TIMI'S POV
There I stood, with my fists clenched, my heart beating like midnight drums to soothe angry spirits, my bravery tested and a stream of perspiration on my forehead. I was veering off, away from reality when the sound of the bell sprang me back just in time to dodge a flying fist launched by my opponent.
The feeling was indescribable. The rush I felt from being chased after by another human being who came at me intending to cause me pain was both thrilling and terrifying. Steven was obviously a brawler and a predator who didn't wait for the fight to come to him but instead, angrily chased and devoured his victims. I had no intention to be devoured so I mostly played defence at the start of the first round.
I could hear Uncle Kayode screaming from where he stood, yelling instructions my way and acting like he actually wanted me to win. I was pretty sure that there was nothing he wanted more than for me to lose to Steven so I would abandon my quest for vengeance.
"Keep your hands up and protect your face"
"Move your feet, confuse him with quick, sharp movements"
"Avoid his right fist, that's his strongest"
"Guard up, guard up."
Although I didn't believe my uncle wanted me to win, I couldn't deny that his instructions were useful and boy did I follow them. Steven threw shot after shot, right fist, left fist, roundhouse kicks, uppercuts, and I tried to evade all of it but it was all just too much. A fist finally caught me in the face and I fell. It hurt like hell. It felt like a hammer had crashed into my cheek at the speed of light. The umpire was about to start counting, but I didn't give him the chance as I immediately got back on my feet.
Steven had a smirk on his face. He could tell I was inexperienced and it filled him with overwhelming confidence which cajoled him to keep charging at me. He swung a kick to the side of my body, connecting with a sharp sting. He swung another aiming higher and it struck me at the back of my head but it wasn't a clean connection as I had my arm around my head.
He just kept punching and kicking and swinging and attacking, constantly, non-stop and I felt like I couldn't hold out for much longer. I had a quick stare at the clock and the round had 10 seconds left in it. I had to do something to show this beast that I wasn't a punching bag. I had to retaliate against his attacks with some of my own to reduce his confidence, scare him a little, and have him doubt himself and take me seriously.
He was relentlessly on the offensive and left his guard down, I saw an opening and I went for it. I threw a punch of my own, my very first in the fight which caught him right on his jaw and had him stumbling across the mat with a look of disbelief on his face.
'Ding... Ding... Ding' the first round came to an end with the sound of the bell and I walked over to my corner, thankful to the heavens for ending what was by far the longest and most horrifyingly exciting five minutes of my life.
"Timi, are you okay?" My uncle asked with a look of concern.
"Yes, yes, I'm... I'm ok. I'm good" I responded, dazed and shook up.
"Alright, you've worn him down a bit but he's currently racking up all the judges' points. You've got to get in there, land some punches of your own, slow him down and level the playing field" Uncle Kayode instructed.
"Ok" was all I could say as I sipped some water.
"Use your speed to your advantage. He's a lot bigger than you which makes him slower. Expose his parts and have at them. You got it?"
"I got it, uncle."
"Good"
"Fighters, back on the mat" The umpire called out. Round two was about to begin and I had every intention of not being tossed around the mat like a bag of chips. I thought to myself, if he wants a brawl, then I'll give him one.
The bell rang and round two began. This time I was on the offensive and did the hunting. I took two quick strides towards Steven and crashed my feet into his left thigh. I threw a punch which he dodged, but I threw another which caught him on the chin. He was getting worried, I could see it in his eyes. I landed another punch, and then a kick and another one and another one.
I was in control, I had him stumbling, shaking in his boots, trying desperately to evade my attacks. I threw another high kick at his head and I was surprised when he caught my feet in the air. He tripped me over with his feet and got on top of me, pinning me to the mat and he hammered away at my face which I tried to guard but he hit me twice on the nose and the umpire grabbed him and pulled him away from me.
"I told you no pinning down your opponent. Follow the rules or you'll be disqualified." The ref told Steven as the bell rang signalling the second round had ended.
I was sure the judges had deducted some points from Steven for pinning me down but I was also sure that it wouldn't be enough for me to win and I'd have to knock him down in the final round but how could I? I was bruised and my nose was already swollen from the punches he had landed on it.
In my corner, Uncle Kayode examined my nose while drying my sweat up with a towel.
"Well it's not broken, so that's good." He said.
"Do you want to continue or do you want to forfeit?"
"FORFEIT?? of course not. What do you think I am, a coward?" My uncle was trying to get me to quit my very first fight, Unbelievable.
"I know you don't want me to avenge Ayo but I didn't think you'd want me to quit so easily. This is my very first test and I'm not going to fail, whether you like it or not" I told him.
My uncle sighed, rubbed his face and said to me, " Yes, I don't want you to continue seeking vengeance but I know you're not a coward or a quitter. You're a fighter, so you get back out there and you knock that punk out. In our family, we never give up, we persevere and we triumph over any and every problem. You can do it, I believe in you"
I was inspired. I was motivated. I was charged by my uncle's words. I stepped onto the mat with courage, strength and determination.
The bell rang and round three began. Steven intended to finish me off so he made the first move. He swung but missed. He tried again, the same outcome. I planted a fist 👊 at the side of his face. He got angry and kicked me but I blocked it and gave him a kick of my right in his side. He exclaimed in pain.
I moved towards him and in his desperation to protect himself, he threw a lazy punch, exposing himself. I grabbed his hand and threw him over my shoulder onto the mat. He got up and threw another punch which I blocked. He swung again but missed and I crouched down and boosted up with a flying uppercut which connected cleanly and big Steve crashed onto the mat.
"One, two, three, four, five" The umpire ended the match declaring me the winner by knockout.
I felt incredible. I had won my first fight of the tournament and I was riled up to win more. I raised my fists in the air in victory with the echoes of applause from the crowd circulating through the hall.