Confidence is a very important aspect of a boxing match. When a fighter has it, they are at their most dangerous. When its taken away, a fighter is likely in deep trouble. Confidence is high in the MacVicar camp, while Zoey is trying to find hers.

Told by her coach to get the finish in this round, Virani starts aggressively. With two minute rounds, she knows that there isn’t that much time to get the finish in any given round and given a challenge by a coach she very much wants to prove herself to, time is not her friend.

It doesn’t take long for Virani to get a slowing Zoey to be dancing to her tune, and she does so by working a long, powerful jab. That’s not just a rangefinder, that punch snaps Zoey’s head backwards as it is propelled by the green glove of the Cobra.

Laila: “You can tell MacVicar is confident as her arms are low and even the jabs that she is throwing are snapping back the head of her opponent. Zoey’s punch resistance looks to be totally shot. It feels like its not a matter of if Virani gets the finish, but when she does.”

Sandra: “Quit playing with your food and finish this girl!”

Though it’s early in the round, Sandra Blohm exhorts her fighter for more.

Virani thinks: Okay. Time to be smart, we want highlight reel, so that means I need Zoey to come forward.”

Virani lets off the pressure, letting Zoey think that maybe the Cobra needs a breather. Keen to get anything going her direction, Zoey walks forward, right into the range where she can attempt to do some damage. The two exchange left hands, and Zoey’s connects, landing clean but not overly hard on the jaw of Virani.

Danger: Vicious Cobra in Vicinity

But trading in the pocket with Virani MacVicar is a dangerous thing to do. Even as Zoey’s punch lands, Virani is instinctively is shifting her weight and stepping into the next move, even while Zoey is still thinking about her first. Quick mind, quick hands. Virani knows this is when she can inflict real damage, because she knows Zoey is in punching range, having just been hit by a pink glove.

Coming right back over the top of Zoey’s left hand is Virani’s right, and Zoey doesn’t see it coming.

“PISH!”

Virani catches nothing but chin with those green Paffen Sport gloves.

Laila: “A massive, massive shot from MacVicar! It came out of an exchange, but while Zoey connected with her punch, this was a huge reply. Whittaker may punch like her hands are pillows, but we know that MacVicar’s are pure dynamite, and the fuse has just been lit.”

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Stumbling….

What happens from the punch? Zoey’s lights go out, but not all at once. See, it’s kind of like a computer as it shuts down. You tell it to shut down, but it still leaves a few processes running before it can successfully shut down. That’s what Zoey is doing right now. She’s gone, she’s just trying to fulfill the last commands her brain was able to send.

The Pink Panther stumbles backwards, punch drunk and off balance.

Virani pursues automatically but she’s experienced enough to know that she doesn’t need one more punch to finish off her opponent. If she shows any sign of life, Virani is there to pounce, but there’s a restraint from the Cobra.

Laila: “Whittaker staggers away, she looks like she is going down!”

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…Down…

Zoey’s legs finally give way and she collapses to the canvas. Virani ends up almost stepping on the downed fighter, as she peers down on her. Zoey has been successfully shut down.

Tina: “Virani, neutral corner!”

Virani thinks: Why count. This is over. All the ref is going to get out of this is some counting practice. Zoey’s never getting up from that.

Laila: “And down goes Zoey Whittaker! That right hand from the Canadian Cobra was right on the button and Whittaker could not take it. She’s down for the first time in her pro career!”

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True to her word, Tina starts the count on the downed Zoey. The undefeated prospect has barely moved on the canvas and shows little sign of being able to beat the count. The lights are still off at the moment.

Tina: “1….2…..3”

Confident of victory in the neutral corner, Virani is already gesturing to the fans and celebrating what she anticipates to be a victory in a few seconds.

Virani thinks: I really missed this feeling. It is just the best to be able to dominate and then knock another girl out. Can’t believe I get paid to do this.

…and out

To continue the computer metaphor, after the shutdown, Zoey Whittaker is starting back up again. But like a computer that you’ve booted up for the first time, not all the systems turn on at once. There’s a bit of lag, and things don’t quite work as normal.

Zoey rolls over onto her back, and one glance at the eyes of the Pink Panther is enough for Tina Twellman to halt the count and immediately wave off the fight.

Tina: “It’s over! She’s out!”

Virani creeps out of the neutral corner at that moment, using her gloves as pillows.

Virani: “Night night, Zoey.”

Laila: “And this one is over! It takes only four rounds for Virani MacVicar to leave Zoey Whittaker flat on her back. She started a bit slowly, but once she started landing her power shots, Whittaker could not endure for very long. A game challenger, but clearly outgunned.”

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As more and more of Zoey’s senses come back, she tries to rise from the canvas, only to be kept down by the referee.

Tina: “Stay down, stay down, fight’s over. I’ve got you.”

Meanwhile, as she sees Zoey waking up, Virani takes a moment to find a camera and strike a pose. She wants to leave the fans at home with the a memory of this fight.