Chapter 12: Boxing the Bull
The days of the Animalympics were dwindling down to everyone's chagrin, an event so great, they'd wish it would last forever. But the best events were coming up and today's event was boxing, a rematch between two greats: the kangaroo Joey Gongalong and the Eurasion bull Janos Brushteckel, Joey won despite Janos' reputation for having a mean left hook. This time Janos was more determined than ever to not only beat Joey, but give the obnoxious commentator Rugs Turkell a piece of his own mind after he insulted him with these words: "You're a bum steer Janos. You let down your coach, you let down your country, and you let down your mother". Just the very thought of hearing all that all those years ago made Janos red with a burning fury.
The Cooper Gang seated with great anticipation at this event, everyone was rooting for Gongalong the favorite despite the controversial career he has maintained. Before the bout, Rugs Turkell stepped forward in the locker room with Joey himself.
"Joey Gongalong, tonight you'll be facing one of your fiercest opponents Janos Brushteckel whom you wiped the floor with years ago. How does it feel to face the bull again?" Rugs asked holding up the microphone.
"Well that face looks laike it needs anotha round of ugliness. After all he's too ugly to be champ!"
"True enough, but according to sources, he's really stepped up his game, unlike last time. You're going to have a much harder time than last as he's been boosting up his defenses, plus he's got that killer left hook, so champ hope you did everything you can to prepare for this fight."
"Oh yeah Rugs, I did everythin' I could to prepare for this fight. Up and down on hardwood floors, ate mostly vegetarian, occasional meat meal after nutritionists said so, workin' the bags, and mostly keepin me guard up. I just want to claim my title and maintain my status. I'm the greatest animal champion of all time!"
Almost immediately after that interview it was straight to the start of the bout. Both Gongalong and Brushteckel glared at each other before the fight started, Gongalong to further his successful career, Brushteckel eager to claim vengeance on both Gongalong and Turkell. It was going to be an eight round fight, nobody knew if Gongalong would pull the same feat off again like in the last Animalympics or Brushteckel upped his game, or maybe even play dirty. At the sound of the bell, the two went at it, exchanging jabs and hooks, each landing a hit on each other, not one gaining a real advantage over the other. Whereas their first fight was over in the first round, this round was even, Brushteckel kept his guard up most of the time unlike the last bout.
At the sound of the 2nd bell, this time Brushteckel threw a big left to Gongalong's head, which disoriented him a bit, then threw a few more jabs at him. A few seconds later, Gongalong regained his senses and started throwing a few jabs at Brushteckel's midsection, but both were blocked. Then Brushteckel threw a blow to the pouch area, stunning Gongalong followed up with a hook to the head, which Gongalong rocked out of the way, just in time for the bell.
"You're going to be the bum now Gongalong! You're goin' down!" Brushteckel taunted.
"You haven' won yet Bushheckel bad boy!" Gongalong taunted back.
By round three, it was back to Gongalong showing his nimbleness dodging Brushteckel's shots, and then snaped at Brushteckel upside and down the head. Finally, Gongalong threw a mighty uppercut, which sent Brushteckel down to the canvas. Brushteckel was too dazed from the blows exchanged to get up as the referee counted all the way up to 10, deeming him knocked out. The audience including the Cooper Gang gave Gongalong a standing ovation, while Eurasia was depressed that their would be champion was knocked out again, just like what Rugs told him in the first Animalympics: "You're a bum steer". Up in the stands, Sly and Carmelita contemplated the action.
"That was a lot better than the last games, both performed better, don't you think Carmelita?" asked Sly.
"I'd say so, that brute Brushteckel underestimated the ability of quickness and strategy over raw power. Of course you'd recall when we boxed before you surprised me." Carmelita replied with a smile.
Meanwhile on the marathon track, Kit and Rene were getting worried as they continued running along, for their pursuer, the tiger, was making a malicious, teeth bared grin on them. Each day, he was getting progressively closer and closer. The couple could no longer hide their fears as he got nearer to them.
"Kit my love, I think this competitor doesn't just want to beat us in this marathon, he wants to shred both of us!" Rene quietly told Kit.
"Yes, I fear we're in the middle of some foul play, and I don't know if there are any security forces around here!" replied Kit. The tiger behind them was snarling at them from behind just 15 feet, the duo recognized their assailant, reading about him getting busted for producing illegal spice that makes the consumer more hostile and prone to hypnosis.
"That gold medal is MINE!" growled the tiger to himself. "Then after that this island shall be mine to rule! Here I will be king! That Cooper Gang will regret locking me up a bunch of times." Kit and Rene looked at each other in worry while still maintaining their hand-in-hand grasp.