Drowning

Three;

It was the World Championships tonight, and to say that I was nervous, would be the worlds greatest understatement.

"I haven't even fought in a month," I sigh, recalling my last fight, against Gates.

"But you've trained, hard." Bill says.

"I guess," I mumble. "Just wish they made these things closer together so that you didn't lose your groove,"

"Too much injury risk, Haz. You know this," Bill says.

"I know," I pout. "Just sucks."

"Yeah, yeah. How ya feeling? One hour till showtime, big boy."

"Sick. Thrown up twice already."

"No different to last year, then." Bill chuckles.

"Nope." I sigh.

The nerves often got the better of me, pre-fight. But then, the moment I was in that ring, I was a different person entirely.

Today, I had to fight against the other candidate for the World Champion; Felix Hunnaway. He was, truly, one of the worlds greatest fighters and had been the champion for four years running, until Gates took the spot, and then myself. I was a complete mess.

"Hunnaway won't know what's hit him, literally." Bill says, snorting at his own joke. I chuckled lightly, shaking my head.

"Never fought someone of his calibre before," I groan, rubbing my face with my hands.

"And I'll bet that he hasn't, either." Bill shrugs. "Look, this is only the second year running if you even attempting the World Championships. Sure, he has more experience-"

"Is this meant to be making me feel better?" I sigh.

"Let me finish," Bill says. "He may have more experience, but you are, literally, the current champion. He must be shitting himself, Haz." he sighs, leaning back into the black sofa he was sat on.

"I dunno," I say, playing with my hands in my lap, from where I sat next to Bill.

We were currently in my dressing room at the venue. It was the same venue as last month, since this was where a majority of London fights were held. We ensured that we got here early, since I spent a majority of my time throwing up before a big fight.

It was 9:15pm. The fight began at exactly 10pm, meaning that I now only had forty-five minutes until show time.

I'd usually spend this time in the bathroom, pacing, pep-talking my self, or being a dick to Bill out of pure nerves. Today seemed to be going no different.

The forty-five minutes seemed never-ending. It felt as though I'd been here, waiting around, for a lifetime and a half. But then, by some miracle, the time was finally up and it was time to get the fight over with.

"Right," Bill says, guiding me to the outside of the ring. My opponent was already there, and the crowd was loud. "You know what to do, Haz. You're gonna fuckin' win this shit, okay? Don't just fuckin' sit there if you get knocked down. You get the fuck back up and show him who's the motherfuckin' champion. You hear me?" Bill says. I nod my head.

Bill poured some water down my throat before slipping my mouth guard in, and then, after the announcing of our names and the call of the first round, we were in the ring and ready to begin.

As usual, my nerves had dissipated. I was pumped full of adrenaline by now; my fingertips tingling with the anticipation of the hits I was about to throw.

Hunnaway was my size, but he felt a lot bigger, somehow. Perhaps it was the intense look in his bright blue eyes. Or perhaps it was the way his persona filled the entire room. I wasn't sure, but I wasn't going to let it get me down.