(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

Battle of former blonde champions promises to be a good one, but the younger Julianne is more than a little sanguine in the prefight. "Mishy can still fight, sure," says Hough, "But, she's not as young as she used to be. And, she struggles with speed and athleticism. Which means I'm absolute POISON for Michelle. As she's about to find out."

"I'm glad to see that Hough is so confident," says a hard-eyed Michelle. "Especially since I'm about to whip her a**!"

ROUND ONE: 
Hough on the move early. Michelle stalking, looking to bring Julianne to battle. Hough not having it. She's going to bounce and misbehave and there's nothing Williams can do about it. Mishy tries, but, she's mostly just moving around the ring trying to get to spots where she can punch. For Hough's part, she's not exactly getting a ton done offensively, either. It's all about the feet. She's snapping out jabs, tossing a follow-on right on occasion, but, that's about it. Result is that, despite Julianne calling the tune, the cards remain close into the final thirty seconds, since neither fighter's done all that much. At that point, Hough gets just a bit more aggressive, stopping and popping a couple of times, building up enough points to take the first by a slim margin and grab the 10-9 lead.

ROUND TWO: 

Hough continuing to up the aggression. She's still ranging around the ring, but, now, she's stopping frequently to fire off lightning fast flurries. Michelle forced to cover up, and, before she can fire off rejoinders, the dancer is gone. It's frustrating stuff for the Hall of Famer, who's falling victim to exactly what Julianne said she would, the speed and athleticism of the lovely Ms. Hough. Mid round, Hough beginning to have some fun, fires off the Ali Shuffle, then dances away as Michelle steps in to punch. Williams clearly seething, but won't get sloppy. She remains sound, continues her stalking. But, she's not able to slow Julianne down enough to get much done. Instead, Hough continues controlling things with her feet and lightning fast hands right to the bell. She takes the second wide and leads 20-18.

ROUND THREE: 

Hough ranging. Mishy trying to close. BOOM! Straight right from Julianne and Mishy is HURT! Hough immediately switches into an even higher gear, tossing blizzards of punches at the reeling Hall of Famer, driving her back into the ropes and then hammering away to both head and body. Mishy in a high guard, rolling with punches, looking to hang on in more ways than one, as she clinches at every opportunity. Hough, however, punches free, stacks her rival, and gets right back to work. She's tenderizing ribs and tummy in between hard shots to the head, and the referee is taking note. He's looking in closely, but Michelle's doing enough to keep him at bay, much to Julianne's frustration. After yet another flurry, Hough looks over her shoulder at him, as if to ask "What do I have to do?" The ref doesn't answer. And, when the bell rings, Michelle's still standing. But. Julianne's pitched a shout to lead 30-27.

ROUND FOUR:

Hough dominant. Sitting down on everything, looking to finish her rival off now. Michelle giving ground, keeping the guard high. BOOM! Right hand COUNTER, Mishy! And now HOUGH is hurt! Julianne staggering backward GOBSMACKED. And, Michelle switches to the offensive, letting the hands go and DROPPING JULIANNE with a left hook! Hough on all fours at Mishy's feet! Crowd going nuts as Williams stomps to a neutral corner. Hough struggles to her feet at seven. Ref gives her the mandatory and waives on Mishy! Michelle letting everything go, banging away at Julianne, forcing her back into the cables and then calling in artillery strike after artillery strike. Now it's Hough hanging on in a high guard as Michelle pours on the fire, but, at the bell, Julianne's still standing. Mishy's won it 10-8, but Hough still leads 38-37 after four.

ROUND FIVE:

Mishy rolling. She's not rushing anything. Because, she's got Hough wobbly-legged, which is exactly where she wants her. So. Rather than push for a stoppage, Williams does what Williams does best, picks apart Julianne for three straight minutes. Oh, Hough has a moment or two where she's able to fire back in combination, avoiding a complete shutout, but, that's about all she can do. Because, from the first second of the round to the last, it's Mishy and more Mishy. Williams is showing all those great boxing skills and all those years of experience as Hough takes an absolute POUNDING. Williams is touching the younger woman up to both head and body and clearly enjoying doing so. By the final seconds, Williams has the hint of a smile on her face. And, at the bell, it's more than a hint. Michelle. Wide. Even at 47.


ROUND SIX:

Williams dominating again. Hough being suppressed, backed up, kept almost completely on the defensive. Julianne needs time and space. Michelle knows it. And, isn't about to give her either. Instead, she keeps flurry after flurry of hard, accurate leather coming at the younger blonde, who's beginning to scuff up. Hough's legs aren't coming around, because Williams keeps adding more and more damage, landing good, clean punches to the head again and again. Ref has to be considering stopping this, because it's about as one-sided as you can imagine. He doesn't, though, and his reasoning can't have anything to do with what Hough's doing, as the younger blonde is basically just soaking up leather right to the bell. When it rings, it's shutout, Mishy, and Williams has her first lead, 57-56.

ROUND SEVEN:

Hough still in retreat. She's moving a little better now, though. Mishy can still find her, but she's not able to hammer her at will, as she did in the fifth and sixth. Julianne's able to do more offensively, too, as she's countering, not as often as her corner would like, but effectively. The younger blonde's clearly working her way back when...BOOM! Right hand, MISHY! Hough wobbles, covers up, and takes an absolute blizzard of leather from from the Hall of Famer! And. DOWN GOES HOUGH! Julianne noses in at Mishy's feet! Williams takes a second to admire her handiwork before heading to a neutral corner. Ref counting down at Julianne, who gamely pushes up to hands and knees before SINKING BACK DOWN TO THE CANVAS! It's OVER! And your winner by KO7 is Michelle Williams!

AFTER:

Mishy barely suppressing a sneer in the post-fight. "I guess I'm not too old to handle speed and athleticism. Either that, or Julianne isn't all she thinks she is. One thing is for sure, though. She's nowhere near as good as ME."