Virani MacVicar vs. Carla Flores – Round 4

Carla comes out of the gate hot, intent on proving the last round was a fluke, the Mexican comes straight out of the corner throwing leather. Virani mostly avoids the punches, but takes a clean one flush on the jaw as a reminder that the Mexican is a clear and present threat.

Laila: “La Princesa starts the round like a house on fire, throwing leather like it is going out of style. MacVicar avoids a good percentage, but not all of them, as a snappy right hand sends sweat flying from the Canadian’s head. Good power and placement from the Mexican is what we’ve come to expect. But will she be able to keep up the pace for the rest of the round?”

Virani: Carla is explosive and she has no fear in throwing punches. If I was a counterpuncher, I could exploit it, but I’m well…not. I avoid most of the incoming blows, but a right hand sneaks through. That…hurts. Girl can punch.

Carla: If Virani won’t stand and trade, I’ll just make this one-sided trading. Virani’s defence is better. Her use of space is better. But I can still land more.

Virani v. Carla 24

Virani, a little stung from Carla’s opening salvo, gets her feet moving to keep her preferred distance. Carla tries to cut off the ring agains the Canadian Cobra, but doesn’t have much success. Frustrated, Carla tries to throw a right hand, that gets rudely interrupted by a jab from Virani…and then accompanied by a crunching right hand that gets the crowd’s approval.

Laila:”A punishing 1-2 from MacVicar lands hard….and you know what they say, a spoonful of leather will make the plastic surgeon think of a big payday! MacVicar’s plastic surgeon liscence may have gotten held up in the mail, but she’s doing effective work at the moment.”

Virani: Carla’s really forcing it now. And I’m staying just far enough out of range that she’s having to reach for everything. So when Carla misses, I’m able to go to work, landing a good jab and a smashing right hand that just felt great when it landed. Sorry, Princess.

Carla: I asked for Virani’s leather, and I got it. Too bad she won’t stay in range to fight me though.

Virani v. Carla 25

Carla gets Virani along the ropes, but the Canadian invites the pressure, not attempting to escape. Carla needs no invitation and unloads the heavy artillery, but the Canadian dodges brilliantly, letting the uppercut fall short as she leans back into the ropes. A followup left hand is slipped by the Cobra as she slides to her left and off of the ropes.

Laila: “MacVicar should change her name to the Slippery Cobra after that display. Flores went for the homerun swing with those punches, but like Mighty Casey, she struck out big time. MacVicar is in The Matrix now ladies and gentleman.”

Virani: Easy to read, confidently avoided. Next time, sweetheart.

Carla: She just won’t stay still…

At ringside:

Emma: “Did you teach her that?”

Alesia: “Not specifically, but if she’s inspired by my movement, that’s great. Sexy moves!”

Virani v. Carla 26

Virani has the tempo in this round, but it’s not exactly a barnburner of a round either. Carla seems to make a small adjustment, not coming in as recklessly as before. Her offensive output slows, but at least she’s not being on the end of Virani’s punches.

Laila: “A slower one and an effective one for MacVicar, but not one that has been flawless as it has seen Carla rededicate herself to protecting herself a little better. That is both pragmatic from ‘La Princesa’ but also might be a reaction to disliking the black leather she has been recieving from Virani.”

Virani: Well, I feel like I have a bit of understanding on how this fight is going and it’s kind of going in a direction I like now. A girl can get used to this. Even when Carla slips my punch, it’s purely a defensive move, and not one to get at me. Defanging the puncher is a start.

Carla: If Virani is going to box, I’m going to show her I’m not some sort of braindead neanderthal. I can box too.

Virani v. Carla 27

Laila: “As the round progresses, there is room for openings as Carla tries to adapt to this new reality…and there’s a sharp wakeup call as Virani drills a right hand through Carla’s guard….Virani has been very accurate with the punches she has landed…that’s the ability of a puncher right there and Virani seems to have not lost that particular talent.”

Virani: Feeding leather to the opponent that thought she had me earlier. This is quite a turnaround. Just needed a bit more confidence and a bit of time to sort myself out.

Thomas: “That’s how it’s done, Virani!”

At ringside:

Alesia: “Ever got roughed up like that by Virani, Emma?”

Emma: “Unfortunately….yes”

Virani v. Carla 28

Carla Flores knows that she needs a big change around to win this round, and instead of conceeding the round, she decides to go for it coming forward behind big punches, much as she had earlier. Virani coyly keeps her distance, stepping back and to her left to avoid the incoming punches, which fall harmlessly short.

Laila: “You cannot blame Carla for trying to win a round late on, but Virani simply doesn’t want to play that game and she doesn’t engage, simply stepping away from the line of fire. Calm defence under fire from the Canadian Cobra.”

Virani: This feels like what I was able to do against Chloe in sparring. Finally feels like something might have clicked in recently. But I’m not getting complacent, because if I do, Carla will clobber me.

Carla: Virani has done well to win the round, but there is lots of time left to get what I want. I can’t waste my opportunities.

At ringside:

Alesia thinks: “This is nuts but… I’m wishing I were in that ring with Virani right now.”

Virani v. Carla 29

As the round enters its final stage, for the first time in a long while, Virani acts as the aggressor as Carla rues a lost round. Virani throws a few jabs and then slides to the side dropping her shoulder and then unleashing a right hand that gets Carla right in the midsection. A little payback from the punishment to the body that Carla has provided her.

Laila: “Late into the 4th round, MacVicar appears to be clearly in control. She is not only making Carla miss, she is dishing out the type of punishment that Carla would hope to be inflicting on her. I believe that is called a ‘Double-whammy’ to use the technical term.”

Virani: Just because I’m working on being more of a boxer, it doesn’t mean that I’m abandoning everything that brought me to this point, so when Carla starts being a bit passive, that’s time to go on the attack. I carve out an opening to the body and then take it, giving back a little bit of what Carla has given to me so far. Still a bit of debt on that account that I need to pay back.

At ringside:

Thomas: “Excellent, Virani, Excellent!”

Virani v. Carla 30

Laila: “After a round that will no doubt be considered a win for Virani MacVicar and will even out the scorecards, lets go to the corners to see how each of our fighters are feeling.”

In the Red Corner

Juanita: “Sit down. Take a drink.”

Carla: “I’m losing these rounds…what am I doing wrong?”

Juanita: “You can’t force it, my princess. You are trying too hard to make something happen. Notice what Virani is doing, she is letting the fight come to her. You must do the same.”

Carla: “But…I want to push the tempo of the fight…”

Juanita: “You can push it, and be aggressive, but she is punishing stupidity and your mistakes. There is a difference. Now watch for patterns that she is using and then exploit it.”

Carla: “Okay. More patient. Anything else?”

Juanita: “Let the fight come to you. Virani will make mistakes. And when she does…”

Carla: “I strike.”

In the Blue Corner:

Thomas: “That’s a lovely smile, Virani. Happier with the plan now?”

Virani: “I am seeing the benefits at the moment. I’m not sure if Carla knows what to do. She’s pushing hard, but its backfiring.”

Thomas: “Carla only really knows one way to fight. Either she tries to fight outside her comfort zone or she tries to do the same thing again.”

Virani: “That’s the definition of insanity.”

Thomas: “What?”

Virani: “Doing the same thing and expecting different results. The definition of insanity.

Thomas: “….are you sure you are in the right sport?”

Virani: “Positive.”

Virani v. Carla 31 - Corners

Virani MacVicar
Virani MacVicar
Current Featherweight champion. A Canadian puncher known for her knockouts that has developed a more all-round style.