The door to the gym creaked open, revealing a short and stocky man, just a few years older than Mark himself, "Good morning!"
Roy turned his head, "Ah.. wheres your trainer?"
"About that.. he's actually not feeling well, so I made my way here, on my lonesome."
"Hah! Now a couple of my trainee's could do with a similar mindset to yours!" Roy complimented. "Mark! Get your ass over here!"
"Yes sir.." Mark groaned, still tired from his hectic morning.
"I'm Kieron, nice to meet you!"
"Kieron? What kind of weird name is that?" Mark asked unintentionally rudely.
"Be respectful! He's your senior!" Roy smacked the top of Mark's head, earning a laugh from the surrounding people.
"No, it's quite alright we're pretty similar in terms of age by the look of it, it'd be weird if he was all respectful to me, ha ha!" Kieron chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Kieron, it's Irish."
"Well, now that you two are acquainted, get warmed up, both of you. We'll head downstairs and prep for the spar shortly."
The three split up, Kieron, taking his time getting acquainted with his surroundings. Mark, spending his time shadow boxing and skipping rope and then there's Jackson, rehearsing the rules for the sparring match.
Mark leaned against the bench downstairs, adjacent to the ring, "Uhm.. old man.." he called.
"What is it now?" Roy questioned, sipping his cola.
"I was just wondering if you could wrap my hands for me..?" Mark asked, almost sheepishly.
"Your a lost cause--" Roy paused, seeing Marks hands shaking, "You alright kid?"
"Nerves.." he mumbled.
Roy let out a laugh, "You keep such a cool face I keep forgetting you're not a seasoned pro, ya'know. Don't worry, I'll wrap your hands for you."
The bell signalling the first round rang, Kieron stood, ready for what was to come, but to his surprise, nothing did. He tightened his guard and rushed forward, "Typical infighter, huh?" Roy mumbled from Marks corner.
Mark, seeing this also rushed forward, both boxers met in the middle of the ring. Kieron was the first to act, throwing a jab at Mark who swayed out the way, returning with a jab of his own, breaking through Kieron's guard.
"is this kid strong or what!?" Kieron wondered.
Mark followed the jab with a wide hook. "Shit, you're open, kid!"
Kieron ducked under the hook and sent a chilling blow straight to Marks sternum.
"Oof!" Jackson grimaced, watching Mark fall to the canvas.
"What the fuck was that.. I can't even breathe!"
Mark groaned as he reached for the roped, trying to get up, his head pounding after such a rattling punch, "Is that.. what a pro's punch feels like..?"
"6!" Jackson counted, "Can you fight?" he asked as Mark readied himself to go again.
"Don't count me out just yet.."
Jackson nodded, "Fight!"
Mark charged at Kieron, ready to get his get back as he wound up for a one, two the bell rang, Jackson getting the way and stopping Marks momentum, "Back to your corners!"
"Damn it kid, you swung too wide! keep your punches short and fast! you an infighter too, don't get discouraged as if you don't know what he'll do, imagine you're fighting yourself!" Roy explained.
"He blew the air right out of my lungs.. what was that..?"
Roy tapped his first aginst Marks sternum causing him to flinch, "Even a light punch to the lower part of your sternum will deflate your diaphragm, it hurts like hell, keep your guard up and you'll nail him next round!"
"Right!" Mark nodded.
The bell rang as the two rivals readied themselves for round two, This time, Mark charged in first, already on the offensive, his hair bouncing with every punch he landed against Kieron's guard, "Good!" Roy mumbled "He's trying to tire out his opponents guard early on, with this sort of strategy you'd think he was already passed his debut!"
"Damn! he has to breaking my arms!" Kieron thought.
"DAMN! THIS BASTARDS BREAKING MY HANDS!" Mark winced in pain, leaving for another opening for Kieron, who wound up a straight right aimed towards Marks jaw.
Mark slipped past and shot an uppercut straight at Kieron's jaw sending him crashing towards the canvas. "Right there!" Roy cheered,
"Mark, regardless of being such an incredible newbie you're still just at he fourth round level, but I'd still bet on you if you were to be up against a six round fighter like myself, but not myself.. obviously.." Jackson thought, letting out a smile.
"One.. Two.."
Kieron laid against the canvas for a second, his mind foggy.