing round of applause from the fans. Poppy wiping tears away with her right hand as Yvonne shows her class.

Out the ring leaves Poppy after she taps Yvonne's waist and tells her to keep the title around it for as long as she can. Yvonne nods in response with a beaming smile. Poppy looks back at the top of the aisle as Nikki is crying too. The end of an era as Poppy will go down as one of the greatest the ACB has seen.

In the ring Yvonne almost forgets about the title thanks to the moment. She has her right arm raised in victory before the green strapped belt is wrapped around her waist. She taps the gold plate of the title with a proud look as this title means the world to her.

Yvonne soon leaves the ring doing selfies for some in the front row of the crowd and shaking everyone in the front rows hand as she is proud to be from Sydney. Clearly she wants to be a champion the country can be proud of representing the belt.