(Unified Flyweight Title)

Originally posted by Simguy on Saturday, 30-Sep-00 11:57:48

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Before: Long awaited rematch for Kelly, who's reputation as the class of the small women was severely diminished after being dismissed by Liu - blonde hasn't been the same fighter since. Kelly a big underdog, but she's got the technique to hang with anyone, and having had a previous look at Liu should help. Working with Nia Peeples extensively (Nia mimicking Lucy in the ring) Kelly is as confident as anyone has been, but Liu guaranteeing a KO isn't impressed. Liu causing a stir with her ring walk: a sullen, defeated looking Gillian Anderson carries the belts to the ring as Liu prances. Lucy in black push up, leopard print boy cut trunks, Kelly in purple athletic bikini.

During: Packard with left hand at her temple, right guarding her chin, pecks with her jab while Liu clowns herself out of the round. Neither girl hurt, but Lucy bouncing outside, hands at her side, taunting rather than punching, gets nicked a little whenever Packard shoots out the straight one-two.

R2: Lucy still not serious - Packard stepping left, touching Liu with the jab and shooting the right hand in straight licks, has Lucy bending backwards to avoid heat. Midway through, Kelly with a nice feint, steps left, shoots the straight right hand and catches Liu flush on the teeth to send the Asian reeling off balance. Packard wisely not rushing in, lets Liu come to her in a rage - blonde patiently picking Lucy up with the jab and left hook on the way in as Lucy recklessly seeks payback. Round to Packard - Liu steaming mad, cut inside her mouth during the break.

R3: Shutout Liu. Packard can't do much more than defend as Lucy stands flat footed, leaning in and out with supple upperbody movement, bringing her fists up from her knees in looping arcs to the body or guard of the blonde. Kelly protecting her chin, blocking and slipping effectively, seems content to kill the round.

R4: Both girls let their hands go a little this round - Liu leaping up into right hands from the knees to the chest and chin of Packard - Kelly setting up her punches more conventionally, poking the jab, scoring right hands to shine up Lucy's face a little by the midway point. Down the stretch, Liu at close range, hands at her side, leans away, pivots to her right and launches a southpaw right uppercut between the mitts as Packard comes forward - sudden jolt drops Kelly to one knee at the bell as Liu lifts her mitts, presses her trunks against Packard's face until the ref jumps in.

R5: Packard nibbling, bending low after throwing any right hand to avoid receipts, but Liu's finding the power stroke now and is clearly making the fight. MIdway through, Liu snaking her head down below Kelly's waist, comes up with a shuddering left uppercut to the pit of the stomach, falling off to the left as Packard's legs buckle. All Lucy to the bell as she lunges in and past Kelly in a series of bombing runs - Packard looking harried at the bell, trembling slightly as she walks to her corner.

R6: Lucy backing off a little - Kelly reasserting her straight punching up the middle has the Asian leaning off balance to avoid contact. Liu snagging a close round with some nifty single body shots in the final minute, just sinking the punches in then escaping as Packard looks content to give up the waist to protect the chin.

R7: Liu gets Kelly advancing, bending low as she retreats, then popping up to surprise the blonde with short, crunching left/rights out of the crouch. Packard staggered early, goes back on the defensive and has to concede another shutout as Liu dictates. Liu clowning this round, sticking her chin out and laughing as Packard refuses to punch.

R8: Liu playful with Kelly now, bending her head down to touch her ear to Kelly's hip or drag her forehead across Packard's sweating belly, making the blonde miss little chopping strokes. Packard suddenly changes plane, working with a little left uppercut and Liu straightens, hands down. Kelly turning over the hardest punch of the fight so far, drifts Liu square in the face, following up with hacking lefts and rights as Lucy desperately slips side to side to the ropes. All Kelly P as she pours it on - left hooks to the body and head, short right hands (all body) on the jaw - Liu just overwhelmed, legs not responding - she gets tagged more this round than she has in some of her recent fights. Bell sounds and Liu is outraged, pushing Kelly after the break and prompting referee intervention.

R9: Liu staggers Kelly out of the gate, dragging a sweeping right hand from the floor into the blonde's gut, jumping to the left and hammering a straight arm right from the side to Kelly's mouth. Packard's legs give way as she wobbles to the ropes, but she never loses defensive sensibility. Liu squaring up, twitching the left hand into the blonde's ribs, swaying away, then leaning back in with the right hand. Packard with the high guard, rolling her shoulders to pick up Lucy's shots - it's brilliant give and take as Liu dominates, but can't find Kelly flush as blonde escapes the round.

R10: Liu's prestige on the line as Packard looks to go the distance. Lucy moving right, clipping her come along hook under Kelly's chin, reverses field and drives a hard right hand to the blonde's face - Packard swooning, feet scrambling to hold down the canvas. Liu jumping from side to side, lifting her fists up into Packard's tight midsection, breaking the blonde down, turning her mid ring. Packard finally showing signs of form degradation, not punching back, staggering around the ring as she covers up for the final minute. Seconds left, Liu dives into a hard right hand from the waist, jamming it in tight between Packard's mitts and DOWN GOES KELLY! Packard driven to her back, eyes fluttering, reaches pathetically for the ropes but can't beat the count. KO10 Lucy Liu who leaps for joy with the stoppage.

After: Groggy Packard gets the walk of shame, despite giving Liu all she could handle - Anderson unhappily trailing behind to display the belts. Liu giving Kelly plenty of credit in post fight, calling her a legitimate challenger, but also claiming the right to display beaten opponents as she sees fit. Packard disconsolate with being knocked out, but scrappy effort makes Liu fight at least.

Sim Guy

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