Past Love

Chapter 12: The Big Fight!!

Monday July 4th, 2005

11:30am

Jahmelle

Today was the big day, Tyrone's fight against Andre was today and he was definitely focused on it. I haven't heard from him in a couple of days though. I'm thinking he was still pissed about what happened with him getting pulled over by that officer and all. I was wondering about him. I haven't had much to do either. I was listening to the radio until I got a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Kash."

This dude. I laughed and went to the door. "Hey, how you doing?" I asked, opening the door.

"I'm cool, just chillin' like a villain." He said, laughing. "What are you up to man?"

"Not much, shouldn't you be at work?"

"Naw, I have people watching the place right now."

"Yeah, they're called employees dummy." I said laughing.

"Pssh boy please." He said. "Anyway negro you going to the fight tonight?"

"Of course man, of course. I'm definitely not going to miss it man, I promised Tyrone that I'd be there, and I intend on keeping that promise to him too." I told him.

"So is he gonna be getting lucky after the fight?" He snickered.

"Only if he plays his cards right." I said, slapping my ass. He went quiet.

"Alright you too gay for me man, and on that note i'm leaving." He said laughing, getting up. "Naw i'm just playing." He said, punching my shoulder, sitting back down. "But for real it'd be good you being there, supporting your man and all."

"Oh stop it, he's not my man, we're just.....good friends."

"Bullshit!! And i'm the richest man in the world." He laughed.

"You're right, that is bullshit." I said laughing.

"Boy whatever, anyway where's your kid Damon at?"

"He's not my kid, don't start that. Anyway he's at work. I hope he's okay though. He's been through a lot lately, that boy is smart but he's had negative influences in his life for so long you know. I wonder if mentally he's preparing himself, because we both know how some people in St. Louis can be you know."

"You're worried about that situation with Damon and Lee aren't you?" Kash asked.

"Yeah because people like Lee are young, cocky and arrogant, they think the world revolve around them, they think they are untouchable because of who they are or what they do that they fail to realize that they are just like everyone else and everything that they do has a way of coming back to them, what's done in the dark will come to light eventually, some way, some how." I said. "Here Damon is trying to do the right thing, now we all aren't perfect, we all have faults but at least Damon is trying to make that change and do right and make a better life for himself but Lee is trying to pull him down, pull him back into his old life because he don't want to see someone else do better than him or succeed." I told him.

"Well I mean look at Lee, he sells weed and hustles, he's the biggest weed dealer in St. Louis. He basically is the HNIC when it comes to things and he knows that. The best thing Damon can do is just keep doing what he's doing and staying out of Lee's way."

"That's what he's been trying to do but he's told me Lee's been trying to get in contact with him. It's like he's obsessed with him almost, it's wild." I said. "Now i'm worried about not only him, but others, including myself and his family, it's just a mess." I said.

"True, well what can we do?"

"Not much really, I mean it might be something." I said.

"Well remember what you said man anything is possible Jahmelle." He said. "You're the one that say that so make sure you live up to what you preach man, find a way to make things work." He said, patting me on the shoulder. "Well i'm going to get back to enjoying my day off. You can come kick it with me, i got a pool table at my place and we can shoot some pool." He told me.

"Bet, you know i'm good at pool though, i'ma dust that ass."

"Boy whatever." He punched my arm playfully.

"Want to bet some money on it Kash?" He got silent. "That's what I thought. Let's go."

******

******

7:30pm

Tyrone

I was hours away from my big fight, i couldn't believe i had came this far, it was nerve racking trying to get it together, here i am, on the biggest stage of them all in the boxing world, getting a shot a the SBF World Title against one of the best in the game right now, did i have what it took to dethrone the world champion though, that was the question. It was like I had butterflies in my stomach. I was in the locker room preparing when I got a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Jahmelle."

"Come on in." I told him. "What are you doing back here man? Only boxers, trainers, security & select few people can be back here."

"Well i guess i'm one of those select few people." He chuckled. "So how you holding up man?"

"To be honest i'm nervous as hell, hard to shake these feelings. I mean here i am getting ready to go up against Andre "Bonez" Tarver for the Title and i feel like i'm going to fail."

"Hold up man don't do that to yourself, you got a whole bunch of people out there rooting for you, me, Kash, Your mom, Damon & others from the school and this city. You got the whole city of St. Louis rooting for you man, you can do this, don't doubt yourself, and whether you win or lose man, you're still a winner to me." He said walking over to me, putting his hand on me shoulder. "You got this." He said. After that he left. I went back to focusing and training, time passed by. Our fight was the last one on the card.

9:30pm

The introductions had been made, i was standing across the ring from Andre. The bell had sounded, the fight was scheduled for 8 rounds, i didn't know how i was gonna survive the 8 rounds, but i knew that i'd give it all i got. The 1st couple rounds i got pummeled, taking haymakers, rights and lefts and all. I stayed blocking shots and hitting him with a few combos of my own. The 4th and 5th round i had Andre reeling with body shots, lefts and rights, i hit with a few hard uppercuts. 6 & 7th round we both went down twice after heavy shots. Blood and sweat pouring down our faces, my left eye was swollen shut and i couldn't see much, vision was blurry then we headed into the 8th and final round.

"You ready to go down?" Andre said.

"Naw, not by a long shot!" I said as I punched him square in the jaw.

We both scrapped, hitting each other with lefts and rights, as the timer counted down. He hit me with a hard left, then a haymaker, and then a huge uppercut as I stumbled, he hit me with another one as I went down. Everything was fuzzy, the next thing I remember was the bell ringing.

"And the winner by T.K.O. and STILL WBF Heavyweight Champion of the world Andre "Bonez" Tarver!!" The announcer said. I can't believe it, I lost.

End Of Chapter 12