Joe steps into the ring, pale in colour but determined to face world champion Klaus "Iron Man" Stein. This match would be the biggest test of Joe's career. The championship belt would become a battle where not only physical strength but also strategy would determine the winner.
Klaus Stein was known in the boxing world as "The Iron Man". He was fast, strong and durable. But Joe, like Dempsey Turn, had learnt a powerful strategy and had become a boxer who could use his intelligence in his fights. This would be an opportunity for Joe to showcase the full range of his skills. But the question of everything was this: Could Joe really take the championship belt this time?
When the fight started, Klaus Stein immediately set a fast pace. His punches were of the type that usually knocked his opponents down hard and fast. At first, Joe used a defensive tactic, trying to avoid Stein's powerful blows. However, with each passing minute, Klaus' pressure increased and Joe's guard was being strained. Gus shouted from the corner: "Remember, Joe, you've got speed. You don't have to be as strong as him. You'll win with your mind!"
The first four rounds were dominated by Klaus. Joe tried to counter his every move, but Stein's relentless pace made Joe's defence difficult. Joe, however, was patient. He thought about the Dempsey Turn, with it, he could turn Klaus' speed in his favour. In the fifth round, Joe began to expect a little more of Klaus's usual fast attacks. And finally the moment arrived.
The sixth round was to be Joe's strongest round. Klaus, as usual, stepped forward and tried to pin Joe down with a succession of left and right hooks. Joe, however, executed the Dempsey Turn just in time, pivoting on Stein's right hook and landing a hard left jab to his opponent's weak spot. Klaus staggered, but did not fall. However, the blow was countered by a distinct look of shock on Stein's face. Joe had taken control of the ring. "Come on, Joe, finish this!" shouted Gus, who, to the cheers of the crowd, once again saw Joe vigorous and strong.
In the seventh round, Joe's attacks continued. Klaus was beginning to struggle. Joe, under the influence of the Dempsey Turn, was making every move at the right moment. Klaus was too tired to recover his defence. Joe, this time, didn't wait and threw a quick combination. The first punch landed on Klaus' face. The others followed, but before the final blow, Joe's wrists had loosened a little. Klaus took advantage of the gap, knocking Joe off balance. They were both tired, but Joe was struggling a little more.
And that's when it happened. Klaus realised that Joe had loosened up a little and, taking advantage of the momentary opportunity, he unleashed a vicious right hook with all his might. Joe only weakly parried the punch, but it did him a lot of damage. His legs started to shake. Joe was almost out on his feet. Joe was almost unable to stand. Klaus, savouring his momentary victory, quickly landed another right hook, this time to Joe's head. Joe goes down.
The referee started counting. "One... Two..." Joe's eyes were blurring. But there was a strength in him, a conviction. You gotta get up, Joe. You've got to see this through to the end. But no matter how hard he tried, Joe's body would not resist him. When the referee finished the tenth point, he raised Klaus Stein's hand. Joe opened his eyes and looked into the corner, trying to regulate his breathing.
As Joe stepped out of the ring, devastated, he felt something he had never expected. It felt like the end of everything for him. He had come so close to the championship belt, but had lost it before he could take another step. Gus came to him. "I know this is hard to accept. But remember, Joe, this is just one match. The real fight begins outside the ring."
Joe's face was contorted with disappointment and the pain of defeat. He had come in like a champion, but he was going out like a champion. For him, the loss of this match was not only a professional blow, but also a personal trauma.
"I failed, Gus," Joe said, his eyes welling up. "I fought with everything I had and I lost."
Gus replied, patting him on the back: "A boxer's true strength is in his ability to fall down and get up again, Joe. Losing makes you stronger. A championship isn't measured by the belt, it's measured by the determination to keep going. You're not finished here."