A/N: Hey, guys! In the previous chapter, Little Mac faced and defeated Bear Hugger, who told him that he believes he could beat the other three remaining opponents as well. Let's see who's next.

Chapter 15: United States of America vs Soviet Union: VS Soda Popinski

''Great job, Mac. Two more opponents and you can face the World Circuit Champion. Your next opponent is Soda Popinski.(1)'' said Doc Louis.

''Good. Do you know what nationality he is?'' asked Little Mac.

''Yes, he is Russian. Russia is part of the Soviet Union, and it's still in the middle of the Cold War against the United States.'' replied Doc.

''An American boxer against a Soviet one. Does this remind you of something from that boxing movie?(2)''

''Yeah. It came out two years ago. Why do you ask me that?''

''Because I grew up watching these movies.''

''I understand. Be careful, Soda Popinski is strong and constantly drinks soda. This match represents the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, and a lot of people will watch it on TV.''

The Soviet Soda Popinski was 35-year-old heavyweight, weighting 108 kg (237 pounds) and was the tallest of all boxers, 1.98 meters (6 feet 6 inches) tall. Out of 35 matches, he won 33, including 24 by knockout, and lost only 2.

Mac went up to the ring, where his opponent was waiting for him. Soda Popinski had fair skin and was very tall and muscular. He was bald, with a brown mustache and wore only red boots, loincloth and boxing gloves. He was drinking soda from a plastic bottle, and after he finished, he laughed to see how small the opponent was compared to him. ''I must break you.'' he said, arrogantly.

(''Korobelniki'')

The young American saw that President Ronald Reagan was in the audience, and Michail Gorbachev, the head of the Soviet Union, was also next to him(3). ''You don't know who you're dealing with.'' he replied.

''Start!'' shouted the referee.

Soda Popinski attacked first with a quick left hook, but Mac ducked under it and hit him five times on the stomach. The boy then dodged a right uppercut and hit him six more times, but was hit by an unexpected hook when the opponent moved to the left.

''This match is a symbol of the rivalry between the United States of America and the Soviet Union, guys!'' said the commentator.

Mac dodged a direct followed by a hook and hit Soda with an overhand. He then saw him with a bottle of soda in his hand and prevented him from drinking it by throwing it away with a punch. This angered him, and he used his special move, the Soda Fury, a series of uppercuts. The American boxer dodged the first two uppercuts, but the next three hit him in the face, making him almost fall.

''A devastating attack, Soda Popinski's Soda Fury, and Little Mac seems to be in trouble!'' exclaimed the commentator.

''Don't get distracted by drinking soda, this is not the time. If you get distracted, you will be punished by my punches!'' said Mac. The two boxers exchanged blows for about a minute, but the American fell to the ground at one minute and twenty seconds left at the end of the first round. The referee started counting.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7-''

Mac got up, and after thirty seconds, he hit Soda Popinski with an overhand on his chin, then dodged his hook and hit him with an uppercut that knocked him down.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6-''

Soda got up and attacked with a jab, which was blocked, however. Mac launched a overhand, but it was dodged, forcing him to jump left to avoid an uppercut before being hit by a powerful overhand in the stomach followed by a right hook. The first round ended.

(''Korobelniki-s'')

(''Tire & Ice- Crash Tag Team Racing OST'')

''Mac, show Soda Popinski who you are! Shake him like the soda he drinks and make him so crisp that he will need a bath break!'' said Doc.

''I provide some pain for you.'' said Soda Popinski, after drinking two bottles of soda, and the second round began.

Mac easily dodged a overhand from Popinski, then hit him with a jab to the stomach and a hook on the neck. He then hit him on the head five more times and dodged an uppercut. For forty seconds, they exchanged many hits without even dodging them, as if to prove they were stronger and more resistant than the other.

''Both boxers are giving all they got, they are hitting each other relentlessly!'' shouted the commentator.

''Stay focused, Popinski.'' said Mac, seeing his opponent drink some soda, which gave him more energy. He dodged his attacks and struck him with a Star Punch in the face, knocking him down. It was two minutes before the end of the round.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8-''

Soda Popinski got up and threw a right hook, which was dodged, being hit four times in the head. Now he had a bruise on his stomach and a small bump on his head. He started drinking soda once again, but Mac stopped him, infuriating him again. This time, the boy was ready and dodged all four uppercuts, hitting him with two jabs in the stomach and a series of ten punches to the head, causing him serious damage. However, after dodging an overhand, he was hit by the same technique as before, managing to avoid only the first uppercut. The overall power was devastating, and the young man barely remained standing, so a jab on the neck made him fall for the second time. A minute and twenty-five seconds were left.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8-''

After getting up, Mac jumped towards Popinski and hit him with a downwarnd hook, but this was the only occasion he could hit him, as the Russian attacked him continuously, preventing him from finding the opportunity to hit him. This continued for forty-five seconds, and only forty were left until the end of Round 2. The young man was tired and sweaty, but he didn't care.

''You will lose, Little Mac. I will defeat you for Mother Russia.'' said Popinski.

''You're wrong! I won't give up!'' Mac cried out. He created a star shape with his fists and was wrapped in a blue aura. He leaped on the opponent and hit him repeatedly with a series of extremely fast punches.

''Little Mac is not giving up, on the contrary, he's attacking at full force!'' exclaimed the commentator.

With a lion-like roar, the young American jumped and used the Star Punch with both hands one after the other. The left uppercut made Soda Popinski waver, causing him serious damage, while the right one threw him up.

*BANG!*

Soda Popinski returned to the ground, in a prone position, and the force of the impact raised a large cloud of dust. He tried to get up, but he was too weak from the blows he took and fell back to the ground. Ten seconds left to the end of the round. When the dust dissolved, the Russian had spirals in his eyes, while Mac stood with his arms folded and a proud expression.

(''Tire & Ice- Crash Tag Team Racing OST- 2: 56-s'')

The referee felt like he was to cry tears of joy. ''SODA POPINSKI FROM THE SOVIET UNION IS KO! THE WINNER IS LITTLE MAC FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!'' he yelled, loud and clear.

(''The World Adventure- Sonic Unleashed OST'')

The published cheered as if their favorite football team had won the championship or beat the first placing one. The america, the symbol of dreams and democracy, had won against the Soviet Union, the symbol of the communist dictatorship.

''Whooooohoooo!'' yelled Mac, posing by making a V sign with his fingers. He couldn't believe he had made it.

Even the commentator was screaming, happy and incredulous at the same time. ''It's not possible! The young American Little Mac defeated the Soviet Soda Popinski in an intense upset!''

Doc immediately entered the ring and wrapped his arms around Mac's neck, hugging him tightly. ''You actually did it, Mac! You're really amazing!'' he yelled.

The boy helped Soda Popinski to get up and asked to have the microphone for a moment. ''Well, no one expected me to get here. Everyone belittled me, made fun of me, and treated me like a laughing stock. They didn't even expect me to become the Minor Circuit champion. And instead, I got here. How, you ask? With perseverance, a strong will, but above all, an iron determination. Regardless of the current rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, there is one thing I have to say. From a boy who was uncertain on his arrival, I changed, and I became a boy with an indomitable determination, and as Great Tiger said, with the eye of the tiger(4) and the strength and agility of a lion! But what I'm trying to say is that if I can change, and you can change, then everybody can change!(5)'' he said. United States President Reagan and the head of the Soviet Union Gorbachev stood up and gave Mac a standing ovation, followed by all the rest of the audience.

''A standing ovation for Little Mac's moving and profound speech, a message of peace for the Soviet Union.'' commented the commentator. Doc had tears in his eyes. The referee was so moved and emotional that he was sobbing in front of everyone, as Mac put a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him.

Soda Popinski was also moved. ''Mac, I wasn't expecting that speech. It was deep, as if it came out of your heart. In this symbolic match, you were great, and you beat me despite me being a two meter tall giant. Although it's difficult due to the current political situation between the Soviet Union and America with the Cold War, I admit it: you have been very good, and for this, you have all my respect.'' he congratulated him, and both boxers took off their boxing gloves.

''Thanks, you were good too. How come you drink so much soda?'' asked Mac.

''It's to give me energy, but at some point, I drank so much of it that I became addicted to it.'' replied the Russian.

''Really? Well, during workouts, I sometimes eat Doc's chocolate bars. You know, he also makes jokes about it.''

''I can't believe that you, who are half my age, managed to get so high. To face the World Circuit Champion, you only have one opponent left to beat.''

''Bear Hugger was sure I was going to beat you, and he believes I could defeat the others. Bald Bull also thought that I could accomplish feats that no young boxer my age has ever achieved.''

''Nice. Good luck.'' said the Russian.

''Thanks. You too, ''Soviet Brother''.'' replied Mac. Alongside Popinski, Doc and the referee, he burst out laughing at what he had said.

''That's a good one!'' chuckled the coach. The four then found themselves under the light of a spotlight and were then framed by a camera, so they posed. Popinski placed himself in the center between Doc, on his right, and the referee on his left, instead carrying Mac on his shoulders, to his initial surprise, and the photo was taken. Afterwards, the young American got off Soda Popinski's back and the two boxers shook hands tightly with a smile as a sign of mutual respect, then took their boxing gloves and went to their respective changing rooms.

A/N: Nice. In this symbolic clash, Little Mac won against Soda Popinski. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and keep to follow me and my stories. See you soon!

(1): In the arcade game released in 1985, Soda Popinski was called Vodka Drunkeski, but his name was censored and changed to remove references to alcohol. Furthermore, something that perhaps not everyone knows, Korobelniki, known to be the main OST in the Tetris series, is a Soviet anthem.

(2): Among the films in the Rocky series, in which the protagonist is the American boxer Rocky Balboa, in Rocky IV, he must face Ivan Drago, a Soviet boxer. Little Mac himself is inspired by Rocky Balboa, but especially by a truly existent boxer, the legendary Jake LaMotta, world boxing middleweight champion for three years from 1949 to 1951 and died at the age of 95 in 2017 from pneumonia. Both come from the Bronx, have almost the same height (with Jake LaMotta being as tall as Glass Joe) and have won against bigger and heavier opponents, and therefore LaMotta can be the basis of Mac.

(3): Michail Gorbachev was the last head of the Soviet Union before its dissolution, from 1985 to 1991.

(4): Reference to Survivor's song Eye of the Tiger, used in Rocky III.

(5): In Rocky IV's finale, after defeating Ivan Drago, Rocky says this sentence in his victorious speech.