After two very long stories (13,500 words in ‘Ellen mixes it up’ and a staggering 27,500 words in ‘Back to basics’) I thought I’d do something a bit briefer before embarking on another epic.
At the end of ‘Ellen mixes it up’ I mentioned my title fight with Christine and said “that’s another story” – well, here is that story, as told by ring side commentator Stacey.
Enjoy.
Ellen x
Hi, Stacey Williams here. Welcome to the culmination of our fourth senior boxing tournament. Through out the year six women have been fighting each other to establish a hierarchy. Tonight, they face each other to decide their final ranking for the tournament.
We’ve already seen Suzi Lomax knock out Nancy Holder to take 5th place and Nancy subsequently announce her retirement from senior tournaments at the age of 55.
We were then treated to an epic battle between arch rivals Emma Cummings and Lorraine Bishop. It was a surprise to many of us that neither of these seasoned fighters made the final but a joy to see them face off again. Back at the start of the year Lorraine had edged out Emma, winning by a single point. This time it was Emma who took the honours, beating her older opponent by two points to take third place.
Now it’s time for the final fight, between Christine Bennett and Ellen Shaw, to decide the champion. These two women are closely matched, almost the same age and weight they are both experienced wrestlers and boxers.
The pair have met twice before in senior boxing tournaments. Three years ago, in the second tournament, Ellen was victorious but earlier this year it was Christine who took the honours, knocking the blonde out in the fourth round. Let’s see how they match up.
Ellen is 52, 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs in at 150lbs and measures 38c-28-42. A league wrestler for almost ten years, she returned to wrestling six years ago and has won the senior wrestling title three times. She took up boxing five years ago and is also the current senior boxing champion with a senior tournament record of ten wins and four losses. Ellen’s season got off to a bad start when she was knocked out by Christine in the first round of qualifying. She also lost her second qualifying match against Emma, going out to a TKO in the third round. Since then, she has staged something of a comeback, knocking out Nancy and Suzi and beating Lorraine on points to finish second overall in qualifying.
Christine is also 52, just three weeks younger than Ellen. She is 5 feet 6 inches tall, also weighs in at 150lbs and measures 38c-29-42. She is a former league wrestling and boxing champion and has a senior tournament record of five wins and six losses. Christine has a reputation for fast and furious matches that rarely go the distance. She dominated the early qualifying rounds with knockout wins over Ellen, Suzi and Lorraine before being knocked out herself by both Emma and Nancy.
Here they come now.
Ellen enters the ring first in the blue corner accompanied by her trainer and second Erica Strauss, herself a league boxing champion. Christine climbs into the red corner along with her second Emily, also a former league boxing champion.
As our referee, Gabi Marshall, introduces her, Ellen slips off her silk kimono and reveals that she is wearing black boxing gloves, black boots and her favourite black panties with a large white polka dots and frills around leg holes. Her face is framed by her shock of shoulder length frizzy blonde hair.
Gabi goes on to introduce Christine, who slips of her gown to reveal that she is wearing blue boots, blue leather gloves and royal blue bikini briefs with a large silver diagonal stripe on them. This is an outfit she has worn for most of her league and senior matches over the last 30 years. Her long red hair, now flecked with grey, is tied in a ponytail that reaches to the waistband of her briefs.
Gabi calls the fighters to the centre of the ring for a last-minute briefing and, satisfied that everyone is aware of the rules, sends them back to their corners to await the opening bell.
Timekeeper Sally calls “seconds out” and the two fighters stand in their corners as their seconds offer them last minute advice from outside the ring. Both wear expressions of extreme concentration and appear to be ‘in the zone’.
The bell rings for the start of the first round and they come out fighting. The pace is fast and furious from the outset with both girls seeking to take the fight to her opponent. The energy as they dance around the ring belies their 52 years of age. You can’t help but wonder how long they will be able to keep this pace up.
The crowd of around eighty women and half a dozen men are evenly split between Ellen supporters and Christine supporters and there is much encouragement for both fighters as they take each other to task. The frantic pace of these two buxom brawlers has the crowd excited and vocal.
Midway through the round, Christine fires off a hard straight right that connects with Ellen’s breast and flattens it. The champion is clearly hurt and drops the one knee clutching her injured mammary.
Christine moves to a neutral corner and Gabi begins counting over the fallen champion. Ellen gets to her feet at eight and the fight resumes.
The knockdown has given Christine the upper hand and she tries to press home her advantage. Ellen has recovered and fights back strongly.
In the closing seconds of the round Ellen goes on the attack and starts battering Christine around the ring. A right hook from the champion connects with Christine’s jaw. Christine spins round and falls face down on mat. She seems to be out cold.
Ellen retreats to a neutral corner and Gabi starts counting over the fallen redhead. Christine is not moving as the count slowly rises. It looks like the fight could be over.
Then, as Gabi counts seven, the bell rings for the end of the round. it seems certain that Christine would not have beaten the count and has been saved by the bell.
Disappointed, Ellen retreats to her corner as Emily climbs into the ring and goes to the aid of her fighter. After about 10 seconds or so Christine is sitting up. She gets slowly to her feet and goes back to her corner where Emily tends to her.
In the blue corner Erica is giving advice to Ellen on how to play the second round. The judges scores are in and Ellen goes into round two leading by six points to four.
When the bell starts for the second round, Christine seems to be fully recovered and comes out fighting. The pair continue the frenetic pace of the first round until, about a minute or so later, a solid right upper cut from Ellen deposits Christine on her ample arse.
Once again Ellen retreats to the neutral corner. Christine sits for a moment with a dazed expression on her face before pushing herself back up, getting to her feet as the count reaches eight. Gabi checks her over and then waves Ellen back in.
The two pugilists square off again. Another frantic minute of trading punches comes to an end when Christine launches a hay making right cross. Ellen doesn’t see it coming. It connects with the champion's jaw and she goes down like a felled tree.
Ellen is lying on her right side; she looks to be unconscious. Gabi steers Christine to a neutral corner and then starts counting over the motionless blonde.
At six Ellen rolls onto her front and starts to push herself up to her hands and knees. She staggers to her feet, head down and swaying unsteadily. Gabi stops counting.
Ellen takes two faltering steps forward and collapses to knees before keeling over. She lands on her left side and rolls onto her back, arms spread wide. She’s clearly out cold.
Gabi counts to ten and the bell rings.
Christine is the new champion. She raises her hands in victory as Erica climbs into the ring and rushes to the aid of her fallen fighter.
Christine is dancing around the ring in jubilation arms raised, shaking her tits and wiggling her arse. Ellen is still lying on the canvas Erica and Gabi are looking concerned.
Cassy Langford enters the ring carrying her medical bag and Ellen is soon sitting up again but she looks decidedly groggy and dazed. After a minute or so Erica helps her to her feet and they join Gabi and Christine in the centre of the ring for formal announcement of the result.
Gabi announces to the crowd that Christine is the new senior boxing champion. Christine raises both hands in the air and pogoes in excitement. Gabi asks the audience to show their appreciation for the gallant loser. An ashen faced Ellen half-heartedly raises her right arm to acknowledge the applause.
Erica guides Ellen back to the blue Corner as Christine and Emily climb out of the ring and head to the red corner dressing room.
The officials file out and the crowd starts to disperse. Ellen sits on her stool weeping, her face buried in her gloved hands, with Erica comforting her.
Eventually there are just the three of us left. Erica calls me to help her. Together we get Ellen out of the ring and back into the blue corner dressing room. Ellen is devastated by this loss but I have no doubt she’ll bounce back, she always does.
