1 AUGUST 2003 LUCY LIU VS KELLY RIPA

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Posted by simguy on 8/1/2003, 5:26 am

Before: "I'll come up for the right blondes," quips a grinning Liu in prefight. Ripa the sort of hard-tossing volume puncher who can give Lucy problems, but Liu's romped through bantam chins before, expects to do so again. Frustrating year for Liu - plenty of quality wins, moving up and down the scale - she's just too scary for the titled class to take a chance. Lucy in red bikini ala Self mag (or Shape - get 'em confused), black shoes, hair down - Kelly in black push up, neon pale blue surfer chick trunks, black shoes.

During R1: Liu pretty on her toes, hands low, bippity-bopping in, turning on a huge right hand over the top, bending crazy at the waist, trying to catch Ripa the hesitation hook on comeback. Ripa disciplined behind a high guard, eyes intent as she cuts off the ring, jabbing to chest just to get distance. Kelly giving up her tummy some - Liu gets a couple of hard, wide swinging hooks square to paunch - Ripa undaunted. Midway through, Ripa doubling up the stubby jab from the shoulder, drilling in a short right hand to the mouth - Liu forced back into the ropes - Kelly stepping into a heartstopping hook loud on the ribcage and LUCY'S HURT! Liu reaching to clinch, face stunned - Kelly with her elbows up shoves brunette back and stays on that body. Withering assault, Ripa stacking Liu up with jagged straight right hands, then walloping the body with a shivering straight arm hook - punch just POUNDING off golden brown goodness as Liu's legs lock up. Lucy finally bodying up, walking Kelly to midring - sloppy clinches from a wounded Asian to the bell.

R2: Liu trying to coax life back into her legs, hopping along the perimeter - Ripa aggressively scooting in pursuit, reels Lucy in with a wide, scooping hook, traps her on the ropes, and applies the beat down. Liu looking spanked, butt in the strands, right hand at her chest, left hand across her body - she's bending at the waist, leaning back into the ropes, turning her shoulders to blunt the savage incoming. Ripa snarling, delivering with gusto, doubling up on chopping straight rights, then staking all on liver-licking hooks that are cutting Lucy in two. More hurting clinches from Liu as she reaches under blonde's arms, breathlessly walking Kelly back. Final minute - Liu has no choice, grinding away temple to temple, swatting back at Kelly's ribs and jugs on the inside - Ripa outworking Liu to the bell, really getting up into the lungs with heartfelt punching. Lucy stumbling en route to her corner, hollow-eyed with discouragement.

R3: Liu unable to get around Kelly as Ripa fixes position with the jab, starts landing blunt right hands off Lucy's shiny face, knocking it back, dazing Liu. Kelly right in front, moving her hands, punching with Liu - Lucy shortening up her strokes, trading short right hands on the mouth, poking a short-arm jab, hooking at Kelly's sternum, but Ripa's doing the same things only harder. Minute of sustained trading sees Liu start to wilt - she's not weathering the constant banging pressure, not able to load up and get to Ripa with the unorthodox power - Kelly's eating her up. Ripa stepping forward behind the jab/right hand, now putting hesitation hooks on top and STUNNING Lucy as Liu's hook gets pre-empted. Liu's thighs give a shake, she's baby-stepping backwards - Kelly bangs a right to face, steps and BANGS ANOTHER SHORT RIGHT HOME! Liu reeling back eyes blank and LUCY'S DOWN AT THE ROPES! Liu bludgeoned, out on her backside - she somehow beats the count, reeling for 8. ON COMES KELLY! Caution to the wind - blonde walks in, puts two in Lucy's gut right/left, shoulders her back, hooks her liver, shoulders her off, hooks Liu's chin as Asian's stooping forward, shoulders up, hooks chin again and LUCY'S OUT! Liu tilting on her hips, taking punches on her face - Ripa able to set and pop, turning her hooks over and belting away with a hard-working smile. Ref finally steps in to cradle the shellshocked brunette - devastating KO3 Kelly Ripa.

After: Red bikini bagging up sad on a slumped brown body - desolation on Lucy's face says it all - you jump through enough hoops in this sport, you're going to get burned. Ripa treating Liu to one of the worst beatings of her career and re-establishing herself as a strong blonde bantam - great, great body punching, tenacious combinations, volume with accuracy - she runs Lucy ragged for an upset in the minds of most.

Sim

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