Taking center stage

Virani and Hee Jung have their weigh-in and intros

Making weight

After the announcement and the press conferences, there’s one more big event for the fighters and fans – the weigh-in.

While it could be considered just another press event, in reality it’s the final step before the fight truly becomes official. If one fighter misses weight, the whole fight could be off, just like that. It’s also the last time the fighters will come face to face with each other before being in full attire on fight night. There’s always tension in the air and a possibility of something going wrong.

An added incentive for the crowd, there will also be two attractive ladies posing in their underwear.

Virani is first to the scale. Having weighed herself before, she’s more than confident that she will make the limit. After she gets her name announced to the crowd, she walks out on stage, smiling for the crowd.

There’s no drama with Virani’s weight as she weighs in at the Featherweight limit of 126 pounds. The Canadian is confident on the scale, smiling for the crowd and posing for pictures, enjoying the moment.

Virani thinks: They know they are all here to see me.

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The challenger doesn’t seem like she is awed by the occasion in the slightest. In fact, she seems to be quite enjoying it.

The champion’s introduction is a bit more demurely received by the crowd. The Las Vegas locals are here to see Virani, and although Hee Jung does have her fans, they don’t seem to be as numerous or as loud as the Canadians in the crowd.

The South Korean has been here too many times to count, and she treats it just like an obligation, walking up to the scale, getting herself weighed in at 125 pounds and posing for the absolute minimum amount of pictures before stepping off.

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Mind games

It’s not over completely. The two fighters are brought face to face by the promoters so that the photographers can get their press clippings. Intent on sending a message, Virani taps on her invisible watch.

Virani: “Your time is up, Empress. It’s time for a new queen, a Queen Cobra.”

The South Korean chooses not to respond. Never a big talker, it’s not her style to respond to obvious provocation. A verbal war with Virani isn’t worth her time. Nor, frankly, is it one she’s likely to win. Don’t fight an opponent on their turf.

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Virani thinks: Well, that didn’t work. I can have some fun in the spotlight though. The Empress doesn’t want it. Might as well take it.

Virani: “Thank you all for coming out tonight. I’m sorry the champion doesn’t want to speak to her fans, but I certainly don’t mind being on stage with you all.”

“We are in the waning days of the Empress. Hee Jung, I want to say to you, I have so much respect for what you’ve done as a fighter. You are one of the greats. It’s going to be an honour to me to win my first world title off of you.”

The pro-Virani crowd reacts, while Hee Jung throws up her arms in disgust and walks off stage.

Virani: “What can I say. The champ doesn’t want to be here with her fans. Does she even have a Twitter account? Maybe she has a MySpace account. Someone check. I’m going to be a champion for this era. Not one for the past, but one for the future. And I’ll do it by ending Hee Jung Park’s time at the top. See you tomorrow, everyone!”

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Fight Night

After the undercard, its time for the main event of the evening – Virani MacVicar vs. Hee Jung Park for the IBF Featherweight title. As always for big women’s fights on DAZN, Laila Ali has the call.

Laila: “Welcome to Las Vegas. Fight capital of the world and host to what quite simply is one of the most anticipated fights of the calendar year. Virani MacVicar will attempt to win her first world championship, something very few Canadian women have done. The ferocious puncher is on a great run of form, with her only recent setback coming to her good friend Alesia Schumann, a respectable loss, if such a thing exists.”

Laila: “Her opponent is one of the sport’s most brilliant technicians in ‘The Empress’ Hee Jung Park. A world champion in several weight classes over her career, Park is not the big name that she perhaps should be in North America, but her recent run which saw her return from retirement to claim the Featherweight title has propelled her career to new heights. Main eventing a card in Las Vegas would have been unthinkable for a fighter like The Empress when her career started. Now, she faces the task of denying one of the sport’s rising stars her place in the sun.”

Virani’s Entrance Music – Duel of the Fates

The unmistakable chords of John Williams’ ‘Duel of the Fates’ emerge from the speakers, harkening the arrival of the challenger (and Star Wars lover) ‘The Canadian Cobra’ Virani MacVicar. The challenger emerges into the arena confident, and accompanied by her friend Alesia Schumann as the pair soak in the adulation of the crowd.

Laila: “Usually, the champion will receive the larger response from the crowd, but there’s little doubt that this is largely a partisan MacVicar crowd. We may not be in Canada, but this place appears to be packed with traveling Canuck supporters.”

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KDA – More

The jaunty K-Pop inspired chords herald the emergence of the champion, the fearsome South Korean ‘The Empress’ Hee Jung Park. Hee Jung marches to the ring stoically, paying little attention to the crowd. She appears to be totally focused on the occasion. She knows she’s not the home fighter here, and she doesn’t seem to care.

Laila: “The champion, as always, looks to be in tip top shape as she looks to add to her legacy of victories by halting the ascent of MacVicar. The veteran champion will not be awed by the occasion at all.”

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The official intros

Laila: “Let’s get the official introductions from our ring announcer.”

Ring announcer: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is our main event of the evening. 10 rounds of action for the IBF Featherweight championship of the World.”

Virani thinks: All the training, all the wins and losses, just to be here for this moment. Surreal.

Ring announcer: “Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, this woman comes to us today with record of 11 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, with 10 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the former Featherweight champion of Canada, The Canadian Cobra, Virani MacVicar!”

As planned prefight, Virani and Alesia strike similar poses, drawing a reaction from the crowd as the two friends enjoy the spotlight.

Laila: “MacVicar is an explosive fighter. She has only gone the distance twice in her career and has a highlight reel longer than most 30 fight veterans. That does go both ways however, as her four losses have all been by stoppage as well. A slight favourite tonight with the bookies, MacVicar is a dangerous Cobra.”

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Ring announcer: “And introducing the CHAMPION. This woman is a four-division World Champion. She comes to us from Seoul, South Korea with a record of 30 wins and 7 losses, with 16 wins by way of knockout! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the fighting pride of Seoul, ‘The Empress’ Hee Jung Park!”

Proudly wearing her world championship, Hee Jung raises her arm to the ceiling as the crowd applauds her.

Laila: “30 professional wins is already a career worthy of great respect. A 31st victory may be her sweetest. The Empress is a fantastic boxer with sublime skills that has shown in her move to Featherweight that she can stop fighters – all three of her wins since she re-emerged from retirement have come by knockout.”

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Touch gloves

Laila: “Our referee will be the lovely Indian official, Kanti Agrawal.”

Kanti: “Ladies, to the middle of the ring.”

The two fighters come to meet in the center of the ring.

Kanti: “Ladies. This is a world title fight. We went over the unified rules in the dressing rooms. This fight is scheduled for 10 two-minute rounds. There is no three-knockdown rule or standing eight-count. You cannot be saved by the bell in any round. If you knock your opponent down, you have to go to a neutral corner before I start a count. When I say ‘break,’ I expect you to break. Obey my commands at all times. I expect a good, clean fight. Now, touch gloves.”

Virani offers her gloves, which surprises Hee Jung momentarily, given Virani’s display at the weigh in. After a moment of hesitation, the champion touches gloves with the challenger.

Virani: “Good luck.”

Hee Jung: “You too.”

Virani thinks: I’m going to win, but she’s still a legend. My respect for her ends when the bell rings.

Hee Jung thinks: I don’t really understand this woman. Doesn’t matter. I’m the better fighter. I’ll show the world. Another chapter of my legacy will be written.

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Ringside guests

Laila: “As you would expect for a Las Vegas fight card, the celebrities have come out from across the boxing world. At the challenger’s VIP table, we have two of her former opponents – her longtime friend Alesia Schumann and Virani’s longtime rival, Kayleigh Parsons. Parsons herself will be very interested in what is happening at the top of a division. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Englishwoman fighting for a world title soon enough.”

Kayleigh: “So, is this the table for people who knocked out Virani MacVicar?”

Alesia smirks: “It’s the Virani Fan Club table for pretty blondes.”

Kayleigh rolls her eyes: “Can’t believe you like her. But actually, I’m with you. I know I can beat Virani, I’d be happy to see her be world champion. That means I can do it too.”

Alesia thinks: She’s so cocky. I very much enjoy her company, though.

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Kanti: “Fighters are you ready?”

Laila: “Cobra vs. Empress starts….”

DING!

Laila: “Now!”

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Hee Jung Park
Hee Jung Park
South Korean who is a legendary champion in multiple weight classes. She fights to secure her legacy in the sport.
Virani MacVicar
Virani MacVicar
Current Featherweight champion. A Canadian puncher known for her knockouts that has developed a more all-round style.