28 NOVEMBER 2003 LUCY LIU VS SALMA HAYEK

(Thanks to FightFan for this repost)

Posted by simguy on 11/28/2003, 6:04 pm

Before: High prestige bout, former champs hook up in what amounts to a people's champ kind of showdown. Liu back to her old fearsome self at 110, she's got the quickness, power she had in her glory days and looking to sample latina chin to keep the ball rolling. "Lucy is an insult to boxing," says a fiery Hayek in prefight. "I yam sick when I see girls lose to her when they should have won easily by sticking to fundamentals. All her leaping around and clowning won't help her against me. I yam too solid for that amateur crap." Hayek in BI battle dress, Lucy in slick ponytail, black pushup, leopard print boy cut trunks, black shoes.

During R1: Shutout Liu - Hayek acclimating to the circus style and wide ranging attack patterns of her unpredictable foe. Lucy flat footed, hands low, backhanding her jab, then bounding away, walking to either side, showing a shoulder feint, then shearing in off sudden angles, looking to lift a blockbuster off her knees to Salma's chin. Hayek doing a good job defensively, covering up, bending low - not a lot is landing flush, but Salma's not in a position to answer back as Luce dictates the opener.

R2: Hayek staying compact, elbows in, dukes up, she gets a spitting jab unpacked this round, trying to channel the Liu rushes. Hayek productive to Lucy's gut, timing Liu, coaxing her forward then ducking as Luce lunges, plugging a stubby right to ribs, hooking flank off the jab, circling around to the left. Liu making faces, glaring at Salma, trying to intimidate her, but intimidation doesn't add up to points.

R3: Liu flat footed in front of Salma, bending low at the waist, leaping up suddenly with the lead left uppercut - Hayek reading it well, not rushing in when Lucy's set - Hayek's fading back, turning, taking the power off these thunderclaps. Midway through, Hayek jerks back from a crazy Liu leaping right, clubs Asian behind the head with a counterleft - not a hard punch, but Liu's balance so bad, she's cuffed to her hands and knees for a quick knock down. Liu flustered by the 8 count - Hayek able to position her with steady jab in the chest, then place straight rights up top, gancha hooks wide to the liver as Liu scrapes along the ropes to the bell.

R4,5: Intriguing cat and mouse as Hayek turns puncher - still boxing smart behind her jab, still letting Liu come forward and timing her, but Salma's setting down, throwing everything hard at Liu's ribcage and tender tummy. Lucy darting, sliding in and out - all one or two shot lunging haymakers, many partially blocked by Hayek's raised guard and simple shuffle-step to the left, but Lucy's got tactical control of the ring these rounds. Both girls get what they want: Lucy ties the scorecards up after 5, Salma banks some terrific body leather for the second half - both girls digging in for the long haul.

R6: Sure enough, Liu's not as mobile this round - girls falling in together for the first time, struggling in close, getting muscular with shoulders and arms straining to push and pull the opponent off balance. Hayek busily outworking Lucy as they push up on each other - Mexican lavishing the waistline with gorgeous, digging hooks, really getting her hips into 'em, pounding the taut flesh. Liu looking frazzled, holding more, walking away with a pout - she doesn't like the consistent body work, isn't answering back this round.

R7: Hayek spits jabs to put Liu ropeside, then sails to gut with those spanking, clawing Latina hooks. Salma grinding her forehead into Liu's cheek, pressing up, then slamming away downstairs, doubling, tripling up the hook, then crowding as Liu wilts along the ropes and TAKES A KNEE! Liu down with an agonized expression, breathing hard - she takes 8 and this time it's for real. Hayek marching in stoney-eyed, putting punches together and the rest of the way is a grand, glorious beat down Tijuana style. Liu digging in hurt, drooped forward as Salma storms the breadbasket with hooks, pushed upright and battered by harsh straight rights and lefts from Salma's shoulders. Hayek takes all she wants, leaves with a smug smile at the bell: Lucy's hurting.

R8: Liu stepping right, clipping a come-along hook under Hayek's chin, Salma trying to force the issue, coming forward and Liu NAILS her the sudden right hand. Salma caught chasing for the first time all night, stepping in fence post holes - Liu hopping to the right, hooking her foe in the temple, throwing a wide right hand to the back, shoulder-bumping Hayek backwards. Salma under siege for a minute as she bobs and weaves, keeping her guard together, riding out a leaping, free-swinging torrent of Lucy leather. Final minute - Hayek's shaken it off, starts to regroup, edging away from Liu, drawing her in, tagging her gut with either hand and sliding off to the side.

R9: Hayek re-asserts control - succulent body punching bringing Liu to a standstill, putting a boozy look of resignation on Liu's face - Lucy's fighting cheek to cheek this round. Hayek mixing it up, thumping hooks to the body to start, then hooking Liu's eye, skull - Liu often tottering back from the volley-lefts, allowing Salma to pound her a forget-me-not straight right hand. Liu swelling up nicely, especially around the left eye - Salma's left no stone unturned tonight.

R10: Salma makes a statement - goes bell to bell, beats Lucy blue and leaves no doubt in the judges mind. Hayek, bracing up on Liu from the outset, left shoulder and extended elbow nudging, touching, then snap hooks raking at the head, ribs and tummy. Liu just sick with the body beating she's taking, sliding hurt to her right, covering up, occasinally reaching around waist to clinch. Hayek getting stronger as the round progresses - even when Liu clinches and hangs on, Hayek's still trying to claw at her body around the outstretched limbs. Down the stretch, accumulation piles up - hook caroms off Lucy's brow ridge, unhinges her knees - she slumps stupified in the ropes, staring. Hayek with a monster flurry at the bell, pounding away on Liu's defenceless face, putting her head on a swivel, crowd screaming, but time runs out on the imminent KO. Hayek snarling fiercely as she stomps away from Liu's smoldering frame - demonstrative UD10 Salma Hayek.

After: Salma fighting a nearly perfect fight tonight - got caught chasing in the 8th, but for the most part stayed defensively sound, worked the body to dismantle Liu, then really laid the hammer down as Liu ships a beating through 10. Lucy ashen faced, left eye closed, mouth open from relentless body work - classic Latina pounding tonight, but also a smart, technically proficient one - Hayek at the top of her game gets back in the hunt.

Sim Guy

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