The Boxing System: I Became the King of the Ring

Both fighters stumbled apart, breathing hard, both marked by the violence they’d just shared. The crowd erupted in appreciation for the fight they’d witnessed.

Tommy walked unsteadily to his corner, his legs almost not answering. The bright lights made everything look surreal, dreamlike. He dropped onto his stool and Danny was immediately there with water and ice.

Danny examined Tommy’s face with worried eyes. Red marks where Andre’s shots had landed, slight swelling around his left eye. "How you feel? Talk to me."

Tommy’s voice came out thick: "Head’s ringing. But I’m okay." The words felt strange in his mouth, like his tongue was too big.

"That hook caught you clean. You hurt him back though. That uppercut shook him up bad."

"He hits harder than I expected," Tommy admitted, accepting the water bottle with shaking hands.

"Yeah, but you’re fighting back. Stay aggressive but smart. Get inside where he can’t use that reach to hurt you."

Across the ring, Andre’s corner worked frantically. Jerome Williams checked Andre’s pupils with a small light while applying ice to his jaw. Andre blinked hard, trying to focus.

Dr. Vasquez leaned forward anxiously: "Is Tommy hurt?" Her maternal instincts overrode her attempt to stay calm.

Kevin bounced beside her: "He got him back! Did you see that uppercut?" But even Kevin’s voice carried worry now.

Javier shadowboxed nervously, keeping loose for his upcoming fight. But his eyes never left Tommy’s corner. Miguel whispered: "Both kids showed they can hurt each other. That’s when fights get dangerous."

Danny leaned close to Tommy: "He’s going to come out desperate now. Hurt fighters are the most dangerous. Stay disciplined."