Going for broke

Kayleigh Parsons knows that she needs to make it happen in this round. Her eyesight has only gotten worse since the punch that turned the fight on its head.

The Englishwoman wastes no time, starting to put on the pressure right away. But it’s a tad predictable, and Yenifer, paying attention to her defence has no issue in making sure the most punishing of the punches don’t connect.

Yenifer thinks: You are getting desperate now. That makes you mine, shortly.

Commentator: “Parsons’ eye looks somehow worse at the start of this round. It’s got to be affecting her ability to do just about anything. And as she swings and misses with a wild shot, you have to wonder if that swelling is going to be the difference tonight.”

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Desperation is never good in the boxing ring, and Parsons makes no secret that she’s hunting for a stoppage in this round. That allows Yenifer to sit back and have the Englishwoman come to her. It’s only a matter of time before a big moment happens.

Kayleigh tries to get closer to Yenifer to allow her to throw those real hurting bombs, but Yenifer sniffs that out and has a response of her own – a violent one. A sweeping left hook avoids Kayleigh’s defensive effort and crashes into Kayleigh’s temple, twisting the Englishwoman’s head around violently. Kayleigh’s legs wobble after the impact.

Commentator: “Parsons is hurt! Her legs are unsteady after taking a wicked left hook from Yenifer Perez! Is this the closing chapter of the fight?”

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Taking the chance

Kayleigh is rocked and she heads back towards the ropes, pursued by a very interested Yenifer Perez, who very much wants to drop Kayleigh for good.

In the ropes, an important thing happens. First is that Kayleigh ties up Yenifer for a few moments, allowing her to get her balance and composure back. Yenifer fights it, but Kayleigh is tenacious – the referee has to break up the clinch.

Kayleigh thinks: I’m hurt, she knows I’m hurt. Time to risk everything.

Yenifer quickly gets Kayleigh back into the ropes, and Kayleigh bobs and weaves in the ropes as ‘La Chica Feroz’ flurries, looking for the telling punch to finish the fight. The girl in gold has a tough time seeing the punches coming, but her instinctual movement makes her tough to hit, even when trapped in the ropes.

Commentator: “Parsons is in trouble here in Round 7, but Perez just cannot find that decisive punch that would put Parsons down or get the ref to intervene.”

Kayleigh sees her chances as a right hand misses. She loads her own right…

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… and throws it with everything she has left.  She uses her left arm to disrupt Yenifer, while her right hand hits Yenifer flush on the jaw, jerking her head backwards and to the right.  The unexpected impact hurts the Colombian, and now it is her legs that weaken.

Commentator: “A HUGE shot from Parsons now has Perez hurt!  The crowd is going crazy!”

Jim : “NOW Babe! Hit her before she gets her senses back!”

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Yenifer staggers backwards as the commands issued by her brain are having a little trouble reaching her limbs. The crowd roars as it senses the chance for the hometown fighter to grab a chance for a big moment.

It’s a moment that Kayleigh will not let slip away. The Fluke doesn’t have time to set her feet in the traditional manner, but she leverages her body well, twisting her body to throw a demon of a straight left. It has the accuracy of a guided missile, landing right on the jaw of the staggered Colombian.

Commentator: “Perez is tottering and Kayleigh catches her with a flush left hand! That one was like a piston from a steam engine!”

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Down

Stunned, hurt, and rocked by two massive shots delivered in quick succession, Yennifer falls hard to the canvas, falling on her stomach, while Kayleigh clenches her fists in celebration, having maybe, just maybe gotten what she needs to win this fight.

Commentator: “Perez and down and she looks to be very hurt! Down flat on her face in the seventh round. The former champion fell hard and it must be noted that it was only November of last year where she was knocked out by Hee Jung Park. Could history be replaying itself here?”

Kayleigh thinks: You better stay down, if you know what is good for you.

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Kayleigh walks to the neutral corner, with a roar of triumph. It’s a deserved moment for the Englishwoman who has had to endure the last few rounds of punishment from the Colombian, before getting this dramatic turnaround. Maybe she could be a little less zealous, but then she wouldn’t be Kayleigh Parsons.

It’s only been a few moments since Yenifer got dropped by that right hand and the Columbian is moving, but she’s not exactly showing much signs of life either.

Referee Victoria James is quickly on hand.

Victoria thinks: Big knockdown, first priority is to get the arrogant Englishwoman in the neutral corner, then I can see if the arrogant Colombian woman is in good enough shape to get a count. She fell hard, but it’s almost certainly worth seeing if she can get up.

Commentator: “The drama of the count in boxing is upon us. Can Yenifer Perez beat the count, or has Kayleigh Parsons claimed victory from the jaws of defeat?”

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Rising to the challenge?

Victoria: “1…2….3”

On the canvas, Yenifer Perez has the will to continue, of that there is little doubt. The question is if there’s any strength left in Yenifer’s body. She tries to push herself to her knees, but her legs don’t seem to respond the way they should and she’s having trouble pushing using her armed to push her upper body up.

Commentator: “Perez is trying with all her might, but it seems like the former champion is spent!”

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Victoria: “4….5…..6…..7”

By the count of seven there is signs of progress and then signs of capitulation. Yenifer has gotten to her knees, but her body just cannot respond the way she wants it to. Her mind is foggy and her body feels heavy and sluggish. Even getting into this position was a struggle and its already the count of seven and she’s not even that close to getting to her feet.

Commentator: “Surely this must be it! Perez looks to be completely spent, with her forehead pressing on the canvas – it appears that there is nothing left in the fuel tank for the Colombian!”

Kayleigh thinks: She’s not going to make it…

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Victoria: “8….9…….10! Shes’ OUT”

Indeed Kayleigh is correct. Yenifer Perez makes one last attempt to get to her feet, but it peters out quickly. The Colombian spits out her mouthpiece as she realizes that what a few minutes ago had seemed like an easy victory has just turned to a defeat.

In the neutral corner, Kayleigh drops to her knees and raises her arms in relief and triumph. A spectacular, perhaps career defining victory for the Englishwoman has just been confirmed.

Commentator: “And what seemed impossible a few minutes ago is not! A joyous victory for Kayleigh Parsons, who endured a tremendous amount of punishment only to come good in the most dramatic way possible. They may call her ‘The Fluke’ but this victory was done through pure skill and tenaciousness. The Featherweight division should take notice.”

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Aftermath

Kayleigh sprints over to her husband, and as has become tradition, she leaps into his arms, as they celebrate another victory for the Parsons family.

Kayleigh: “YEAH, I DID IT”

Jim: “YOU DID IT BABE. NEVER IN DOUBT.”

Jim thinks: Okay, more than a little doubt. But faith is rewarded

This one was more difficult than most, but there’s no doubt that they both earned it in their own way.

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It’s a much sadder story in for the visitor. The former champion is checked over by the ring doctor, who takes her time with the colourful Colombian who clearly received some applied leather trauma from the golden Brit. But Yenifer answers the ring doctor’s questions as her mind clears up. There’s no concerns over the former champion’s health.

Martina: “Are you ready to get up? The stool is close.”

Yenifer: “I blew it didn’t I?”

Martina: “You fought stupid and she took advantage. But we can save the recriminations for later. First, we see to your health.”

Yenifer: “I feel okay. Help me up.”

Yenifer thinks: This is the worst feeling in the world. A year ago I was the unbeatable popular champion. What happened?

Martina thinks: You used to have talent and drive. You can only go so far in this sport with just talent.

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Kayleigh on the mic

Yenifer and Kayleigh have a brief moment, before Yenifer heads to the back to get a full checkup from the doctor. The Colombian has no intention of hanging around the ring and wallowing in her defeat.

Someone who absolutely wants to hang around is Kayleigh Parsons, as she takes in the moment. This is the biggest victory of her career and no doubt will push her into the top 5 of the Featherweight rankings. The Englishwoman might be a fight away from a world title fight.

The ring announcer confirms the official particulars as Victoria James raises Kayleigh’s hand to big applause from the local crowd.

Ring announcer: “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner of this fantastic contest by way of KNOCKOUT in the 7th round, is Kayleigh ‘The Fluke’ Parsons!”

Still undefeated, Kayleigh’s record is now an impressive 8 wins with 1 draw. Six of those wins have come by way of knockout.

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As might be expected with Kayleigh Parsons, she just doesn’t go quietly to the back after the win, she gets a microphone and talks to the crowd.

Kayleigh: “LONDON! How was that for some entertainment!”

The crowd responds with an enthusiastic roar.

Kayleigh: “It was a little closer than I would have liked, but like always I came through in the end!”

The British fighter touches her left eye and winces.

Kayleigh: “That Colombian bird did some real damage. I gotta admit, being in the ring and not being able to see real well is an experience I do not want to have again. I give her credit for being able to make me look not so pretty, but in the end, the victory is all that matters.”

There’s some more polite applause from the crowd.

Kayleigh: “I do it all for you, though. I want to bring you fans the best fights, the best entertainment I can. I always leave a piece of me in that ring. Tonight, I left a little more than I would have liked.”

Kayleigh: “Some people don’t like me. Bitches. I don’t care. I’m undefeated. I’m the most talented fighter in the division. There’s no one in this weight class that can beat me. And if someone thinks they can – I welcome them to try it. All I know is that I’m going to get the top, and when I get there I’m going to enjoy it.”

Kayleigh pauses.

Kayleigh: “I hope my kids don’t ask too many questions about why mommy’s eye looks like that.”

The crowd laughs.

Kayleigh: “Thank you London. Until next time.”

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Tough Trades
Kayleigh Parsons
Kayleigh Parsons
A confident Englishwoman with skills to match. Technically skilled with underrated power. Former Featherweight champion.
Yenifer Perez
Yenifer Perez
Current Super Featherweight champion. A Colombian who overcame a party heavy lifestyle to return to the top. A classic defensive boxer.