Page 56 of Forever my Love

He had to clear those doubts from his mind. Had to focus on the fight. He knew that the moment he stepped into the ring, his mind would automatically clear and focus.

If he didn’t think about these things now, he might end up making the wrong move later.

Saying I love you to someone meant a lot. To date, he’d only ever said those words to his family. Now he was thinking of telling the woman who’d trusted him with her darkest secrets.

By the time Reece headed down the long hallway into the area, he was certain that sharing his feelings with Hailey was the right choice, and that tonight was the right time.

The moment he stepped into the area, the entire room erupted with cheers. This was bigger than anything he’d ever done before. Something told him it was bigger than anything he’d ever do.

When he climbed into the ring and held up his fists, the cheers rose as his eyes moved over to his family.

He paused on Hailey’s face, thinking for a moment that it was paler than before. Then she smiled, and he relaxed and smiled back before turning to greet his opponent. It was easy to push everything in his mind other than the fight to the side.

His thoughts sharpened when Robert Carrigan Jr. approached him.

The entire room was charged with an electric energy as the crowd grew silent in anticipation of the two fighters meeting.

When the spotlight focused on them, standing face to face, Reece held out his gloves to the man as the referee made his pre-programed speech about having a clean fight and went over the rules.

Carrigan ignored Reece’s gloves until the ref was done, then he hit them hard and strolled away to cheers.

Reece returned to his corner and waited for the signal to start the fight. Reece was determined and, even though Carrigan was a formidable opponent, the man didn’t really know his strength and resilience.

When the first bell rang, he focused on remembering the moves that Carrigan used, the skills that he repeated when he was struggling.

The first round was a wash. He doubted either of them scored any real points.

He’d taken a couple blows and given a few in return.

He purposely avoided looking towards his family. He couldn’t afford to be distracted. Instead, he kept his eyes on Carrigan, watched for any sign of weakness.

The guy looked winded by the end of the second round. Reece was positive he was up in points. He’d gotten in more solid hits and one that had caused Carrigan to wobble on his feet.

But Reece knew that he couldn’t afford to get cocky. At any moment, the fight could easily turn in Carrigan’s favor.

In the fourth round, he was on defense. The man had overwhelmed him a few times. Still, he hadn’t taken a solid hit yet. He knew that he had to change tactics.

The fifth round he dominated. He had four solid hits and the fight had to be paused while they assessed a cut on Carrigan’s eye. The man was wobbling.

Reece was growing tired of dancing around, so he figured he’d go all out before the end of the round. Besides, he really liked the idea of the bonus Amos had offered him.

It was now or never, he thought as he waited for the right moment.

When the bell rang, signaling the continuation of the round, Reece moved swiftly, his footwork precise and his guard up. Carrigan, a powerful figure with a menacing glare, advanced with calculated steps. The atmosphere was tense, every spectator holding their breath, waiting for the explosive clash.

Reece’s focus on his moves was so intense that nothing else mattered. His hearing was blocked, his vision and mind were only on Carrigan and his next moves.

Reece jabbed with speed, landing quick punches just under Carrigan’s guard. Carrigan absorbed the blows, showcasing the durability he had become famous for. The crowd erupted with cheers as Reece danced around just out of the reach of Carrigan’s return blows. Carrigan, however, retaliated with a powerful hook that just grazed Reece’s cheek.

Reece easily brushed the blow off and thought through his moves as he waited for his next opportunity.

Reece’s strategy was clear—quick, precise strikes to outmaneuver his opponent. Carrigan, on the other hand, relied on his brute strength, aiming for knockout punches. The man’s muscles meant he could easily out-power Reece.

As the round progressed, Reece’s strategy began to pay off. His speed and agility allowed him to evade Carrigan’s powerful punches, while he landed a series of effective combinations. The crowd’s excitement reached a fever pitch as Reece unleashed a devastating uppercut that rocked Carrigan.

Sensing his opportunity, Reece continued to press the advantage. But Carrigan weathered the storm and retaliated with a thunderous right hook that momentarily staggered Reece. The ebb and flow of the fight intensified, each of them giving their all in pursuit of victory.

In the final moments of the round, Reece dug deep, summoning his remaining strength for a final flurry of punches. A rapid combination culminated in a powerful left hook that sent Carrigan sprawling to the canvas.

Everyone always assumed that his right hook was his most powerful move. Up to this point in the fight, he’d held back his left. So when he finally pulled all his power and took the man down with one final left hook, everyone watching was in shock.

The entire arena erupted, then grew silent when Carrigan quickly stood up. The man wobbled around as the referee made his way towards him. Before he could reach him, however, Carrigan fell face first onto the mat, and Reece knew the fight was over.

The referee began the count, and when he reached ten, the bell rang, signaling the end of the match.

Reece stood victorious in the center of the ring, sweat streaming down his face as he basked in the cheers of the crowd for a few seconds.

The boxing ring, once a battleground, now transformed into a symbol of sportsmanship and dedication. The cheers for his victory sounded so much sweeter than those that had come before.

For those few seconds, it was the best moment of his life.

Then, pain shot through his chest and side. The blow lifted his feet from the mat and threw him backwards.

He landed hard on the mat, looking up at the bottom of the scoreboard, wishing more than anything that he could look at Hailey one last time as everything grew dark.