Blitzed

When we last left off, Kayleigh Parsons had been knocked down for the second time in the first round. The most important question is… can Kayleigh make her way to her feet.

To that, we turn things over to Clarissa Starling, the referee for the fight, who now counts Kayleigh for the second time in the round.

Clarissa: “1…2….3….4….”

The American referee almost stops the fight, but when Kayleigh seems to stir, rolling to her side, she continues the count. It’s not clear how much the champion has left in the tank, but she’s not taking this laying down.

Laila: “The champion must have a will of iron to want to get up after taking a punch like that. I don’t know if ‘The Fluke’ can make it to her feet, but the effort is laudable.”

In the neutral corner, Michaela continues to bounce on her toes. She’s not quite ready to declare victory but she’s close to it.

Can Kayleigh make it back to her feet?

The answer, it becomes clear quickly, is no.

Kayleigh may be conscious, but her strength has been completely sapped by that gigantic punches she’s taken from Michaela. All she can do is stare ahead dazedly as Clarissa’s count reaches 10. She has no strength left. The challenger has taken it from her.

Clarissa: “10! She’s out!”

Michaela jumps in the air as the final verdict is delivered. The German Featherweight has shocked the world and become world champion!

Laila: “It is all over! Michaela Sommer has made the upset happen. Kayleigh Parsons tried to punch with the puncher and got punched out! Not only does her title reign come to an end, but her undefeated record is gone too. An absolutely stunning moment here in London!”

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As medical personnel enter the ring to check on Kayleigh, Michaela keeps the celebrations respectable, dropping to her knees and raising her arms in the air. Her dream has come true, Michaela Sommer, Queen Kong, has become WBU Featherweight champion of the world.

Michaela thinks: I did it! And I knocked that chick into dreamland. A perfect day. Just perfect.

Laila: “Michaela Sommer may not look like anyone’s definition of a boxer, but she’s fought to overcome that prejudice against her and now she arrives on top of the division. She’s easy to underestimate, but she is a fantastic boxer and a worthy champion. And pound for pound, she may be one of the biggest punchers in the sport.”

Kayleigh: “Let me up.”

Jim: “Take your time.”

It takes a few moments, but Kayleigh is able to woozily get to her feet. Even given time, it’s clear that Kayleigh’s not all quite there, nor her legs recovered. Jim stays near his wife, making sure that she doesn’t fall back down.

Kayleigh: “What happened?”

Jim: “You tried to punch with her and she punched your lights out.”

There’s not much Kayleigh can say to that.

Jim: “We don’t have to stick around here. We need to go to the back and get you checked out.”

Kayleigh: “Okay.”

The Parsons’ make their way out of the ring to scattered applause from the crowd.

Laila: “It’s never easy to lose a title fight, but it’s doubly hard to lose it by knockout in your hometown. Parsons will be heading to a local hospital to get the all clear. And she still looks shaky on her feet. A testament to the true power in Sommer’s hands and the danger of boxing as a sport.”

The New Champion Gets her moment

That leaves the ring for one woman, and this is her moment.

Ring announcer: “Ladies and gentlemen, this bout comes to an end at 1 minute and 33 seconds of the very first round. Your winner, by knockout and NEW WBU Featherweight champion – Michaela ‘Queen Kong’ Sommer!”

Michaela gets her arm raised by Clarissa, as she looks delighted to be announced officially as the victor. The German gets a solid round of applause from the crowd, having provided the violence that they so crave. That she did it to the local champion is somewhat besides the point.

Michaela thinks: “My goodness, I’ve forgotten to take off my gloves! I think I forgot I was wearing them. The fight was just over so quickly!”

Laila: “It’s a wonderful moment for Michaela Sommer, and how could you not be charmed by that smile?”

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Now, Michaela’s coach does the honors and wraps the WBU Featherweight title around her waist. He gives Michaela the moment to her to let her enjoy.

Laila: “It is the dream of every fighter to become champion. It looks like Michaela Sommer is still in disbelief that the belt is around her waist. We look forward to her reign as a champion. There’s nothing like an exciting, hard punching champion to revitalize a division. And Michaela herself may be a star in the making. I’ll be talking to her about her thoughts about the fight and her future shortly.”

We go down to the ring for an interview with the new champion.

Laila: “Michaela Sommer, WBU Featherweight champion, how does that sound?”

Michaela: “Can you pinch me? I’m still not sure that this isn’t a dream.”

The American broadcaster complies.

Laila: “Michaela Sommer, you are a world champion.”

Michaela: “It’s real. Wow. It’s even better than my dreams. Even in my dreams I didn’t win in the first round.”

The crowd laughs with the amiable new champion.

Laila: “Michaela, you are known for your hard punches, but even you had to be a bit surprised at a first round knockout against a champion that had never been stopped.”

Michaela: “I was surprised, but you know, Kayleigh stayed in range with me, and that’s just not something anyone can do for very long. I think she believed her own press and her knockout record way too much. Plus, after all of the trash she talked, all the difficult negotiations, it made it really easy to train hard for this one. I may have put all of my anger into that last punch.”

Laila: “Can you talk about that last punch? It was one of the best timed punches I can remember in ages.”

Michaela: “To be honest, I am shocked she didn’t go completely out cold. It was totally clean, and accurate. And she was still hurt from the first knockdown. Still, it did the job.”

Laila: “Kayleigh was quite dismissive of you, this win must feel great.”

Michaela: “Kayleigh finally learned the lesson that many have tried to teach her. Don’t talk down to your opponent. Now you just lost to someone that you have basically called a bum. What does that make you then, Kayleigh? I’ll tell you what you aren’t anymore – a champion. But I am.”

Laila: “Are you thinking about a rematch with Kayleigh?”

Michaela: “No. Way. The way her team negotiated, the only way she gets a shot at this is becoming my mandatory challenger. I owe her no favours.”

Laila: “Are you thinking about who your first challenger could be?”

Michaela: “I just won my first world title. I haven’t thought at all about it. But I can tell you, I want my first defence to be in Germany and I’ll defend against a top ranked fighter. Politics is not for me. Making good fights is my style.”

Laila: “Anything you’d like to say to the people back home?”

Michaela: “Thank you to the team at Final Bell for getting this fight made. Thanks to Kasandra Sobieski for sparring – a delight to train with and a fighter that was more than equal to Kayleigh. Thanks to my coach, Axel. He’s old school, but he’s good. Wouldn’t trade him for anyone. And then finally my parents. You sacrificed a lot for me to get me to this position. I know I wasn’t the easier kid to raise. But look at me now. World champion.”

Laila: “Enjoy the feeling. We’ll see you for your first defence!”

Michaela: “Thanks Laila. And thanks London. Sorry about your girl, but you were a good crowd. There’s plenty of room on the Queen Kong hype train too!”

Laila: “That’s a wrap from London. We had a huge knockout and a new champion. A good night for any boxing fan.”

The boxing world reacts

As one might expect, reaction on social media was heated with all sorts of people chiming in and some hoping to secure a first shot against a new champion

Final Bell Retweeted
alesia
Veronica Lillegard
@FinalBellVeronica

And NEW!!!

Congrats to Michaela Sommer! We have a new Queen in the Featherweight division. Queen Kong! Long may she reign!

Munich, Germany
Retweeted by BOXTV
alesia
Wambui Njeri
@ChadianViking
@QueenKong 👀. Seems like you need a challenger for your first defence? I’d be down. Let’s do it in the north of Germany so that both our fans can attend.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Wambui Njeri Retweeted
alesia
Michaela Sommer
@QueenKong
@ChadianViking – Let me celebrate for a few weeks, but I like where your head is at. Kong vs. Viking. Has a good ring to it.
London, England

Kicking when she’s down

Retweeted by Emma McGale
alesia
Virani MacVicar
@CanadianCobra

Well, that was satisfying! Gonna get a poster of that knockout and put it on my wall. Michaela Sommer, I owe you a beer!

Guess the only thing that was a ‘Fluke’ was Kayleigh Parsons’ title reign. Can we even call it a reign if it didn’t last a round? I think it was more like a wet fart.

Toronto, Ontario
Retweeted by Michaela Sommer
alesia
Emma McGale
@PeachBoxer

Dumb – adjective – Someone who tries to trade punches with Michaela Sommer. See also: Parsons, Kayleigh.

Not fair Michaela, I wanted to win knockout of the year. But I think you just did it. Congrats, girl! 😤. ’bout time someone sparked that girl out.

Toronto, Ontario

While some celebrated, some also warned social media and other boxers, that Kayleigh was likely far from done…

Retweeted by Heather Barker
alesia
Alesia Schumann
@AlesiaSchumann
Y’all keyboard warriors are great at kicking people when they’re down, knowing that you don’t risk getting punched in the face for yapping on social media. It reeks of jealousy, all the way to here.
Munich, Germany
Retweeted by Alesia Schumann
alesia
Heather Barker
@HeatherBarker

Allow me to remind you that Kayleigh is perhaps the best Featherweight boxer, but she made a mistake tonight. She let emotions get in the way and traded with one of the heaviest hitters, pound-for-pound.

She’ll be back, and smarter.

Montreal, Quebec


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Kayleigh Parsons
Kayleigh Parsons
A confident Englishwoman with skills to match. Technically skilled with underrated power. Former Featherweight champion.
Michaela Sommer
Michaela Sommer
An outspoken German puncher. Pound for pound one of the hardest hitters in the sport. Former Featherweight champion.