Jennifer Lawrence vs Robyn Lawley (Melbourne, AU)
by Lookout/simgrrl

Tale-of-the-Tape: J-Law (18-7-1) 25yo, 5'8”, 130#; R-Law (5-1-0) 26yo, 6'2” 180#

Two weeks after Holly Holm upset Ronda Rousey in this same Etihad Stadium, Melboune, Australia, Jen Lawrence will try to reprise Holm's stunning upset by beating one of Australia's biggest stars!

Lawrence in country to promote her new 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2' gets a call from a well-known Aussie boxing promoter. According to him, a woman who was in the main event on the weekend card was injured in training and had to pull out. He begged Jen to step in at the last minute and face New South Wales' popular model Robyn Lawley. The promoter pleaded that if he had to refund the ticket money, most of which he'd already spent, he'd be financially ruined.

Lawrence, having no idea who Lawley is, heard the word “model” and jumped at the chance to get additional publicity for her new film - as well as her boxing career. Her rep had taken a couple of hits after her losses to Yvonne Strahovski and Taylor Cole and J-Law knew that any win, even one against a local model, would give her some badly needed publicity.

It wasn't until after she'd already signed the contract, and deposited the guarantee check she shrewdly negotiated up front, that it occurred to Lawrence that she ought to call her manager back in the States. That's when Ginny gave her the news that Robyn Lawley wasn't just any 'model'! “She's a big, tall, heavweight who can really box. She knocked out her opponent in all five of her fights before she ran into Freeman,” the old redhead told J-Law. Then Ginny advised her not to do it, adding, “You're not ready for someone like Lawley.”

In retrospect, tellin her Jen Lawrence isn't 'good enough' for anything is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. “She's just a model,” Lawrence told Ginny. “Look, if Cassidy Freeman handled her, I can handle her too.”

J-Law got two actresses touring with her to act as her seconds; Julianne Moore and Elizabeth Banks both agreed. Jen wasn't worried in the least until Willow Shields, the 15 y/o starlet who plays Lawrence's young sister in the film - and who is up on current affairs - warned her, “Lawley is SERIOUSLY big, you'd have to be crazy to fight her!”

Perhaps Lawrence had forgotten - if she ever knew - that while Freeman's career record is similar to her owns, Cassidy's resume includes a welterweight championship and four successful defenses against some of the best in the division (Righetti and Decker the two biggest names). Jen's come a long way in a few years, but until tonight, she's never fought anyone with the height, weight and reach of Lawley! J-Law's had success against good lightweights, but big women - even those in her own division - Palicki and Strahovski, for example, have given her problems and they're nowhere near the size of Lawley!

“The Freeman debacle was an eye-opener for me,” Robyn tells reporters during her presser. “I'd pretty much gotten by on size and strength up to then, but against women of the calibre of the FCBA, I need to utilize better technique. Chris and the others had been telling me that all along, but it took Cassidy Freeman to finally get it inna my skull. We're making adjustments, but with Jennifer Lawrence in town, it seemed like the perfect time to get 'real world' practice against a top ranked fighter in a low stress situation.

“I've had a couple of months of working out since Freeman and my fitness level has improved. I've also changed a few things in training; added a new punch and we honed a couple of things that Freeman exposed; so, hopefully, they'll work better. I'm looking forward to this because I'm told this girl is a rising star and this'll be one of those 'yardstick bouts' to see how I'm progressing in my development.”

Jennifer (still not having seen Lawley 'in the flesh') was her usual breezy, light-hearted self across town at her own media day. “I'm here to sell tickets for the final chapter of the Hunger Games saga,” she says, sticking to the film's distributor's talking points. “This thing with the model...Lawley?... is just for giggles. I'll put on a suit and we'll swap a little leather; get her some pics to show the grand kids someday when she tells them about the time she was in a real fight in a boxing ring with an Oscar winning actress.”

Asked about how she stays in shape while traveling around the world promoting her movie, Lawrence admitted conditioning is, “...a problem. My schedule's pretty hectic, but instead of spending a day or two in the gym sweating off a few pounds, I thought It'd be more fun to do like a light workout against some live comp. It's great that your Lawley girl was available.” Then after putting her audience through more drivel about her latest film, she closed by promising the Aussies, “I won't hurt her too much.”

“OHMYGAWD!” was Jennifer's reaction one day before the fight when she got her first in-person look at towering, plus size model, when Lawley stripped down to get on the scale at their weigh-in. “I'm fighting Godzilla!” Her second reaction was to turn to Liz Banks and ask if it was too late to get out of the fight. Banks it was, and Jen just shook her head and pouted the rest of the day.

Jen's giving up 50 pounds and 6” - plus a foot or so in reach against the gigantic beauty from down under. “But Cass Freeman beat her,” becomes the youngster's mantra; repeating it over and over to anyone who'll listen; likely as much trying to convince herself as her audience.

Robyn Lawley showing she doesn't play favorites - or maybe is just trying to change her luck - switches from the Brooklyn Decker inspired suit she wore in her loss to Freeman into a Kate Upton-esque white bikini (see Kate's SI cover), matching gloves and shoes; shoulder-length light brown hair scrunchied into a sassy ponytail.

Jen Lawrence in flesh-tone sports bra and boy-cut bottom; outfit gives impression of nudity in the ring, though she's fully covered. (Interesting choice!) Like most of the Academy fighters, J-Law prefers bare feet, thinking it gives her a better “feel” of the canvas. Her gloves are blood red and she has to hope it's Lawley's blood, not hers, that'll be on 'em at the end of what is apparently, a one-sided contest.
* * * *
During R1: J-Law settles for staring straight ahead, directly into Lawley's impressive cleavage, after getting a cramp in her neck looking up at her face; settles for studying rack while the local referee drones on in his thick Aussie accent. Jen finally just tunes out and tries to visualize ways to attack the monster glowering, and towering, over her.
At the bell, Lawley shows she's a quick study; having made several tactical adjustments after her disappointing showing against Cassidy Freeman, slide-stepping portside behind a long, rangy, looping, left jab that pops Jen's forehead to snaps it back with each impact. Lawrence ducking, bobbing and feinting; working hard trying to get within range of her shorter reach to attack that long expanse of big Aussie body!
Lawrence having trouble adjusting to Lawley's size; her usual straight-head, pumping from the hips, punching are about mid-thigh on Lawley, so she's force to either stand more upright than usual, or forego the straight punching for overhand one. Neither proves an attactive option, since if she goes low to work the body, Lawley can leans her weight on her, riding her down and making throwing punches that don't land “below the belt” extremely difficult. If she stays more upright, Lawrence quickly learns Lawley's able to swing “from the knees” and still bludgeon her body. If she isn't careful to keep her guard high, and expose her body, Robyn can chop shots down from shoulder height onto her head. It's a conundrum for Lawrence who hadn't a plan or strategy of how to deal with a woman of Lawley's bulk, height and reach. Still, J-Law has her moments!
When she can force her way inside, Lawley has a problem defending all of her long body. Punching straight from her shoulders with either hand, Jennifer's gloves are at the perfect height to pound Robyn's rack. Not surprisingly, Lawley doesn't appreciate the attention and takes to clinching, which presents a more immediate problem for Lawrence, who keeps finding her face being pulled into Lawley's cleavage. In J-Law's opinion, the referee lets it go on far too long and she finds herself running out of air while she's pumping her fists into the smooth belly just above Lawley's elastic band.
Lawrence stubbornly keeps forcing the action, trying to get to Lawley's torso and by the bell at the end of the round, despite Jen's numerous frustrations, there's a healthy pink glow on Robyn's beach tanned belly. Jennifer wins round on points (close)

R2: More of the same. Jen still determinedly fighting her way inside to plunder Lawley's big, exposed, flanks and mid-section. Lawley wrapping J-Law in an embrace, pulling her facefirst into her cleavage, then holding her with left or right hands behind the head to smother her while Robyn hammers her other fist on the nubile young blonde actresses body. Referee, noting the crowd's approval of Robyn's tactics, hesitant to force breaks...often allowing it to go on for too long!
Lawrence tries to use her legs, but by the halfway point, she's huffing and puffing; showing her lack of conditioning after a long spell away from the gym promoting her film. Fighting at close range to negate Robyn's reach advantage, J-Law has some success, but between the heavy, thumping her body's taking and the breathtaking trips to Lawley's cleavage, Lawrence's work rate suffers markedly.
At one point, she crowd gasps when trapped in Lawley's arms, Jennifer lunges upright and slams both fists into Lawley's chest, then drives forward and levers her back over the top rope. She's winding up to hammer down on Robyn's rack when the referee grabs her arm and pulls her away for a finger-wagging. Lawrence takes it in stride, using the brief respite as an opptunity to catch her breath. When he calls them back together, Jen half-heartedly offers her raised left glove in apology, and Robyn slaps it aside in a show of pique. Then it's back to business, with Lawrence showing a bit more movement that gives her a couple of angles to step in and land a few punches under or behind Robyn's elbows. At the bell, Lawley showing her displeasure as she stalks back to her stool. Again, Lawrence wins the round on points (close).

R3: More of the same round three. Lawrence stubbornly sticking with her (only?) game plan; ducking, dodging, bobbing and weaving; taking her punishment for the chance to punish Lawley's long, vulnerable body. Every time J-Law manages to get in striking range, however, Robyn wraps her up and leans her bulk on the shorter blonde. Jen's knees buckling under the weight of the big, brawny, brawler; nevertheless J-Law keeps punching until she can take no more and slowly goes to her knees as Lawley puts her full weight on J-Law's upper back. Referee refusing to credit Robyn the knockdown, instead wags his finger and warns her for “...holding and hitting...” then adds, “... an' yah was leanin' on her too. Ya know better'n 'at, luv. C'mon now, knock it off!”
Jennifer gets right back in Robyn's face...her belly button really...giving her all she's got with lefts and rights. Lawley standing upright under the punishment, dropping that big right hand down on top of Lawrence's head, neck, shoulders...anything she can see she can hit! Jennifer getting rocked time and again, yet refusing to back off and play it safe; keeps coming forward looking for Lawley's chin - hoping to find the 'magic bullet' that can turn the fight in her favour.
Mid-way thru the round, Lawrence up-tempos when she thinks she has an opening, letting her hope overcome her better judgement. Sure enough, in her excitement, she leaves herself open to one of Robyn's signature punches: her powerful right hand! The punch is delivered quick, short and on target. J-Law's knees buckle, but her body absorbs the impact and she manages to wrap her arms around Robyn's waist, her cheek pressed against Lawley's belly as she hangs on for dear life.
Lawley plunges her fists down against J-Law's sides, then hammers down on her back with both hands, slowly forcing the dazed blonde to her knees. This time, Jennifer's arms drop as she does, ending up on her knees with her arms wrapped tightly around Robyn's legs, her face wedged between the brunette model's thighs. Lawrence resists the referee's attempts to pull her away, shrugging off his hand from her shoulder and almost upending Lawley in the process. Finally, the referee manages to untangle J-Law's gloves and helps her to her feet.
Despite cries of protest from the fans, the referee again rules Lawrence's trip to her knees “a slip” and after he gives her a few seconds to compose herself, he waves them back into action. But Lawrence is hurt and that is obvious as Robyn Lawley tee's off on J-Law, hammering her back across the ring to the ropes where she doubles over under brutal assault by the hulking brunette's heavy-handed fists. Robyn's brutal body attack in the final minute of round three garners her the points she needs to win the round and slice Lawrence's already narrow lead to a razon thin margin after three.

R4: Robyn Lawley on her feet seconds before the bell, eager to get back after Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and prove once and for all models are as tough as actresses....if not moreso! But it's Lawley who gets the first shock when Lawrence slips Robyn's right hand and drills a sharp left hook in under her right elbow! Lawley buckling in pain, can't get her gloves up in time to block J-Law's overhand right! Big brunette staggers back to the ropes with gimlet-eyed blond in pursuit! Jennifer with a leap-in right hand, gets caught flush by a counter right of Lawley's that scores over J-Law's low left hand. In mid-air, Jennifer goes limp momentarily, her body flying past Lawley's left shoulder to the ropes where she's hung up; head, shoulders and right arm hung over the middle rope, left hand supported by the bottom rope while her lower body is held upright by her knees on the mat.
The referee jumps in quickly and sends Lawley to the furthest corner, then turns to the timekeeper to pick up the count at TWO! The count is at EIGHT by the time the stunned J-Law untangles herself and is up, reeling backward against the ropes. She holds her gloves up just as the referee is about to stop the match and nods, mumbling something in response to his question - delivered in a thick brogue she couldn't possibly have understood, even if she were 100%.
The final minute of the round sees Lawley, pursue, then corner, then punish the sturdy blondes body for the duration. Jennifer buffeted from one foot to the other; pursued along the ropes from one corner to the next; never given a moment's respite; never allowed even a “standing eight” to regain her faculties. It's the Robyn Lawley Show and nobody's of a mind to interrupt her performance for niceties like the Marquis of Queensbury or even good sportsmanship. At the bell, Lawrence is barely hanging on to her senses, but after using the ropes for support, she's still able to walk...ever so slowly, along them with one hand clutching the top strand to her corner where she collapses on her stool.
* * * *
Between Rounds: Elizabeth Banks and Julianne Moore exchange worried looks in Jennifer's corner. Unsure what else to do, Banks empties a water bottle over Lawrence's head. As it runs down her face onto her chest, the flesh-tone sports bra becomes semi-transparent and fans at ringside sit up eagerly, ready to take more interest in the next round. Moore, having been in a fight or two in her long career, looks around for smelling salts and when she realizes they don't have any, she goes to her purse and breaks out a sachet of perfume which she holds under Lawrence's nose.
After a few seconds, Jennifer mumbles, “Char...Charlize? What're you doin' here?” Moore takes that as a good sign, so she slaps her a couple of times. “OK Cat, I got it,” Lawrence mumbles.
“She's good to go,” Moore tells Banks, who looks dubious, but doesn't argue.
The referee comes over and asks if J-Law is alright, and when Moore replies, “Of course she is. No worries, as you say down here.” He shrugs, turns, and walks away shaking his head.
* * * *
R5:  When the referee told Lawley's corner Lawrence intended to continue, Robyn's trainer told her, “Girl's got moxy, I'll give 'er that. But more a' that than good sense. Get out there and finish this quick like; there's a right good show on the telly tonight I'd rather not miss.”
Lawley up, slapping her gloves together, before the bell; marches out to end Jen's nightmare. Robyn smacks J-Law with a jab, then another as she draws back her right and then lets fly. AND DOWN SHE GOES! Jennifer, only dimly aware of her surroundings, reacted unconsciously as she recognizes the brunette giantess pull back to throw the right and leaned into a right of her own just as Lawley unleashed hers!. As Robyn's body came down and in behind her punch, Lawrence was twisting her own body into a sweeping right of her own.
At the same instant that Lawley's fist whistled past J-Law's left ear, Jen's right slammed flush to the side of Robyn's jaw! Lawley's momentum carried her into Lawrence and they crashed together. Lawley hit Lawrence with the force of a runaway locomotive. They fell in a tangle with Lawley on top!
J-Law wriggled and squirmed, trying to worm her from under Lawley who lay dazed on her. With the ref's help, Jen finally freed herself, scrambled up and meandered aimlessly to the ropes where she tried to collect her wits while the referee scratched his head and finally decided to count. He got to EIGHT when Lawley was on one knee, and her knee lifted up just as his arm came down and he uttered the words, “....and te...uh, no...” He indicated the fight was continuing, but it took several seconds more to check Lawley's gloves and look into her eyes before he gave J-Law the go-ahead to resume.
J-Law came forward very carefully, her body still thrumming from the impact with Lawley and then the mat with Lawley's full weight landing on her. Jen poked, pekked, jabbed and circled behind her straight jab; throwing in an occasional right hand to keep the still shaky big brunette defensive. Late in the round, Jennifer began to throw the right hand more often, hoping to repeat her surprise success of the opening minute, but while she landed solidly to the body, Lawley's chin remained tantelizingly just out of reach! At the bell, the crowd rose and cheered them both for the best round of the fight; one that, thanks to the knockdown, was scored for Lawrence (wide) and pad her lead after five hard rounds!

R6: Both girls getting attention between rounds; both looking much better as they stand and await the bell. Each has felt the others power, and while no one in the crowd doubts Lawley is the more powerful, they have seen Lawrence's ability to fight back and hurt their favourite, so when there's respectful caution shown by both, it's understandable. Lawrence, realizing she must keep pressuring Lawley, now regrets not taking a few more chances when she had her hurt earlier. Lawley knows Lawrence isn't going to go easily and wishes she'd done more with her opportunities in the 3rd and 4th.
J-Law back to what worked before - nitty, gritty, inside, body work. Robyn with her preferred reply; putting her weight on Lawrence, riding her, exhausting her. First half of the round sees J-Law successful; her heavy-handed body attack wilting the big brunette. For the first time, Jen hears Robyn grunting when she's hit. Lawrence working out of a more upright stance, bang-bang-banging her way upward from Lawley's belly button to her breasts. The crowd ooh's and aah's as one rat-a-tat-tat combo by Jen gets Robyn's rack a-jumpin' and a-shakin'!
Midway, Lawrence inside, pumping away with both fists to Lawley's belly; Robyn, forearms on J-Law's shoulders, gloves clasped behind her head; Jen's knees buckling under the weight, ducks her head and tries to back out. Robyn, holds the back of Jen's head with her left hand, brings the right up, over, and around in a huge bolo-style punch that connects squarely 'on the button'! DOWN GOES J-LAW! DOWN GOES J-LAW! Lawrence's knees unhinge and she collapses under Lawley's weight. Robyn almost stumbles over Jennifer, but somehow skips to her left and avoids a tumble. J-Law sways on her knees; arms dangling at her sides; face blank; eyes unfocused. Referee pushes Lawley toward the corner and returns to count over Lawrence who slowly tilts forward onto all fours, shaking her head trying to clear it. As the count goes on, Lawrence rocks back on her haunches and struggles to get her right foot forward, then leans on her right knee and slooooowly starts to rise. Halfway up, the referee stops counting, just as she wobbles and staggers forward, almost falling before she rights herself immediately in front of the referee and brings her gloves up to her chin.
He studies her face a monent and asks her if she can continue. Through her mouthpiece she mumbles she can and he allows her to continue. From there, it's all Lawley to the bell! Lawrence is battered from one foot to the other along the ropes. After her clinch is broken up, she's pummeled clear across the ring to the other ropes where she again throws her arms around Lawley's chest and bearhugs her. Robyn never one to pass up an opportunity, quickly wraps her arms around Lawrence's head and pulls her face down into her awesome, sweaty, cleavage once more. Referee takes his time breaking them, J-Law staggering back red-faced, panting, sucking air; pauses to wipe R-Law's boob-sweat from her face with the back of her gloves, then throws herself recklessly at the big brunette!
Lawley patient, calculating, taking her time; ruthlessly takes the blonde apart, brick by brick. Breaking her down to the body, then exacting rack-revenge for Jen's unfortunate decision to attack brunette rack; and finally smashing her beautiful face with two and three punch combinations as the young blonde reels around the ring behind a shattered and shaky peek-a-boo defense.
By the bell, Lawrence is a hollow shell of her formerly prideful self. Lawley battered Jennifer's out-of-shape belly; stacked and jacked her on the ropes to shoeshine her proud puppies (to the delight of the crowd who were on their feet cheering with a display of Aussie pride, changing “AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE, 'OY, 'OY, 'OY!!” After Lawley leveled Lawrence's 'ladies', she left her butt-stuffed in the strands with tears streaming down her ruddy, bloodied, face as the referee pulled her off and sent her to her corner. Robyn won this round on points (wide!)

R7: Shocking! Not only did Lawrence insist on coming out for the seventh, but that no one - not her corner nor the referee, not even Lawley, tried to stop her! Lawley, to her credit, appeared to try as hard as she could to end it mercifully fast. Robyn pounded three straight punches to the belly that doubled Lawrence up and then dropped her to her knees gasping, but she gamely struggled back to her feet and when the ref appeared ready to end it, Lawrence shoved him away and went at Lawley again! The crowd cheered her bravado.
Robyn Lawley ended it when she doubled up on the left hook and hammered Jen Lawrence in the face with a straight right that send her over backward, star-fishing the young blond as she sprawled spread-eagled on her back. She didn't move during the count and as the referee raised Lawley's arm, Robyn's corner joined Moore and Banks in rushing to Lawrence's aid.
It took several minutes to bring her around, and Lawrence's face (see picture below) showed the ravages she endured in this one-sided contest.
As Lawrence was helped from the ring, Robyn Lawley joined the audience in applauding the plucky Yank for her gutsy performance here tonight as Robyn Lawley wins via KO7! 

After: Lawrence hurriedly cleaned up and pushed out in front of the media first as Lawley is being held up at ringside with interviews by local media; posing for pictures; signing autographs. Jen, the supposed “big star” of this bout pretty much ignored. (So much for publicity for her Hunger Games franchise!) Pretty young movie star appears lumpy-face; cranky-bodied; with a pink varnish on her face from the blood which was hastily, but not completely, wiped off after she left the ring.

In her comments, Lawrence admitted she was “disappointed, not so much by the result as for letting my fans down. Lawley's huge and even at my best I'd have had trouble with her.” When asked why she wasn't at her best, J-Law explained she's at the end of a “three week worldwide tour promoting my film...not that it's an excuse, but it's a big part of my explanation. I shouldn't have taken this fight not being in condition, and certainly not against an opponent like Robyn Lawley.”

A snarky and grizzled Aussie newspaper reporter (they still have those 'down under', we're told) piped up and asked pointedly, “Ah doan recall Ms. Cassidy Freeman, 'avin' too many problems with our lovely Lawley. You sayin' Freeman's better'n you?”

Jennifer bristled and snapped curtly, “I said I wasn't in shape and I said taking this fight was a mistake, one that I made. Nobody is to blame but me. Besides, I have a blockbuster movie to promote. What's Cass Freeman been in lately?” she boasted proudly.

“Trainin'...” the Aussie muttered under his breath. “...apparently.”

“WHAT? What did you say?” Lawrence challenged. “Come on, say it out loud to my face. I'm a big girl, I can take it.”

“I said, Freeman's apparently been in trainin', luv. Unlike yourself. And you didn't look like such a big girl standing next to our lovely Lawley, either,” he chuckled, to the amusement of his fellows.

Jennifer's face turned bright red and she sighed, then turned and trudged off the stage to laughter from many in the crowd....laughter that immediately became applause as Robyn Lawley appeared from the opposite side of the dais.

“I thought she'd never leave,” Lawley joked. When the laugher died down, she said, “No, seriously, she kept coming at me and banging my body. My ribs are pretty sore and me tummy's a bit hinky. The girl knew she had no hope, but she didn't give up or back down. 'gainst a girl her own size, or close to her size, I think she'd be a bit o' all right. I dunno if someone lied to her, or sold her a bill-a-goods, or what, but she wasn't ready for me tonight and I wore her out leanin' on her most of the fight.”

“You're a lotta woman!” someone yelled and Robyn grinned.

“That sounded like my agent there in the back. That you Phil?” she chuckled. “Good on ya!”

“I want to credit Freeman for putting me right where I'd been going wrong,” she said. “After her, we went back and broke down my techniques and made some major changes. I haven't got it all down yet, but you could see some improvement tonight. Lawrence had no idea what to expect with me, and even if she had, anything she, or her trainers, saw me do against Freeman had already gone by the boards. I'm a newer, improved, 'Lawley 2.0' and I plan to make some noise in the FCBA.”

“So Robbie, who's next? We all hear Serena's said somethin' 'bout gettin' inna fight game. Maria Sharapovie's a'ready hadda bout, or two. She's a long, tall, drinka whattah 'bout your hite. The FCBA's had a few ah da tennis gals in their ring on an occasion, or two; any interest there?”

Lawley shrugged theatrically. “Personally, I'd like to get my hands on some of the ahtha models; you know, girls like Swanepoel who're 5'10” and 110 pounds,” she grinned at the thought. “I'm too big for mosta 'em though. Still, anything's possible if ya put enuf money on the table innit?”

“Fight 'em one 'anded, luv!” the wizzened wiseazz in the front row suggested. “Anythin' tuh getcha back inna ring in a bikini; right on ya!”

And there they left it ... or at least that's when we lost the satellite feed! We're still not sold on this new-fangled technology. Gimme my old vaccum tube radio any die, mate!

** FILE END**