Boxing: Let the fight begin
As Alex paced the gym the next morning, he wondered if Delmas was going to follow through on his word for the Boxing Team. That's when Jean Pierre Delmas himself entered the gym. He had his usual brown suit on and must have recently got a haircut. Delmas approached Alex and said "Well Alex, I'm a man of my words, you may start practice for your boxing team." Alex thanked him and grabbed his sign-up sheet he printed off the previous night before bed. He ran into the rec-room and pinned it up on the bulletin board.
Come 4:30, Alex changed into his boxing clothes, threw, and walked into the gym to see Odd, Herb, Kryszian, Sissi, and Jim. "Uhh, Jim. What are you doing here?" Jim crossed his arms "Well Clelland, if you must know. I was a champion in an underground boxing league down in Tijuana. I figured with your new team I could fight against you in an exhibition fight, have these guys be the prelim fights." Alex thought for a minute before saying "Alright Jim. It's time the Canvas Assassin got a good fight." Then addressing the others as well. "We have to make this practice short because I have a martial arts tournament tonight. So I'm going to familiarize you with some basic combos and moves."
Alex divided the group up into three stations that would help improve power, speed, and reflex. He watched Herb struggle with the heavy bag while Odd just pounded on it. He looked over and Alex nodded his approval. Kryszian was waiting at the reflex station watching Sissi and Jim do speed bag training. Jim wasn't bad, Alex had to admit that. Sliding on a pair of trainer gloves, Alex faced Kryszian "Alright, this is a simple concept to improve your hand-eye coordination. Just strike the red dot when you see it." Kryszian nodded and their training commenced.
Over the next few days, Alex was using the $1500 his team was allowed to purchase a ring set-up, round clock, referee's jersey for William to wear and a few packs of judges' scorecards. During practice Alex would spar with his team, saying things like "Your opponent is going to use jabs to open your defense up, when that happens you're bound to get struck. Be prepared to dish out the pain if you get back on the offensive. Use a series of jabs and once they open up, give them a good strong hook, uppercut, or haymaker. If it's strong enough, they'll fall straight to the canvas."
On the night before the main event, Alex announced to his team the order of the prelim fights. The opening fight was to be Odd and Herb, Kryszian would fight Sissi in the second prelim, and then it would be a 20 minute intermission before the main event. "You are also allowed two managers, one will clean up any blood and reduce any swelling. The other is your water boy and spit bucket man. You're dismissed early because I have to make some calls and find some volunteer staff for the match."
The next day was Saturday, so there were no afternoon classes. This gave Alex and some of the Kadic junior class some time to set the ring and judge's table up. Alex set to work on a DJ booth for Aelita to DJ from. As he made one final sweep of the gymnasium, Kryszian walked in with another girl behind her.
"Alex," she said "this is Tyjah, she heard about the boxing match tonight and wants to run the clock." Alex nodded "Perfectly fine with me." He quick explained what Tyjah needed to do and showed her where she'd be sitting during the match. They left and the other's entered as Alex was running a test of Jeremy's broadcast system.
Alex walked over to them "What's up everyone?" he asked. William spoke first "You got my referee shirt Alex?" he asked. Alex went over to the ring and opened a box sitting on the canvas. He pulled out a black and white vertical striped shirt and tossed it to William. "Remember to wear black pants, and don't forget your whistle." William nodded and walked out. Herb was next and boy did he sound angry "You put me in the first prelim with Odd? Why?" Alex chuckled "He's the only guy on the team who can't knock you out in a single jab." Herb didn't know how to respond to that, so he just walked away.
"Alright Odd, what can I help you with?" Alex asked. Odd smiled and handed Alex a sheet of paper. Alex read it and said "This is what you want William to announce you as?" Odd nodded. "Alright Odd, it's your choice. See you tonight at quarter to 7." Sissi complained about how she didn't feel like Kryszian was the best opponent for her. Alex shook his head, "Sissi, I paired up the fights based on gender. Deal with it or leave the club." Sissi was awestruck at Alex's angered tone of voice. She left with a "Fine, see you later."
After everyone had left, Alex looked at the list of nicknames his fighters had submitted. "Alright, Odd wants to be called the Purple Cat. No surprise there. Herb wants to be called the Rocket Man, Kryszian's nickname submission is the Black Rose, Sissi is the Ring Queen, and Jim wants to be called the Iron Horse." Alex laughed "I'll have Ulrich come up with some witty intros for us." With that, Alex left the gym. A few hours passed, darkness fell and the lights in the gym came on.
The gym filled up fast. Chandler was in a crow's nest he set up, he had both a regular video camera that belonged to the school's athletic department and his own high speed camera so he could slow down the action in case of any illegal hits. Alex made sure the fighters were ready and signaled William via walkie talkie.
William grabbed a microphone and tapped it "Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, students of all ages, welcome to Unforgiven Anarchy!" The crowd went wild as William announced prelim one. "Alright folks, please welcome our first fighters to the ring." He pointed to the blue corner "In this corner, weighing in at 130 pounds, and standing 5'7" minus his hair, Odd "The Purple Cat" Della Robbia!" Odd burst out of the locker room, he pulled off his warm-up jacket and threw it into the crowd. The girls went nuts and started fighting over it.
Meanwhile, Alex was checking on Jeremy's broadcast station. All the cameras were active and ready to go; the broadcast was live on a local public access station and the Kadic website. Back in the ring William announced the other fighter for the first prelim, he pointed at the red corner "And in this corner, weighing in at 115 pounds, Herb "The Rocket Man" Pinchion!" Herb stepped into the ring, climbed a turnbuckle and posed for a few pictures before he sat down in his corner.
William brought the fighters to the middle "Alright you two, you know the rules. Keep it a clean fight, no hitting below belt. Tap gloves, go back to your corners, and wait for the bell. Then come out swinging." William stepped back while Odd and Herb tapped gloves and returned to their corners. Tyjah rang the bell and stared the clock.
Odd stepped out and swung three punches at the air. Herb stepped forward nervously and swung a right hook. The strike made contact with Odd's chest, but Odd retaliated with a series of jabs. Herb's defense opened up, Odd gave him a right hook, then drew back and hit down with a powerful haymaker punch. Herb went airborne and hit the canvas, Tyjah stopped the clock, and William ran up by Herb and started the count. "1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8! 9! 10! It's a knockout!"
Herb was taken to the infirmary by Nicolas while the 2nd prelim got underway. Kryszian went up against Sissi, but gave the audience more of a show by taking three rounds before knocking her out. Then it was time for the main event. The audience was given a 10 minute intermission while Alex and Jim got ready.
In the girl's locker room, Yumi was taping Alex's hands while Ulrich filled up a water bottle. Alex put his gloves on, slipped into his hooded robe and looked at himself in the mirror. There he stood; dressed in metallic blue boxing shorts, short black socks, Blue Manny Pacquiáo boxing shoes, blue adidas gloves, and his canvas assassin metallic blue robe. That's when he heard William's voice "Ladies and gentlemen it's time for your main event. In the blue corner, He's a midweight from the land of the Spartan warrior, standing 6'2" and weighing in at 158 lbs, it's Alex "The Canvas Assassin" Clelland!"
Yumi and Ulrich opened the doors and Alex walked out, to Through the Fire and Flames by Dragonforce. Once they got into the ring, Yumi pulled out a black case from her jacket pocket and opened it. Inside was Alex's mouth guard. She placed it into his mouth and he bit down. Then William pointed to the red corner "And his opponent, He's a heavyweight who's held more jobs than he can count, weighing 286 lbs. & standing 6'1" it's Jim "The Iron Horse" Morales!"
Ulrich removed Alex's robe and Alex walked to the center of the ring. He listened to the rules, tapped gloves with Jim, and returned to his corner. He sat there until the bell then moved out. Jim swung at him several times but Alex avoided the blows then landed a series of jabs followed by a right hook to Jim's chest. The rounds ticked by and come round 10; Jim decided he was going to make a move that would slow Alex down, he swung his weaker fist and made contact with Alex's groin.
Alex doubled over and bell rang twice. William ran up to Jim "That strike was below the belt, one more like that and you're out of here." Jim was caught off guard by this, but he complied and went back to his corner. In the blue corner, Yumi pulled out Alex's mouth guard, and Ulrich gave him some water. Alex swished it around, swallowed some and spit the rest into a bucket. "Alex!" it was Kryszian from the side of the ring. Alex looked over; Kryszian was still in her boxing gear. Her purple shorts, black tank top, purple shoes and purple robe. Her gloves her draped around her neck and her fanged mouth guard was hanging out of her shorts pocket. "Kick his butt; give him the Canvas Assassin Special! He'll never see it coming!"
Alex nodded and stood; the bell rang and round 11 was on. Alex dodged three of Jim's blows, jabbed twice, and when he had Jim on the ropes, Alex let loose with a hail fire of jabs, 2 left hooks, then he drew back and let loose a left haymaker. The impact could be heard over the crowd noise. Jim went down hard and hit the canvas. William ran up and began the count, he reached 10 and the fight was over. Alex won by knockout, and took out the Iron Horse.
After the gym cleared out Alex was gathering his stuff when Mr. Delmas walked up. "That was an interesting fight Alex; I have nothing bad to say. You may continue to do this as a self defense course, and you may continue to do these fight nights. Enjoy your Sunday tomorrow Alex." With that Delmas left the gym, leaving Alex alone. He packed his gym bag with his boxing gear and put on a pair of gym shorts, plain white t-shirt, and his skate shoes.
As he left the gym Kryszian emerged "Hey Alex, wanna walk me home?" Alex nodded and took her hand. The two walked down the street, turned onto Kryszian's block and walked up to the front door. "Come on in." Kryszian said. He followed her through the house, and walked down into the basement. Kryszian opened a door marked Kryszian's Room and was covered in caution tape. Kryszian smiled, hugged Alex, and went in.
Alex left the house feeling good, he walked back through the wrought-iron gates of the academy. He returned to his room, set his bag down, jumped in bed and fell asleep.