If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.
You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

29 March 2024 Title Ch Hailee Steinfeld vs Selena Gomez

Page history last edited by neon 2 months, 1 week ago

OFFICIAL FCBA "MARCH MADNESS" PPV

Posted by Lookout! Boxing on 29 March 2024 at 8:41 pm

Hailee Steinfeld versus Selena Gomez (Unified Bantamweight Championship)
(Results: Lookout. Words: Wiz)

BEFORE:

Battle of brunettes sees Selena making an attempt to break through and grab a lineal title. Gomez has been nothing if not a success in the FCBA, with a career 50-27 record and the current deed to the Ice Hotel, but she's failed in multiple efforts to grab the JMD and Unified Bantamweight titles. Tonight, she gets another shot at the latter against Hailee, who's ridden new management up the rankings all the way to the 120-pound gold. As you might expect with the respective pedigrees involved, both women come into this one with plenty of confidence. "I've been close," says a hard-eyed Selena, "Thisclose. And, tonight's the night I claim that gold."

"Gomez is no walk in the park," Hailee admits. "But, I just stopped the hottest bantam in the world. Next to that? Selena's nothing to worry about."

ROUND ONE:

Steinfeld has the reach and wants to use it. She's working the left, enforcing distance, making Gomez work hard to get to her spots. Selena willing to put in that work, moving well, angling, and getting off when she gets where she wants to be. Hailee using the left to enforce terms, though, getting things mostly her way, and that's making the difference. Champion never able to grab full control. Challenger's too slick and skilled for that. But, she's getting the better of things since she's getting things her way. Final seconds see a pair of spirited exchanges in what's been mainly an information-gathering round, but, at the bell, the champ grabs the round close and leads 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Same again, with Hailee at range dictating terms until...BOOM! Gomez angles in and lands a BLISTERING right hook that that sends the champion stumbling backward! Gomez over to the offensive, firing way with both hands, driving her rival, back, back, back into the ropes, then working her over to belly and ribs as Steinfeld leans on the ropes in a high, tight guard. Challenger tenderizing body, then going upstairs, looking to split the gloves, work behind them with hooks. Steinfeld defending well, and, by the final half minute, she's shaken the worst of it and manages to get off the ropes. It's still Gomez in charge until the bell, though, and, when it rings, the challenger has it wide and evens things at 19.

ROUND THREE:

Champion restores order with the jab. Steinfeld has the legs back under her and it makes a huge difference. Result is, basically, a rerun of the first round, except that, this time, both fighters are willing to commit to the offensive a bit more. Hailee is in control when she gets the jab on, keeps the challenger at range. But, Selena offsets a lot of that with some nice angling to get to spots where she can get off in combination. Add it all up, and we have another good, competitive round with both brunettes showing why they're at the top of the bantamweight rankings. When the bell rings, it's close again, but it's Steinfeld who takes the points and moves into the 29-28 lead.

ROUND FOUR:

Pattern set. Hailee wants to work at gunnery range, while Selena prefers middle distances, and it's all going to rest on which fighter gets more of what she...BOOM! Gomez lands that right hook AGAIN and STEINFELD IS ALL WOBBLY BUTT! Champion's knees like noodles as the challenger again goes over to the offensive quickly, sending buzz bombs at the younger brunette. Steinfeld reeling backward, trapped on the cables again, and, again, Gomez goes body in a BIG way, looking to attrit her rival and bring down that guard. Steinfeld resolute, keeping the earmuff tight, clinching, running clock very well. When the bell rings, she's held off the ref and is still standing, but, again, Gomez has grabbed the round wide and evened things at 38.

ROUND FIVE:

Selena in control. Challenger walking forward now, backing her rival down. Hailee still buzzed, can't hold canvas. She's snapping out that jab, but Gomez is walking right through it. Champion doing well to stay off the ropes and counter in spots as Gomez piles up the points and punishment, looking to finish all while effecting an excellent clean up. As the round goes on, though, Hailee, again, begins to shake off the damage and fire back more frequently. Selena remains in control and continues to get plenty of work done, but another opportunity to finish has clearly passed. At the bell, it's Gomez wide, and the challenger pulls into a 48-47 lead at the half.

ROUND SIX:

Back to where we were in the first, with Steinfeld working the jab at range and Selena looking to angle, get to spots, get off...RIGHT HOOK AGAIN! For the third time the challenger catches the champ with that hook and this time? DOWN GOES STEINFELD! Crowd going nuts as Gomez bounces to a neutral corner full of hope. Dashed. Hailee struggles to her feet at eight and takes the mandatory. And. On. Comes. Selena. Gomez DETERMINED to finish this thing right now and finally ascend to the top of the bantam mountain. She sends Steinfeld to the ropes with a BLIZZARD of punches and IGNORES that body now, hammering away upstairs looking for the finisher. Ref looking in closely. Hailee hanging on...and the bell rings with the champion still on her feet. Gomez takes the round 10-8, though, and now has a 58-55 lead with four to go.

ROUND SEVEN:

Gomez looking a little arm-weary. She's used up a ton of fuel in the past few rounds, and it shows. And, that gives the champion some breathing room. Selena's still getting the better of it early, but, as the round goes on and Hailee's legs come around, Steinfeld's able to get to range and work that jab and slowly make up the stagger. Selena's landing here and there, but that's about all she's able to do, as Steinfeld gets stronger and stronger. By the final minute, Hailee's in as much control as she has been at any point in the fight, and, when the bell finally rings, it's Steinfeld narrowly, cutting the challenger's lead to 67-65 with three left.

ROUND EIGHT:

Ladies on even terms to start the eighth. Gomez more active now, angling forward as Hailee tries to enforce distance with that jab. If the challenger has one more of those right hooks in her, well. Meanwhile, the champ is down a couple of points here and needs to get in gear. BOOM! Right hand, STEINFELD and GOMEZ IS HURT! Selena wobbles and DOWN SHE GOES AFTER A THREE-PUNCH COMBINATION FROM THE CHAMPION! Steinfeld quickly to a neutral corner to watch and wait. Gomez flat on her back, drapes an arm across her eyes as the referee counts down at her. She's finished and it's OVER! And your winner by KO8 in comeback fashion and STILL Unified Bantamweight Champion is Hailee Steinfeld!

AFTER:

Steinfeld looking a mess in the post, but she's clearly pleased with herself. "Caught me with that hook a couple of times," the champion admits. "I've got to get to the video and see what was happening there, get that fixed. But, she couldn't finish. And I COULD. That's why I've got the gold."