Gary Strauss
USA Today
With Billy Ray Cyrus no longer around to break hearts, ABC's Dancing With the Stars is down to finalists Laila Ali, Joey Fatone, Apolo Anton Ohno and Ian Ziering. USA TODAY looks at who is still in the running for the show's fourth-season crown and how Stars judge Bruno Tonioli rates their chances:
Laila Ali
Did you think you'd get this far?: "Definitely. You don't know how the audience is going to respond, but I went in knowing that I would pick up the dances and do well."
What are your chances?: "Obviously I have some serious competition. But I'm a competitor."
What will it take to win?: "Everyone knows that all of us can dance. At this point, it's about being careful and making sure we get the right music and the right choreography."
What would this mean to you?: "I'm not used to losing. Any competition I'm in, I usually win."
If not you, who?: "Apolo definitely is growing, and he and (dance partner Julianne Hough) are a very cute couple. Joey's a performer, and that's a big part of the show. And Ian always comes out and looks good."
What has Dancing done for you?: "I'm not going to box forever, and I'm not directly trying to promote myself. But people are seeing Laila the lady rather than Laila the boxer. That in itself is going to open doors."
Bruno's take: "There's something about her. She's so beautiful yet unaware of her beauty. There's a sense of warmth about her. I still think we haven't seen the best of her. She needs to change gears and go for the knockout. She needs to stretch more. We are always expecting that moment of amazement. To win, I think she has to show it. She has to engage her reserve."
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