The smells of cheap tobacco and even cheaper booze barely masked the stink of rancid sweat that seemed to ooze from the walls of the gym. Tonight was fight night, so the hall that housed the boxing ring was full - full of connoisseurs and thrill seekers, promoters and prize-fighters, touts and gamblers. They had all come to the gym to watch a succession of men reduce each other to bloodied meat.
The atmosphere inside the locker room was different: more tense; more apprehensive. Fighters sat on the benches or stood at their lockers, trying not to be seen eyeing up their opponents. Trainers whispered to each other, trading information. Sweet JP was one of the fighters. He sat alone on one of the wooden benches, wrapping bandages around his hands. He looked up as someone said his name. "Hey - Dan. What do you know?"
Daddy Dan sat down next to the young man. "You've drawn Brute Jenkins in the first match."
"Shee-it." Sweet JP looked down at the stained floorboards. "I don't stand a chance."
"Oh, you do," Dan said. "I bin askin' around. Word is that the Brute has strength, but he doesn't have any stayin' power."
JP sneered at the trainer. "And how does that help me?"
"Oh, it does. And if you keep your lip buttoned, you might just hear how."
* * *
Sweet JP stood in one corner of the ring. The catcalls and jeers from the audience were almost drowning out the amplified voice of the MC, but JP only had eyes for his opponent. In the opposite corner was a 6'6" mass of scarred muscle. This was the Brute. He caught sight of JP and sent a broken-toothed grin his way.
JP tried to remember Dan's advice. Keep 'im busy. Make 'im come to you. The words ran through JP's head as he stood up and walked to the centre of the ring. Make 'im angry. Sure, he might hit you harder for it, but you'll see it comin'. JP touched gloves with Brute, and the force of it almost dislocated his shoulders. And when he's tired, you hit 'im hard - got that?
"Seconds away!" The referee announced, and the timekeeper hit his bell. With an almost impossible speed, Brute lashed out. The unexpected impact sent JP staggering, reeling back towards the ropes. Dan's last words cut through the pain: But most of all - don't let the motha touch ya!
