Chapter 2: January 15, 1985
The ring bells, signaling the end of the fifth round, as Balrog goes to his corner happy that his hearing is coming back. Aside from his sweat, his face is partially covered in his blood. He immediately sits down on the chair as soon as it's placed behind him. His trainers do their best to maintain the cut over his right eyelash and ice the bruise near his left eye to stop it from swelling up.
Maria is screaming and cursing at him, half in English and half in Spanish. She's telling him things that he already knows, The "Ice Man" is pressuring him too much with precision punches and that he can't afford to wait for the right moment. It wasn't until she told him that he's going to do more push-ups and running regiments to his training that he looks at her and really pay attention.
She says, "Oh, are you listening to me now?"
"Yeah," he answers simply.
"Good, then take off your damn dress and knock this guy out."
Even through his bleared vision, he watches as she shows him when and why he's missing his punches and why he's getting caught flat footed. Despite how angry she is with him, he can't help but think how lucky he is to have her.
She says as she grabs his gloves, "I promised you, you're never alone. I'm fighting with you. Do you believe me?"
"Yeah."
"Then take it to him and win!"
The rest of what she said was in Spanish, it was either to ask for God for help or her threatening him if he loses; he doesn't want to ask for a clarification.
He gets up as the time to rest is over. Round two starts slow after the bell. The "Ice Man" looks like he's sure of himself, he doesn't go for the kill. He's taking his time too look good. Balrog thinks of Maria's words. She always had faith in him, so he can't lose faith in himself.
Balrog moves with a few quick jabs that connects and moves side to side away from his opponent's response with two haymaker punches. Balrog darts back and forth, landing more jabs, seeing the sudden shift from the over-confidence to frustration in the "Ice Man." Motivated by the crowd slowly coming around to his side, he bobs and weaves as the "Ice Man" swings back and forth, trying to go for a one hot knock out. It's met with more jabs, then two short hooks, and an uppercut that all connect.
Balrog briefly looks behind the "Ice Man," as a wave people are getting off their seats; they know what's coming and they are anxious to see it, they're screaming for it. He shuffles away from punches easier as his punches become like hammers, chipping away at the "Ice Man." Balrog is feeling the sweet science.
With twenty seconds left on the clock, Balrog sees an opening and lands his three punch combination. The "Ice Man" goes down. Balrog is breathing heavy as the referee counts. The "Ice Man" quickly staggers up. Before the referee can confirm if he can continue he's pushed aside by the "Ice Man", who then starts swinging wildly at Balrog. Balrog dodges and lands a haymaker. The "Ice Man" goes down hard. The referee pushes Balrog back to a neutral corner and starts counting.
"1…2…"
Balrog doesn't realize how tired he is until he finally puts his guard down to rest his arms, using as much time as he can to take deep breathes.
"5…6…"
He stops watching the referee's count and blocks out the crowd as they count with the referee. Balrog watches as the "Ice Man" slowly moves, wondering if he's going to jump at him again. Balrog remembers Maria's words, he needs to stay focused.
"10…he's out!"
As the crowd screams with delight, he raises his arms as high as he could. Maria is the first one to dash into the ring. She runs to him with a proud smile on her face. She hugs him immediately and kisses his cheek. "I love you."
"Whatever stupid," she says with smile. She raises his right arm as the referee raises his left. His name is yelled loudly Maria, starting a chant to form from the audience.
Through the hugs the followed from his trainers and friends, Balrog catches in the VIP section two rows across a man in a red suit with slicked black hair. It was easy to see him, as the largest man Balrog's ever seen with an eye patch stands up next to him. The man in the red suit is sure Balrog is looking at him, because the man suddenly smiles widely like a devil and claps along the crowd.