Chapter 53: Quarterfinal War - Jerkins vs Javier II
The bell exploded through the venue like a cannon shot. The crowd pressed closer, their collective breath creating fog in the cold gym.
Javier sprang off his stool, legs bouncing with predatory purpose. The taste of copper and adrenaline flooded his mouth. Heat radiated from the lights above, making everything sharp and brutal.
This time he cut off the ring like a master hunter. Step by calculated step, forcing Jerkins toward the ropes. No wild rushing. Smart pressure that made the canvas tremble under their feet.
Jerkins tried backing away, pumping his jab desperately to keep distance. But Javier wove around each punch now, slipping leather by millimeters. The wind from missed shots ruffled his hair beneath the headgear.
When he reached phone booth range, he stayed there like Vicente had taught him. Left hook to the body - THUD - ribs compressed under leather. Short uppercut to the floating ribs - CRACK - Jerkins’ mouth opened in silent scream. Quick right hand to the head - POP - sweat exploded from impact point. Everything close and dirty, the way street fights ended.
[FOOTWORK +0.1, CURRENT: 29.8/100]
[RING IQ +0.1, CURRENT: 22.2/100]
[HOOK SKILL +0.1, CURRENT: 31.5/100]
Jerkins tried to escape with a double jab - first one caught Javier’s forehead, second hit his chest guard. But Javier wove under the follow-up cross, feeling leather brush his hair. He immediately countered with a digging left hook to Jerkins’ liver that made him grunt and stumble sideways.
Jerkins recognized the new approach, panic flickering in his eyes behind the headgear. He threw a desperate three-punch combination - jab to create space, cross to Javier’s temple that rattled his headgear, hook that Javier ducked completely.
Javier popped up with a short right uppercut that snapped Jerkins’ head back, then immediately followed with a left hook to the same ribs he had been targeting. This one landed with a wet smack that echoed through the gym.
Sweat streamed down Jerkins’ face in a rush. His breathing came in sharp gasps between exchanges - sucked in air, threw punches, gasped again.