The Davis Boxing Gym was a medium-sized, two-story building that exuded a sense of character despite its wear and tear.
Its weathered brick façade, adorned with numerous windows that allowed natural light to flood in, hinted at decades of dedication to the sport. Inside, the atmosphere was electric with the energy of old boxing legends.
At the heart of the first floor stood a large boxing ring, its well-used canvas bearing the marks of countless matches. The ringing sounds of gloves meeting flesh and the shuffling of feet could often be heard echoing within the walls.
To the right of the ring, several aged punching bags swayed gently from the ceiling, their leather cracked and faded. Each element of the gym contributed to its unique charm, evoking nostalgia for the glory days of boxing while continuing to inspire the next generation of athletes who trained there.
"…why'd you do it?" Natalia muttered as she sat next to Mathew at the back wall of the gym. She was covered in bandages while Mathew's nose was stuffed with tissues. "It was none of your business."
"Well, I couldn't exactly brush off that situation," Mathew said, observing the bustling scene in the gym. Around him, several members were lost in their workouts—some diligently pounding heavy bags that swayed with each brutal strike, others rhythmically skipping rope as the sound of their feet hitting the floor echoed through the room.
A few were engaged in shadow boxing, their movements graceful yet intense, while others were mastering various calisthenics with sheer determination. "Besides, that Roger guy had such a punchable face, I just couldn't resist the urge to intervene."
Natalia couldn't help herself and chuckled. "Yeah. He does, doesn't he?"
"That he does… That combo you landed on, that Chase guy. Where'd you learn it?" Mathew looked over at Natalia with wonder.
"My grandpa taught it to me... He's the reason I know how to box." Natalia turned to the far right wall, where several pictures, articles, and promotional posters hung. Mathew examined the wall before his eyes landed on one of the promotional posters. It was of a strong-looking blonde man posing next to his opponent.
"Harrison Davis. That Harrison Davis?! Three-time super middleweight champion Harrison Davis?! He's a boxing legend!" Mathew said in shock. "Hold on… Davis? Davis is your last name! He's your grandfather! And this is his gym!"
Mathew jumped to his feet and looked at Natalia in a new light. "No wonder you're so amazing at boxing!"
Natalia's eyes grew wide at the compliment before she coughed into her fist before a wide, proud smile erupted on her face.
"Right?! My grandpa's one of the best!" Natalia stood up and crossed her arms. "You should have seen him in his prime. There was no boxer like him!"
Natalia eagerly recounted a series of her grandfather's fierce battles, her eyes sparkling with a blend of excitement and nostalgia as if she had been a spectator in the midst of the action. Mathew listened intently, his gaze fixed on her as she painted each moment with vivid language and dramatic gestures.
Her enthusiastic smile radiated warmth and joy, strikingly contrasting her usual, more negative demeanor. In that moment, her fervor brought the tale to life, and Mathew couldn't help but find her spirited recounting utterly charming.
"Man, I have to find the videos for those fights." Mathew grinned as he and Natalia scanned the wall over. "I have them all on tape. I can… let you borrow them. If you want." Natalia said as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"Really? I'd love to!" Mathew answered with excitement. He loved to watch older boxing matches. They always had a certain charm to them that modern fights didn't have.
Natalia smiled at him and abruptly punched Mathew's arm. "Ow! What was that for?" He asked as he rubbed his arm.
"That means she likes ya." Walking toward them with a limp was an older man in his sixties with silver-blonde hair. His presence commanded respect, and his eyes held the wisdom of years spent in the ring. He then held his hand out to Mathew. "Harrison Davis. Nice to meet you, Son."
"Grandpa!" Natalia blushed as she watched Mathew shake her grandfather's hand with a stupefied expression. "Stop!"
••o••o••o••
"I thought I told you to stop getting into fights, Nat," Harrison muttered as he looked over his granddaughter's injured face in his office. "You even got your friend caught up in it."
"But, grandpa… they started it," Natalia said weakly. Unable to argue against her grandfather. "And he's not my friend."
"Ouch." Mathew winced as he held his heart. "And here I thought we bonded during our epic fight. Like warriors of old."
"Alright, you two. That's enough." Harrison sighed before motioning for Mathew to come over. Once he did, he looked over Mathew's nose. "Nothing broken. The swelling should go down in a few days."
Mathew nodded, and before he could walk off, Harrison held his shoulder. "I want to thank you, Mathew. For looking out for Nat. I know she has trouble making friends. So knowing that she has someone like you looking out for her puts this old man at ease."
"It's no problem, Mr. Davis. I got her back." Natalia huffed and pulled Mathew into a headlock.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, new kid."
As Mathew allowed Natalia to playfully attempt to choke him, his gaze drifted to the wall adorned with an impressive collage of Harrison's past achievements.
The collection was a vibrant tapestry of photographs and newspaper clippings, each chronicling thrilling matches and momentous victories that had defined Harrison's career. However, what captured Mathew's attention the most was the large, framed photograph at the center of the display.
No freaking way! Mathew thought with awe as he immediately recognized the individuals in the photo.
Standing beside Harrison were Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed.
In his past life, these two individuals were nothing but characters within incredible films. But in this world, it seemed that they were as real as Mathew himself. And it seemed that Harrison knew the two from his time as a young man and boxer.
How did I never realize that they existed in this world? Or could it be that whenever I did see them, I just never realized that they were real people and not characters in a movie? Mathew wondered, feeling incredibly stupid at not realizing the truth years ago.
"Mathew. Nat told me you handled yourself pretty well. How long have you been boxing?" Harrison asked with a friendly smile. Jerking Mathew out of his self-loathing.
"Ever since I was ten, Sir," Mathew answered.
"Ten. That's a good age. Nat over here has been boxing ever since she was seven." Harrison muttered as he lost himself briefly to his memories. "Seeing as Nat called you new kid, I'm guessing you're new to the city. Tell me, Mathew. Would you be interested in joining my boxing gym?"