This was cool.. This was more than cool. I’ve been to boxing events a few times but never at NRG Stadium. Never where the Houston Texan played. Sitting in the back locker room, I watched the official for the fight go over the rules with Tony as his hands were taped up.

The room was crowded with various people. All pieces to the puzzle that Tony Savage was putting together as he attempted to unify all the Cruiserweight Championships and become Undisputed.

My role was simple: I was part of the entourage.

The select few that would be there with him alongside his trainers and cutman as we mobbed to the ring. It wasn't just me either.

There were a few characters and we came in a variety of flavors. Other than myself, he had an old Tag Partner of his in Clyde Wayne Macon. A strange guy by normal standards but his last name was almost Bacon and he was as Southern as a pair of overalls and chewing tobacco.

Looking across the room, I laid eyes on Thaïs Empristikí who I had only been introduced to recently. Very Greek and from head to toe, they were covered in a bright red color scheme from the hair on their head to the outfit they were wearing. No doubt that they would be seen on the walk out.

Other than the three of us, there was another invite that Tony made. Kido Raion. I knew that he wouldn't show up. He knew better because on sight, I’d lump him llama up and send his ass BACK into hiding. Just as I did the last time he poked his head out of the bushes.

“Fuck that guy..” Not meaning to let it slip out. I was just in a narrative thought as I took everything in. How people were moving, trying to notice if I could pick up any butterflies from Tony but he showed none.

His head turned towards me as I leaned back into a folding chair off in my own corner of the locker room. Wanting to play my part, I nodded to him as we made eye contact. Popping up, I made my way over towards the bench he was sitting at the edge of. His hands fully taped up, the gloves were being pulled over his fists.

“What's up?” I asked him as my eyes kept to the gloves. Yellow and Black as was the color scheme we all were asked to wear. All of us except Thaïs.

“You good?”

I snapped a look at him. Confused and wondering if it was ME that looked nervous or something. “Me? Yeah, I’m gravy. I'm not fighting tho, how are you holding up?” I said as I gave his back a friendly pat. “You ready to be Undisputed?”

Nodding as he held his arms out in front of him so the gloves could be laced and taped on.

“Ding, ding!”

It was all he needed to say. I understood the language plenty. Big stage, big fight, he was ready because he LIVED for this shit, these moments! Giving him another pat to the back shoulder, I left him be. Giving him his space to get in the mindset and finish getting ready.

It wouldn't be long now..




I could feel them before I ever let my eyes look out into the Stadium. The feeling of their energy was airborne and you couldn't help being embraced by that electric energy as I stood in the hallway backstage with the crew. Tony was hidden away in a black robe, head ducked down as he bounced in place. Knocking his gloved fists together a few times, he was feeding off his own anticipation. The feeling filled the hallway as we waited with the team.

“LET'S FUCKING GO!”

A voice hollered among the crew. One of the Trainers I would have guessed but his call came with a follow of amped up cheers from everyone waiting with Tony. We had production crew members all over the place, working to make sure nothing went wrong. One of them hands me a microphone.

“20 seconds..”

His voice hit me in a rush before he scurried off to complete another task. This was it, I knew my role but I hadn't done this before. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was ready, we were ready. Everyone of us had our eyes forward. It was time to lead the crew out into battle.

“You ready, Tone?” I ask, looking back over my shoulder. He stood in the middle of the crew surrounding him. His trainers holding up the Belts that Tony already had in his possession. He was ready to have them all, the main ones that would decorate his name as Undisputed. “Let's do this!”

Shoving the doors that separated us from the entrance tunnel. The moment I stepped onto the other side, I could feel the audience. Eighty thousand people were in attendance and we were in my City!

“HOUSTON! ARE YOU READY FOR A FUCKING FIGHT!?”

My voice rocketed in volume as I skipped into a bouncing stride. The end of the tunnel opens up as fans appear at either side, pressed against railings!

The theme song for Tony Savage plays as the thump of the music mixes with the cheers of the crowd. Nobody was seated unless they couldn't stand but in spirit even they were standing on their tippy toes and screaming their voices hoarse.

Slapping hands with fans, I played to the crowd. Thaïs strutted around and got cat called more than some titties exposed passing a construction site. Turning to face the posse I was with, I see Clyde raise cans of beer before crashing them together and chugging them down to a pop with the crowd!

Amongst all the chaos around us, Tony was just moving his feet forward. Hunkered forward in a lean, he tears towards the ring. We were all minnows surrounding a shark as he hunted towards the ring.

“UN-DIS-PUTED!”

The chants began to ring out in sections. Bouncing around like the syllable version of a hot potato. The energy was bonkers as I rub my arm to free it from the hairs that have stood up. Getting to ringside, it wasn't like a Pro Wrestling show.

On each side of the ring stood journalists, media types with their cameras and notepads so they could break down the show in their own perspective. Security was on flex as the more you looked, the more you could find yellow jackets placed everywhere.

Back in the locker room, we were instructed on how things would go. Where we would sit as the entourage, myself, along with Thaïs and Clyde, moved around the ring as the trainers and cutman headed up the stairs and entered the ring. Tony follows them and ducks down between the ropes and somehow, the audience gets even louder as Tony flings off the hood of his robe.

Black and Yellow from his shoes to his trunks and gloves. Tony Savage was representing Georgia Tech as he rounded the inside of the ring before settling into his assigned corner.

This was going to be a GOOD fight! Finding my seat, I grinned at Thaïs who sat in between Clyde and I. Everyone of us were fight ready and it seemed from where I was sitting that Tony was ready as well.


“Is he winning?” Thaïs leans over towards me to ask. It was loud but as the rounds got into the mix, the crowd settled down. It was a form of theater and people were most definitely being entertained right now.

“Right now, the judges have Opetaia ahead by a point.”

The point system was broken. It has been forever but it was tradition and in Boxing, traditions were hard to break. I wasn't sure if Thaïs knew much about Boxing and I didn't want them to sit confused, so I leaned over to her.

“He’s got this..” I wasn't even sure if she heard me and there wasn't any time for her to respond. The audience erupts and my eyes snap to the ring to see Tony up against the ropes and Jai rails him to the lower right ribs with a thundering hook.

Lowering a shoulder, Tony shoves Opetaia back but the IBF Champion lunges at Tony but Tony weaves back giving Jai empty air. Tony cracks him with a quick two to the exposed right side before he slides off the ropes.

“Good shit!” I stood up clapping. Tony uses his footwork and as Opetaia spins around, Tony is in his face putting him into the ropes where he himself was moments ago. “Fucking get em!”

As I lower to sit back down, my eyes turn and give the audience a scan over. I enjoyed seeing their reaction, feeling their energy even if I thought ill of most fans. Then Opetaia leaped in and hugged into Tony. Playing grab ass, holding his opponent because he was in trouble and he wanted a breather. Before the hold was pulled apart by the official, the bell rang.

Round 3 was over..




After a few rounds, you could see that a few rounds were just walkthroughs. Both men were moving around, hugging and throwing short and single shots in trade. You could tell that they were feeling the seconds in every round but neither was ready to let up.

I notice a few familiar faces in the front few rows. People I knew of but nobody I had met personally. Celebrities both out of state and even a few local names. It was kind of cool seeing people of influence be fans of a fight. In these moments, they were as normal as anyone else. They just had better seats..

I couldn't read Clyde much. Was he drunk? I didn't think so, but he didn't look like a guy who couldn't handle one or 30 beers in one sitting. Thaïs had checked their phone a few times but kept their eyes on the action in the ring. It was hard not too!

“I would think Tony was ahead on the score cards.” I tell Thaïs with a raised voice. There was a lot of noise in the building, 80 thousand people will do that.

“I think he’s winning..” They respond with a smile before they gasp and throw both of their hands to their face, covering their mouth.

Tony takes a huge shot to the stomach and drops to a knee. The referee steps in and shoves Opetaia back. Giving Tony the space to get up, the count begins.

One!

Two!

Three!

Slapping his gut with his gloved left hand, Tony nods and shoves to his feet. The referee stands in front of him and checks him. Asking him if he's good, Tony nods to say he was ready. The referee signals for them to continue fighting.

Opetaia rushes in but Tony is ready, leaping forward and landing a powerful Straight overhand right to the chin of his opponent. Jai Opetaia stumbles back, shaking off a brief daze. The crowd ignites as Tony hurries in and starts working combinations. Moving his opponent backwards, Tony was working in both body and head shots, landing a few and crashing against a good defensive stance from Opetaia.

Shoving Tony back, Opetaia hits a jab. Tony slides to the side of a second one, shoving it away with a right before walloping Jai with a hooked left! Opetaia stumbles sideways before stumbling into a fall to the canvas.

An explosion could have gone off and these people would have faded out the sound, it got so loud!

I pop up from my chair sharing the excitement as I clap my hands together until each clap stung. Feeling the energy of the fans, I look around to see them in their fandom.

That's when I see her.. I’m fairly sure that she was looking right at me. Her smile indicated such.

“Ain’t this some booooshit..”

From the reaction of the crowd and the pause to the count inside the ring. It wasn't hard to guess that Opetaia got up after being knocked down. I could hear the referee call for them to continue fighting but I no longer had eyes on the action.

Leaving where I had been seated the entire fight, I cut passed rows of people on their feet with their eyes towards the ring. They didn't notice me, didn't give me a glance as I pushed around and by each of them. In a yellow dress that hugged her in every which way that was good in life. I found myself standing in front of someone I wasn't expecting to see.

The bell sounded, ending the Ninth Round.

“Hi..” I said with a grin knowing with the noise, she couldn't hear me. Yet I knew that she knew what I had said. Her mouth moved and on her lips, I read the greeting being said.

It was Sloane Taylor and she looked like a whole distraction.




I wasn't sure how to feel about it. We spent a good minute of the Tenth round just staring at each other. Within reach to grab her and yet we couldn't hear a word the other said. Not that we were trying to talk.. I was.. She was.. Just watching each other.

The crowd was getting beyond insane which drew Sloane’s eyes from me and towards the ring. She reached out and took my hand, leading me to stand next to her and I had no objection.

Damn, she smelled good.

I was forced to take my eyes off of her as I followed her stare back to the ring. Just in time as Opetaia knocks Tony back with a stiff Straight to the chest. Very unorthodox but effective as Tony seems sluggish. Jai stomps closed and is touched with a snapping left jab followed by a lightning fast left hook that hits flush.

Opetaia wobbles.

Tony crashes into his left side with a looping hook to the body and sends Opetaia into a bend. Tony cracks downward, landing a haymaker into the side of Opetaia’s jaw. He drops, face planting into the canvas!

“OOHHHH SHIT!!”

I burst out as both Sloane and I began to jump up and down in celebration. The referee pushes Tony away and checks on Opetaia but there was no reason to even begin a count.

Jai Opetaia was OUT!

You could feel and SEE the vibration of the building of cheers and screams from the people. It was a crazy thing to experience but my celebration slowed to a stop as my eyes turned back to my Ex Wife and former Bestie.

Upon seeing me seeing her, she stopped cheering and just smiled at me. I reacted.

Pulling my hand free of hers, I grab her at each side of her face, pull her in as I press into her and kiss her. I wasn't sure if she would push me away but I felt no shove back. Instead she relaxed against me, arms wrapping around my neck and the kiss lingered.

“AND NEEEEEWWWWW!”

A random voice from the crowd hollers. I could feel her lips peel away from mine as we come apart but not in our freshly placed stare. I could see myself in her blue eyes and knew she saw her in mine.

We had a new Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion though and putting the tension and excitement between us to the side, we turned our attention back to the ring as it filled with media types and suits as well as each fighter’s corner crew. I should be in the ring but I surely wasn't going to complain at the moment.




My ears popped as the ability to hear came with a quieter environment. My hearing was the least of my concern though as Sloane came with me to the backstage area. We headed to the locker room to see Tony, to congratulate him, to show support as was the reason I came here to begin with.

Still, nothing had been said between Sloane or myself since entering the backstage. I should have been in awe as the walls of the hallway were decorated in Houston Texans design. Getting past the crowds gathered in the hallways. We make it to the door of Tony’s locker room but I don't enter.

“Sorry about that..” I say, turning to face Sloane.

“Sorry for what?” She seemed confused or playing towards that. She did that sometimes. A sarcastic shit was often part of her charm.

“I shouldn't have done that...”

“Done what?”

“The kiss?”

“Oh! There was a lot of spark out there! It's fine.” She says with a growing grin on her face. Her caterpillar eyebrows lift as she lights up in expression. “Happy Birthday, Jason..”

I wouldn't expect anyone to have remembered. I change the date on my social media before the day arrives just to not get the useless and surface level wishes.

“Should probably head in to see Tony..”

All the excitement. All the energy felt and found suddenly fell apart. I just felt out of place, I didn't belong.

”Sounds good!”

Stepping aside, I grab the big green door’s handle. Pulling it open, I watch as Sloane steps towards the doorway.

”I’ll catch up..”

”Huh?”

Shutting the door before I had to be asked questions or explain further. Sighing, I leave my hand against the door before giving it a few pats. It was time to leave.

”AAAAGGGGHHH! FUUUCK!”

Grabbing one of those big ass plastic blue barrel garbage cans, I toss it across the hallway before shouldering past a few people lingering backstage.

”Well damn, he must have bet on Opetaia..” Said one of the guys.