Hamadeen steadied his breathing, Simon inspecting him closely.
Hamadeen's thoughts: He's waiting to see how I respond after this cut. Does he have a new strategy now?
Tristan walked up to and aggressively grabbed Joseph's shoulder.
Tristan: You say not to underestimate him and that he'll show us something good. Now where is that, Joseph?!
Joseph yanked his shoulder out of Tristan's grasp before meeting him with a menacing stare.
Joseph: This is nothing more than a minor setback. How about I give you a cut that matches his and see if you're as calm and collected as he is. So shut up and watch. Hamadeen is someone who doesn't disappoint.
Hamadeen moved forward just a bit, making sure that he was just outside of Simon's range before quickly throwing a jab. Simon parried the jab and threw a spear hand in response, Hamadeen jumping back to avoid the strike. He clenched his fists, his brain racking at what he could possibly do.
Hamadeen's thoughts: He's a lot more durable than I thought. Not only is he sharp, but he's durable. Guys like these are always annoying.
Simon charged in, throwing several punches that Hamadeen narrowly avoided, only for blood to form from a cut on his forearm. Simon's right hand turned into a knife hand once more before he began to swing it again and again at Hamadeen. Hamadeen could feel the power behind each strike that he dodges, feeling how Simon's hand just cuts through the air.
Simon's thoughts: He's an out-boxer, I know that much now. His strikes are fast and hard. And he refuses to move in too close. I got him right where I needed him!
Simon slides forward and into Hamadeen's range, throwing a spear hand forward that Hamadeen side steps to dodge. Simon's eyes darted to Hamadeen, his spear hand changing direction and slashing at Hamadeen's chest once more, blood dripping down his torso as Hamadeen intensified his guard. Hamadeen gritted his teeth as Simon rushed him with a series of quick punches. Hamadeen lowered quickly, falling right below Simon's barrage before shifting to the right and out of Simon's attack range once more.
Zachary: He's bobbing! He's giving a real treat to any boxing fan out there!
Hamadeen quickly aimed for a fast right hook, only for Simon to turn and slam his forearm into Hamadeen's elbow pit, effectively halting Hamadeen's momentum.
Simon's thoughts: What's with this weight behind that strike? I was able to stop it, but that took more effort than I expected!
Hamadeen immediately moved in with a left hook, Simon quickly sliding back and dodging the hit before shifting back in and slamming the back of Hamadeen's arm with a rapid elbow. Hamadeen staggered before facing Simon once more, Simon unleashing another rapid barrage of punches on Hamadeen. Hamadeen raised his forearms in defense, taking the onslaught on directly. With each of Simon's strikes, Hamadeen's arms moved with them, readily blocking Simon's next blow.
Violet: He's getting his ass beat out there!
Tristan: I remember watching one of his matches on tv before! He's always played the range game and won the match in no time! How is he struggling here?!
Joseph: Struggling? Sure he's in a bad position now, but he isn't struggling by any means.
Violet: What do you mean? He's getting a beatdown out there!
Joseph: Look closely at his form. After that elbow, not a single one of Simon's strikes have hit him cleanly.
Violet: W-What?! Is that true?
Tristan: It is… He hasn't been hit cleanly once since then! Even with all the punches Simon is landing!
Joseph: Don't you two know? A boxer's guard is elite. It isn't one anyone can break through easily.
Hamadeen gazed closely at Simon, seeing the focus in his eyes.
Hamadeen's thoughts: He reminds me of myself…
…
Throughout all his life, Hamadeen had trained in boxing. His mother was Arabic and his father was Mexican, with his father being a massive boxing fan as well. Through their shared interest, Hamadeen trained with his father through the first fifteen years of his life, reaching a level that not even his father was able to accomplish. At the young age of sixteen, Hamadeen was finally registered by his parents to fight professionally, winning his first match with a quick knockout. The legend of this young prodigy of the boxing scene had made circles around the world. Other famous Arabic and Mexican boxers challenged him, Hamadeen beating them swiftly within the first three rounds of their matches. Even legends like Khan and Morales were nothing but names for Hamadeen to eventually overcome. One day a cross weight match had been scheduled. The current super middleweight champion had decided to fight the unbeatable Hamadeen. This was a match that was rumored to make history for the grand titles these two men held. The fight was hard fought, only for the mighty Hamadeen to fall in the fifth round. Hamadeen dropped his head in shame. At only the age of nineteen, he had finally tasted true defeat. Despite the media not blaming him and saying the weight difference was what was to blame, Hamadeen could not help but feel his defeat was purely his fault. In the locker room after the match, someone walked up to him.
???: You did pretty good against me. No one in my weight class has ever lasted that long.
Hamadeen looked up, seeing a sweaty Joseph holding his hand out.
Hamadeen: Yeah… but what good does that mean if I didn't even last to see if I could've won by points?
Joseph: It's because you're missing something. You're a great out-boxer and your speed and power is impressive. I'll tell you right now, the public scene is wasted on you. If you want to know how to show the world the true strength of your boxing, how about you join me? I know a place where there's no rules and no need to hold back. You want to go for shots you see available to you and not need to hold back because you may lose points?
Hamadeen: Does a world like that even exist? All promotions have rules like that for our safety.
Joseph: If you only look at the public, yeah. But I know a place much better than any of those. How about you show the underworld your strength?
Hamadeen: The underworld?
Joseph: A world where you can show off your best attributes. And that one technique you used to land that clean right hook.
Joseph pointed at the bright red mark left on his cheek. Hamadeen's eyes were wide before he grew a smile on his face. Joseph reached out his hand and Hamadeen met it.
Joseph: Welcome to our collective, Hamadeen. Show them what you're made of.
…
Kuro crossed his arms, looking at the screen in front of him.
Kuro: What the fuck am I supposed to learn from this? How to let someone beat my ass? I do what that Simon fucker does all the time!
Tico: If that's all you get from it, then you have no idea what accuracy or aim is.
Kuro: What the fuck did you just say to me?!
Tico: Watch the screen. Your grandpa was onto something.
Kuro changed his glance back to the screen before his eyes went wide. Simon continued his strikes, changing his right hand into a spear hand once more and aiming right around Hamadeen's strikes. Hamadeen pushed the backs of his fists into Simon's chest, opening the distance between them. Simon refused to let this happen and charged back in, aiming another right spear hand to Hamadeen's head. Hamadeen weaved out of the way, before throwing a left straight directly at Simon. Simon and Hamadeen entered a dance of strikes, with neither landing a clean hit. Simon began to end the dance, one of his spear hands grazing Hamadeen's shoulder with blood spurting. Hamadeen immediately followed the strike with a left hook, turning his body as he placed all his weight behind the attack. Simon dodged the attack and threw a left spear hand directly at Hamadeen's head. Simon's eyes opened wide as his hand moved through Hamadeen's head, before feeling an intense strike at his liver. Hamadeen had used how far he had twisted for the left hook to add to his speed and power for the following right hook to the liver. The impact of the blow was heavy, sending Simon buckling to one knee.
Zenzo: There it is! Hamadeen's mighty Tasmanian Hook!!!
Steam seemed to hover above Hamadeen's right fist as he looked down at Simon.
Hamadeen: You're strong, but never look down on a boxer.
The audience erupted in a cheer as Hamadeen stood mighty in the ring. Joseph looked down with a grin as Tristan and Violet cheered.
Joseph: You still got it in you, kid.