Virani MacVicar vs. Lexi Mills – Round 6: Bring the Hurt

As remembered by Emma McGale

I’m used to being ringside for Virani’s fights. I’ve been to a bunch of them now. This one feels different. This is the first time it feels like Virani’s head hasn’t been in the game. That’s never been a trait of hers. She’s always been a focused, motivated individual, but tonight she looks, lost, unfocused. I didn’t really get to watch much of Virani’s training because I’m still medically suspended after getting summarily knocked out in my last fight. Is this really my fault? It really shouldn’t be. Virani’s training is more than just her steady sparring partner. But maybe I could have been around more, seen more. Kept her focused.

But no, Virani’s career isn’t on me. I’m just a supporting character in her own story. And the main character in my own.

The 5th round was the most uncharacteristic of Virani’s career. That wasn’t her in that ring. Maybe she was getting desperate, trying to play mindgames with Lexi, but it should have been obvious to even the most dunderheaded fighter that she didn’t need to be playing games, she just needed to be the Canadian Cobra.

Early in the 6th round, Virani seemed like she might have been back on the path she needed to me. She kept a tight guard and stalked Lexi down. Though Lexi tried to establish her jab, Virani was mostly doing a good job of nullifying it. Now she just needed to get on the offensive.

Virani v. Lexi 29

Seemingly back in the groove, Virani stepped up the tempo a bit, competing with Lexi’s jab and landing some glancing punches on Lexi. It was good to see her go back to her usual style, looking comfortable. You can bother Virani with power punches, but Lexi doesn’t really have the power to trouble the champion, which means that she absolutely could not afford to trade, and her jab was being nullified. Though Virani hadn’t landed much yet, to me it seemed like a matter of time.

Lexi tried to switch it up by turning one of her jabs into a hook, but Virani avoided it and with that same movement went inside to land a short, wicked looking left hook to the liver area of Lexi.

That’s one of the things I know Thomas has been working with Virani with. She’s a natural headhunter, but that left hook to the liver is one of those punches that can end a fight. Considering Virani can throw a left hook with just about anyone, adjusting the target from the head to the liver made a ton of sense. I can tell that Lexi didn’t like the taste of that punch. That one might not of gotten the liver just right, but maybe the next time she will get it just right and that will be the end of that.

Virani v. Lexi 30Virani was seemingly in control of the round, not quite looking like the dominant fighter everyone was expecting, but not looking like chopped liver either. Realistically, the damage might already be done to her reputation, though admittedly it will only be a minor setback at best, as long as she gets the comeback win here. She’s got Lexi being more defensive which is good, Virani is hard to beat with just defence. She misses Lexi with a jab as Lexi sways to her left…

Virani v. Lexi 31But before Lexi can right herself to throw a left to the body, Virani beats her to the punch with a solid right hand that sends sweat spraying. I think there might have been some droplets falling on people in the first row. Nice punch, nice swift reaction from Virani. Instinctive. This Virani at her best, and most dangerous.

Virani v. Lexi 32It’s occurred to me, that it could easily have been me in there fighting Lexi for the Canadian title, and I’m pretty sure I could give her a better fight than Virani had. I hesitate to call Virani selfish in wanting to defend her title, but maybe, in retrospect there could have been a better path that would have worked for both of us. Maybe I could have had my moment in the sun right now.

But I’m just the second-stringer here. I’m happy enough to be able to benefit from my relationship with Virani, I wouldn’t be here at all if not for her, but I do think I might need to assert myself a bit more.

The momentum of the round had swung dramatically in Virani’s favour. Now Lexi was backpedalling and trying to avoid the onrushing Cobra. Trying to throw a jab off the back foot was not working for Lexi as Virani simply walked through those weak jabs to throw punches with actual evil intent behind them. Without a really solid defence and lacking any sort of threat to Virani it was only a matter of time before she was able to land more and more punches. And with Virani, those heavy power shots were the type of punches you didn’t want to be on the receiving end of.

Lexi tried to throw a right hand and Virani stepped at an angle and simply replied with a straight right hand to the chin. Lexi, girl, I’ve been where you are, and it is not fun.

Virani v. Lexi 33More of the same as the round came to towards its conclusion. The tenor of the crowd was rising, sensing that that challenger’s brave resistance was coming to an end, and that normal order was being restored. The crowd was pro-Virani, and as much as they may have been swayed by the underdog story of Lexi Mills, the crowd wanted to see a knockout and the fighter that was likely to provide that was Virani.

Virani’s ability to find the angles for finding punches really began to show itself as she landed an overhand right that cracked Lexi on the chin as a picture-perfect counterpunch.

Virani v. Lexi 34Lexi wobbles for a moment, her legs giving way for a moment, before she recovers and goes into a shell to survive the rest of the round. But she’s notably looking a bit worse for wear at the end of this round. I feel for you girl, I’ve been on the end of Virani’s punches, and I can confirm that it not fun. Unfortunately for you, there’s still 4 rounds for you to go.

Good luck.

You are going to need it.

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Laila Ali: “A return to form from Virani MacVicar in round 6 has her fans gaining hope once again that she can deliver the expected result. It has been a far more challenging outing for the Canadian champion than most pundits have expected but she did land some good power punches on Lexi Mills in the 6th. Let’s see how the challenger intends to respond.”

Georgia: “Well, we knew that was coming, take some deep breaths and tell me how you feel.”

Lexi: “Are you sure that her gloves aren’t loaded, she hits so hard.”

Georgia: “Deep breaths. Listen. We knew that she could bring the hurt if she could get to us. You have to stay active with the jab and with your legs. You cannot be in range with her. We have the lead on the scorecards, we just need to stop her momentum dead. You did it before. Do it again.”

Lexi: “I don’t think I can…I don’t have the same energy as early in the fight.”

Georgia: “This is a title fight Lexi, it’s not about what you think you can do, it’s about what you have to do.”

Lexi: “I’ll do my best.”

In Virani’s corner

Thomas: “Not much to say, but that’s what I want from you.”

Virani: “I know. That round felt good.”

Thomas: “Hunt for the finish if you see a chance, but don’t press it. She doesn’t seem to enjoy your power, so it may undo her if you keep on her.”

Virani: “Understood.”

Virani v. Lexi 35

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