Blonde twister rips through the ring

Round 4 begins slowly with the two boxers squaring off but hesitating to do much.

Anna wants to catch up and get even, but not at any price. Lena knows she has something to lose as she’s ahead, but she thinks scoring big counters to make that lead a mountain.

The pretty blonde brings on more aggression and her opponent stands her ground. Lena misfires a few times on the counter, clearly not comfortable with a more active role. This goes on for about a minute, not producing the sparks that Fiona was looking for.

The dance continues until Lena has a moment of genius, near the end. She realises that the way Anna handles herself warrants a pivot before launching an effective counter.

Anna comes forward with a right hook to the body. As the punch leaves the station, her left hand drops. Lena sidesteps to the right and pivots to put all her weight behind a fast right cross. PISH! It crushes the middle of Anna’s face.

Anna Schwartz Lena Löw 15-1

Esther: “A thumping right hand by Löw, who defends herself more robustly than in the first three rounds. She puts enough leather and padding in Schwartz’ face to say: get too close and I’ll show the sadistic side of my personality.”

Anna Schwartz Lena Löw 15-2

Anna gets out before the exchange turns into a battle she couldn’t win. She takes her stance back and circles around Lena. A few jabs help keep the Southern girl away in case she is thinking of launching a lethal attack.

The bell rings to end the round, followed by a minute of rest and advice.

War erupts

Encouraged by the previous action, Lena can’t wait for the blonde’s next ventures. She thinks: “Come here. I want to punish you some more.”

The bell rings.

Round 5 brings more of the same, with Lena’s defense being hard to penetrate and her counters being more incisive.

Anna throws a few more jabs to keep her opponent busy. Then, she pumps the left hand to fake the jab and comes in with a right cross. Lena steps inside from a slight angle and extends her left hand straight. The red glove zooms in and swats Anna’s face, making her head and neck twist violently under the impact. PISH!

Anna Schwartz Lena Löw 16-1

Anna Schwartz Lena Löw 16-2

A rattled Anna takes more punches in the late round, and holds on to Lena until the ref separates them.

At the break, Maxim tells her protégée that she is falling behind, big time, and needs to stage a comeback to win the fight. She has to run the table in the last three rounds, and needs to do it with pure aggression. It’s risky, but she needs to be bold.

The Ice Queen goes for it, attracking with more attitude and desperation than before. She needs a result now to win this fight. From the tip of her toes, she bounces back and forth, as well as sideways, to keep Lena guessing where she will go next.

A few effective jabs surprise the girl from Saarbrücken early in Round 6. A scrappier Anna finally puts the Angry Squirrel under pressure, and heavier fire than at any time during the first five rounds.

The blonde’s bombing pays dividends in the second minute of the round. Anna alternates between head and body until Lena finally drops her hands to protect downstairs. When she sees a clear opening, she fires a heavy duty right hook that smashes her opponent’s cheek.

Anna Schwartz Lena Löw 17-1

Anna Schwartz Lena Löw 17-2

Anna goes on the carry the round, receiving kudos from Maxim in the corner, and the request to keep it going. Heart, guts and creativity when punching are keys to notching the win.

Blonde ambition

Inspired and backed by an increasingly loud audience, Anna goes through Round 6 on the front foot. She stops respecting Lena’s defense to land the best shots throughout. The redhead’s previously sturdy defense has been figured out, leading to quality punishment by the Berliner’s pink gloves.

The best shot of the round lands with 20 seconds left. Lena is moving backwards to the right. Anna responds by faking the left hook to make her lean further back. When the visitor takes the extra step towards the ropes, the blonde drives in with another aggressive, powerful straight right hand that connects with the tip of her chin.

Anna Schwartz Lena Löw 18-1

Anna Schwartz Lena Löw 18-2

The crowd cheers very loudly. Anna keeps the initiative for the rest of the round and gives the impression that she is winning it. Then, the bell rings.

At the break, Esther looks at her screens and delivers the verdict before the eighth and final round of the fight.

Esther: “It’s two minutes to midnight as far as this fight is concerned, and it is a very close battle. I give four rounds to Lena Löw and three to Anna Schwartz, who is only one point behind on my card. The Berliner would have to win the last round to make the score even. The judges may, however, see it differently. She has been the aggressor throughout the fight, and they may reward her for it. Don’t go away. Now is not the time for an extended toilet break!”

Anna Schwartz Lena Löw 20

Anna Schwartz Lena Löw 19