Diana Korkunova vs Lucia Liu (BBU Debut)
(Words: Caspian Results: Vassago)

Diana:
(24, 5’5, 23:6 BBU SIRENs)
Lucia:
(25, 5’6, BBU Debut, Free Agent)

BEFORE:
What a mismatch this is! Diana Korkunova, a former Flyweight champion, is set to go up against brand new, spankin’ Lucia Liu in an exhibition match tonight. 

Korkunova, of course, hasn't fared too well ever since losing the title belt to Zara Holland  last year - the Siren has been trying to pull herself out of a rut and do anything to make herself relevant again. We're not sure this is the best choice for a comeback match, however, with half the pundits saying she's taking it too easy, and the other half saying she's fallen into the deep end. 

"I don't care what people are saying. Lucia's definitely a prospective fighter and when her people reached out to mind, we accepted after due consideration. There's no pressure here, of course, just a friendly exhibition match to test out new talent."

"I agree," Lucia says from opposite the table. The Chinese fighter might look worlds apart from traditional boxers, but don't let that facade fool you - she speaks fluent English and has a model-like backing to boot. 

"Diana is someone I admire greatly. Look at what she's done for Asian representation. If I could follow in her footsteps one day, it would be a great honour."

Ladies square off at the podium and Lucia's looking mean and lean and slightly taller compared to Diana's stockier frame. Later in the ring, Diana works a black bikini top and hot denim shorts, red gloves on either hand. Lucia is going with a white sports bra with purple stripes and black boxing shorts for her debut. Touch of gloves here to show respect and HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Flyweight action! 

ROUND 1: 
Regardless of what Diana said earlier, the Siren doesn't seem too keen on playing around with the newcomer, roaring inwards at the sound of the bell and going to town on her with rapid combos. A left-left-right number stuns Lucia on the face early, showing just how off-form the newbie is in there by comparison, with Liu punching back but haphazardly at best, random at worst as she trusts her instincts to land points. Never a good sign when that happens as Lucia gets pushed and shoved around the ring from the constant attacks, with Diana shoving another straight hand into her cheek to end the round. Top to bottom textbook manual of how to bully a newcomer as Diana scores a wide round in the first three minutes. Lucia, to her credit, looks out of her depth against such an experienced opponent, but kudos to her for flashing the cameras a grin back in her corner. Well, at least she's enjoying the beating! 

ROUND 2: 
More of the same bad start as Lucia can't catch a break. She sallies forth looking to meet Diana's aggression with some of her own, and to her credit, scores a particularly nasty cuff to the chin as the two ladies blitz and batter each other in the opening minute with their fists. It's a clash filled with plenty of action and Liu is doing well… for a rookie. Diana stuns her on the chin with an uppercut she doesn’t see coming, and Lucia’s forced back on the defensive as she’s chased after by more incoming jabs. Liu manages to block the follow-up attacks, use her longer legs to move fast and out of range, and earlier on, she did catch Diana on the chin with one or two zingers, but it’s another failed round for the newbie, who’s probably regretting ever asking a former Flyweight champ to dance in her debut. Lucia continues to look out of her depth in the final minute of the round, keeps getting bulldozed by that third shot in Diana’s combos, either a right cross sent into the middle of the arms smacking off the top of the head, in further bullying around the ring.

ROUND 3: 
Lucia still showing some heart as she huffs and puffs and keeps moving. An early attack from the Chinese model does catch Diana by surprise as Lucia socks her in the stomach, then reaches with a hook meant for the chin. But Diana’s seen this all before, grunts from the first few impacts landing but then easily swerves out of the way to avoid the follow-up. Lucia sticks in the pocket and it’s a bad idea, with Diana planting her own leather off the tummy, then another hard swipe sent into the side of the head and suddenly, Lucia looks wobbly! Liu backing up, got herself dinged hard by that number, and now Diana’s giving chase again, rocking punches to the arms until a straight hand gets through! Lucia NAILED on the chin and DOWN SHE GOES, floored to her back as we get the first KNOCKDOWN of the evening! Korkunova is already congratulating herself, one hand pumped in the air as she circles back to her corner. Most of the Sirens think this fight is OVER but Lucia miraculously is already getting back up to her feet by the count of 6! Plenty of fight still left in this girl as Diana goes for another slugging push forward. Two minutes left on the clock and Lucia just doesn’t know when to quit, does she?! The Chinese model gets beaten back for the third time running now, shots taken to the midsection, then her arms getting battered in alternate fashion, but Diana’s also quickly running out of steam, doesn’t manage to finish her opponent off by the time the bell rings. Good lord - Lucia’s still smiling to her fans as she gives a wave back in her corner. She’s taking a beating in there but we’re glad to see this never-give-up attitude!

ROUND 4: 
More early promise from Liu as she stays away this time, tags Diana on the face a couple of times with her long jab. Diana frustrated more than anything else with her foe’s reluctance to go down, and not making any dent in her emotional armour is clearly getting on the Siren’s nerves. Lucia connects with a cuffing blow to the cheek and that’s the cue for Korkunova to charge in, Diana having had enough of this exhibition show as she pounds an uppercut into the model’s abs, another tight hook across the arms sending Lucia barreling off to the side and into the ropes. HERE COMES DIANA, back on fire and wanting to climb the rankings as she BLASTS another hook across Lucia’s face, which sends her DOWN one more time!! Lucia groans as she’s flattened on the spot, head rolling to the side as she stares up in shock at her attacker! SURELY this must be it?!? Bit of a mismatch here, no, but as we’d said earlier, Diana’s absolutely flabbergasted by this point at the sight of Lucia AGAIN climbing back up to her feet, no amount of pain on the model’s face even as Liu steadies herself by the count of 9! Just what’s it going to take for the former champ to win this fight?? Two minutes left on the clock and Diana CHARGES in - hopefully for the last and third charm! Lucia putting up a hell of a resistance here tonight but even she has to taste defeat sooner or later, no? Wild melee on the ropes as Lucia gets her back pushed once more into the ropes without much effort, her abs getting spanked and beaten on as Diana crowds in close and swings her fists away puh puh puh puh. Lucia’s left groaning as she’s bent over in half from the impacts, all she can do is hang on to the shoulders and pray to live another round. Diana in full control still, however, ROCKS her to the base of her chin, hopefully one final time as Lucia goes flying over the top ropes, her head sent upwards and over, and this time, it’s clearly the last huzzah for the rookie. Lucia collapses down for the THIRD time in a row, and stays on her back, breathing hard but still conscious the entire way. Hell of a ride indeed as Diana raises a hand high when the referee finally hits the 10-count - DING! IT’S OVER, but good golly - that’s one hell of a debut for the Chinese model!

Official Decision: Diana Korkunova defeats Lucia Liu via KO4!

AFTER:
Lots of praise for Lucia Liu, who gets a standing ovation from the arena crowd as she did her best against an accomplished fighter like Diana Korkunova. Who knows? If Lucia were facing off against someone else with less experience, this fight would have turned out very differently. 

“Shit, she’s tough…” Diana agrees as much in the post-fight segment. “I’m not sure if it says more about her than me, but I clearly had trouble putting her away. We agreed to an exhibition fight and I’d say Lucia’s done a fabulous job showing off tonight.”

Earlier on, the two ladies had kissed and made up, with Diana immediately going over to help Lucia back to her feet, congratulating her on a hard-fought match. Liu is still smiling, thanking Diana for the opportunity, and this could very well be the beginning of a solid career for the newcomer going forward!