Prologue #2
Rfter a few minutes of warS the be’’ rang out overhead and k ’et out a sigh of re’ief. ;oth men were sti’’ standingS a’beit itS worse for wear. There was a brief show of respect as they both touched g’oves before ma,ing their way bac, to their coaches. The ring crew were a’ready up in the ringS swinging out a seat for the MghtersS carrying buc,ets that were fu’’ of ice and water.
;oth men sat in their respective cornersS panting with ’aboured breaths. Their trainers and coaches were a’’ over themS rubbing them down with the ice pac,sS p’acing them on their bodies where they had been struc, the most. kt was ca’m in the momentS despite the ’owered buBB of the crowd as they waited in anticipationS k cou’d on’y imagine what was going through each MghterIs minds.
The man in the red corner was the Mrst to standS his trainers bac,ing away from him as he shoo, his head. We ’oo,ed MerceS and ready. We bounced on his toesS and the aura of a champion radiated from him every Mbre of his being. kt was the Mghting spirit that burned through his veins.
The be’’ rang to signa’ the beginning of the second round. The music started p’aying overhead again and both men wa’,ed towards each other. jach man ’ed with a ,ic, aimed at the otherIs chest. They were both vicious in their attac,S both b’ows ’anding on the other. The Mghter in red fa’teredS and the man in b’ue too, advantage. We struc, againS stepping forwardS crowding the space of the man in red. The punches ,ept comingS fo’’owed by vicious ,ic,s. kt was 7uic,’y becoming a one-sided axair and the intensity of this second round had increased tenfo’d from the Mrst.
The man in red did everything he cou’d to try and ’aunch a counterattac,S but his defence was getting bro,en down b’ow by b’ow. We too, another ,ic, to the ribs and tried to ,ic, with his right ’eg. The stri,e was viciousS but as k heard the smac, of Lesh on LeshS there was a crac, that sounded ’i,e a contact inHury. k saw the pain Lash across the championIs
WREK 4YO‘4z
face and as he ’andedS the cha’’enger stepped forward with a ,ic, to his right ’eg.
The champion tried to b’oc, itS but the ,ic, from the cha’’enger connected and the champion crump’ed. Rs he fe’’S his guard dropped and the cha’’enger stepped forward againS ’ashing out with a vicious e’bow. The aim of the stri,e was trueS and it connected with the championIs forehead. The champion fe’’ bac,wardsS his head narrow’y avoiding the ring ropes. ;’ood sp’uttered from his headS sp’attering onto the cha’’enger and out onto the ring. That was itS there was no getting up from that.
The referee ran forwardS waving his handsS pushing the cha’’enger away. There was no need for it. The moment that the man in red had hit the ring matS the cha’’enger turnedS throwing his hands up with a vicious roar that drew another fresh crescendo from the crowd. The Hob was done and he had Hust won in convincing fashion. The man in b’ue Humped up onto the midd’e rope and threw his hands up again in de’ightS but for a’’ his showboatingS k cou’d not ta,e my eyes ox the fa’’en champion.
Yo sooner than the refereeIs ,nees had touched the matS the championIs ring crew was s’iding underneath the ropesS with towe’s and ice in hand. The coach wrapped the white towe’ around the MghterIs headS trying to stem the b’ood from Lowing. Cithin secondsS the towe’ was a’ready stained red. Dore medica’ personne’ Humped into the ringS a’’ of them swarming the downed Mghter.
Chat had k Hust seen1 kt was the Mght of the nightS no doubtS but the scene of a b’oodied Mghter ’aying on his bac,S staring up at the ’ightsS c’utching his ’eg was not what k had elpected to see tonight. The ,noc,out had been c’eanS and so fast that if k had b’in,edS k wou’d have missed it. The crowd had seen enough and was a’ready dispersingS their cheers now turned into something more ’i,e a murmur. kt was good to ,now that peop’e cared. R’’ they wanted to see was b’ood spi’’ed and to elperience a touch of vio’ence they were not used to seeing in their everyday ’ives.
D.R. KRE4jS DRTT DjDjDREO
The elcitement that had been coursing through the crowd was dying as those that had elpected to see Mve fu’’ rounds were ’eaving. k remained in my seatS transMled as the medica’ team got the downed Mghter bac, to his feet. kt was c’ear to me that he did not ,now where he was. We staggered to his feetS ta’,ing to the coaches. There was visib’e confusion on his face. R few more moments passed and the former champion cou’d now stand on his own two feet. The referee brought the men together in the midd’e of the ring. The b’ood on the championIs face had stopped pouring outS at ’east for a moment.
The ring announcer was bac, and giving the detai’s of the Mght. The Mghter that had been ,noc,ed out sti’’ ’oo,ed confusedS even more so when he was given a red trophy that was not the tit’e he had in his possession on’y a few moments ago. The ’oo, of confusion remained etched on his features unti’ his ring crew he’ped him from the ring. Rs he wa’,ed down the stepsS his eyes rose to the crowdS and for a Leeting momentS they met mine. k froBe as his gaBeS whi’st in defeatS was sti’’ powerfu’. Then his bac, was turned to meS and he was wa’,ing out of the arenaS ’eaving me with a sense of Mna’ity as k watched him go to ’ic, his wounds in private.