Kelly Hall vs India Reynolds

Kelly Hall vs India Reynolds
(This Is Glamour vs PageThrees)
(9-2, 7 KO vs 6-2, 6 KO)
Results: BBU; Story: This Is Glamour

Quickly after both bursting onto the UK glamour modelling scene as eighteen year olds in the late noughties, Kelly Hall and India Reynolds developed a professional rivalry. Their first clash came when Daily Star page 3 girl India tried out for rival newspaper the Sun's Page 3 idol contest and was squeezed into second place by girl next door Kelly. India was such a talent however that the Sun broke the bank to additionally lure her onto its roster. As their social media profiles grew, both girls regularly swapped who did better in 'Hottest Babe of 201x' polls, and personal fallouts between them were whispered in hushed tones as to the reason India swapped places between the Sun and Star over the years until page 3 was axed.

The tension between them never went away, though, and exploded after India Reynolds destroyed Emma Rigby in November 2022. "India Reynolds beats Emma who?", tweeted Kelly. The twitter spat between them led to India challenging Kelly for a match in Cardiff. Despite normally being a flyweight, Kelly, still recovering from giving birth in the autumn, was happy to fight at bantamweight, and immediately decamped to Portugal for training. The fight was almost cancelled several times as the girls squabble over who gets the bigger dressing room at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

Kelly does the first ringwalk, and has chosen a black bikini with tie side thong and black mitts. India enters wearing a black bra and panties and is also sporting black gloves. Both girls have their tresses down. Both fighters get loud cheers, but it is India who is canvassing the most support, given the coachloads of fans who have made the short trip to Cardiff from her hometown of Reading. The fight is momentarily delayed when India insists Kelly's bikini halter is checked for padding or anything else that might give her an advantage in the clinches. Tonight is also about establishing which girl's chest captures the most plaudits and both girls seem evenly matched in this regard.

Round 1
Reynolds charges forward to start the first, Hall ties her up. Reynolds unleashes two good body shots inside. Both girls winging power shots in close. Hall with an uppercut, as she just letting her hands fly. Reynolds keeps coming forward, and Hall ties her up. This is Reynold's pace. Body shots from Reynolds, then another, and a good right, and then an uppercut, and Hall back with a hard right! Reynolds back with her own shots! Up against the ropes and they're letting it go, with Reynolds digging to the body. This is living up to the hype right now.

Round 2
Reynolds is coming right at Hall. Hall now trying to swing the momentum; but she's getting smoked here. Uppercut, shot to the head, Reynolds dominating. Doing as she pleases. Left hook, uppercuts. This is brutal. Hall can't do anything about it. Hall still trying to battle, but when Reynolds throws it's just such a complete one-way street. They tumble to the canvas after a couple uppercuts from Reynolds.

Round 3
Hall jabs and misses. Both fighters try measuring the distance with their respective jabs as Hall tries to press forward. Reynolds jabs to the body and misses. Counter hook lands for Hall and Reynolds gets a grazing one back. Reynolds tries two punches that don't land clean. Lead left hook makes partial contact upstairs for Hall. Reynolds lands a clean uppercut and Hall tries to maul her in the corner and gets a warning from the referee for her tactics. Straight left lands to the body for Reynolds.

Round 4
Hall is continuing to get rough with Reynolds since she can't really match the speed of her rival. Reynolds is trying to make Hall come towards her so she has to lead and Hall takes the opportunity to stick a left to the body and pivot away. Two further left hands land downstairs for Hall. Right hook lead makes partial contact and now Reynolds makes a charging attack but can't land much of anything clean as Hall is able to retreat effectively.

Round 5
It is obvious from the adjustments that are going on to both girls' tops between rounds that a brutal breast on breast battle is going on in the clinches. Reynolds about halfway into the round starts throwing with purpose again. Right hands from Reynolds. Another, a step back and a short right. Reynolds switching stances now. Still sort of playing with her food. Hall gets off balance separating from a clinch. Reynolds goes and puts more weight on her smaller opponent, sapping her legs. Reynolds has Hall up against the ropes. Both girls look tired. Reynolds is unloading but is given a verbal warning for holding onto the ropes for extra purchase.

Round 6
Hall with an overhand right. Body attack from Reynolds, both hands flying again. Inside war right now, Hall maybe getting the better of it by a hair, but is given a verbal warning for apparently slapping Reynolds with an open glove. These girls really do not like each other. Right hand from Reynolds, right down the middle. Hall with a chopping right and a hook to the body, then a right to the body. Now it is Reynolds who is making this scrappier. The body shots from both girls have been fantastic. Right hand up top from Hall. Hall pops her again. Reynolds firing uppercuts, both to the body. This is exactly as advertised.

Round 7
Good left early from Hall! Good shots from Hall again! Reynolds stands her ground and shows off her defence. Reynolds is given a verbal warning for taunting Hall. Hall pressing hard here, leaving what she's got left in the ring. And now Hall is the one retreating a bit. Left uppercut from Reynolds. Another good left, and another. Hall goes to the body, both girls are ragged and throwing as we wind it down! Damn hard fight.

Round 8
Hall is looking pretty fatigued in there. It's not stopping her from coming forward, but she looks hesitant. Some whacking, clubbing shots from Hall. She's out-working Reynolds. Good right from Reynolds, and Hall opens up with hard shots that don't quite land. GOOD left from Hall! Right down the middle! Suddenly, she's very awake. But the fastball doesn't have the heat it did earlier. Reynolds throwing both hands now, working again as Hall just tries to move her upper body around. Hall is speaking to the referee. She is touching her kidney region and obviously very angry. The referee agrees and docks Reynolds a point!. I don't think this was a clear round either way, but how important will that docked point be in the grand scheme?

Round 9
Hall's shots aren't, like, "WHOA! Watch out!" but they are keep Reynolds more than just honest. Reynolds just isn't fast enough on the attack at the moment and isn't able to turn up the pressure. Hall now showing off the hands with Reynolds against the ropes, letting both hands fly. Obviously not everything landing, but it's more of Hall totally controlling this fight. She is mixing up the tempo of the fight and Reynolds has to go back to square one. Reynolds gets Hall to the ropes, but can't do anything with it, and before you know it, Hall is standing in the center of the ring again.

Round 10
Reynolds trying to start this round aggressively, keep up the attack. Hall jabbing a little. Slower round in terms of output from both. Doesn't look like Reynolds will get her KO prediction; does look like Reynolds body work has legitimately slowed Hall down. Nice body shot from Hall late, and I think that round was too close to call. Both girls unconvincingly raise their hands in victory at the bell.

Result: Kelly Hall beats India Reynolds by split decision.

After:
Kelly:"Credit to India. We both wanted that fight, to put the squabbling to one side and let our fists do the talking. A win is a win, split decision or otherwise. India can complain all she wants about the docked point, but I have the bruised back to prove it was a low blow. If she wants a rematch, I'll give it her but at fly, and she will have to get her travelling boots on and come to Manchester. Obviously, if she doesn't want to go again, I'll hold out for Paula Tumala, or Sophie Reade at bantam or drop down and have a go at Ivana Baquero again."