Tale of the Tape:
Ivana Baquero:
Age: 29
Height: 5'3
W/L: 26-6 (25KOs)
Former BBU flyweight champion.
Vs
Anna Sawai:
Age: 31
Height: 5'1
W/L: debut

(Girls Friday Vs Free Agent)

(Written by Girls Friday/Results by Lookout!)

Intro:
We kick off tonights action with an international clash. Spanish former BBU flyweight champion Ivana Baquero starts off her 2024 campaign against New Zealander Anna Sawai. Who begins her career in celebrity female boxing after a break out year in her acting career through the "Shogun" TV show. Will Anna's martial arts training for previous roles help her match the experience of Ivana.

The reason for this contest was down to Anna. Who sent out a message on her social media "I've been talking to my agent for the past few months, training up and can announce that I have signed a contract with the BBU committee to fight for there organisation. So who wants to fight me? 🥊🥊" Along with a photo to make the point that she is serious about this.

It was Ivana who clearly caught the eyes of Anna as the former champ replied to the message with "Anna I loved Shogun and I respect you as an actress. I do want to test you out as a fighter since your so keen. I stepped up to that bytch Jenna (Louise Coleman) when I joined the BBU. Let's see how much confidence you really have in yourself."

That seemed to excite Anna as she answers the challenge "send me the contract and I'll happily show you everything I've worked on. Ivana just to be clear... You ain't on the same level as Jenna 😆" shots fired as Ivana and Jenna are certainly not on each others Christmas card list. Anna not in the mood it seems to just want a respectful clash with Ivana.

Fight night! Ivana is first out with her coach Taryn Terrell behind her. Ivana cups her ears as she enjoys her supporters chanting her name. She climbs into the ring wearing a yellow sports bra with red stripes down the sides, matching trunks and shoes, red gloves, while her hair is tied into a ponytail. She taps her fists with Taryn as she looks relaxed that her experience will be the edge here.

Anna meanwhile doesn't look exactly shy as she walks down to the ring wearing a red kimono and a white face mask covering her face with a floral pattern on. Her coach follows as they look impressed by her confidence. Anna gets the mask taken off by her coach and the kimono to reveal a red sports bra, matching gloves and trunks, she has red trunks with white cherry blossom pattern on her left leg of her trunks, hair is braided. Anna gets into the ring with Ivana nodding to her with a smile.

The fighters walk to the middle of the ring, neither looking the slightest bit scared of each other. Bumping their gloves into their opponents set with a bit more power then probably necessary, it shows while there is respect, there is an edge to this bout. They return to their corners, the bell rings to start 10 rounds of flyweight action.

Round 1:
Both jog out their corners to engage, trading stiff single punches as they try to get a read on each other. Anna dips down to land a few body shots, getting clipped in return around her head. Both step in closer as they warm up to exchange. Punches landing around each other cheeks as they look to try to power each others back.

Anna changes things up by using her footwork along with a jab. Ivana stalking after her keeping her cool, even as her cheeks are being stung at times by straight shots. Ivana manages to time her attack as she lands a jab into the chest of Anna before landing a straight into the nose of the "Shogun" star.

The final fifty seconds sees Anna being herded around the outside part of the ring. Ivana landing those body shots she loves to unleash, but she is mixing them up nicely with straight punches up top. The round comes to an end with Anna certainly not embarrassing herself on her first time in the ring.

Round 2:
Resuming around the middle of the ring. Ivana is looking to pressure her opponent early on. Anna showing some good upper body movement to dodge and land several nice clean counters to the face of Baquero to open her up. Anna landing her own body shots as she is the one forcing the issue. Ivana happy to trade there, she is getting caught over the top to make her think about things.

Anna looks to have befuddled Ivana with her movement. Sometimes Anna is staying inside to trade, others she is on the move dodging and countering. Ivana covering up more tightly as she looks to keep from suffering embarrassment early on against a rookie.

Late in the round Anna plants her feet a little too long. Ivana lands an uppercut to catch her out now. Anna finding herself driven back against the ropes as Ivana works her body with short hooks. Anna nudges her off and they go toe to toe in the dying moments of the round. At the bell both nod to each other to show a hint of respect before walking to their corners. Anna showing why she wasn't afraid to step into the ring with a former champion on her debut.

Round 3:
Pushing off their stools to fight on. Ivana using her jab more into the chest of Anna to dictate the early action as Anna grits her mouthpiece not to show pain. Anna landing back over the top with sweeping hooks to make Ivana back up as again she shows she is here to win, not for a payday.

But into the second minute a left cross catches Anna on her forehead as she looked to be backing Ivana up. A right hook follows to her ear to make Anna cover up. Driven back to a neutral corner by Baquero. Anna takes a few solid hits around her ears, along with some around her body as Ivana is looking to rough her up. Forcing Anna to clinch up.

Referee splits them apart to fight on. Anna catches Ivana coming in with a crisp jab under her chin now. Both slug it out on the inside to the delight of the crowd. The round comes to an end with both getting nudged apart to return to their stools.

Round 4:
Boxing around the ring with Anna back on her toes. Cheeks are marked up as Ivana is hunting down her smaller foe. A straight catches Ivana on her lips before Anna crouches under a left hook attempt by the Spanish star. Coming back over the top with a right hook on the chin of Baquero to twist her head.

Now it's Sawai backing up her foe to the ropes. Swinging over the top with hooks to send beads of sweat flying. Ivana needing to hold onto the rookie. Both need to be pushed apart as they grapple. Eyes firmly locked as they want back at each other. Exchanging right away with punches causing a pink hue on both fighters cheeks.

Ivana trying to pin down Anna but getting caught with straight shots as Anna dodges. The round comes to an end with Anna looking great this round. Ivana gets told off Taryn to use her experience to read what Anna is going to do instead of reacting too slow to her.

Round 5:
Ivana mixing up her targets more to try to throw Anna off. Both trade stiff punches as feet get planted more. Anna getting hit around her belly button to make her groan. Anna landing over the top to make Ivana back off and reset. Both circling around the center as they open up more.

A feint by Ivana makes Anna take a step back. Ivana crouches under an overhand right to land a counter right square into the liver area of Anna to make her wince. IVANA SEES THE MOMENT OF WEAKNESS IN HER OPPONENT. LANDING TWO MORE HARD SHOTS AROUND THE LIVER AREA! DOWN GOES ANNA TO ALL FOURS WITH A WHIMPER!

Straight away Ivana heads straight over to the neutral corner. 1....2....3.... Anna has tears running down her cheeks to the canvas after she spits out her gumshield. 4....5... Gingerly she pushes to a kneeling position. Cradling her stomach. 6....7....8... Anna watches the count with her chest rising faster as she tries to get her breathing back to normal. 9....10 it's all over for Anna's debut, ending with her counted out!

Winner Ivana Baquero KO Round 5

After:
Ivana showing she can step up a gear when needed still as she walks over to Anna to check on her. Putting her right glove on her shoulder as she makes sure to tell her she did good. Anna nods but looks understandably more relieved when an ice pack is placed onto her stomach to ease the pain in it.

The winner returning to her corner to get wiped down by Taryn. Who tells her "that was a great workout for you" with a wink. Ivana nodding with a grin as she gets her gloves taken off by Taryn. Ivana certainly had to earn this win.

Anna is helped to her stool so she can recover. Anna takes the praise from her coach as she admits it was fun till she got hit in the liver. She seems keen to keep going in boxing as they discuss what went wrong and could be improved upon.

Both women come to the center of the ring for the final announcement. Anna still has the ice pack held against her stomach with her right hand. Ivana getting her left hand raised as Anna nods along to the announcement of Ivana's name. They nod to each other before Anna heads out the ring.

It'll be interesting to see where Anna goes for her next bout. She showed glimpses of her skillset. You'd expect it will be an easier opponent for her second bout but she has already proven she will take on anyone willing to give her a shot.

In the ring Ivana makes it clear on camera "Michelle (Keegan) better hold her title close because I am going to earn my shot at it. It's coming home to me." Tapping her waist where she wants the BBU flyweight title to return to. The division is deep so she will need to prove she deserves the shot over some emerging talent and veterans looking to regain the title like herself.

Leaving the ring with Taryn. Ivana is looking fired up. She is motivated to return to the mountain top, who is next in line for Ivana as she has her fists clenched. Taryn smiling as she is more then happy to see this from her fighter.