Julianne Hough vs Asians: III

JULIANNE HOUGH VS LUCY LIU

Hough in black bikini with bra style top; small black gloves

Liu in black push up, leopard print bikini bottoms; small black gloves.

KO4 Liu

This fight would throw a number of different variables at Julianne, making a clean break from the lanky-bodied styles she'd seen from Park and Tom. Against Liu, Julianne would be the taller fighter. Where Park and Tom offered conventional boxing fronts, Liu broke all the rules, punching from either foot, with either hand, from any angle. It was thought coming in that Julianne's acknowledged edge in speed might be decisive against a smaller woman, but in the end, Lucy's unorthodox delivery gave the well-schooled, but highly conventional blonde, all she could handle.

Lucy took the first three rounds using deception, feints, and classic tactical retreats to coax Julianne forward, causing her to give up her height. Unable to locate Liu with that sudden jab, Julianne found herself catching counters she couldn't see - both over top her left hand and underneath it. When she regrouped and legged away from Liu, Julianne was safe, but Lucy's aggressive stalking posture was interpreted by the judges as Liu making the fight. It was the most frustrated we've seen Julianne in a fight so far, and this frustration would cause her ultimate downfall.

In the fourth, Julianne bared her teeth and attempted to get Liu's respect with slugging. It was effective - Julianne scored with her lead right and raked Lucy with swift hooks, but even though startled, Liu was able to retreat in good order. Countering viciously with punches off either thigh while pivoting around the blonde - Lucy scored a succession of chin-checking circus punches to completely unhinge blonde knees. Follow up roundhouse rights and lefts swept Julianne to her back, where she lay with eyelashes buzzing. She would beat the count, but the ref had seen enough, stopping the beautiful dancer as she slouched ruined at the ropes.

CONCLUSIONS: JULIANNE HOUGH

Speed is world-class: movements as crisp and sharp as any fighter in boxing.

Chin is only average.

Relies on legs for defence - needs to work on moving her head.

Wonderfully accurate hands -has power in combination, but is a stinging rather than destructive puncher.

Would mix well with Carmella Decesare (being a younger Kiana type); Kelly Hu; rematch with Grace Park would show pluck.