Martine McCutcheon returns to the boxing ring after a year away as a late replacement for Charlotte McKenna and takes on fellow actress Natalie Bassingthwaighte who still looks for her first victory away from her home Australia. This is a great chance for both these women to score a much needed victory and because of McCutcheon's long lay-off period it's uncertain how she'll perform on her comeback against a mediocre opponent. The fight is scheduled for ten rounds in the bantamweight division.

Martine McCutcheon wearing a black basque top, matching knickers and red gloves. Natalie Bassingthwaighte wearing a navy blue basque top, white knickers and black gloves.

Round 1:
Cautious start in Birmingham as Martine jabs from behind the guard and crashes off the forearms with NatBass equally laid-back and just circiling around the brunette and struggling to slice her guard early. As time goes on, Martine shows more intentions, targets the blonde's midriff and goes around the elbows but Bassingthwaighte keeps her in mid-distance and swings couple of menacing hooks around the head which force McCutcheon to stray back. Late in the round the Aussie leaps towards her and tries to land some straight jabs but can't break the guard and settles for more circles around the ring and the round concludes with the crowd rightfully jeering the two fighters.

Round 2:
It's hard to tell where Martine is right now but she leaps towards the blonde and sends some nasty jabs on the tummy, eats a left uppercut on the rack though and covers up but NatBass spikes her over the top and snaps the head back in a first significant effort of the night. McCutcheon ducks low and seeks more midriff damage but Bassingthwaighte whacks her with a right hook on the eye, not sure whether she really meant that but the brunette moans in pain for the first time and the blonde charges forward, throws a series on the tummy and pushes Martine back to the ropes with a spirited effort. On comes Nat, slices the guard with a cross-hooking combo and blasts a left hook on the jaw that has McCutcheon spinning on the ropes and there's more leather from the Aussie who tries to reach for her rival's head but McCutcheon keeps the high guard; Bassingthwaighte reverts into pounding away at her stomach instead and keeps the raven-haired actress trapped until the bell with Martine unable to produce any response.

Round 3:
NatBass looked better in the second round and she realizes Martine's very much hittable so pounces on the opportunity and matches the brunette's footwork before firing away at her tummy; McCutcheon tries to circle away from close range, but gets tagged on the chest and a left hook reaches her jaw snapping the head back and staggering her in the middle of the ring. NatBass strikes over the top, whips overhand leather on the mouth and gives the brunette some early cuts. The footwork's all gone now and Martine weaves on her feet but can't do anything about the blonde lashing out at her face, guard barely stays in tact but the Aussie goes around the elbows and cleans out the ribcage instead. Martine falls back to the ropes, tries to land single shots from behind the guard but is too slow to cause any trouble and NatBass rips into her tummy, lands some nasty jabs and has the brunette moaning. Right uppercut bounces off the chest and clips McCutcheon's chin before a huge left hand whacks her on the eye and the knees give way for the English actress who sinks on the ropes for good and the Aussie blonde ravages her rack thereafter. She ignores the high guard and drives low for success, the bashing proves too much for Martine to handle, she tries to clinch the blonde but eats another overhand on the jaw and looks dazed at the bell with Nat threatening to demolish her in ruthless fashion.

Round 4:
It's been a very long time since Bassingthwaighte looked so superior in the ring but McCutcheon's subpar at best tonight and the Aussie makes the most of it. She closes the brunette down again and slams a series around the elbows, has Martine gasping for air after another uppercut on the chest and more leather targets the head from there on. NatBass finds her rhythm in close-range, throws a couple of uppercuts that crash off the guard but McCutcheon's single striking response from the top is too slow and the blonde dekes around it, counters from the side and cross-hooks the mitts, right hand on the cheek, left hand on the eye and Martine sags back on the ropes, just loses her footing and is lucky not to fall flat on her back. Bassingthwaighte pours in with the barrage, another left hand on the cheek just above the brunette's raising glove and a right hook on the nose follows... DOWN GOES McCUTCHEON ON HER KNEES. just unable to handle the onslaught anymore as NatBass shakes her glove in delight. It's a slow count but the English girl still has trouble in beating it... a very tired looking Martine gets up at seven and her face shows some nasty bruising her with Bassingthwaighte having no sympathy for her whatsoever... Back we go and NatBass rips into her guts, keeps her pinned on the ropes and just lashes out with some venom. Punchbag treatment for the raven-haired actress who eats more leather on the rack, drops her arms and has her head snapped back with another double hooking combo as the blonde reigns supreme and keeps pounding away... McCutcheon's all beaten up and the ref should really put the end to this beatdown but he's not doing it and Nat gives her more lumps on the already swollen looking face... there's the bell and some people wonder how on Earth is the English girl still standing?

Round 5:
McCutcheon somehow makes it back for the fifth but looks wrecked both physically and mentally. She is unable to defend herself when Bassingthwaighte pours in with another combo on the rack, a swift uppercut clips her on the jaw, another right hand spikes the brow ride and DOWN GOES MARTINE FLAT ON HER BACK in the middle of the ring. Nat leans over her and indicates she can do this all night long but the brunette just rolls onto her side and begins sobbing in pain and quite frankly she's been thouroughly beaten up here. There's no surprise she allows the ref to count her out and it's a vicious KO R5 Natalie Bassingthwaighte!!!

Post-fight:
The blonde Aussie celebrates vividly with her corner after securing the maiden BBU victory and allthough she was presented with a very rusty and cumbersome opponent, she showed no sympathy whatsoever and brutally pounded Martine McCutcheon. This should really give her a massive confidence boost; ever since getting destroyed by Alesha Dixon on the inaugural Ashes card, her career was in serious limbo. Perhaps tonight is NatBass' fresh start?

Meanwhile it's been a poor comeback for Martine who simply got torn apart by not the most demanding rival. The extended lay-off period did her no favors but she really could have produced a more spirited performance. Quite a few punches from Bassingthwaighte left Martine's face heavily bruised and one must question if she's going to really enjoy her return to BBU in the foreseeable future.

Final result: Natalie Bassingthwaighte def. Martine McCutcheon KO5