Punch-Out!

Chapter 35: It's Time

Normally on the night of a scheduled bout, everything would be pretty quiet as Mac made his way into Madison Square Garden and the locker room, but tonight this was not the case. Even during Mac's Last Stand and the Title Bout, he had been left alone to stretch and mentally prepare for what was coming, but this time there were a hundred screaming fans and news reporters waiting when the car carrying him, Doc, and Alice arrived. The people swarmed over them even before the car was parked, and as the three of them sat there, they had to endure the desperate looking faces of reporters, as well as the flashes from their cameras.

"Okay Doc, here's the plan." Mac said after an irritated sigh. "I'm gonna go out there and distract them while you check me in with the officials, because who knows how long this is gonna take? Alice, you get out on the other side of the car and try to sneak your way to the main entrance."

"Got it." Doc and Alice replied.

After a quick kiss from his wife, Mac took a deep breath and stepped out into the mob, providing the before mention distraction while Alice and Doc went their separate ways. Now, as much as Mac wanted to answer the reporter's questions, they were all shouting at once, making it impossible for him to understand what any of them were saying. He tried getting them to calm down, and telling them to ask questions one at a time, but they just weren't having it, so he decided to move on. The crowd completely encircled him as he stepped away from the car, but he just kept slowly moving toward the arena entrance.

"Little Mac!" A clear voice suddenly called out as they walked. "Brian Russel, Channel 5 News. Can you tell us how you're feeling about the fight, and do you have a strategy to win?"

"I feel great." Mac replied. "I'm about to step into the ring with a living legend, and honestly, I can't believe that I made it this far. But as for a strategy – you'll just have to wait and see."

This caused a whole new firestorm of questions and camera flashes from the reporters, and he liked leading them on like that, but the truth was that he didn't have any sort of a plan whatsoever. Mr. Dream had done all of his practice sparring behind closed doors, and film reels from twenty years ago weren't going to be much help if he changed his style, so everything would have to be done on the fly. This was how Mac usually did things, but he had been hoping for some kind of an edge this time.

Finally he got to the entrance, and security stopped the reporters and fans from coming in, so Mac was finally given a moment of peace as he walked down the hallway. For the last three months, aside from taking an afternoon to endorse Alice's arcade machine, he had done nothing but training with Mr. Sandman, Vodka Drunkenski, and others, but was it enough? Mr. Dream was literally the greatest boxer to ever set foot in the ring; a completely undefeated fighter in ninety-nine matches, while Mac had taken two loses over a lot less fights than that. Sure, he was stronger now, more so even than when he fought Mr. Sandman, but in mind still wondered if it would be enough.

He reached the locker room entrance a few seconds later, and there were no other matches scheduled for tonight, so again he was the only one there. It was nice to have the whole locker room available for stretching, as well as being able to get changed without the awkward stares and smiles from Bob Charlie, but on the other hand it was also pretty lonely. In the Minor Circuit he had always had other fighters there to help him stretch and distract him from nerves with conversation, but with all these special events, he was always by himself.

"Okay kid, you're checked in." Doc said as he came in while Mac was changing. "Damn reporters cornered me on the way in; took me fifteen minutes just to get to the desk to tell the officials that you're here. How're you feelin, kid?"

"Nervous as hell, Doc." Mac replied as he laced up his boots. "Jeez, I wasn't even this jittery before the title fight."

This was to be expected, due to all the publicity and pressure having to do with such a high profile fight. And to top it all off, beyond being all high profile against a legendary fighter, it was also his last fight, so he had to figure out a way to break the news to everyone. Mr. Quarlow was probably going to be unhappy, and the fans were going to go nuts, but Alice would be happy, and honestly, leaving at the top was probably the best way to do it.

"I'm done after this, Doc." He found himself blurting out as he closed the locker. "I've done everything I've ever dreamed of: I won the title in both circuits, I beat an impossible endurance challenge, and now I'm about to go up against the best fighter in the world. I think – I think this is a good time to stop."

Doc was silent for several seconds, and Mac was worried that his trainer would be angry at this decision, but surprisingly, he wasn't. Now, he didn't exactly start jumping for joy, but he didn't start screaming either, which was nice.

"I guess you have reached that point, huh?" Doc asked as he sat down on the bench. "Kid, you're incredible; you've achieved in a single year, what most fighters can't do in ten, and you know what, the same thing happened to Mr. Dream all those years ago. The man couldn't be stopped, and he crushed everyone in his path until he was at the top – and then there was no one left. Now, I knew you were good when I met you, but I thought it was gonna take you a couple years just to get through the Minors."

"So, you're not upset?" Mac asked. "I was worried you were gonna hit the roof."

Doc shook his head, and it was like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders. Out of everyone that he had to break the news to, his trainer was the one who mattered most. Well, now Mac felt better. He was still nervous as hell, but it was better than before, and now he could focus everything on taking down Mr. Dream.

"No, I'm not upset, kid." Doc continued as he stood up again. "You gave me a whole year of feelin like my younger self again, and besides, I'm retired. It's not like I gotta find another gig or anything if you stop; I'll just go back to spendin my days relaxin and my nights watchin Johnny Carson. Just promise me one thing, kid – if you're gonna call it quits – just make sure you go out on top."

"You got it, Doc." Mac replied before they hugged.

There wasn't long left before the fight, so Mac continued stretching and warming up until the official came to get them. He had made the walk from the locker room to the ring a million times before, but this time it felt different somehow, like tonight was special in some way. The rumbling of the crowd could be heard as he walked down the hallway, and as it got louder he knew that tonight was his last chance to be great. So with new determination, he stepped through the double doors, and the fans cheered once they noticed him. Mr. Dream was already in his corner, and the sight of his opponent felt like a rock was suddenly in the bottom of his stomach.

"You got this, Mac." He said to himself as he moved toward the ring. "He's not invincible, he's just another fighter, like anyone else. Nick Bruiser thought he was invincible too, so you got this."

Soon he was at the edge of the ring, and Doc got into his position while Mac climbed in through the ropes. Apparently everyone was in a hurry to begin, because the Referee appeared a moment later just as the microphone was lowered down to him. Taking a quick look around the arena, Mac could see that there were so many people in the stands that a lot of them had to stand in the aisles, and he hoped that Alice had been able to find a seat.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Madison Square Garden." The Referee began. "Tonight, the World Video Boxing Association presents an event so spectacular, that it could only be presented on Pay Per View. Tonight you will be amazed as two colossal fighters go head to head in a contest to forever decide who is the greatest in W.V.B.A. history – Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Dream Fight!"

The crowd erupted as this was announced, and the cheers were so loud and overpowering that the Referee had to wait until everyone calmed back down before continuing.

"Introducing first, an incredible superstar in the sport." He continued the first chance he got. "A man who walked into the Minors from complete obscurity, and quickly made a name for himself in the big leagues by overcoming every challenge put in front of him. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the W.V.B.A. Major Circuit Champion – Little Mac!"

Again the Referee had to wait for the crowd to die back down, but Mac didn't mind, since it made him feel a bit less nervous each time they cheered for him. It was also kind of unreal to be introduced as the Major Circuit Champion, but he was, after all.

"And in this corner, his opponent." The Referee said. "A living legend, whose very name still strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies after twenty years in retirement. A man who has never lost a single fight out of an incredible ninety-nine match career. Coming at you from the glory days of the classic World Circuit, I give you the legendary – Mr. Dream!"

The crowd exploded as the two fighters were called forward, but Mac could no longer hear them when he got up to his opponent and they just glared at each other.

"Okay, I want a good clean fight." The Referee explained. "Remember to protect yourselves at all times, and to obey my commands at all times. No hitting below the belt, in the event of a grapple, when I say break, I want a clean fast break. And in the event of a knockdown, you will return to your neutral corners. Okay, now touch gloves, and come out at the bell."

They touched gloves without incident, but Mr. Dream seemed to have a perpetual smirk on his face as they walked back to their corners. Mac wished that he had that kind of confidence, but then again, confidence didn't guarantee a victory. Well, this was it, the high point of his career, and win or lose, it was all over after this. He was going to be a boxing instructor like Doc, and hopefully everything would be more peaceful. Suddenly these thoughts were shattered by the sound of the bell signaling that round one was starting.

It was time.