Post by Lookout! Boxing on Sept 25, 2020 19:24:10 GMT -6
Vanessa Hudgens vs. Selena Gomez
No disguising what we're seeing here. It was 2011 when Gomez began fighting for Bazz and Hudgens escaped Phoenix Boxing to join Lookout! Both were considered hot young flyweight prospects at the time. Since, Vanessa has established herself at the elite level, won the Unified Flyweight Championship four times, and been inducted into the Hall of Fame. And Gomez has...done none of that. Oh, Selena's won some fights and even beaten some good fighters, but she hasn't risen to start status, let alone to the top of a division like Vanessa has. She's also never been in the ring with Vanessa Hudgens. And, while none of those other things are going to change tonight (though a win would mark a step in all those directions), at least Selena will finally get a shot at 'Nessa. And, she doesn't plan to waste it. "I can beat her," says Selena. "I know it. She knows it. And, soon, everyone will know it."
"It's CUTE," says 'Nessa with a grin. "A girl who couldn't beat my little sister...or even BRITNEY'S little sister, thinks she's going to beat me? Good luck with that!"
ROUND ONE:
'Nessa on her toes as usual. She's bouncing around, jabbing, ranging all across the ring with those athletic legs. Selena may not have seen this show before from INSIDE the ring, but, she's seen it and has a plan to deal with it. Gomez moving her own feet well, looking to angle and cut the ring. She doesn't want to close, mind, just to slow Hudgens' movement so that she can get effective offense on. And, while 'Nessa has her moments in open canvas, moments when she's snapping that jab into Gomez's face and scoring follow ups with the right, Selena's getting the job done cutting the ring down, and, when she's able to square Vanessa up, it's Gomez who gets the better of things. Result is that, while 'Nessa scores plenty on the move, Selena scores MORE in set piece action, and that allows Gomez to take the first narrowly and lead 10-9.
ROUND TWO:
'Nessa adjusts, gives a little ground, circles wider, varies the footwork. And, it makes a big difference. Now, the older brunette is able to avoid being cut off, and, without the ability to do that, Gomez finds herself chasing Vanessa all over the ring. And, that's a recipe for disaster, because, you can chase her, but the one who's going to eventually get caught is...BOOM! Right hand, Hudgens and Gomez is HURT! Selena wobbles on the spot and covers up and Hudgens is all in, pummeling Selena back into the ropes and then PUNISHING her to both head and body. 'Nessa looking to finish, and she's near to doing it, as Gomez hangs on against the ropes with the referee looking in closely. Somehow, though, Selena holds him off and stays on her feet to the bell. But, Vanessa grabs the round wide to even things at 19.
ROUND THREE:
Hudgens forward hard early, backing up Gomez, banging away looking to finish her. For about a minute, Selena gives ground. After that, though, she begins firming up her front and Vanessa changes tactics, getting back to the war of movement. And, that change is effective. Selena's legs still aren't exactly bouncy, meaning she has a TON of problems bringing Vanessa to battle. So, Hudgens is able to range around the ring, sticking that jab in her rival's face, stopping to pop with some quick combinations, piling up the hurt and the points. Late in the round, Selena is finally able to begin cutting the ring down again, but it's far too late to make a difference as far as the cards are concerned. When the bell rings, 'Nessa's won her second straight wide round to pull into the lead 29-28.
ROUND FOUR:
Fourth round quickly begins to mirror the first. Vanessa's moving and Selena's now not so much stalking but looking to cut and limit motion so that she can square her rival up. Again, both women have moments of getting the terms they want. Hudgens, as usual, fantastic on the move, landing jabs and following with quick right hands. Gomez showing some nice power when she's able to create static exchanges, sometimes forcing Hudgens to cover up. All comes down to who gets more of what she wants and that, just like in the first round, turns out to be Selena, who gets plenty of solid leather on target when Vanessa is flat footed. When the bell rings, it's, just as it was in the first, close, but it's Gomez, who has evened things on the cards at 38.
ROUND FIVE:
Selena finding something now. She's getting 'Nessa's timing down, trapping her more and more, creating static exchanges, and, when that happens, Gomez continues getting the better of things until...BOOM! Right hand, SELENA and 'NESSA IS HURT! Hudgens goes all wobbly butt and the younger brunette lets the hands go, driving her rival back into the ropes and having at her. All of a sudden, Vanessa is in serious trouble, covering up on the cables as Gomez hammers away looking to finish this thing. Crowd going nuts as Gomez wings away, landing some hard that has the referee looking in closely. 'Nessa using all her veteran wiles to keep him from stopping the thing, and, in the end, she succeeds, making it to the bell, but, Hudgens is PLENTY unsteady on her way back to the corner and Gomez has the round wide and the lead 48-47.
ROUND SIX:
Gomez aggressive, backing up 'Nessa from the openings seconds. Hudgens still without the legs under her, and the younger brunette's taking full advantage, sitting down on punches, punishing her rival to both head and body. 'Nessa doing well to stay off the ropes. She's tying up in spots, running clock as best she can while Selena piles up both points and punishment. About half way through the round, Hudgens ties up, then, just before the ref steps in, slips away to Selena's left. Gomez turns quickly DIRECTLY INTO A RIGHT HOOK! Selena's GOBSMACKED stumbling to her right and then BEING DROPPED with a straight right hand! Selena flat on her back as 'Nessa bounces to a neutral corner. Gomez managing to sit up at six, tries to rise, but STUMBLES BACK TO HANDS AND KNEES AND IT'S OVER! The count passes Selena by and it's OVER! And your winner by KO6 is Vanessa Hudgens!
AFTER:
Hudgens dismissive in the post. "Yeah, she landed a lucky punch," says 'Nessa with a shrug. "It happens. But, you saw what happened AFTER that. I shook it off, like I always do, and then I proved who the better WOMAN and the better FIGHTER was. But, all isn't lost for Selena. Maybe Jamie Lynn Spears will give her a rematch."