Placing such a huge bet on a young guy who looked anything but tough? Now that was just wild.
"Are you out of your mind, Nielsen?" Terence exclaimed, springing to his feet.
This wasn't just a game anymore; it felt serious.
As the host and the one running the show, Terence felt it was his duty to tackle these 'troubles' head-on.
"I'm dead serious, Mr. Terence," Nielsen replied, his face set and unmistakably earnest.
His confidence was no joke—he knew what Tyson was made of, and he was ready to put it all on the line. If he won, he'd erase the embarrassment of previous losses in a single swoop; if he lost, well, he'd just have to tighten his belt.
"That's just insane," Mickey said, shaking his head in disbelief.
This was betting taken to the extreme.
Leo looked at Nielsen like he'd just lost his marbles.
"I must remind you, the fighter I brought is 'Submachine Gun' Yule. If you're having second thoughts, now's the time to reconsider."
Yule?
Nielsen recalled the tall, impressive fighter he'd met once before—an imposing black man with a strong record of four wins and one loss in the pro circuit.
Yule had come along to support Leo but had no intention of stepping into the ring tonight.
Now, Leo had switched gears. He was planning to throw Yule into the fray against Tyson. After all, $100,000 was nothing to sneeze at.
Nielsen hesitated, then stood his ground: "Leo, I'm not worried about your fighter. What matters is whether you've got that $100,000 to back you up."
"Of course I do. The money you lost last time covers half," Leo replied with a smirk, his tone clearly saying: I've got the cash, but if you want it, you'll need to bring your A-game.
"Alright, let's draft up an agreement."
Once both men agreed, Terence jumped to action, quickly preparing the contracts.
The two signed without a hitch.
Mickey turned to Terence and asked, "Are we in?"
"Absolutely; a chance like this doesn't pop up every day."
They decided to set their personal stakes at $15,000 and $5,000. Mickey, acting as a spectator, placed his faith in Yule to win. If Yule came out on top, he'd snag an extra $5,000 along with his bet.
Meanwhile, Terence reluctantly chose Tyson. If Tyson won, Terence would pocket the full $20,000.
But deep down, Terence didn't hold out much hope.
Having seen both fighters in action, he was convinced this wouldn't be a fair contest.
"Alright, folks, see you at nine tonight," Nielsen said as he walked out with the agreement clutched in his hand.
"Nielsen's really lost it," Leo chuckled after Nielsen had left.
Mickey and Terence shared a knowing glance but remained silent.
Unperturbed, Leo continued, "You're about to witness the easiest fight of the night."
With that, he dashed off to find Yule, eager to prep him for the upcoming showdown.
"Mike, I've made some changes to our match," Leo said, catching Tyson's attention.
Tyson raised an eyebrow, ready to hear more.
"I've boosted the stakes to $100,000. If you win, you'll take home $30,000. Even if you fall short, I'll still give you $1,000."
Tyson's smile widened. Hearing that amount made Teddy's face drain of color.
This was the biggest match he'd ever heard of.
"I'll give it my all, Mr. Nielsen, because I can't wait to see how Leo loses that $100,000 tonight."
---
Leo found Yule soon after.
Standing tall with bouncy curls and sharp eyes, Yule was all business.
"Hey, brother, I came to find you because we've got some complications."
"What's going on?" Yule's voice was deep and gravelly.
"A manager from a small gym brought in a fighter. Once he heard you were here, he insisted you step into the ring."
"Is he a professional?"
Yule couldn't help but chuckle; a professional wouldn't dare throw down here.
"Nope, just a 17-year-old kid."
"A kid? Why on earth would he want me?" Yule scratched his head, surprised anyone would consider challenging him.
Leo grinned. "The kid's calling for you by name. You know how it is; you're a skilled boxer. Not everyone gets the chance to fight against someone like you."
Yule paused, thinking it over. "What's in it for me?"
"If you win, I'll toss you $20,000."
"But what happens if I lose?"
Leo's confidence was unwavering. "You won't lose."
"And if you're wrong?" Yule pressed, wanting clarity.
"Look. If you do somehow lose, I'll pay you $10,000."
Ten grand? For a boxer just starting out, that was a solid deal. Most newcomers earned peanuts.
"Alright, I'm in. When does the match start?"
"Nine o'clock."
"Got it!"
---
Tyson was in a small room, warming up with some simple stretches and movements.
After his chat with Nielsen, he stayed focused, getting himself hyped.
Before long, the clock struck nine.
A muscular guy appeared at the door.
"Hey! You all set? The match is about to kick off!"
Tyson stopped, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Absolutely. We're ready."
Nielsen exchanged a determined look with Tyson, both men ready to go.
"Follow me!"
Being led by the strong guy, Tyson made his way to the boxing ring.
As soon as he stepped into the arena, the crowd roared with excitement.
Soon, Yule joined him in the ring.
Nielsen and Leo settled in at their front-row seats, drinks and snacks spread out before them.
"Brother Nielsen, without the $100,000 on the line, your boxer would never have a shot at facing a pro like Yule."
Leo's comment struck a nerve with Nielsen.
"Careful, Leo. Luck can change in a heartbeat. Don't assume a victory is a done deal."
"We'll see about that," Leo replied, popping open a beer.
---
Tyson stood in the ring, his eyes glued to Yule.
Yule met his gaze, both men sizing each other up, circling like predators. The buzz in the crowd grew electric.
They exchanged intense looks, creating a palpable tension in the air.
A fierce voice inside Tyson urged him on: Mike Tyson, you're a beast. Time to unleash the fury!
His fierce stare sharpened even more.
Then, the referee stepped into the ring, raising his hands for silence.
"Gentlemen, may this be a fair contest! Let's keep it clean—no dirty tricks!"
Once the referee gave the signal, he prompted both fighters to touch gloves.
Tyson reached out, but Yule stepped back, looking down his nose in disdain. To him, a fight with a teenager felt like taking candy from a baby.
The crowd erupted with whistles and cheers, loving the cocky pre-fight tension.
Leo slid a beer in front of Nielsen and said, "Hey, don't get tense; the match hasn't even started yet. Have a drink."
Nielsen grunted, eyes glued to the ring.
And with that, the bell rang, and the match began.
From the get-go, Tyson lunged forward, quick and powerful—like a lion poised to strike. Despite his smaller stature, he relied on speed and agility.
Tyson poured it all into that first round, pushing Yule back, landing blow after devastating blow. It was clear Yule was in over his head.
To anyone with an ounce of boxing knowledge, it was evident: Tyson's thick frame packed a punch, paired with movements that danced around Yule's attacks.
Before long, Tyson had taken complete control; Yule was backpedaling, trying to keep up.
Leo watched, wide-eyed and dumbfounded.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go. The fighter he'd banked on was getting outclassed.
A young upstart going toe-to-toe with a seasoned pro? Now that was more outrageous than the $100,000 wager itself.
"C'mon, Yule! Fight back!" Leo shouted, jumping up in a frenzy.
Next to him, Nielsen, who had been anxious just moments ago, was much more relaxed now. "Hey, chill. The first round's almost over; drink some beer!"
Nielsen nudged the half-empty bottle toward Leo, the buzz of anticipation thick in the air.