Page 38 of Undefeated

“This left handed son-of-a-bitch might try and lace ya, or butt ya, watch it. You know he’s dirty, Shane,” Kelsey reminded me.

I nodded my head.

Ding!

As I felt Kelsey slap my back, I jumped up and headed to the center of the ring.

Wilson met me in the center and began to circle to my left. After a few feeler punches, he started to peek-a-boo.

You wanna play peek-a-boo, motherfucker? I’ll get those arms down.

I connected a few punches to his elbows, forearms, and lit him up with a series of body shots.

“Make him come to you,” I heard Kelsey scream.

I tried a left hook, hoping for his liver. I caught an elbow, and he came back with a quick combination. His right jab caught me good, and glanced off to the left side of my face.

I stepped back and made him come to me.

As he stepped in, and started on me, I heard Kelsey, “Stay inside and counter, kid.”

Fucking Kelsey.

What have I told that old prick about calling me kid?

I threw a series of hooks and uppercuts. With my chin tucked and my head down, I noticed an opening. I have always been a master at counterpunching, and as soon as I saw it, I threw a right hook and a left uppercut. The uppercut caught the corner of his chin. He stumbled back and to his left.

Kelsey’s screaming got louder. “Stay inside, kid. Work that motherfucker! Counter!”

Come here you big bastard. Let me see that chin. Let me see it, just once. That’s all I need.

I worked his body and pummeled his arms with several flurries of punched. He was attempting to tire me. Obviously he doesn’t know much about me. I don’t tire. Ever. I could do this all night. I worked against his arms and tried to get him to open up.

He countered with a series of jabs and a few hooks that caught my upper arms and shoulder. Although I saw the punches and felt my body move, the impact wasn’t felt. When I fight, for the most part, I go numb.

“Left hook, kid. Get that left in there, God damnit,” Kelsey screamed.

If that cocksucker calls me kid again…

I felt Kelsey’s hand hitting the mat.

We’re down to seconds.

I pushed him off, threw a right uppercut, and barely missed his chin.

Ding!

I found my corner and stepped to it.

“God damn it. You got to stay inside with this guy. You’re too quick not to stay inside and counter this big bastard. You got him with that inside work, kid. Fifteen more seconds in that round and he would have been in trouble. He holds his right elbow tight. You’ll get him with that left hook. Use it. Use it, God damn it,” Kelsey screamed.

“Remember that guy in San Antonio last year? Tate?” he asked.

I nodded.

“He’s fighting just like him. If he comes out in this round like he did in the last, stay inside and get him on the break. You’re a damn site quicker than he is, kid,” he bellowed.

As the bell rang, I scowled at Kelsey for calling me kid and jumped up and headed for Wilson.