8 AUGUST 2003 LUCY LIU VS JODIE FOSTER

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Posted by simguy on 8/8/2003, 7:00 am

Before: Glorified sparring session expected for Liu, but if she does work the body as promised, pundits wonder how big a favourite she should be. Foster a solid enough pug on the ivy league circuit, has gone pro rounds with Gillian Anderson, Rachel Weisz and other thinking man's fighters - would have no chance if Liu fights her usual brand of run and shoot. Liu in red bikini, black shoes, Jodi in black bikini top, black boycut trunks, whites shoes.

During R1,2: Liu takes the rounds, but enjoys mixed success at best on the inside - often forced to regroup outside and use her reflexes, class to re-assert dominance. Foster with pedestrian feet, guard up high - she's a textbook orthodox fighter, leading with the jab, straight right hand, trying to finish the hook. Liu catches her time and again on tempo - popping the hook to jaw to spoil Jodi's own hook - Lucy nice and loose with her delivery, scoring, dropping her hands, pivoting left. Liu content to slap timing punches in on Foster - dipping left and hooking Jodi's chin as Foster's jab misses over Liu's right shoulder. Trading right hands and beating Jodi to the mouth. Just speed stuff, making contact, embarrassing Foster while standing right in front of her.

R3: Liu evolving a strategy - loosey goose first minute, hands down, timing Jodi and punching with her, swatting her face with short lefts and rights, swivelling around her with an arm around Jodi's waist to spin Foster off balance, THEN wading inside to work. Liu pressing in with her hands on Jodi's shoulders or biceps, walking her back, keeping her head in close and digging to paunch with both mitts. Jodi stubborn, answering back with little right uppercuts and tuff left hook in the ribs - she winds up with her butt in the ropes, but she's competing in there.

R4: Liu finally hurts Jodi in the body - happy Asian smile as the new toys start getting results. Liu still with explosive legs, finally gets herself set right to use them, shortening up her strokes and really sinking in shots in under the breasts, thick in the belly and in behind the elbows. Jodi ashen faced, sitting open mouthed in the ropes, pushing half-heartedly against Liu's shoulders and chest, then crumpling as Lucy helps herself downstairs. Liu just getting used to bodying up on a girl for position, shoving and nudging Jodi's torso to the side to get a little room, placing rich shots to tender vitals. Glowing Liu at the bell - big, booming shutout leaves Foster sucking wind.

R5,6,7: Liu in control, but Foster showing no signs of punk - she's trying each and every round. Lucy working on her upperbody grapple, roping arms with Foster, trying to muscle her off balance, then hit her quick in the body, then hit her hard. Liu working out of the wrap for the first time, tieing up Jodi's right arm, plundering Jodi's midsection with plugging rights, walking her back to the ropes. Liu using her shoulder and elbow to nudge up and measure - as minutes go on, she's looking more proficient and occasionally getting that trademark shocking power out of her legs and torso to really cripple Jodi. Less and less boxing from Liu - she's wading in and getting sweaty.

R8: Shutout Liu. Good wrestling along the ropes to get Jodi's arms out of the way, then thumping good work to the tummy to sit Foster wounded in the ropes. Liu changing up inside, sometimes chopping almost overhand to the chest and sternum - crisscross delivery - then leaning forward to work underhand lower down as a wilting Jodi lays in with her.

R9: Liu punishing Foster along the ropes, pressing up on her and going at her belly, then straightening, looking to reach down either side and fit well placed punches behind the elbows. Foster bending at the waist, suffering, but occasionally popping out of the crouch to land her seviceable hook.

R10: Lucy looking to close out the 10-0 romp - gleefully bodying up, digging in to walk Jodi heavy to the ropes, then staying on her to beat her up inside. Liu using her head roughly under Jodi's chin, getting underneath, pushing the biceps back and driving into the lungs - Liu all big and strong as Foster grimaces and takes. Down the stretch, Lucy with her hands low on the inside, really hup-hup-hupping in punches while leaning her chin out over Jodi's shoulder. Foster with a quick lean back, gets a nuisance right uppercut on Liu's careless chin, puts the hook on top as Liu's bringing a hook up from her thigh and LUCY TAKES A KNEE! Liu stung in the dying moments, shocked as she gets dropped - time runs out before Foster can see how hurt Liu is. Comes back wide UD10 Liu, but game Jodi spoils the hoped-for 10-0 romp.

After: Liu looking a little hazy in postfight, but she got the work she needed. Jodi punished in her body, but walking around, excited about her knockdown - she's in better shape than most would have predicted. Liu showing the ability to hold her own on the inside and dominate pedestrian fighters there, but you wonder what's going to happen if she tries this against bigger, stronger, more experienced bantams who make their livings in other girls' trunks, feasting on other girls' tummies.

Simguy

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