Virani MacVicar vs. Lexi Mills – Round 5: Taunting

As remembered by Laila Ali

As a commentator, you do a lot of your job before the fight, preparing for the eventualities that might occur, the storylines that may happen. The point is to be prepared for anything. This fight was a fairly straightforward prep. Virani MacVicar is the girl that DAZN wants to push and she was being given another chance to blow a girl out of the water in her hometown. Usually, fights like this only go one way. The other fighter knows they are up against it, and they try to make the fight not that long. It’s a brutal calculus – take the easy way out or risk ten rounds of punishment for the same result. Or worse, end up on a highlight reel for the rest of your life, known as ‘That girl that got laid out.’

But the script here had been flipped in a big way. Not only was Virani losing, she looked awful. Just getting beaten to the punch, by a lightly regarded fighter. To this point I’ve kept the commentary focused on Virani, how she needs to improve, what she needs to do to get through to Lexi, because that’s what my bosses at DAZN want. But at a certain point I need to start broaching the idea of a big upset.

The last round at least, was a winning round for Virani, if not a vintage round for the Canadian champion. I assumed that the start of the 5th would be another good round for the Cobra, after having gotten on track in the last one, and indeed Virani got off to a good start, shrugging off Lexi’s attempts to re-establish the jab as the dominant punch in the fight. The then landed a left hook that, while glancing, sent a spray of water flying off of Lexi’s head.

“MacVicar has found something here in the 5th. She is starting to find a home for her punches, and that could be bad news for the gutsy challenger Lexi Mills.”

Virani v. Lexi 21

While I hyped up the start of Virani’s triumphant return to form, it just failed to materialize. Virani and Lexi fell back into a sort of stalemate with neither fighter able to land much of note. It was reaching a point, where I was thinking that I had to broach the idea that Lexi may be able to pull off the upset. Especially after Lexi landed a decent right hook that slipped nicely between Virani’s gloves.

“Mills will not go away in this fight, and you have to think that she is starting to pull away on the scorecards, putting pressure on the champion to act now to save her belt.”

Virani v. Lexi 22

Of all the things I expected Virani to do after recieving a punch, I would have never anticipated that she would put her hands down and stick out her tongue at her opponent.

Now, taunting isn’t anything new in the boxing ring. Boxing is just as much mental as it is physical and a well timed taunt is just as valid a weapon as a well timed counter. But, it was not in Virani’s character to taunt like this. Well, maybe if she was winning, but in a losing fight? What was she trying to accomplish here? To show that Lexi isn’t hurting her? Sure. But Lexi was winning.

“MacVicar sticks her tongue out at Lexi Mills, seemingly showing her contempt for the fists packed into those silver gloves…”

Virani v. Lexi 23

But instead of Virani’s taunting gesture intimidating Lexi, the challenger took it as a cue that she was getting to the Canadian Cobra. It backfired, putting it lightly. Lexi continued to box smartly and then snuck through a solid jab, as Virani failed to parry it.

“Mills has taken MacVicar’s provocation as a sign that she is getting to MacVicar and now she is getting through Virani’s guard with a snappy jab…”

Virani v. Lexi 24

Mills followed the opening with her right, pivoting her weight nicely to follow through on a classic 1-2. That punch landed true, catching Virani on the jaw and almost on the chin. That was a puncher’s punch. It didn’t matter that Lexi was a natural bantamweight, that one stung Virani.

“Mills is pouring it on here in the 5th. She is taking her chances and hurting the champion. ‘The Grinder’ came into this fight a huge underdog, but she is flipping the script here tonight.”

Virani v. Lexi 25

The rest of the round would have made sense if the roles were reversed. Virani fought off the back foot, not landing much of anything. Lexi came forward, using the jab as her primary tool, but managing to land some decent punches, though nothing earth shattering.

“Lexi Mills is taking the fight to MacVicar here in the 5th and she is winning the exchange with the Canadian champion!”

It was time to start telling the story of Lexi Mills. This was turning out to be the story of Lexi Mills, unhearlded underdog, and Virani MacVicar, massively overhyped regional champion. It was her job to communicate that story to the people watching at home.

Very late in the round, Lexi put Virani under pressure with a flurry of punches, which Virani mostly avoided, but as she went to back out, Virani stumbled for a moment and she staggered into the ropes, totally out of sync. Lexi followed Virani and landed a short compact uppercut that caught Virani cleanly under the chin. It was a statement punch in the fight.

“Lexi Mills takes advantage of a MacVicar stumble, literally, and nails the Champion with a big uppercut. Virani survives the punch, but its clear that this is another round in favour of the challenger.”

VIrani v. Lexi 26

After absorbing Lexi’s best punch of the night, Virani was able to ride out the remaining second without looking too worse off for wear.

“Turnabout is fair play for Lexi Mills as she sticks her tongue out at MacVicar. The Canadian champion is in real trouble of losing this fight. Through 5 rounds, Mills has won the majority of them. This is crisis mode for The Canadian Cobra.”

Virani v. Lexi 27

Laila Ali: “In a stunning development, this fight has gone from bad to worse for the champion in her first title defence. Lexi Mills has won 4 of the first 5 rounds of this encounter and she had Virani hurting by the end of the round. The unheralded underdog has come into this fight with a basic, but effective plan and has stymied the champion at every turn. It’s desparation time for the champion, who may see her stock plummet at this point even if she ekes out a win.”

In Virani’s Corner:

Thomas: “I have nothing to say to you. You know that was the height of stupidity. You know how to bring this fight back. Now either do it or don’t. I’ve given you all the advice you need.”

Virani: “Thomas, I’m sorry, I got carried away. It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Thomas: “Just hit this girl in the face, Virani. There’s not much more than I can say at this point.”

Virani thinks: Well, I really screwed this one up. Either I make it up in the next few rounds or my career is a joke.

Virani v. Lexi 28

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