Raymond nodded.
“I understand.”
He hesitated.
Then he said, “The old Continental Women's Combat Council is organizing a recognition event next month. They want former champions to attend.”
Althea looked at him.
“I'm not interested.”
“I thought you might say that.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because your name deserves to be remembered.”
She looked across the room.
A young girl was practicing footwork near the edge of the mat.
Her mother stood nearby, holding a phone.
The girl moved too quickly, lost her balance, and laughed.
Althea watched her for several seconds.
Then she said, “Maybe.”
Raymond smiled.
“That's more than I expected.”
Marcus approached them a few minutes later.
“Coach Price?”
Raymond turned.
“You know me?”
Marcus nodded.
“I watched some of your old interviews.”
Raymond laughed.
“Then you know I talk too much.”
Marcus smiled.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“Did you train Althea?”
Raymond looked toward her.
“For a while.”
“What was she like?”
Raymond considered.
“Stubborn.”
Althea rolled her eyes.
“Raymond.”
“Disciplined. Quiet. Difficult to impress.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Sounds familiar.”
Raymond smiled.
“She was one of the most intelligent fighters I ever worked with.”
Marcus nodded.
“I've noticed.”
Raymond studied him.
“You're preparing for Reyes?”
“Yes.”
“Good fighter.”
“I know.”
“Then don't make the mistake of trying to beat him with anger.”
Marcus looked surprised.
Raymond continued.
“Daniel Reyes is patient. He'll let you spend your energy proving things nobody asked you to prove.”
Marcus glanced toward Althea.
She did not speak.
Raymond placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Your greatest opponent is not always the man across from you.”
He walked away.
Marcus remained beside Althea.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he said, “He sounds like he knows a lot.”
“He does.”
Marcus looked at the ring.
“Do you think I can beat Reyes?”
Althea considered the question.
“Yes.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Really?”
“You have the tools.”
“Then what's the problem?”
“You have to decide what you're willing to change.”
He nodded slowly.
“Will you help me?”
Althea was quiet.
“Help you with what?”
“My movement. My timing. The way I respond when someone makes me miss.”
She studied him.
“You already have a coach.”
“I know.”
“Then why ask me?”
“Because Elena is teaching me how to prepare for Reyes. You're teaching me how to understand what I'm doing.”
Althea looked toward Elena.
The coach was speaking with the event organizers.
Then she looked back at Marcus.
“I can help with technical work. But I'm not replacing Elena.”
“I wouldn't ask you to.”
“And I won't help you become a more dangerous person outside the ring.”
Marcus nodded.
“Understood.”
Althea extended her hand.
“Then we'll start Monday.”
He shook it.
Her grip was firm.
Marcus looked at her.
“Thank you.”
She smiled.
“Don't make me regret it.”
The following Monday, they began with a simple exercise.
Marcus stood in the center of the mat.
Althea stood opposite him.
Elena watched from the edge.
“No gloves,” Althea said.
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing?”
“Nothing.”
“What are we doing?”
“Moving.”
She took a small step to her left.
Marcus followed.
She changed direction.
He followed again.
Then she stopped.
“You're chasing me.”
“I'm staying in front of you.”
“Those aren't the same thing.”
She moved again.
Marcus followed more quickly.
She stepped aside.
He turned too far.
His balance shifted.
Althea stopped.
“Where are your feet?”
Marcus looked down.
“Too narrow.”
“And your shoulders?”
“Too tense.”
“Why?”
He shrugged.
“Habit.”
“Then we work on the habit.”
They repeated the exercise.
Again.
Again.
Again.
For twenty minutes, Marcus moved around the mat without throwing a single punch.
At first, he found it embarrassing.
He was a professional champion.
He could knock out opponents with a single clean combination.
Yet he was struggling to follow a woman who barely seemed to move.
Then something changed.
He stopped trying to catch her.
He began watching her hips.
He noticed the slight shift before each direction change.
He began anticipating instead of reacting.
After another ten minutes, he managed to stay balanced through a full sequence.
Althea nodded.
“Better.”
Marcus exhaled.
“That was harder than a round on the heavy bag.”
“Because the bag doesn't think.”
He laughed.
Elena stepped closer.
“That's what I've been trying to tell you.”
Marcus wiped his forehead.
“I know.”
Althea looked at him.
“Knowing and doing are different.”
He smiled.
“You say that a lot.”
“Because people keep needing to hear it.”
The technical sessions continued throughout the week.
Althea never tried to turn Marcus into a different fighter.
She did not ask him to abandon his power or imitate her old style.
Instead, she focused on the habits that made his power less effective.
He planted too heavily when he wanted to land a strong right hand.
He leaned forward when an opponent retreated.
He allowed frustration to make him predictable.
She showed him how small changes could make a significant difference.