Chapter 38: Future Opponents

Natalia stood at 170 centimeters tall, her physique a testament to years of disciplined training. Weighing 144 lbs, her body was sculpted with solid, well-defined muscles that spoke of countless hours dedicated to her craft. The tautness of her six-pack was not merely a symbol of her strength but also the result of rigorous workouts and a determined mindset.

Her boxing prowess was exceptional; each punch she threw was a combination of technique, power, and precision. In the ring, Natalia was truly a force of nature, capable of outmaneuvering opponents and delivering blows that sent ripples of impact through her rivals. Her speed and agility made her a formidable contender, and her resilience earned her the respect of fellow athletes.

Yet, despite her impressive abilities and physical strength, Natalia faced an undeniable reality that weighed heavily on her aspirations—society's expectations and biological differences tied to her age and gender.

No matter how hard she trained or how intensely she pushed her limits, she often found herself at a disadvantage when compared to her male counterparts, who, with less effort and training, could easily match or surpass her skill level.

This frustrating truth was a constant reminder of the barriers that existed in her sport, reinforcing the limitations imposed by biology.

While she channeled her frustration into motivation, the disappointment lingered, challenging her spirit. She knew the fight against these ingrained biases was one she couldn't win alone, but her passion for boxing remained unyielded, driving her forward as she continued to carve her niche in a challenging world.

Mathew stood confidently at a height of 178 centimeters, his physique reflecting a dedication to strength and fitness. Weighing in at 157 lbs, his body was sculpted with tight, powerful muscles that rippled beneath his skin. The result of his unique supernatural system meant that his muscular structure was not just impressive but would remain perpetually strong, only continuing to increase in power over time.

At this stage, he was nearly as strong as a fully grown adult, showcasing the remarkable advantages granted by his exceptional abilities.

Considering all these factors, a match between him and Natalia would undoubtedly tip the scales in Mathew's favor, making it an unfair contest. Yet, both recognized the value of competing against one another. For Mathew, facing someone with Natalia's skill level would provide invaluable experience in adapting to different fighting styles, while for Natalia, it would be an opportunity to challenge herself against a significantly stronger opponent, pushing her limits and honing her abilities.

Their encounters, though imbalanced, would serve as a rich ground for personal growth and skill development for both fighters.

"Box!"

Mathew dashed in and sent two sharp jabs at Natalia's face. Moving quickly and fluidly, she slipped both punches and slid over to his left. Her 16 oz gloves slammed into his ribs, causing him to wince slightly.

With a twist, he spun on his feet and hips and sent a right hook at her guard. Natalia leaned back in the nick of time, but she had to raise her right arm to block a speeding right strike.

Regardless of his holding his strength back, his punch still held the power to push Natalia back. Her mouth was pressed into a tight line as her forearm stung from where Mathew landed his attack.

Not willing to drop his advantage, he moved in and swung. Only to blink when Natalia moved around the ring in a crescent shape.

Still as fast as ever. Mathew grinned, seeing her speed.

His moment of admiration was immediately destroyed as Natalia stepped in and unleashed a volley of punches.

He forced his body to dodge and evade all her blows—a testament to all their hours of training.

Natalia grinned briefly before her expression became sharp. As if flipping a switch, she sent a slower jab right at his face, prompting him to lean back.

After successfully avoiding her punch, Mathew blinked when Natalia was nowhere in sight. Feeling his hair stand on end, he reacted on pure instinct and raised his left arm to block a powerful left hook.

Were his body not as strong and fast as it were, her punch would have broken through his guard and landed cleanly on his temple. It was a dangerous match-ending hook.

Despite all their training, Mathew's skills and experience were still nowhere near Natalia's—a boxer who was trained from early childhood by a world-class boxer.

The surprise attack had left him momentarily stunned at her sudden experience. That brief lapse was enough for Natalia to move in and rain an unending swarm of attacks at Mathew, which he could only block due to his back hitting the ropes.

When did she lead me here? Mathew glared at her from behind his gloves. From his limited sight, he watched as Natalia moved like a vicious beast as she punched away at him. If she had been at my strength level, I'd have been knocked down already.

Seeing an opening, Mathew moved in and landed an uppercut into her stomach.

Her eyes grew wide in pain, but she quickly ignored the stinging pain in favor of dashing back to create space between them.

From their places across one another, they both circled each other slowly while they recovered their energy.

"Not bad... but that won't work for everyone," Natalia said. "Next time, don't stop attacking. You need to be more vicious."

"Okay."

Once they were both recovered, they moved in and continued their spar.

During their match, neither participant attempted to deliver devastating blows or finish the fight quickly. Doing so would have contradicted the purpose of their sparring session. Their main goal was to help each other improve in the areas where they struggled.

For Mathew, it was to improve his fighting sense and to give him instincts.

For Natalia, it was to help her to learn how to manage against a stronger and more durable opponent.

After five grueling rounds of spirited competition, Natalia and Mathew sank onto their usual bench. They leaned back, catching their breath as the lively sounds of the gym enveloped them.

"Hey, Nat?"

"What?"

"You've participated in the tournament before, right? How well do you think I'd do with the way I am now?" Mathew asked as he wiped down some of his sweat.

She frowned and took another thirsty drink from her water. "Right now, I'd say you'll be able to get pretty far. But that's only if you get matched up against newbies like you. If you somehow get matched up with the higher-skilled fighters, you'll have your work cut out for you."

"Like who?"

Natalia didn't hesitate in her response. "There are a few returning boxers who will be competing again this year, and they are exceptionally skilled. If I were you, I would focus on these four in particular: Luciano Frederick, Rickey Fields, Enrique Pierce, and Quincy Jimenez. They are among the best in our generation."

"Luciano Frederick, Rickey Fields, Enrique Pierce, and Quincy Jimenez..." Mathew muttered thoughtfully. "What kind of boxers are they?"

With a grin of amusement, Natalia stood up and placed a hand on her hip. "Sorry, Matt. If you want to learn more about your opponents, you'll need to do some research. That's another important skill you'll have to develop as a boxer." She then turned around and headed to the locker room to grab her running shoes.

Mathew blinked as he realized he had been unconsciously staring at her toned backside and quickly looked away.

Damn hormones.

Sighing, he stood up as well. The names of his future opponents were at the forefront of his mind.

"It's a good thing that doing research is one of my forte's... I should give Alex a present for that."

Not wanting to keep Natalia waiting for their cooldown jogging session, he headed to the locker to grab his running shoes.