CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 44: PRESSURE AND VICTORY

The bell rang for round three. Andre came out like a drowning man reaching for anything that might save him.

He abandoned everything his corner had taught him about boxing. No jab, no footwork, no defense. Just wild desperation thrown with knockout intentions. His coach’s voice echoed in his skull: "You need a knockout!"

Andre rushed forward throwing haymakers that whistled through the air very fast and powerful. Each punch carried everything he had left, but Tommy could see them all coming from miles away.

Tommy stayed calm despite the violence coming at him. Andre’s desperation made him predictable - he loaded up on every shot, predictable shots.

Tommy slipped a wild right hand that would have taken his head off. His counter left hook dug deep into Andre’s already tender ribs. Andre’s face twisted in agony, his mouth opening behind his mouthguard. The body shot doubled him over.

Andre tried grabbing Tommy to buy recovery time, but Tommy pushed him off clean and fired a double jab that snapped Andre’s head back twice. Sharp pops echoed through the venue like gunshots.

Andre’s legs were betraying him now. His footwork looked like he was walking on ice, uncertain and dangerous. Two rounds of punishment had drained something essential from his system.

Tommy sensed the finish approaching like a predator smelling wounded prey. He increased his pace methodically - not wildly, but with precision. Clean jab to set up distance. Hard cross to the body that made Andre grunt. Left hook upstairs that rattled his headgear.

Andre’s return fire became increasingly desperate. He threw a looping overhand right that Tommy ducked easily, the punch sailing harmlessly over his head.

Tommy came up with a picture-perfect uppercut that caught Andre flush on the chin.

Andre’s eyes rolled back. His legs gave out completely like someone had cut the strings holding him up. He dropped to one knee, his gloves touching the canvas for support. Not unconscious, but clearly hurt and struggling to remember where he was.

The referee didn’t hesitate. He jumped between them immediately, waving his arms without starting a count.

"That’s it! The contest has stopped!"

Tommy raised his gloves but didn’t celebrate wildly. His first instinct was to check on Andre, showing the kind of concern that separated real boxers from bullies.

Andre got help from his corner but waved off the medical attention. He was hurt but not broken, just discouraged and exhausted.

The venue erupted like a bomb had gone off. The Marcus Garvey section went absolutely wild. Dr. Vasquez was crying and cheering at the same time, her hands pressed to her mouth. David and Kevin jumped up and down, their homemade signs forgotten on the floor.

Danny rushed into the ring and grabbed Tommy in a bear hug that lifted him off his feet. "You did it, kid! You really did it!"

Tommy’s emotions finally broke through the wall he’d built around them. Part exhaustion, part disbelief, part pure joy flooding his system like warm water. His knees felt weak for a different reason now.

Andre’s corner helped him to the center of the ring. Despite his loss, despite the way it had ended, he embraced Tommy with genuine respect.

"You earned that win," Andre said, his voice thick but sincere. "Good luck going forward."

The announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers: "Winner by RSC - Referee Stops Contest - in round three... advancing to the quarterfinals... Tommy Vega, Gleason’s Gym!"

Dr. Vasquez pushed through the crowd to reach ringside. The younger kids were beside themselves with excitement, bouncing off each other like pinballs.

"Tommy won! Tommy actually won!"

Javier felt genuine pride for his friend mixed with something else - pressure building in his chest like steam in a boiler. Tommy had made it look so controlled, so professional. What if he couldn’t match that level when his time came?

The tournament medical officer checked both fighters as protocol demanded. Tommy showed no signs of damage beyond slight redness where Andre’s shots had landed. Andre was examined more thoroughly but cleared - just winded and discouraged, no serious injury.

The venue buzzed with energy that had nowhere to go. Ring crews moved efficiently, cleaning the canvas and adjusting equipment for the next division. Officials updated tournament brackets on the large board while the crowd studied results and argued about upcoming matches.

Forty-five minutes until the welterweight division began. Javier’s warm-up became more focused, more urgent. Miguel worked with him on mitt combinations, keeping him loose but sharp.

"Stay focused on what you can control," Miguel said, reading Javier’s nervous energy. "One fight at a time."

**************

The first welterweight match showcased a different level entirely. Both fighters moved with an almost veteran grace, throwing combinations that fluidly. More experienced than the light welterweights, both showing ring craft that came from years of competition.

The winner took it by unanimous decision after three rounds of tactical boxing that impressed everyone watching.

Javier studied every exchange, every adjustment. The skill level jumped dramatically in his division. These weren’t kids learning to fight - these were young men who knew how to hurt people.

The second welterweight match proved the point. Another technical affair that showcased amateur boxing at its finest. Clean combinations, intelligent defense, mutual respect between fighters who understood the sport’s finer points.

The winner took a split decision after three competitive rounds that could have gone either way.

Johnson Wells appeared in the staging area like a storm cloud on the horizon. He moved with quiet confidence that came from experience, warming up with methodical precision. His 3-1 amateur record showed in every movement.

Javier’s system activated without warning:

[OPPONENT DETECTED: ANALYZING FIGHTING STYLE...]

[NAME: JOHNSON WELLS]

[AGE: 18]

[WEIGHT: 156 LBS]

[RECORD: 3-1 (AMATEUR)]

[STYLE: PRESSURE FIGHTER]

[OPPONENT STATS]

[STRENGTH: Level 2 (28/100)]

[SPEED: Level 2 (25/100)]

[ENDURANCE: Level 2 (31/100)]

[TECHNIQUE: Level 2 (29/100)]

[POWER: Level 2 (33/100)]

Wells warmed up like a professional. His movements were economical and precise. No wasted energy, no nervous fidgeting. He threw combinations on the mitts with veteran timing that made each punch sound like a gunshot.

Wells fought nothing like Andre. Where Andre had been a tall boxer trying to stay outside, Wells was built for inside fighting. Compact, powerful, looking to do damage in close quarters where technique mattered less than heart.

"He’s a pressure fighter like you," Miguel observed, watching Wells work. "This won’t be about boxing from outside. This will be about who wants it more in the trenches."

The announcement cut through the venue noise like a blade: "Welterweight novice elite fighters report for fight three! Javier Restrepo versus Johnson Wells!"

Miguel wrapped Javier’s hands with extra care. Each strip of tape felt ceremonial, like armor being applied before battle. The ritual calmed Javier’s nerves, gave his hands something to focus on besides shaking.

Word had spread about the group home fighters. Javier’s entrance drew more attention than expected. Voices called out from the crowd: "That’s Tommy’s friend!" The spotlight felt heavier than he had expected.

Tommy pressed against the staging area barrier, still glowing from his victory. "You got this, Javi! Box smart like we practiced!"

[FIGHTER STATUS: READY]

[CURRENT CONDITION: EXCELLENT]

Each step toward the ring felt momentous. The crowd noise built like approaching thunder. Javier’s name echoed through the venue speakers. Miguel walked beside him, calm and professional, a steady presence in the chaos.

Javier climbed through the ropes to genuine applause. The group home section erupted in support. Dr. Vasquez clutched her hands together, too nervous to fully cheer yet.

Johnson Wells was already in his corner, bouncing lightly on his feet. Up close, he looked even more formidable. Thick shoulders, scarred knuckles, eyes that had seen real competition and won more often than not.

Miguel checked Javier’s gloves one final time, applied petroleum jelly to his face with practiced efficiency. "Remember everything we worked on. This is your time."

The referee called both fighters forward to center ring. "Gentlemen, this is a three-round amateur contest. Protect yourselves at all times, listen to my commands. Touch gloves and give me a clean fight."

Wells’s gloves met Javier’s with authority. No smile, no conversation, just pure business. His eyes carried the confidence of someone who had won this kind of fight before.

They returned to their corners. The crowd settled into anticipatory quiet that felt like holding your breath underwater. Javier bounced on his toes, trying to shake out the nervous energy that threatened to overwhelm him.

The referee raised his hand: "Fighters ready?"

Both nodded.

"Box!"

The bell rang sharp and clear, beginning Javier’s real test.