There is a low rumble of anticipation as the crowd waits for the two pugilists to enter the ring. The house lights go dark and the crowd senses that it is about to start and cheers erupt drowning out any announcement coming from the speakers. They already know what to expect and look to the two sides where both of the women will arrive from waiting to see how comes out first. The speakers crackle and get louder and louder as the beginning of the guitar sequence of Mr. Brightside by the Killers slowly rises in volume. Just as the lyrics start a spotlight illuminates the doorway to the east side of the ring, and standing there in a black and white dotted bikini is Lizzy with a white robe around her shoulders. Jumping from foot to foot with nervous energy she is ready to race down to the bottom of the incline and to the ring. This being a bare knuckled boxing matchup no gloves are adorn her hands. She starts walking forward slowly slapping hands with the crowd reaching over the side of the railings to touch her if they can. She moves faster and faster towards the ring before jumping up on the outer edge of the ring holding onto the ropes waving to her fans. Pushing the middle rope down she steps over it bending over to fit between the two ropes. Inside of the ring she stands in her corner and uses the ropes to stretch and get limber waiting for her opponent to arrive.
The house lights drop again as everyone is watching Lizzy continues to stretch, the crowd erupts as the beginning chords of Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes slowly become louder and louder over the roar of the crowd. As the drums come in the spotlight illuminates the west side doorway standing there in a white bikini accented with pink stripes. She stands there and waits letting the crowd cheer for her and leaving the spotlight only on her while her opponent waits in a dark ring. She slowly saunters towards the ring keeping all of the attention of the crowd on her. She finally arrives at the corner where a set of three stairs leading up to the edge of the ring and she takes each step as slowly as she can drawing it out. Stepping through the middle and top ropes, she enters the ring walking slowly to the center still with the spotlight only on her. Waving to the crowd she takes in all of the adulations from them and monopolizing the literal spotlight for as long as she can before the house lights come back up.
The lights finally come up and Lizzy is leaning on the ropes unimpressed by the showmanship that Kelsey portrayed. She is just giving a little golf clap and snickering at the scene. Taking off her robe she lets it fall to the ground outside of the ring as a referee steps in to tell them the limited rules in this bout. First he explains the belly punching tournament to the two of them standing in the center of the ring facing each other staring into each other’s eyes without looking away. Neither one wants the other one to think they are intimidated by the other.
“The rules for the belly punching are simple. You each get a one punch. After you accept the punch you can quit or you have five seconds to respond as kept by me. If you cannot respond in those five seconds then the puncher gets a second punch where you will have another five second to respond. This keeps going until you give up… Do you both understand these rules? “
Both women nod their head still looking at each other while he continues with the rules. “This being a bare knuckles boxing match, the only rules we will keep to are attacks with the fist, no knees, kicks or elbows. Strikes can be anywhere though. Do you both understand the rules for the boxing match? “
Again both women nod their assent, and he tells them to take a step back.
“I am going to flip a coin to see who goes first with the Belly Punching. Heads will be Kelsey, Tails will be Lizzy.” He flips the coin and allows it to hit the mat, as it bounces and tumbles it finally lands with heads up.
“Kelsey gets the first punch. Lizzy, please place your hands behind your back and intertwine your fingers. You will automatically go to this position as soon as you punch to be ready for the possible return punch. If you do not, then your opponent will get one free punch. Do you understand?”
Lizzy nods her head in agreement as does Kelsey.
Kelsey steps up and squares up to Lizzy and gives a fake punch causing Lizzy to flinch just a bit as she was waiting to accept the first punch, and then she follows it up with another quick punch that Lizzy was not ready for. Lizzy coughs and bends over, as Kelsey stands back up and places her hands behind her back. The referee is counting down from five, Lizzy stands up and gulps some air and steps forward throwing her fist into Kelsey’s belly just above her bikini line. Lizzy ready and recovered stands up and places her hands behind her back as she watches Kelsey bent over slightly, straighten herself up by the count of three and steps in to return the punch. This time not wanting to waste any time with theatrics she rams her fist into Lizzy’s belly just above the navel, but Lizzy ready to accept it this time leans in and takes it only being forced to bend forward a little bit.
Lizzy has plenty of time to respond and sets her feet in a boxer’s stance and uses her hips to throw her next punch this one high on the belly. Air rushes out of from her lungs all at once and she folds over. Lizzy caught her between breaths and it rocks her. She is bent over and the Referee is counting down from five, four, three, two, one… Kelsey stands up just at one, but is stopped from taking her punch by the referee. Being told she missed the count, Lizzy smirks at her and as Kelsey is trying to argue with the ref, Lizzy steps forward and take her free punch. Kelsey loses her air again and tries to take it in as she stands up glaring at Lizzy who is standing with her hands behind her back.
Shaking off the second punch just in time she rushes forward with a quick punch to Lizzy’s belly at her bikini line that nearly double’s Lizzy over. Lizzy straightens herself up not wanting to receive another free punch like she just gave and sets her feet to give her punch back to Kelsey. This time missing the mark slightly, she hits low and Kelsey absorbs it with a slight bend in her body and a little rush of air out of her lungs.
She steps forward glaring into Lizzy’s eyes and punches right at her navel. Lizzy ready for it tenses up and takes it as best she can with as little of reaction as she can. Stepping forward Lizzy throws everything she has into her next punch right above her navel again causing all of the air to rush from her lungs. Kelsey nearly goes to her knees, but is still on her feet trying to take in air, but is having trouble. Lizzy stands with her hands behind her back waiting for her turn to receive, when the ref reaches two, one and then waves his hands telling Lizzy she will have a second punch as soon as Kelsey stands back up.
Not standing up fast enough for Lizzy, she reaches down and grabs Kelsey by her hair and pulls her up to a standing position and puts her fist deep into her belly. Kelsey is doubled over with Lizzy’s hair still in her hair. The Ref pulls her away.
“I will allow that one because she did the false punch in the beginning without letting me begin the countdown, but you let her stand up on her own next time” Lizzy steps back and lets Kelsey stand up, the ref not counting this one. Lizzy upset that she ruined her chance at a third punch by acting impetuously. Kelsey angry with having her hair pulled and receiving the second punch steps in to give Lizzy her punch. Lizzy takes it and her left leg curls up and she hops around trying to catch her breath and turns hitting Kelsey above the navel again, trying to keep hitting the same spot over and over again. Kelsey winces with the punch bending over hands on her knees as the ref counts down to three before she stands up and gives a quick punch to keep it under the time limit and gives Lizzy everything she can that quickly. Lizzy takes it losing a little breath, but not as much as Kelsey would have wanted.
Lizzy steps forward with plenty of time and hits Kelsey before she can fully get her hands behind her back. Not expecting a punch so quickly Kelsey is doubled over again hands wrapped around her knees and but still on her feet as she is trying to stand up again.
TBC
