Posted by simguy on 4/11/2003, 6:19 am

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)


Before: Interesting gambit for both women. Liu a victim of her own success, perceived as the worst risk reward in the sport and without the Krusher Klout to bring titled foes to the negotiating table - she can't say no to anyone. Danes struggling, but Liu makes sense for her as Yale grad explains, "I lose to Lucy - no big deal, not many think I'll go the route, but I win and I'm right back in the hunt. Just taking a Liu fight makes me a badass - punks like Portman don't trust their skills against Lucy and why should they? Lucy would expose Natalie and take her belts away like a schoolyard bully lifting lunch money." Lucy in black push up, leopard print boy cut trunks, slick ponytail, black shoes - Claire in two-toned black/white bikini, two toned black/white boxing shoes.

During R1: Liu stalking, Danes in survival mode. Early boos as Claire dips and darts, runs, jukes, dekes - anything but risking exchange. Liu not cutting off the ring and throwing single shot bombs can't land cleanly, but she's the clear aggressor. Shutout by default, Liu.

R2: Danes settling down, rambling to her left, feinting, snatching at belly as Liu flinches on the fake. Midway through - Claire dragging her front foot, pivoting clockwise, licking at the midriff and Liu answers with a leaping lead left uppercut from the knees, catching Danes by surprise as she tries to lean out of the way. Claire scoots to her butt - Liu looming over the blonde, eyes flat with menace - she stands over Claire until ref pushes her back. Danes runs the clock to the bell - retreating to the ropes, getting around Liu with hopping swim-moves rather than risk another chin-check.

R3: Claire finally able to put some offence on Lucy. Danes sliding away, getting Liu to come to her - blonde getting off first with pesky scrubbing one-twos upstairs, often finishing up with a licking hook against Lucy's body. Claire pivoting around Liu's flanks, but staying close - blonde reading brunette's haymakers well, avoiding damage and stroking the exposed ribcage as Liu gets herself out of position. Add a stinging jab that constantly pre-empts Lucy and you've got a Claire Danes shutout.

R4: Liu's not having much luck to the head - she shifts focus to the ribcage and gets some sustained rhythm going. Claire backed to the ropes, elbows in, bending at the waist - Liu hands low, reaching in and landing thick to the blonde's flanks, leaning back out to avoid the counters.

R5: Best two way action of the round - Danes freezing Lucy with feints then peppering her with rolling combinations upstairs, greasy lefts across the abdomen. Liu getting some work done with two-beat punching - a left hook to body, left uppercut to head - two rights to the midsection and so on. Down the stretch, Danes leaning into the ropes and countering well off Liu misses - blonde slides a shiv left hook in under Lucy's right hand that has the Asian double-clutching! Liu not punching, folding up - Claire leans forward, drops her hands and starts hustling to Liu's suddenly suspect gut! Glares all around at the bell - Claire gets to Lucy's body with authority.

R6: More cagey two way action. Claire inducing Liu forward, picking her up with pre-emptive combinations, using her jab, slipping punches as she pivots left. Lucy conscientious on the body, touching Claire heavy, then trying to pick up the chin as blonde leans forward. Lucy the aggressor - Danes causing a lot of misses, but unable to come back effectively this round.

R7: Liu growing cocky as Danes resistance seems to melt away - Claire supple to the ropes, feinting then spinning out, running to the far ropes, pulling the same stuff. Crowd booing - Liu misinterpreting it as Danes' resolve collapsing, but down the stretch - Claire wrong foots Liu and tees it up to chin with a jerking left uppercut! Lucy off balance to begin with, staggers back on her heels - timing and punch placement getting it done for Claire. Danes finishing up strong at the ropes - Liu covering, folding forward, Claire tearing it up to belly with lashing, two handed lather.

R8: Danes retreating, but always in good order - by now Lucy's cautious about trying to storm in - very tactical 8th round. Liu IS coming forward, jabbing with Claire, but Danes has the Asian's big guns holstered as Liu matches feints and maneuver with Claire. Again, not enough offence from Danes, who's choosy with her spots - painting the black and maybe juuuust missing outside.

R9: Better stuff from Danes. Key is to get Liu coming forward, surprise her with pre-emptive lead rights or scraping jabs, then really dig in a body shot behind the elbow before pivoting away. Danes in her rhythm, sliding and dipping to the left, dragging her front foot - Liu loose and awkward, swinging late, gets herself shined up this round.

R10: Close fight, both girls know it - bitter two way trade has the crowd roaring at last. Liu darting in, pitching throw away right hands, but bouncing that left hand off Danes' taut midsection, then doubling it up to the chin. DANES IS HURT! Claire clipped clean, legs wobble - she staggers to ropes without going down, but Lucy squares away to go! Liu swatting and sweeping blockbuster lefts and rights - Danes making her miss over top, but Liu not too proud to stuff it to gut when she needs to make contact. Lucy in control to the final minute when Claire gambles, slugs a free-flowing 6 punch lather of rolling lefts and rights, backing Liu up and LIU GETS HURT! Lucy covering up, hands at her temples - she gives up her tummy to Claire's tender mercies as blonde rakes hooks without mercy. Liu on shaky legs at the bell, Claire helping herself as the ref steps in - he has to work to keep angry foes apart. Comes back UD10 Lucy Liu.

After: Close one - Liu wins again, but Danes once more proves one of Lucy's toughest foils - Asian never looks quite as comfortable against Danes as she does against the usual flyweight. Danes cursing herself - she knows just a few more minutes of activity, maybe a few more risks taken and she could have stolen this fight. "It's my fault," admits Claire in postfight, "I showed her too much respect and it cost me. I was taking her punch well and hurting her - I could have taken it to her and maybe even stopped her. She was ready to go by the end." Liu totally dismissive - "Claire Danes should be ashamed of herself. I've never seen anyone run so blatantly in a fight - she should have been penalized for that. She was going to stop ME? If she were so confident of that, why didn't she start punching till the last few seconds of the tenth round? 'Cause they'd be carrying her out of here on a stretcher, that's why."



Sim Guy

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