Upon entering the building, we were greeted by the front desk staff with the warmth typical of a well-run American business. A stunning woman, evidently the executive assistant, stood poised in front of the elevator.
"Please follow me," she said with a charming smile.
Soon, she escorted Tyson through the sleek corridors to the CEO's office.
"Ms. Delissa is waiting for you inside. The rest of you are welcome to join," she added without losing her professional demeanor.
Jimmy's confusion was palpable. He was aware that the CEO here was not Delissa, but Victor Nancy.
"What about Mr. Nancy? Isn't he the CEO?" Bill asked, his brow furrowing.
The assistant only smiled knowingly before returning to her desk tasks. This left the three of them exchanging puzzled glances, trying to figure out the unexpected shift.
Tyson frowned, contemplating the situation before he reached out to knock on the oak door ahead of them.
"Please come in!" a sweet, inviting voice chimed from within.
Tyson dismissed Jimmy's faint protests and stepped inside.
The office was expansive, embodying both luxury and functionality, with modern furnishings and artwork that reflected a distinct New York sensibility. Potted plants, verdant and well-kept, were nestled in corners, bringing a dash of nature to the corporate environment.
At the center of the room sat Delissa Suleiman behind an impressive, polished desk, her gaze fully fixed on Tyson as he entered.
"Mike Tyson?" she asked, a glint of recognition lighting up her eyes.
Tyson hesitated for a moment. "Yes, and you are?"
"Delissa Suleiman, the acting CEO for this branch in New York," she replied, her voice steady and confident.
"Acting CEO?" Tyson echoed, the news hitting him unexpectedly.
"What happened to Victor Nancy?" he pressed further. "Isn't he the CEO?"
Delissa leaned slightly over her desk, her posture exuding both authority and grace. "Mr. Nancy has been transferred to our headquarters in Mexico due to business requirements."
Tyson weighed the information carefully, realizing that probing deeper into corporate movements might not be prudent. At her invitation, he took a seat across from her, while Jimmy and Bill settled onto a comfortable sofa nearby.
"Mike, your status is quite special," Delissa began, her voice transitioning to business. "Headquarters has made some adjustments regarding your future, and I'm here to discuss them with you."
"What kind of adjustments?" Tyson inquired, curiosity piqued.
Delissa leaned back ever so slightly, as if savoring the moment before revealing critical information. "After extensive deliberation, we've decided to arrange a special bout for you against a select opponent. The stipulation is this: win the match, and you will achieve a ranking of one hundred."
A ranking of one hundred? Tyson's heart raced. In the world of boxing, that was significant. The World Boxing Council (WBC) typically only ranked up to thirty.
"What's the catch?" Tyson challenged, skepticism lacing his tone as he eyed her.
Delissa smiled reassuringly. "There are no catches. You won't need to fulfill any extraordinary requirements. The only thing you must do is show up and compete."
Tyson couldn't shake the feeling that this opportunity seemed almost too generous, too straightforward. After a brief internal struggle, he nodded decisively. "Alright, I'm in. But I'll need my agents to iron out the details."
"Of course," Delissa replied, her demeanor expert and composed. "I haven't finalized the specifics of your opponent yet, but I'll keep you in the loop."
As they exited the building, Tyson couldn't shake the sense of disbelief. His calculated timeline had projected fighting for a ranking by year's end. Yet here he was, presented with an unexpected opportunity. Had his rising notoriety finally prompted a fast-track to recognition, boosting his standing in the boxing community?
After a surreal car ride home, where he struggled to make sense of these developments, Tyson returned to his training routine, determined to harness this good fortune.
---
Three days later, Delissa reached out with updates: an opponent had been determined, and discussions about the venue were set to begin.
Jimmy and Bill wasted no time making their way back to the boxing council, excitement palpable in their conversation.
That evening, they returned home, buoyed by the news.
"We've got the personnel for the match nailed down," Jimmy announced, a sense of achievement in his voice. "We're collaborating with Charles from Atlantic City again—he backed us during the last event."
Tyson engaged his mind, recalling the last bout he fought in Atlantic City. Given the media storm that followed, frustrations from various angles weighed heavily on him. However, nostalgia was overtaken by a strong desire to reclaim his place in the ring.
"I have one requirement: we need ESPN to broadcast this fight," Tyson stated firmly, making it clear how important visibility was for his career.
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned tense. Jimmy and Bill exchanged awkward looks.
"Mike, it's just a special points match. Securing ESPN for this is going to be tricky, even if it's turned into the main event," Bill finally spoke, his concern evident.
"That's right," Jimmy added, "unless we can align ourselves with a larger fight or event, we might struggle to attract their attention."
Determined, Jimmy and Bill flew out to Atlantic City the very next day to meet with Charles.
As they laid out their proposal to have ESPN cover the fight, Charles was quick to shoot them down. "That's not feasible. This is merely a points match. Securing it on the scale of a main event is unlikely. You've mentioned Mike's five-fight winning streak, but it isn't enough to sway the powers that be, especially when there are so many formidable contenders in the ring," Charles explained, shaking his head dismissively.
Jimmy quickly rebutted, "But Charles, you know how fierce Mike is inside that ring. No one can withstand the onslaught he brings."
Charles, however, was unmoved. "To be frank, I have my doubts. The WBC has thousands of heavyweight contenders. There are currently one hundred names waiting to climb the ranks. Mike's stature might give others a competitive edge."
The conversations grew more intense, but Charles remained unconvinced.
"I understand where you're coming from," he continued, "but unless Mike can prove he can step up to the level of the titans currently in play, the idea of garnering mainstream attention may be far-fetched."
Disappointment washed over Jimmy and Bill, but Tyson remained resolute. If he had to immerse himself in challenges to rise through the ranks, he would face them head-on.
For Tyson, this was just the beginning. He was prepared to turn every doubt, every obstacle, into a stepping stone toward his ultimate goal. The hunger to seize every opportunity fueled his ambition. As he departed from the meeting with Charles, a fire ignited within him, ready to reclaim his place in the boxing world. This time, failure was not an option.