(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Posted by simguy on 11/7/2002, 5:30 pm

Before: Liu still smarting from the Hayek drubbing - win against Nia always enough to establish one's bonafides and erase any setback. Peeps always up for the challenge of Lucy and one of the few who approaches the unorthodox Asian with eager anticipation. "Lucy's a puzzle in the ring," says Nia, "you solve her piece by piece until there's no mystery left. I love how she makes you concentrate - you've got to stay absolutely focused on the gameplan to beat her. She brings out the best in me." Liu in black pushup, boy cut leopard print trunks, low ponytail, black shoes - Nia in black sports bra, high waist black aerobics trunks, messy ponytail, white shoes.

During R1: Nia: tight guard, elbows in hands up, spitting the jab as she advances, but working to the left around Lucy's right shoulder. Liu using the ring, hands down on the outside, but as she edges into range, hands come up in respect. Liu carrying the round, darting in on Nia and spanking hard shots off the guard - Peeples defending herself well, but not getting off, just making her reads.

R2: Nia content behind a purposeful jab, circling to the left, backing away - she's making Liu come forward. Liu happy to oblige, trying to bounce in and score with circus punches from her hips. Flashy stuff from Liu, but Nia's picking it up well, staying in the pocket, not getting hit clean. Down the stretch, Peeps times Liu's jump, runs Lucy into a driving straight right. Liu's legs buckle as she's stacked up - she's flopping back and forth on her hips as Peeples unleashes compact hooks and crosses, driving her foe staggery to the ropes. Nia finishing up strong, burying her left hand repeatedly into Lucy's right side at the bell. Peeps steals a Liu round - starts putting that mileage on those legs via the body attack.

R3: Liu using feints, faking the odd rush, stepping out and circling, then coming in unexpected - broken rhythm gives Nia's problems as she's covering up late, getting hit. Liu able to deposit leather then dash on past - strafing runs have Peeples confused, turning and waiting rather than luring. Midway through, Liu with a gorgeous ripping right low to the left side, then curling the right uppercut between the mitts - Nia startled, wobbly butt on her heels - she fades to the ropes hurt. Liu flat footed, cocky as she works her girl over - hands down, she sways in to tuck cruel left hands in behind Nia's elbow, sways out to evade the receipt, always one beat ahead of her opponent.

R4: Peeps gets her feet back, jabbing with authority - Liu caught rushing in time and again, stopped in her tracks - Peeps able to pile on with combinations as Liu slips and slides away to regroup. End of first minute - Peeps halts Liu with a bashing stick, turns it over to hook Asian solar plexus, steps right and reefs at the gut once more and LIU IS HURT! Nia jumping in with Lucy wobbled - hard left hands in the stomach set up clubbing combos up top as Liu raggedy-annes it to the ropes. All Peeps down the stretch, squaring away on Liu and giving it to her hard. Crisp, tight punching to the waist and ribcage has Liu sobbing in anguish - Peeples spinning on her heel, leaving Lucy destitute on the ropes.

R5: Liu using her own underutilized jab - fencing with Peeples - tactical action as Nia tries to turn the right flank, waiting to time Liu's leaps - Lucy not taking the bait. Liu the busier girl from outside despite not doing any real damage - Peeples waiting for perfect spots that don't materialize.

R6: Peeples jab just shattering away on Liu, jarring the Asian on the eye, pounding hollow between her breasts - it's preventing Liu from finding any sustainable rhythm. Liu undisciplined as she leaps in with sweeping uppercuts - Nia makes her pay. Peeps fading Liu's rush, then countering with a jamming straight right on the mouth - Liu flailing about, bending wildly at the waist to slip blows but Nia reefs at the waist. LUCY GOES DOWN! Liu's face pinched in agony, hugging her tender ribs, taking a smart 8. Liu hurt, digging in at the ropes, unable to maneuver - Nia wades in and it's war! Peeples snarling as she stabs out straight rights and lefts from the shoulder, getting Lucy bending then picking her up with left uppercuts and hooks. Liu getting battered, but standing her ground and banging back - Lucy not known for face on face slugging, but she's doing her best, refusing to be punked by Nia. At the bell, Lucy's clearly gotten the worst of it, bleeding from the nose, eyes swelling badly, favouring her right side, but there's still fire in those siamese-cat eyes.

R7: Nia's done it - she's got Liu flat footed, grimly leaning in, slugging away shoulder to shoulder. Trouble is, Lucy's getting it done. Liu shortening up her strokes, hanging tough in the trenches, banging back two for one to Nia's stout body and backing Peeples up. Girls never lose contact, never clinch - they're just mouth on shoulder, taking turns raking each other over, hooks, crosses, uppercuts at close range.

R8: Shutout Peeples. Nia using a stubby jab, punishing Lucy's swollen eyes, steering Liu, then jumping in the hook, chopping the right hand - Liu weary, wilting to the ropes - she's all defensive this round. Nia takes what's there, ignoring the elusive head, staying on that body with ripping, gouging, digging hooks and right hands - constantly shouldering and elbow-shoving Liu into the ropes to keep her subdued.

R9: More Nia piling on, fighting her fight - more Lucy getting banged up, but firing back, fiercely determined to wage war on Nia's terms. Peeples able to beat Liu to the ropes, but she can't close her out - Lucy constantly flurrying to get a little space, spin out of danger, walking Nia into surprisingly short, punishing shots, especially to the body. Peeples grunting as she trades rights in the stomach with Liu - Lucy sitting into the ropes covering up - these bashing exchanges just seem to favour Nia as Liu fights her straight up without gimmicks.

R10: Girls lean in temple to temple, pushing and straining, taking turns rocking each other to the ribcage and breasts and Lucy's squeezing out the round. This is grueling, Dani Fishel type stuff - not Liu's forte, but she's gutting it out, answering every Peeples dig, then adding one extra. Wall to wall brawling, Peeples forced gradually to the ropes and it's all Liu in the final moments! Nia covering up, eyes closed, mouth open as Liu tans up that ribcage, snapping her fists off either side, and working hard to the bell. Comes back a UD10 by the narrowest of margins - NIA PEEPLES!

After: 5 rounds a piece - knockdown gives it to Nia - what a heartbreaker. Liu usually stoic in defeat - not this time as the sight of Peeples celebrating victory has Lucy blinking back tears. Nia just putting the pieces together, taking Lucy's legs out of the fight, keeping the tempo high, suffocating the free-roaming Asian with relentless inside work. Lucy likes to say she has no rivals at 110 - Nia starting to put an asterisk beside that claim with another punishing win over the hall of famer.

Sim Guy

ff