Federica Nargi vs Malena Costa
(Glamour Boxing Academy vs BBU Independent)
(10-7, 9 KO vs 1-3, 1 KO)
Results: BBU; Story: Vassago

BEFORE: Most pundits claim Italian TV showgirl Federica Nargi remains the most promising fighter on the GBA roster since Jorgie Porter lost the flyweight belt and she's ready for a busy summer of boxing starting with a tricky opponent Malena Costa. The Spanish model is supposedly a much better boxer than her record indicates and it's always a free agency struggle to build a favorable schedule when so often an unmanaged fighter has to accept every offer or risk inactivity.

This is also the second fight of the GBA birthday party with cake girl Jessica Alba scheduled to headline the main show later on. Samaria Regalado has returned ringside to watch her stablemate at work and there's every chance the Academy crew completes the sweep to announce themselves back in the contenders' picture.

Federica Nargi wears a blue bikini set & silver gloves. Long black hair tied in a sleek ponytail. Malena Costa wears a crimson red bikini set & yellow gloves. Long dark brown hair tied in a custom ponytail. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the lightweight division.

Round 1:
Malena wants to make a good early impression and she delivers a steady jabbing attack to move the Italian foe around but Federica can make those long legs move and she avoids immediate danger while working the overhand response. Both women trade some high blows in the opening round which meets loud support from the audience. Malena eventually connects with the superior combo and nails Fede on the chin before looping a vicious cross on the nose that staggers the Italian woman onto her heels. Ugh! Nargi decides to launch a late attack from this shaky position anyway and finds Costa beating her to the punch again which allows the free agent to thump the younger brunette back to the corner where she adds another jabbing series and slumps the Italian behind a tight earmuff cover.

Round 2:
More jabbing action from both women and Malena keeps working the better connection to frustrate the Italian even though she can't find that elusive big punch so Federica manages to secure a counter-punching display before too long. The back & forth digging continues and gives the fans plenty to enjoy especially after Malena draws blood from Fede's lips during the second minute. The head-hunting attack might be somewhat predictable but it does enough damage to upset the GBA entourage who demand a more aggressive response from Nargi alas it comes to no avail with Costa shutting her down on the turnbuckle again to close out the rounnd.

Round 3:
Quick jabbing burst from Nargi finally halts the Spanish dominance and perhaps that lip injury has rubbed the Italian ego more than anything else. The hectic attack continues and leaves Costa wheeling back from contact which also showcases her somewhat inferior footwork and she doesn't quite look so imposing from the back foot either. The volume of Federica's charge does enough to keep Malena neutralized but there's little pysical damage done in the process so the GBA corner remains vocal and demand more aggression. Costa locks it out with some desperate clinching and she also tags Nargi in the stomach which leaves the Italian fuming at the bell.

Round 4:
Federica picks up where she left off in the third however Malena is prepared for the improved aggression and tries to smack one up the middle to work on that mouth injury yet the Italian showcases more elusive movement and leaves the Spanish model stuck in her place while bombing away herself. A classic slugging dust up ensues and both girls accept it. Federica connects with the early double and zips one on the ear that staggers Costa backwards. Ugh! Another wild combo finds the nose and cuts a bloody gash across the nasal ridge before Malena shoots over the Italian's shoulder and gets busted with a chin-checking double in return. She falls back on the ropes and dekes away from a phone booth trap even though Fede still splits her mitts and knocks her head back to pull even on the cards.

Round 5:
Malena seeks another slugging turnaround but Fede remains a split second faster in execution and that's all it takes to make the Spanish model look vulnerable in the center of the ring. The leather exchange remains at a high level and the lack of tactical diversity eventually comes to bite Costa in the... nose again as she begins to leak more blood from another Italian series. Federica continues to drop those hammer punches and she breaks the older brunette down sending her into another retreat across the ring. Malena is durable enough to avoid going down in a heap but she's clearly getting outboxed by this stage and cuts a dejected figure when Nargi laces her on the chin and knocks her head back amid some loud support from the audience. Another wild hook on the jaw and the Spanish woman is visibly hurting at the bell.

Round 6:
Malena is slow to get up for the sixth and gets overrun by another aerial challenge seconds into the action. Federica keeps it strictly business and connects with enough clean hits to open the nose bleed and Malena gets her mitts shoved into her face before a quick punch on the liver FOLDS HER INTO SPASMS... uh-oh... she half-spins with a whimper and gets caught by another chin shot that DROPS HER FOR THE COUNT moments later. And the hi-low damage is enough to keep her sitting on her heels with the Italian brunette can start to celebrate her victory!!! The GBA birthday party keeps on rolling! KO6 Federica Nargi!!!

AFTER: The wine is served in the corner but Federica prefers to spill some over herself as she enjoys a winning comeback and vows to eliminate one or two contenders in beach boxing rules in the foreseeable future. The GBA crew is ready for the birthday main show starring Jessica Alba and this could be a sneaky PPV blockbuster given the ever popular Alesha Dixon sharing the stage. Most pundits question the singer's competitive level at this stage of her career while some others wonder if Alba actually wants to make a surprising run at the BBU belts now that her career on the other side of the Atlantic appears to be over and done with.

Official Result: Federica Nargi def. Malena Costa KO6.