Body work

Carla Flores took the fight to Michaela Sommer in Round 2. How will the German react?

The two fighters stand across from each other before the bell rings, each staring at each other.

Michaela thinks: Going to make this up close and personal, whether you like it or not

Carla thinks: You’re going to wish you were born with longer arms. I’ll hit you and not get hit until you say ‘no mas’

Getting Physical

Michaela Sommer’s boxing will never really draw plaudits for its beauty. It often draws plaudits for its effectiveness.

To change the tenor of the fight the first thing that Michaela does is not throw a punch, but use her shoulder to drive Carla towards the ropes, like a linebacker completing a tackle.

Michaela thinks: “Enjoy. I’m stronger than you.”

Laila Ali: “Michaela Sommer says I wasn’t too pleased about the last round, so I’m going to do something right off the start to make it clear to you. It’s not the prettiest and it draws a warning from the referee, but it’s about sending a message.”

enlarge

After the referee separates the two fighters, Michaela goes right to work. She steps back into range and throws a short, authoritative hook that lands flush – the German’s best punch of the fight so far.

Michaela thinks: You better run, because I just showed how I’m going to beat you.

Laila: “Michaela Sommer is at her best when fighting in a phone booth, and Carla Flores just realized that she needs to make an urgent call. Sommer is laying down the gauntlet early that she will not be outboxed the same way she was in the last round.

enlarge

Lucky Number 4

After a hot start to the round, Michaela dominates the round, but she doesn’t manage another significant breakthrough for the remainder of the round, mostly as Carla refuses to engage in tight quarters. Still, it puts Michaela on the board, winning a round for the first time in the fight.

After a talk with their corner, both fighters get ready for a 4th round that will tell a lot about how the rest of the fight will go.

The fourth round starts off a bit cautiously. The ice is broken after a smooth feint from Michaela draws Carla’s guard up high before the German slams a textbook jab into Carla’s midsection. One of Michaela’s more reliable punches is that body jab, and Carla isn’t enjoying being on the other end of it.

Michaela thinks: Just softening you up for when the time comes

enlarge

But the Mexican champion will not be run over like Wile. E. Coyote by an ACME tractor. The colourful and somewhat scantily clad Flores realizes that she must land flush shots to keep the big German bear away.

As Michaela grows in confidence, she tries to land more and more power punches. The taller girl does well to use the length of her jab to both keep her safe and to nail Michaela’s head as she tries to use her Paffen gloves to do more damage

Laila: “Clad in the colours of Mexico, Carla Flores is living up to the tradition of boxing in Mexico with a fine display of boxing skill against an opponent that few would have chosen to face. Win or lose, you’ll know you’ve been in a fight with Michaela Sommer.”

enlarge

Dropping the Hammer

Fighting against Michaela Sommer is a frightening experience. She has power in both hands and is not in any way afraid to use it. She seems to enjoy dishing out pain, so her right hand to Carla Flores with 18 seconds left in the 4th round is probably playing on repeat in her head. It’s that good.

As the two fighters exit an exchange, Michaela hangs in for an extra second, tracking Carla’s footwork and driving a short right hand into Carla’s guts from an angle that she could not have expected. The immediate reaction from ‘La Princesa’ shows that this punch struck paydirt. It’s the punches you don’t see coming that hurt the most, and Carla did not see this one coming.

Carla: “Ooooffffffff”

Michaela thinks: What a symphony of pain that was.

Laila: “A brilliant punch from Sommer has absolutely folded Carla Flores in half! That is a demonstration of power unique to this division!”

enlarge

Can’t Stand It

The shock and pain of that punch drops Flores to her knees almost instantly. There’s not that many people in boxing that could take that punch and say ‘yes Ma’am, I’d like another.’

Michaela takes a closer look at her handiwork before sauntering off to the neutral corner as directed by Clarissa Starling.

Michaela thinks: Get up, don’t get up, that punch will take so much from you that you won’t get back.

Laila: “Flores is down! She collapses in a heap after taking a sickening body shot from Sommer. It’s punches like that which make me glad I’m retired!”

enlarge

“1….2……3……4”

Clarissa’s count comes much too fast for Carla Flores and much too slow for Michaela Sommer. As you would expect of a champion fighter from Mexico, Carla commands her shattered body to rise from its trauma. Sure, its painful, sure it hurts to breathe, but Carla Flores won’t stay down until she has no more left to give. To the end.

Michaela thinks: She’s tough. That’s a punch that would have won me fights back in the regional circuit. Alas, I shall have to hurt this girl more.

Laila: “Pain is clearly coursing through ‘La Princesa’s’ veins, but the champion of Mexico will not stay down. I don’t think anyone expected her to, to be honest!”

enlarge

Beating the Count

“5…6……7…..8…..9. Do you want to continue?”

“…yeah!”

Clarissa thinks: I’ve seen more enthusiastic shouts to continue. But her eyes are clear and there’s so few seconds in the round. You are lucky these aren’t 3 minute rounds.

Clarissa: “Okay….box!”

Despite the instruction, there’s basically no time to continue boxing before the bell rings.

enlarge

Spain without the ‘S’

The German corner is very happy with the past two rounds. Queen Kong has unleashed pain on her opponent, and both fighter and coach know that there’s not many fighters that have the ability to recover after a knockdown like that. Michaela does remember what happened against Virani MacVicar though. She knows she won’t make the same mistake this time.

In the Mexican champion’s corner, its emergency stations. Carla hunches over in the corner, putting her arms behind her back as she tries to stretch out and get air into her lungs. There’s no question of quitting. That just doesn’t happen.

Juanita: “You need to use your jab to keep her away. And don’t get careless! You see what happens when you do!”

Carla: “I can try.”

Juanita: “You must do. There is not another option. You will recover, but it will take another round. Protect yourself and we can get back in the fight later. She will tire and then we will take her out. This is not a fight for the scorecards, this is a contest between warriors who want it more. Understand.”

Carla: “I want that win.”

Juanita: “Then you know what you must do.”

enlarge

Previous post

Next post

Michaela Sommer
Michaela Sommer
An outspoken German puncher. Pound for pound one of the hardest hitters in the sport. Former Featherweight champion.