Reese’s inactivity raises questions about her fighting spirit. Meanwhile, Keri still trying to establish herself in a crowded flyweight division.
Reece: “Any questions about my fitness level or commitment to boxing will be answered tonight. It’s nice to see Keri finally get in the game. But I’ve been doing this for years. She’s going to have to pay her dues, just like every other girl. Tonight, that means she’s going to learn a painful lesson.”
Keri: “Reese doesn’t back down. She’s always coming after you, always throwing punches. It’s going to be on me to pick my spots and land the right punches. But this fight isn’t about her. She’s already had a long career. It’s my turn to shine!”

Round 1: Keri showing solid footwork and a probing jab, while Reese just jumps right in. Keri forced to give ground, but expecting this high energy attack out of the gate. Keri is dealing well, with shifty head movements and catching punches on her gloves. This kind of defence isn’t discouraging Reese as she continues to press forward and it’s a rising left uppercut that BREAKS THROUGH to Keri’s chin. Russell, knocked out of orbit as her legs stiffen up! Keri slides back into the ropes for stability and Reese is all over her! Now it’s Keri, rolling in the ropes, showing that tight earmuff as Reese blasts away. Keri’s body already pinking up after just one round and her shoulders slump as she walks slowly back to her corner.

Round 2: Grim faces in Keri’s corner between rounds. They need her to dance to be effective but it doesn’t look like her legs are up to it. Straightforward pressure from Reese pushes the fight out to the ropes. Keri knows she needs to get out of there but Reese shoves her knee between Keri’s thighs, effectively pinning Keri to the ropes. Now it’s knife fight in a phone booth and Reese takes advantage, thudding home solid punches as Keri sponges it up. Keri tries to trap Reese’s left glove under her arm, hoping for a break from the ref. Reese keeps punching with the right, landing a solid body blow that loosens Keri’s grip, freeing Reese’s left hand for a brutal hook to the chin. Crowd is loving this kind of beating and the ref doesn’t hear the bell over the noise, which allows Reese to get in a few bonus punches.

Round 3: It’s all smiles in the Witherspoon corner. This is exactly the kind of fight they were hoping for. Reese looks to close in again, but Keri’s footwork is a little better now. Keri in full reverse, showing a solid tight guard. It’s Reese stalking forward, as both fighter throw jabs and scoot. Fans surprised by this kind of passivity from Keri. Maybe she just needed the round to recover. It’s easily Reese’s round as she’s cleaning up through three.

Round 4: Russell back in gear and she’s looking to punch it out with Reese. Fans loving this kind of fighting. No hiding, no holding, just straightforward girl on girl punching. Both fighters with solid guards and flurries are flying both ways. Keri’s head hunting a bit but she can’t quite land clean. Reese showing good head movement and picking off jabs with her gloves. Keri comes in again with that same three punch combo, and REESE COUNTERS! A big left hook catches Keri flush on the cheek, sending her wobbly butt! Reese pours it on, as Keri clams up hoping to ride out the storm. Now it’s Witherspoon lathering punches to tummy, and digging in to open flanks. Crowd in a frenzy at the bell as Reese raises her arm as she saunters back to her corner. Keri staring hollow-eyed as she sags in the ropes after the round. She’s in trouble and she knows it.

Between rounds: Amy Adams works quickly to get Keri ready. Gingerly, she puts ice on the back of the neck and lovingly takes Keri’s face in her hands. “Keri! Honey, listen to me. You need to get strong right now. This is YOUR fight and no one can take it away from you. “

Round 5: Gut check time for Keri Russell. Her clock has been good and cleaned these last few rounds. Let’s see if she’s got any fight still in her. Girls close in and KERI HAMMERS HOME A STRAIGHT RIGHT! Pops Reese right on the nose! ‘Spoon staggered back and blinking back tears as Russell pours in! Keri roaring back as she looks for revenge, mixing digging hooks to ribs with bruising work up top. Wtiherspoon trying to create some breathing space but Keri’s offense is smothering. Reese trying to answer back, but she’s getting beaten to the punch over and over. Keri’s landing greater volume, winning the punch count by almost three to one. Russell forces hard eye contact before the ref breaks them up and sends them to their corners.

Round 6: Reese trying to get back in the driver’s seat. She thinks the most aggressive girl is going to win the fight so she bounces out of her corner, bringing a smirk from Keri. Her prey is walking into a trap she didn’t have to set. Witherspoon advancing without a jab, looks like she just wants to slug away and claw her way back into this fight. Keri’s showing surprising slickness here. Feinting the jab before spearing home the right; landing hooks where she can. Frustration showing for Reese, she can’t close in and she can’t break through. She’s stuck out on the end of Russell’s jab. Not bruising power from Keri, but she’s clearly in charge here. Reece heads back to corner breathing deep, hands on hips. Needs to try something else to solve this puzzle. Keri all smiles as she raises a glove to the crowd.

Round 7: Pep talk in Witherspoon corner: “If she’s not hurting you with the jab, pay the price and get to her body!” Reese takes the advice to heart, bullying through Keri’s defences to get in some firm shots to tummy and tits. Interior fighting not what Keri Russell wants, and she digs the left shoulder into Reese’s chest and bumps her off, then slides away to use the ring. It’s Reese closing again, cutting off the ring but willing to fight at a distance. Keri’s too skilled for that, making Reese miss and landing tidy, stinging punches. She takes the round, piling up the points in the middle rounds.

Between Rounds: Amy Adams rubs Keri’s legs: “Are you feeling strong? Then it’s time to bring the hammer down! No more touching this girl for points! Every punch is mean and nasty now, you hear me? You’ve got her where you want her, now close her out!”

Round 8: Reese knows her best chance is fighting in the pocket, and she stalks her girl one more time. Keri happy to play matador, sticking punches to tummy or chin. Keri looking more aggressive now, ducking under to pour in hurt to Reese’s tummy. Hard hook to the liver lands... OH! and Reese takes a knee! Lowering herself gingerly to the canvas as she feels that gut shot. Witherspoon’s face pinched in hurt and she’s struggling to breathe as the ref counts. Mouthpiece spat out at “four” and Reese just manages to straighten out her leg by “eight”. Buys a few extra seconds as the mouthpiece needs to be rinsed out. Keri bouncing excitedly in the neutral corner, champing at the bit to continue the beating. The ref waves her in and KERI’S TRYING TO END IT! Bullying her girl back into the ropes and applying high pressure punching. Reese showing an iron will, refusing to go down, proud legs holding her up, but the punches just aren’t coming from her. Keri shows no sign of slowing down, still hammering blows to tummy and tits. AND THE REF DIVES IN TO STOP IT! Reese sagging into the ropes, numb from hurt, as Keri Russell celebrates her TKO8 victory!

After: Keri jubilant in victory, still breathing hard from that KO effort. Amy Adams is into the ring quick to celebrate with her charge. She seems to know where all the photographers are as she leads Keri around for pictures. It’s a great comeback from Keri after being hurt early. Keri with nothing but praise for her opponent. “Reese really had me over a barrel in the early rounds. She’s a good little fighter and she still packs quite a punch! I knew she wanted to fight inside, but I just couldn’t seem to stop her. She got into me pretty good and I just had to gut it out. But I believed in my skills, and I believed in my punching ability. Once I caught her, I knew I could finish her.”

Reese holds her head high as she’s interviewed mid ring. “Keri fought great. I knew I needed to slow her down. I got her stationary early and I was feeling really strong in there. I don’t know where she got the energy in the middle because she was a totally different fighter halfway through. Not to take anything away from her, but I expect more from me. I’m going to come back better next time.” Long cheers from the crowd for this exciting, high-energy fighter.