Page 5 of Undefeated

“God damn, he’s quick,” the manager stated as he stood and crossed his arms.

The young man threw a quick right jab, sending the other fighter backward.

“Shit, he’s got the Ripper on his heels,” the trainer said as he stood from the bench.

The young man followed with a left jab, and a quick right hook. Ripton stepped backward and attempted to become stable on his feet. His feet staggered as he stepped. As the young man leaned toward the body of Ripton, he swung a devastating left uppercut.

The glove made a crushing impact with Ripton’s chin.

“God damn, this kid’s….oh, shit. Ripper’s down,” the trainer said as Mike Ripton fell to the mat.

The young man stepped to the side of Ripton’s body.

Ripton’s trainer jumped into the ring and ran toward his motionless body. As Ripton’s trainer spoke, the fighter slowly raised himself to his elbows.

Ripton’s trainer waved his arms toward Kelsey.

“Looks like you got a new fighter, huh Kelsey?” the manager asked.

“Looks like it,” the trainer responded.

“Come here, kid,” the trainer said sternly toward the young man.

“Come here,” the trainer repeated as he held the ropes upward.

The young man, focused on the body in the center of the ring, shook his head from side-to-side.

Slowly, Mike Ripton sat up. As he stood, for stability, he held onto the shoulder of his trainer. As Ripton began to move, the young man slowly walked to the center of the ring.

The young man tapped his glove on the shoulder of the other fighter.

“Good fight,” the young man said.

“Nice shot, kid. I didn’t even see that fucker coming,” the other fighter said over his shoulder.

The young man turned and walked slowly toward the trainer.

The trainer held the ropes upward as the young man stepped under them and out of the ring.

“Are you interested in working with me?” the young man asked.

“Kelsey, call me Kelsey. And the answer is yes, kid,” the trainer responded.

“Shame On Shane Dekkar, sir. That’s my name. I prefer if you call me Shame On, Shame, Shane, or Dekkar, or Dekk, sir. I don’t particularly like being called kid,” the boxer stated.

The manager chuckled as the young man chastised the trainer.

“Well, Shane. Welcome to Austin, Texas,” the trainer responded as he pulled the boxer’s dog tags from his pocket.

The boxer stepped from beside the ring, bent at the waist, and lowered his head toward the trainer’s hands. The trainer reached over the boxer’s head and placed the dog tags around his neck and removed his headgear.

“I’m going to change and go see the city. If possible, sir, have me a fight for tomorrow afternoon,” the boxer said.

“Call me Kelsey, I don’t particularly like being called sir,” the trainer smiled as he responded.

“Noted,” the boxer said as he nodded his head once sharply.

The boxer turned and began walking toward the locker room. His walk possessed a certain confidence – a swagger.