The Boxing System: I Became the King of the Ring

"Stick to your plan, Tommy."

Miguel crouched beside his fighter, voice steady despite the chaos. Tommy collapsed on the stool, his chest working like bellows. Sweat poured from his hair onto canvas already slick with moisture.

"Don’t take his bait. Three minutes, that’s all. Move and box."

Tommy nodded, water spilling down his chin. His hands trembled.

Across the ring, Danny’s voice, Jamal’s coach, boomed over crowd noise. "You hurt him! Press forward! Don’t give him air!"

Jamal bounced on his toes, eyes sharp with hunger. Ready for the kill.

The ten-second buzzer sounded. Miguel yanked the stool away.

"Time to work," Miguel said.

Tommy rose. The crowd’s roar hit like a physical force.

*************

The bell cut through the noise.

Jamal exploded from his corner. No more testing. No feeling out. He smelled blood.