Kazuha Nakamura vs. Roseanne Park (BBU Debut)

(Results: Vassago, Words: Caspian)

Kazuha:
(20, 5’8, 1:1 BBU, DRAGONs)

Roseanne:
(27, 5’6, BBU Debut, Free Agent)

BEFORE:

Up next, the British Boxing Union (BBU) is abuzz with excitement as two rising stars prepare to collide in the ring. Kazuha Nakamura, the talented member of K-Pop group LE SSERAFIM and a fierce competitor for the DRAGONs stable, will face off against Roseanne Park, better known as Rosé from the global phenomenon that is BLACKPINK.

Juggling a demanding K-Pop career with the grueling world of professional boxing is no easy feat. Kazuha has publicly acknowledged the challenge, but assures fans that her dedication to both is unwavering. We have discipline and focus,” she states. “While I may not have all day in the gym, I make the most of every training session. The support from my group and our fans keeps me motivated.”

With a legion of devoted LE SSERAFIM fans behind her, Kazuha is sure to have a strong contingent cheering her on fight night. And while some might see this as a publicity stunt, Kazuha insists her passion for boxing is genuine. “I’ve always admired this sport,” she reveals. “As you know, I was once a professional ballet dancer. Now, this is an opportunity to challenge myself and prove that I can excel outside the world of K-Pop.”

Next, Rosé’s foray into professional boxing is a groundbreaking moment for the K-Pop industry on its own. While there have been idols who’ve participated in exhibition matches (most famously two of her fellow stablemates, who battled last year), she is the first to take on the challenge of a full professional fight. “I hope this paves the way for others who might be interested in the sport,” she says.

Despite her busy schedule with BLACKPINK, Rosé has dedicated herself to a rigorous training regimen, according to her managers and trainers. She’s been working tirelessly with renowned coaches to hone her skills and adapt her fitness to the demands of boxing. “It’s been intense, but incredibly rewarding,” she shares to reporters.

Rosé sees this fight as an opportunity to inspire young people to pursue their dreams, regardless of their background or perceived limitations. “If I can do this, so can you,” she states. “Never be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself.”

As you can imagine, the press conference is expected to be a star-studded affair, with reporters from around the globe vying for a glimpse of these musical athletes. The BBU is anticipating a surge in interest, particularly among younger demographics. This fight has the potential to introduce the world of professional boxing to a whole new generation of fans.

As the moderator's closing remarks fade, all eyes converge on the center of the dais, where Kazuha and Rosé stand, their playful banter gone, the spotlight casting stark lines across their faces, highlighting the subtle differences that set them apart despite their shared K-Pop stardom.

Kazuha, an inch taller than Rosé at 5'8", holds herself with the unwavering posture that reflects her dance training. Her lean, athletic build speaks of years of disciplined training, the DRAGONs emblem emblazoned across her chest a fierce declaration of her affiliation. Her dark eyes, usually twinkling with mischief, now hold a steely focus. 

Rosé, at 5'6", radiates a more vibrant energy. Her leaner and toned physique hinting at the rigorous training she's undergone, but it's evident her body is sculpted more for dance than boxing. Her platinum blonde hair, usually styled in elegant waves, cascades down her back, a stark contrast to Kazuha's severe braid. A playful glint still lingers in her eyes, but beneath it simmers a competitive fire. Her lips, usually curved in a charming smile, are pressed into a thin line, a hint of defiance etched on her face.

The moderator steps aside, and slowly, deliberately, Kazuha and Rosé turn towards each other. The crowd holds its breath as their eyes meet. A silent war of wills unfolds. Kazuha stands firm, an unyielding mountain, her stare unwavering. Rosé is a lioness poised to pounce, her gaze burning with determination.

For a long, tense moment, they lock eyes, the unspoken challenge hanging heavy in the air. Then, a slow smile spreads across Rosé's lips. Not a playful one this time, but a smile that promises ferocity in the ring. Kazuha meets it head-on, a flicker of respect crossing her gaze.

24 hours later, the electric buzz of anticipation thrums through the packed BBU arena as the lights dim. A spotlight ignites on the entrance tunnel, and the crowd erupts as a booming voice echoes through the speakers: "Introducing, from the legendary DRAGONs stable, fighting out of the red corner, Kazuha!"

Clad in fiery red DRAGONs fight shorts and a matching sports bra, Kazuha emerges from the tunnel. Her dark hair is now pulled back into a tight bun, every inch of her radiating focused intensity. LE SSERAFIM's hit track "FEARLESS" blares through the speakers, the powerful beat mirroring the determination etched on Kazuha's face. She strides confidently towards the ring, each step punctuated by thunderous applause from her fans. As she reaches the platform, her trainers meet her, their faces grim with concentration. They adjust her gloves, tighten her straps, their final instructions a murmured exchange. Kazuha nods, a steely glint in her eyes as she raises her chin, ready to face her opponent.

The music fades, and a hush falls over the crowd as a different spotlight illuminates the opposite tunnel. Then, bathed in a cool blue light, Rosé emerges. Gone is the playful K-Pop idol. In her place stands a warrior, clad in a sleek black sports bra adorned with silver trim and sparkling diamonds. Her blonde hair is secured in a high ponytail, a stark contrast to Kazuha's black. As the opening notes of BLACKPINK's "Kill This Love" explode through the arena, the crowd ignites once more, as though this were one of her concerts. Rosé soaks in the electrifying energy, a confident smirk gracing her lips. Reaching the ring, her trainers work meticulously, wrapping her hands, their whispers barely audible over the roaring crowd. Rosé throws her head back, takes a deep breath, and flashes a dazzling smile.

Tonight, K-Pop takes a backseat, and BBU boxing takes center stage! With the wave of the referee’s hand, HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Bantamweight action!!

ROUND 1:

In opposite corners, both girls, new to the boxing scene, eye each other warily. Rosé, the more aggressive of the two, explodes forward. A sharp left jab snaps out, a scouting maneuver that pushes Kazuha back a step. Not to be outdone, she follows with a practiced right cross, the movement telegraphing her eagerness to prove herself. But Kazuha, calm beneath the surface, stays composed. Her forearms form a high guard, deflecting the blow with a satisfying thud. The fight settles into a fascinating dance. Rosé, frustrated by Kazuha's seemingly impenetrable defense, keeps throwing flurries of punches, and a few do land: a left hook finds Kazuha's ribs, but the guard absorbs the impact. Then, determined to make a statement, Rosé lunges with a spinning backfist, a move reeking of inexperience that leaves her momentarily open. And Kazuha seizes her chance! Ducking under the flashy attack, she delivers a sharp uppercut that snaps Rose's head back early! Ouch! But Rosé, fueled by youthful resilience, grits her teeth and throws a retaliatory right hook soon after, and the blow catches Kazuha flush on the jawline as well, sending a shockwave through the Japanese fighter. These two are young and still inexperienced, with their big attacks landing out of luck rather than telegraphed skill... Still, the blow makes Kazuha stumble back, her legs buckling, before SHE GOES DOWN! The shock of the sudden attack has left her stunned, as the graceful ballerina collapses onto her side in a super early KNOCKDOWN for ROSE! 

The referee dives in, his voice a steady drumbeat counting down. "Five! Six! Seven!" At seven, Kazuha stumbles back to her feet, clearly shaken but determined to hang on. And the fight resumes, with a new dynamic at play. Rose, exhilarated by the knockdown, throws more punches, trying to repeat her feat, but Kazuha, cautious now, adopts a defensive shell, moving and locking those arms. When the bell tolls, Rose struts back to her corner, a triumphant grin plastered on her face. Kazuha, bloodied but determined, stares back across the ring, looking a little humiliated and embarrassed from that early knockdown.

ROUND 2:

The bell for round two jangles, and a different energy crackles from Kazuha, her temple still sporting a crimson reminder of the knockdown. "Just a slip," she threw at her trainers mid-round, her voice laced with defiance. "This round's mine." She stalks towards Rose, who scoffed upon hearing the response earlier, but the fire in her foe’s eyes does give her pause. They circle each other, and it's Kazuha who initiates the exchange this time: a sharp jab snaps out, followed by a lightning-fast left hook that catches Rose on the cheek. The crowd gasps, and Rose, surprised by the aggression, gets pushed back from the force and suddenness of the blow. Seconds later, however, the BLACKPINK starlet lets out a snarl of her own and flies forth, throwing a wild counter that sails past Kazuha's head. The fight explodes into a slugging frenzy. Both girls, fueled by adrenaline and a touch of desperation, throw punches with reckless abandon once they both get in range of each other. A right cross from Kazuha lands square on the nose, whilst Rose roars in defiance and unleashes a flurry of punches to the arms and body, driving Kazuha back to the ropes. Another body shot connects with a sickening thud, momentarily doubling Kazuha over. And just when it seems Rose is about to overwhelm her, Kazuha weaves under another wild swing and POUNDS back with a perfectly timed uppercut that snaps Rose's head back once more, her eyes glazing over for a fraction of a second. Nakamura wants to shine! She turns the tables, unleashing a barrage of punches: jabs, hooks, a brutal right cross to the midsection, forcing Rose to stumble back, on the verge of another knockdown! But unlike Kazuha, she manages to stay upright, clinging to the ropes on the opposite end for support. The referee steps in, his arms outstretched, forcing a separation, and both girls are already panting heavily, their chests heaving, exchanging glares across the short distance. The bell rings soon after, a merciful end to the grueling round. As they retreat to their corners, it's clear neither fighter is the same.

ROUND 3:

Park’s face, now a canvas of blossoming bruises, meets Kazuha's gaze in the center of the ring. The first two minutes are a blur of controlled chaos, as Rose carries the fight with a relentless jabbing attack to the face, keeping Kazuha at bay, and then a well-timed left hook sends a tremor through the side of the Japanese fighter's head. The thwack of leather on flesh dazes the other singer, sending her reeling off to the side and relocking her guard, anticipating more. But halfway through the round, a shift occurs. Kazuha, weathered but not broken, starts anticipating her attacks. She slips under a wild swing and delivers a brutal counter right cross straight to Rose's gut! The impact forces the air from her lungs, and her face contorts in pain as she stumbles back, clutching her body. Here Kazuha comes, following up with more punches high and low, high and low, each combination chipping away. Rose throws up her arms in a desperate attempt to block and survive the onslaught. And just as it seems Kazuha might turn the tide completely, the bell rings, too soon! Rose stumbles back to her corner, gasping for breath, though her eyes hold a flicker of defiance, while Kazuha, chest heaving but a triumphant glint in her eye, surveys the damage she's inflicted.

ROUND 4:

Both fighters eye each other across the ring. But it's Kazuha who explodes forward this time. A lightning-fast jab snaps out, a flicker of movement Rose barely reacts to. Then comes the right cross – a thunderbolt disguised as a punch…. It CATCHES Rose square on the jaw with a sickening crack! And the impact is instantaneous! Rose's eyes widen in surprise, her legs turn to jelly, and she CRUMPLES to the mat like a marionette with its strings cut! Ouch and just like that, folks!! The LESSARAFIM starlet has scored her returnKNOCKDOWN!

The referee dives in, his voice a steady drumbeat counting down. "Four! Five! Six!" At six, Rose stirs on the canvas, a groan escaping her lips. One hand reaches up to clutch the ropes, her fingers digging in with a desperate white-knuckled grip. She manages to haul herself back to her feet, but her movements are a grotesque parody of her former agility. Her head lolls to one side, eyes unfocused, glazed over with shock. The referee gives her a mandatory eight count, his gaze stern and unwavering. She’s back on her feet, but swaying precariously, her body a question mark teetering on the edge of collapse. But she’s UP, and nodding to the referee that she wants to continue! 

If she’s hoping for a semblance of mercy from Nakamura, however, she’s sorely mistaken! As the bell rings again, there’s a primal ROAR that erupts from Kazuha’s chest, the naturally demure and kind-faced singer now glaring at her foe across the ring. She charges straight for Rose with unbridled aggression, a bull barreling towards a matador who's lost his cape. The blonde girl tries to raise her arms in a feeble block, but it's too late. A barrage of blows rains into her – a left hook snaps her head back and to the side, while a right cross to the gut buckles her knees, before a relentless flurry of jabs hammer her against the ropes. Rose's body becomes a ragdoll, bouncing helplessly with each blow, and one final, earth-shattering cross SMACKS into her nose hard, jolting her entire head and frame back. Immediately, Rose's eyes roll back in her head and her entire body goes limp! For a moment, she slumps back against the ropes, her only savior, before DOWN SHE GOES AGAIN, collapsing to her side! And this time, the referee doesn't even offer the count (some say he should have stepped in sooner)! He waves his hands overhead, signaling the end of the fight! It’s OVER! 

Official Result: Kazuha Nakamura defeats Roseanne Park via KO4!


AFTER:

The roar of the crowd fades into a dull hum as Kazuha, still fueled by the adrenaline of the knockout blow, stands over Rose, her chest heaving. But the fierce intensity on her face drains away as quickly as it arrived. Concern etches itself onto her features once more, and she leans down, one hand reaching out hesitantly towards Rose's unconscious form.

"Are you alright?" Kazuha's voice, devoid of the earlier aggression, is barely a whisper.

For a moment, there's no response. Rose lies sprawled on the canvas, breathing hard, the harsh light of the ring illuminating the bruises and sweat marring her face. Then, with a groan that escapes her lips like a wounded animal, she stirs. Her eyes flutter open, unfocused at first, then snapping into startled awareness as they land on the hovering form of her opponent.

The concern in Kazuha's eyes seems to flicker and die as Rose finally registers what happened. Shame and frustration, a bitter cocktail, flood her features. She flinches away from Kazuha's outstretched hand, more out of instinct and leftover rage that momentarily overrides her physical limitations.

"Don't touch me," Roseanne rasps, her voice hoarse. It isn't a request, it's a command, laced with a raw emotion that surprises even herself. The calm and respectful demeanor she'd cultivated throughout the build-up to the fight, the carefully crafted persona, has been shattered. All that remains is the sting of defeat and a simmering resentment towards the girl now standing above her.

Kazuha's hand freezes in mid-air, the concern replaced by a flicker of hurt in her eyes. But it's fleeting. Realization dawns, and she retracts her hand slowly.

Roseanne grits her teeth, the effort evident in the taut muscles of her jaw. She closes her eyes for a moment, willing herself to compose the storm of emotions raging within, as the rest of her fight team floods the ring to make sure she’s alright, that her pretty face hasn’t been permanently scarred. 

This isn't how it was supposed to go, she thinks. Moments ago, she was riding high -- the highest, some would say. But this nobody from a lesser known group had managed to beat her. Opening her eyes again, she meets Kazuha's gaze one final time, a silent exchange passing between them. Defiance mingles with a grudging respect in Rose's eyes, while Kazuha's hold a mixture of apology and a newfound wariness.

For Nakamura, she’s proving herself to be a blossoming flower in her newfound stable of the DRAGONs. And if she continues to pursue this path, she’ll have to contend with those hidden emotions buried deep within, and a surprising aggression that can win her fights. She may still be a newcomer in the mega-glitz of the K-pop world, but here in the ring, there’s no such thing as hierarchy or respect - just the pure physical contest of who wants to win.