MAXIM/PARAMOUNT BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE UNIFICATION BOUT

Posted by simguy on 1/19/2002, 8:05 am

Before: Liu engaged in psychological warfare in weeks leading up - staring Britney down during press conferences, doing big calendar style countdowns to doomsday for Britney etc all in attempt to rattle the bronzed youngster. TE takes over the airwaves as Dani joins Cat ringside to offer her expert analysis on the bantam tilt, "I've hurt Britney personally and professionaly," says Fishel, "I've set her back the way Liu has kept me back at times, but I'll tell you something - Spears can win this fight. It's all about that bubblegum brain of Britney's - she can't let Lucy get to her - she's got to execute, be patient, get herself in position to counter. If I had Britney's tools, and MY mindset, I'd beat Lucy 10 out of 10 times. Spears needs to get Dani tough tonight and she'll be all right." Doesn't look good during instructions - Spears edgy, staring at the canvas as Liu's baleful glare beats down the blonde's gaze. Lucy in slick low ponytail, black push up, leopard print boy cut trunks - Spears in gold push up, green boycut trunks.

During R1: Liu brazen, hands low, walking Britney down and looking for the jolting right uppercut. Spears nervy, but disciplined, eyes wide as she scoots to her right, keeping the jab on Lucy, refusing to be a stationary target. Lucy bending back at the waist, but she's misjudging Britney's mitt-speed - Spears able to brush Liu with punches, just getting enough on to disrupt the Asian's rhythm - startling stuff for LL. Spears refusing to be baited into coming forward - constantly ranging right, poking Liu from angles and chiselling out an effective if harmless shutout this round. "Kid is quick," says Dani - Liu grinning at the bell, unimpressed.

R2: Lucy still stalking, liquid at the hips, trying to catch Britney with something sinewy as she bends low, bends back, jumps in with reckless right hands from the knee. End of the first minute, Spears just grazes a right hand on Lucy's chin, Liu bending and retreating straight back - Britney steps in with a blockbuster left and it's a mistake. Lucy recovers from the impossible angle, sweeps a straightarm right hand over Britney's left and clubs the kid to all fours with crashing power to the temple. Liu smirking as she struts past the fallen blonde - Britney woozy, takes her 8 and steps forward wobbly butt. Potshotting the rest of the way as Liu takes over, circling, coming in on Britney from all points on the compass - blonde just covering up and looking to stay square to the incoming in order to get out of the round. At the bell, Liu all smiles, trying to force eye contact as Spears grimaces back to her corner.

R3: Liu playful, circling her left mitt, right hand at her side - she lunges in lead right hands off the hip, leans out to slap the fall-away hook onto Spears - Britney standing in front too much as corner screams at her to MOVE! Target practice round to Lucy's liking - she's starting to tag tit on Britney with lead rights, cuff up the side of Spear's head with the hook - Britney fighting in spots, but she looks mesmerized this round.

R4: Spears gets back to some fundamental Liu-fightplan stuff - lateral movement to the right, jab, making Lucy come forward instead of falling into the Asian's power stroke. Liu stalking again, but taking punches - time and again she'll lean away, thinking she's safe, but the blonde is able to make contact. Britney touching Lucy up, drawing her in - Liu starting to miss as she loads up looking to end things with one punch. Down the stretch, Liu reaches with a left - Britney launches a sidearm right hand UNDER the jab and catches Liu perfectly to the kidney with a shattering Roy Jones shot. DOWN GOES LIU! Lucy in agony, squirming, hand at her back as the crowd roars, Dani standing and screaming "Get UP!" but it's not going to happen. KO4 Britney Spears.

After: Pandemonium in the ring - Spears and entourage bubbling over, Liu's corner bitterly protesting the clear foul, but what a shot - picture Roy Jones vs Virgil Hill for the feel of it. Liu struggling to walk as the pain seeps through her body, but it's not over for her - Britney Spears pulls Lucy up off her stool for an imperial walk of shame, parading the vanquished dragon lady - Lucy wincing as she steps gingerly forward, Britney tugging her, bullying her. Girls come to a stop to look down at Dani ringside - Britney roughly pulling Lucy's arms to turn the Asian's back to Fishel, displaying the ugly red blotch above Liu's bruised kidney, "THAT'S what it takes to be a champion!" bellows Spears. Restraining hand on Dani's shoulder from Cat - now's not the time. Disaster for Lucy one of the most humiliating moments of her career - crippled and put on display by Britney Spears - it's a hard pill to swallow. "She's got nothing," enthuses Britney in post fight, "can't hit a lick, and she's slow - I found her slow. Lucy Liu might be the most overated fighter I've faced." Ouch.

Thanks to Apollo for this repost.

Archer 10/21/09.