Amateur Level Achieved

Kenjo slowly moved toward the center, the towering figure of Elji standing before him like a wall. His every step was cautious, carefully measured. His guard was tight, his posture controlled. He was walking a razor-thin line, making sure not to make a single wrong move. Elji, visibly growing tired of the passive style, charged forward with a sharp jab aimed directly at Kenjo's guard. The punch hit with incredible force, and Kenjo let out a small yelp from the sting. A small mark appeared on his guard, but he didn't flinch. His eyes stayed focused, calm.

Another jab came, this time even harder, each hit like a knife cutting through the air. Every punch Elji threw felt as if it could slice through skin, but Kenjo remained unshaken, his guard still locked in place.

Elji, growing more frustrated by Kenjo's passive defense, switched tactics. He began throwing wild, powerful punches, trying to break through Kenjo's tight guard. But Kenjo stayed composed, unbothered. His expression didn't change.

From the sidelines, Jamie leaned toward a fellow inmate and whispered, "Hey, what's the odds on Kenjo winning?"

The inmate glanced around, then replied, "Err... they've gone up quite a lot. Betting odds are 7.89 on Kenjo, 1.3 on Elji."

Jamie's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I see…" he mumbled, taking in the information.

Just as he processed this, Elji's jab broke through Kenjo's defense. Elji's eyes flashed with anger as he prepared to strike again, his fist rising to deliver another powerful blow. But before he could land it, the bell rang. Dekam rushed between the fighters, halting the round. Both fighters trudged back to their corners, Elji pounding the side of the ring in frustration.

"What a shame," Elji muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with disdain. "I thought I'd at least get a challenge from this pathetic man. I'll finish this quickly."

The clock ticked down as the second round began. Dekam called, "Fight!"

Elji charged at Kenjo, his movements aggressive and fast. Before Kenjo could even react, Elji's jab hit him, followed by a cross and a right hook that landed square on his head. Kenjo wobbled to the ropes, struggling to stay on his feet. The ropes were the only thing keeping him upright. His head spun, his legs shaky. He looked uncertain for a moment, but then he whispered to himself, "The counterattack comes now."

Elji, hearing this, grinned. "You'd better make it worth my time."

Another jab came from Elji, this time even harder. Kenjo dodged just in time, then fired an up-jab that landed square on Elji's chin. The impact made Elji stumble back. Kenjo took a slow step forward, controlling the distance between them. Elji's face twisted in frustration, and he threw another hard jab, his body fully extended. But Kenjo didn't flinch. He didn't even blink as the punch missed by a mere inch, and Kenjo wasted no time. He threw a ferocious left hook that landed clean on Elji's head.

Elji staggered sideways, disoriented, and Kenjo pressed on, backing him toward the corner of the ring.

"Shit!" Elji's mind raced as he tried to regain his bearings. I've got to get out of here. NOW.

Kenjo threw a jab, and Elji took the bait, ducking under it, trying to counter. But Kenjo was already one step ahead. With a quick feint, he retracted the jab and twisted his body, delivering a powerful overhand punch straight to Elji's head. The punch connected with a sickening thud, and Elji crashed to the floor.

The crowd erupted into a frenzy. Some inmates screamed, "Get up, Elji!" while others screamed in ecstasy, "Kenjo! We knew you got it!" Meanwhile, some of the betting crowd looked visibly distressed, cursing their luck for placing money on Elji.

Jamie stood, shouting, "Good job, Kenjo!"

Dekam rushed over to start the count. "1... 2..." Elji slowly lifted his glove. "3... 4..." He struggled to push himself off the mat. "5... 6..." With a monumental effort, Elji managed to get to his knees, groaning. He fought through the pain, but as the count reached 8, Elji pushed himself up just in time, managing to stay on his feet.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the round, and both fighters retreated to their corners.

Kenjo was thinking, Shit, I almost had him. No doubt he's figured out my strategy. I've been measuring his reach, but if I don't act fast, I'm done for.

Elji, breathing heavily, glared at Kenjo, rage burning in his eyes. His body was bruised, sweat dripping from his face. He was hurt but still dangerous.

The bell rang again. Both fighters came out, and Kenjo took slow, deliberate steps toward Elji. But just as Kenjo moved closer, Elji rushed at him, throwing a punch and retracting it in a feint. Kenjo fell for it, missing his counter, and Elji moved in, starting an intense slugfest. Elji hammered his fist into Kenjo's stomach, a solid blow that sent shockwaves through Kenjo's body. The pain was immense, but Kenjo responded with a brutal body blow of his own, and the two continued to exchange punishing punches.

The crowd went wild, cheering and shouting for their favorites. Jamie, watching from a distance, bit his lip nervously, waiting for the outcome. Elji landed another hard punch directly into Kenjo's stomach, but Kenjo fought back, landing a left hook to Elji's side.

Kenjo's thoughts raced: I need to get out of here now! My condition is critical. I'll collapse any moment.

Suddenly, Elji jumped back, taking a moment to recover, his chest heaving for breath. Kenjo saw his opening, but he hesitated. He didn't know if he should go for it. Then, from across the ring, Jamie shouted, "Kenjo, believe in yourself!"

Kenjo's hesitation vanished. With a roar, he lunged forward, throwing a powerful punch right at Elji's head. It connected with a sickening crunch, and Elji collapsed to the canvas. But as Elji fell, he managed to land a desperate counter-hook, striking Kenjo's unprotected side in an attempt to draw the match to a draw.

Kenjo's breath came in ragged gasps, each inhale sharp and painful as his body screamed in protest. His face was swollen, a patchwork of bruises from the brutal exchanges. His body, battered and bloodied, felt like it was ready to give up, yet he refused to collapse. Elji lay on the mat, barely conscious, his chest rising and falling slowly, but still alive.

Kenjo struggled against the unbearable pain. Every muscle in his body screamed, every bone felt like it was broken, but his mind was clear—he couldn't let this be the end. GET UP, KENJO! GET UP! The thoughts echoed in his mind like a drumbeat, each repetition a desperate plea for survival.

His knees buckled under the weight of his own body as he attempted to rise, but sheer willpower kept him moving. His glove pressed against the canvas, the only thing that stopped him from collapsing completely. He pushed down, using it to gain leverage, forcing his body to defy the exhaustion and pain.

With a shaky, unstable wobble, Kenjo managed to lift himself, inch by agonizing inch. His arms trembled under the strain as he straightened his back, trying to stand tall again. His legs, weak from the brutal slugfest, threatened to give way, but he fought through the dizziness and nausea.

Finally, with a grunt, Kenjo found himself on his feet, still swaying but upright. His body protested at the movement, but he fought to stay focused. He could feel the count ticking away in his ears—seven, eight... His vision blurred, but he locked his gaze onto Elji, lying motionless in front of him.

The count reached nine, and Kenjo forced himself to stand still, his legs shaking violently. The moment was excruciating, but he stood, refusing to let himself fall. He had made it, just before the final count could seal his fate. The crowd's roar echoed in his ears as he remained on his feet, his body a wreck, but his heart still beating with the drive to win.

The crowd went absolutely wild, cheering like animals. Some inmates shouted curses at Kenjo for making them lose money, while others swarmed around him, congratulating him for his victory.

Round: 3 

Time: 2:47

Result: Kenjo win by KO.

Kenjo staggered out of the ring, and Jamie was there, grinning, "You had me scared there, Kenjo. Good job, though."

Kenjo, exhausted but smiling, replied, "Thank you, Jamie."