Kyoko Akan (C) vs Katarzyna Zawiślak — Last Woman Standing Match for the LAW Middleweight Title

[Fairy Dragon]

Punch for punch, the two tested one another. Kyoko got a quick feel for Kate's abs and made the challenger hiss and retreat for the moment, likely knowing that Kyoko would stay close if she didn't and like any boxer she wasn't looking to get into a slugfest right from the beginning. Kyoko's hands dropped down for a more wide stance while she watched Kate for her next move, seeing her change from Southpaw to Philly simply because she mentioned that she knew the style, or she was trying to throw her off about what style Kate favored. The only thing she could do was prepare herself, however many stances she knew Kyoko had trained herself to be prepared for all of them and at the very least had the training to do so. When Kate went for the flick jab, Kyoko was able to adjust her stance to avoid it without moving too much, which saved her from the cross that would've easily caught her if she didn't. Once again she moved out of the way and thought it was her opening to attack when Kate set up a third part of her combo that almost caught her unaware. Kyoko saw the fist flying and tried to turn her body away, simply to get punched anyway.

"Ngggh!" Kyoko hissed, feeling the fist dig into her side. The only thing she could say that she was grateful for was that her turning kept it from nailing the ideal spot on her liver, which would've caused a few more problems than just being a painful punch like this one was. Even without the clear liver shot Kyoko felt her knees shake from the impact and tried to get her back quickly, she went for a cross of her own this time going for the face to either slug Kate or make her back off. Then she would lower her stance and push forward to aim a right for her stomach...that would turn out to be a feint and she'd try to actually pop Kate in the nose. The next punch after that would not be a feint, with the uppercut she'd follow that up with actually going for the stomach.

[ThatPolishDude]

Two wihiffs and a hit, not perfect but this early on Kate would not be picky and what counted was the most important strike connected and judging from the momentary shake in Kyoko's legs, did quite the number on her, even if missing the liver by some inches. Still, the champion would not let that go unanswered, the first strike she threw at Kate's face would come short by an inch or so as Kate leaned back, taking a skip step to the side as she retreated and noticed Kyoko duck low to go for her stomach again. Having that part of her body protected well in the stance she held, Kate wanted to punish that attempt with a big overhand but that was cut short as she realized that Kyoko instead went for her head. With not enough time to avoid the strike at this point, Kate only managed to shift slightly, racking her neck and despite that still having her head snap to the side with the force of the impact meeting her cheek and making her ears being for a moment just as Kyoko used the initiative she had to still go after Kate's midsection! here at least Kate's stance held, taking most of the blow onto her forearm which while more painful, was less of an issue long term.

"Thuu... Khee" Kate let out with each blow, taking a step back, grasping her aching jaw and almost smiling. Truth be told, if the circumstances were different, she'd probably be enjoying herself right now, she loved to fight and this so far was good and for the lack of a better word, honest. And now that they both were properly in it, it was time to turn up the volume.

Circling for a second at a distance with Kyoko, Kate would let her vision refocus after that last blow, raising her lead hand up to get into a more orthodox stance from the phily shell she was just sporting. It was annoying for her opponents in the past how often she changed her stance but it came naturally. She waited for when Kyoko would make a step, hoping to use her own weight against her as she'd dart forward, keeping her guard open to bait out an attack she was prepared to duck under and step off the centre line to whichever side more of her opponent's weight was resting to fire a hook to her head. She would not retread after that though, staying at an infighting range to punch one more hook to Kyoko's ribs and an uppercut under her chin before taking a step back and covering her retreat with a jab!

[Fairy Dragon]

Her attacks came in quick and Kate was only able to properly dodge one of them and slightly redirect another without avoiding all of the damage. She fell back and now she seemed to realize that Kyoko was ready for her and wasn't about to let her get an easy hit like that first one ever again. The Belly Queen stayed back and kept her stance when Kate retreated and changed stances again, this time to orthodox which was the same as Southpaw but the preferred way for right handed boxers. Her mind was getting annoyed trying to remember all of the exact techniques she was taught to defend against all at once, next she was going to do Peek-a-boo just to fuck with her. She stayed close waiting to see if Kate would make a move, then noticing her step in like she was going to attack. Kyoko read the movements and tried to counter it with a jab at Kate's face. Kate then went lower then she anticipated, ducking the move and stepping into her right after following the punch that missed and coming back out with a cross to her face.

"Nggh!" Kyoko groaned, taking the hit and losing a little of her stance, the blow forcing her arms closer and taking away her wide stance, letting Kate shoot a punch to her ribs where her hand would've been in the way to stop it before. "Tch." Kyoko huffed, stepping away a little more and seeing the next uppercut sail towards her chin. She quickly went along with her leaning back more to to take it mostly on the edge of her chin rather than take a hit that would've sent her stumbling away, but the scrape of her knuckles across the bottom of her chin irritated her and almost made her lunge in, only stopped when she had to keep herself from running into the follow up jab that would've caught her nose if she went through with it. "Dammit." She growled, unable to get a clean follow up without risking her stance by mixing it up and forced to move away and reset in a manner favorable to Kate.

[ThatPolishDude]

Kate took the risk with her charge and now was reaping the rewards as she executed her plan almost perfectly and managed to get out of range just as Kyoko was about to make a comeback. She had to admit, Kyoko's boxing was a cut above the rest of the people she faced, figuring out the gaps in her technique and weak points was quite a challenge thus far along with the threat of the power she could actually put behind her strikes but she thought she might be starting to get a feel for Kyoko. If she was right in that, pressuring her at close range might be just what would do the trick.

That however was just a guess at this point and vomiting to the strategy just because of one lucky engagement would be hasty, especially knowing how quickly things could turn should Kyoko catch her with a counter at the right moment, it was rare that Kate had to worry about receiving strikes with quite that level of power and she certainly did not relish the possibility. For now, as she re-engaged she would open with a jab, except she was not actually aiming to hit, instead pulling it short of Kyoko's head and opening her hand to mess with her vision as she'd stepped to the side to get an outside angle and strike at the champion's jaw with a straight to then follow that with a hook to her abs!

[Fairy Dragon]

Her eyes remained focused on the challenger's movements. She had to see the rest of her to get an idea of what she was planning since following her fists would just give Kate the opening she needed to knock her on her ass. Kyoko didn't like feeling this apprehensive so early into a match, but she felt compelled to keep up this boxing match to prove that she was capable at everything. Fighting people on fronts that they excelled at and winning was what made her so great, and pushed her past the gimmick wrestler so many thought she was a genuine threat between the ropes. Her stance stayed wide since it was the one she had the most skill in and she continued to observe Kate until she attacked again, preparing herself for the jab until she saw Kate pulling it back. A quick observation of her opponent's movements gave her just enough room to guess the next attack and she went for it, even if it was just a guess she had no choice since waiting to know for sure might make her too slow to stop it. That was the kind of risk you took with every prediction, even the best didn't know if it would be right until the fist either missed or connected. She turned her head and went forward, noticing the fist going by when she did it, her prediction was right and now she was moving past and towards Kate's face.

No time was wasted, first she went for a quick jab to the face, too close to go or a hook without giving Kate time to turn and reduce the hit or even dodge it. Once that either connected or missed she would go lower and decide to go right for Kate's belly, throwing a few punches to her abs. Two rights and left all trying to hit the midsection and see if she could make Kate stumble and give her a chance to try and hit more.

[ThatPolishDude]

It seemed the world decided to remind her that trying to play safe was no guarantee of actual safety as her fist sailed through the air and she saw Kyoko weaving past her arm. In a blink of an eye, the champion closed in and managed to land a swift jab to Kate's face, rocking her head back and opening a small cut along her left cheekbone. Expecting Kyoko would try to follow it up high for the highest chance of flooring Kate with a combo, she turtled only to then receive two more blows to her midsection, one paving the way for another that managed to dig deeper into her flesh, causing her to bend forward, even if just slightly before she could take a step back to avoid the last blow!

"Thaa... Guuh.. Fuc-GHHHR!" She let out with each blow, getting a good taste of the kind of pressure Kyoko could put on before getting out of her immediate range, having to stabilize herself for a second as her back leg wobbled dangerously for a moment after her retreat. She whipped some blood spilling out of the cut, feeling a sting of sweat dripping down into the wound. Luckily for her, the belly queen seemed most interested, especially in proving that title more than actually rocking Kate's brain and though getting punched was never ideal, it was easier, for Kate especially to withstand punishment to the body. Now after flicking the blood on her fingers to the side, she'd put her hand forward, gesturing for the champion to come at her as she would start closing the distance once more!

[Fairy Dragon]

She opened up Kate's defenses and went in, throwing a few punches to her body as well that managed to connect and dig deeper into those defined abs. Her punches were getting reactions and from the way her fist was able to push against them she knew that even as rock hard as Kate looked she was doing enough damage each time, but Kate didn't fall over and managed to retreat before the last punch connected. Smelling blood in the water made Kyoko decide that now wasn't the time to let Kate decide when they engaged, and when she stepped back Kyoko closed in as well ready to keep driving her fist into whatever Kate was dumb enough to leave open, especially if it was her stomach.

Her goal was the ropes behind Kate, getting her there would give her all the time in the world to punish and she would start by throwing a hook towards her side, directing her towards the back and away from anywhere she might escape too and then throwing a few jabs to the face and stomach to push her back some more. If all of that went to according to her plans she would then go for a big punch to the gut...that proved to be a mask for the feint and uppercut to Kate's chin that hoped would put her right where she wanted her.

[ThatPolishDude]

Once Kyoko got in her offence, she did not seem intent on letting up, even after Kate's retreat, pushing forward and swarming her with punches! Kate managed to skip out of the way of the hook, knowing she was fast approaching the ropes, deciding to move to the side and start turning their position around while swatting the coming jabs to the side and trying to weave between the rest, still taking some glancing blows while looking for the opportunity to counter. She was getting impatient and when seeing Kyoko committing down low thought that might be her chance... Instead, eating a massive uppercut to the chin, whipping her head back and making her stumble, a line of spittle flying through the air as her vision was trying to centre itself once more.

Dizzy from that blow and stumbling on shaky legs, Kate would soon feel her back hit the corner, giving her an anchor point to get some stability for a second while her rattled brain was retaking control of her body. Things turned against her quickly and she was possibly in the worst position she could be in during such an exchange, but she would not let her frustration show, focusing on Kyoko instead, she had to think fast to get out of this mess but it was still the champion that held the initiative that she'd have to break through!

[Fairy Dragon]

The best move in boxing was misdirection, Kyoko didn't plan to keep targeting the abs to trick Kate into thinking that they were her target but when the moment comes to you, you take it planned or not. She completely shut down Kate's escape attempt and put her on the robes, meaning the Belly Queen had to continue attacking until then, not going all in would just give her time to escape and while she was on the rope she needed to get punished. Kyoko stepped in quickly and made sure to stay more to the open side so that Kate would have a hard time escaping and would throw a cross to her face to force her to stay there or guard.

Then she would go low again, and try to sink in two punches at Kate's liver and then stay low and throw a jab to her stomach. She'd aim a little higher with her next set of punches, going closer to the upper stomach or the chest before she would try to hit Kate with another shot to the face. "I hope you know you asked for this!" Kyoko said, trying to bring Kate down and get a few more insults before she dropped her.

[ThatPolishDude]

To say Kate was in a bad spot would be an understatement, wanting to avoid getting pushed to the ropes only got her in deeper danger as Kyoko managed to rock her with an uppercut that would have knocked out anyone of the lesser constitution than hers and on top of it, it pushed her to the corner where she was even more exposed than she would be on the ropes she was trying to avoid. Still, there was a reason people should fear cornered animals.

Getting her lead arm forward to assume a long guard, she prepared herself to defend, tightening both her core and neck for impacts and watching both hips and shoulders to predict the angles of incoming blows. She'd manage to block the cross to the face by pushing at Kyoko's elbow with her lead before getting struck near the liver "Ghaa!" She'd groan, leaning slightly towards the impact and repositioning her rear arm to have her elbow cover the spot that was hit, in turn blocking another liver shot but unable to block the strike to her chest.

It was bad, she knew that at this point, she'd have to take a risk to get out or it might not end pretty for her. Seeing the next strike being fired at her head, she'd step in, ducking in low and weaving to the left to get on the outside of Kyoko's guard. now, with all the power she could get from going this low, she'd explode forward and up, slamming her right fist towards Kyoko's midsection with an uppercut, taking a side step after that and turning the angle to face the side of her opponent before firing a hook to her side and a sending a cross towards her chin! "You talk too much!"