Lindsay Lohan vs. Vanessa Hudgens

Results: Lookout!; Story: Front Street

BEFORE:

There was a time when Lindsay Lohan's future looked like what Vanessa Hudgens' future actually WAS. LiLo looked every bit like a girl who'd be a top flyweight for a decade or more, winning multiple titles and ending her career with a Hall of Fame pedigree. And, then, well. LiLo happened to LiLo. Her one flyweight title is now a decade and a half in the rearview, and she's below .500 since. In those same years since LiLo's title reign, Hudgens has won 79 fights and four flyweight titles, earning her induction into the Hall of Fame. But, Lohan isn't sweating any of that as she prepares to step into the ring for, amazingly, the first time with Vanessa. "Sure, she's good," says the redhead. "But, thing is, she doesn't have my POWER. Few flyweights do. And, that's going to make all the difference tonight."

"Lohan," says Vanessa with a dismissive waive of her right hand, "Is a failure, a waste of talent, and a shot fighter. And, tonight, I'm going to prove ALL of that again. As if it NEEDS proving again."

ROUND ONE:

What in the...Hudgens definitely wants to prove something. She's not sticking and moving, jabbing and circling, she's stepping right to the redhead and letting the hands go and Lohan responds in kind and we've got a FIREFIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING! Seconds into this thing and we're trading bombs and BOOM! LOHAN ROCKS HUDGENS! 'Nessa wobbles and IS DROPPED BY A RIGHT HOOK! Lindsay thrusts her arms in the air and STALKS to a neutral corner. Hudgens down, sputtering, as the referee counts. She manages to get to her feet at eight, but is clearly wobbly. Ref thinks about it during the mandatory, but WAIVES ON LILO! And, Lohan GOES TO TOWN, pummeling the brunette back into the ropes and working her over to head and body. Ref on high alert as Lindsay tosses everything she's got at 'Nessa, but the brunette somehow hangs on to the bell. When it rings, Lohan has taken it 10-8 and put the Hall of Famer in DEEP trouble.

ROUND TWO:

It's not too often (read: "never") that the word "chastened" is used in the same sentence as the name "Vanessa Hudgens", but, there's a first time for everything. It may be because a lesson was learned, or it may be because she heard it in the corner, or even because the legs aren't there yet, but the brunette plays things very, very carefully in the second. She's working the jab, moving as best she can, keeping the hands up. Lohan, meanwhile, is winging away trying to clean up or finish, but, while 'Nessa's not able to give the redhead the full defensive treatment, she IS able to slip and dip and block enough and counter effectively enough to ward off Lindsay's attacks, and, in fact, keep things very close throughout. Then, in the final thirty seconds, with the legs back under her, we see 'NESSA. She's moving, popping, bouncing, snapping that jab in Lohan's face, and stealing the points in a very close round to cut Lohan's lead to 19-18.

ROUND THREE:

'Nessa on the move, working the jab and circle routine. Lindsay, meanwhile, dialing it back. She knows Hudgens has the legs back under her, and she's not going to chase. Instead, the redhead stalks, looking to cut the ring and force exchanges, bring her power to bear. And, while Lohan was never the best technical fighter, she HAS been at this a while and knows what she's doing, so, she's able to bring the brunette to battle at times. And, when that happens, the redhead is able to score and score well. Meanwhile, when Vanessa's moving, well. It's Hudgens being Hudgens, and that means the brunette is in control of the proceedings. Add it all up, and you get a good, two-way round that's in doubt most of the way. But, when the bell rings, it's Vanessa who's taken the points close to even things at 28.

ROUND FOUR:

Pattern continues into the fourth. 'Nessa on the move and Linsday cautiously stalking, cutting, then going to work with both hands. Lohan even digs a little body when she has Hudgens bottled up. But, 'Nessa keeps those exchanges as short as possible, escaping again to open ocean where she can jab and circle, until the redhead cuts the ring again and BOOM! Right hand, LINDSAY and Vanessa is HURT! Hudgens wobbles back into the ropes and Lohan again calls in all the artillery at her disposal, hammering away with both hands as the brunette leans on the ropes in a high guard. Once again, Lohan searches for the 'off' switch, but, once again, the brunette is able to keep it hidden well enough to make it to the bell. When it rings, though, Lindsay's grabbed it wide to pull into a 38-37 lead.

ROUND FIVE:

Lohan in control. 'Nessa's legs are iffy, and the redhead's taking full advantage. She's not getting overly aggressive this time. Instead, she's walking the brunette down, squaring her up, punishing her to both head and body with heavy leather. Hudgens keeping the guard high, playing for time, trying to slip and block as much fire as possible and to stay off the ropes. She manages to do the former, but not the latter. By the final minute, LiLo has her pinned to the cables, and she's winging away with both hands, landing some solid shot and keeping the referee on high alert. Hudgens doing enough offensively to keep him at bay, and, for the third time in five rounds, managing to make it to the bell despite the redhead's best efforts. When the bell rings, though, Lohan's got another one wide and Lindsay is back to a two-point lead, 48-46.

ROUND SIX:

Lohan pressing early, but 'Nessa's legs are coming back. She's able to move off square, angle, get some leather on target. And, as the round moves along, she's back to the war of movement, circling, jabbing, stopping to pop, all while the older redhead stalks, looking to, once again, use that above-weight power on the Hall of Famer. Like in the second and third, both fighters are getting their way at times, but, no one is able to take control of the round. Instead, it's good, two-way stuff into the final minute and beyond. There's still almost nothing in it as the fighters approach the bell, and both girls look to steal points with late rallies. Result is some sharp exchanges in which both fighters land some heavy shots. When the bell rings, it's excruciatingly close, but it's 'Nessa, and she's back within a point, 57-56.

ROUND SEVEN:

Hudgens on the move. Redhead stalking. Lohan's fought very, very well tonight, showing doubters that she can still compete at a high level when she's interested, working hard and keeping her head in the game. She's patient in the seventh, working the feet, cutting the ring, going body a little before going back upstairs. Hudgens again keeping the exchanges short, slipping away to open ocean as quickly as possible, leaving Lindsay to go back to stalking. A minute and a half in, everything changes. Hudgens stops to pop and BOOM! A snake-like right hand and LINDSAY IS HURT! Lohan wobbles, grabs hold of 'Nessa for balance. Brunette digs a cruel hook to the midsection, then KNOCKS LILO TO HER BACK with a right uppercut! Hudgens prancing to a neutral corner while the redhead is Maltese crossed in the middle of the ring. Ref counts, but it's a mere formality. Lohan is OUT. And, your winner by KO7 in dramatic fashion is Vanessa Hudgens!

AFTER:

'Nessa smiling dismissively in the post. "It's too bad," the brunette says with a shake of the head, "That we didn't get to fight earlier in my career. She's no competition for me anymore. Then again, no one in this division IS, so, Lindsay's in good company...just another flyweight who's no match for Vanessa Hudgens."