Reyes missed.
Marcus landed a clean right hand.
Reyes stumbled backward.
The crowd erupted.
Marcus did not rush.
He moved forward carefully, maintaining his balance.
Reyes raised his guard.
Marcus landed a jab.
Then a short combination.
The referee stepped closer.
Reyes remained upright.
He answered with a quick shot to the body, then moved away.
Marcus followed just far enough to maintain pressure without overextending.
The final seconds passed.
The bell rang.
Both fighters returned to their corners.
Marcus sat down heavily.
Elena pressed a towel against his face.
“Two minutes.”
Marcus nodded.
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired.”
Elena smiled.
“Good.”
He looked at her.
She laughed.
“Now you're telling the truth.”
Marcus smiled despite the swelling in his cheek.
“Everything hurts.”
“That's more honest.”
She checked his shoulder.
“Can you raise it?”
Marcus lifted his arm slowly.
The movement was uncomfortable but possible.
“Any sharp pain?”
“No.”
“Tell me if that changes.”
“I will.”
Elena gave him water.
Then she looked directly at him.
“You've got enough left to finish this intelligently.”
Marcus breathed through his nose.
“I can finish this.”
“You don't need to finish it in one exchange.”
He nodded.
“Understood.”
Elena leaned closer.
“Whatever happens, stay disciplined. He wants you to rush when you see an opening. Don't give him that.”
Marcus looked toward the other corner.
Reyes was standing.
He looked tired too.
His coach was speaking into his ear, reminding him to keep his hands high and continue working the body.
The final round would decide everything.
Marcus stood.
Elena adjusted his mouthguard.
“Go out there and make good decisions.”
He nodded.
Then he stepped toward the center of the ring.
The Last Exchange
The final round began with both fighters knowing that the title could be decided by the smallest mistake.
The crowd was on its feet.
Some spectators were shouting Marcus's name. Others were cheering for Reyes. A few simply watched in silence, aware that they were seeing a close fight between two men who had refused to give the other an easy moment.
Marcus listened to Elena.
“Stay disciplined.”
He nodded.
Reyes advanced.
Marcus moved.
A jab landed.
A counter followed.
Reyes pressed forward.
Marcus pivoted.
The challenger tried to close the space.
Marcus stepped away.
Reyes landed a body shot.
Marcus answered with a short right hand.
The exchange was fast and difficult to read from the seats.
Then, with less than a minute remaining, Reyes landed a powerful right hand.
Marcus's legs shifted.
For an instant, his balance disappeared.
He nearly fell.
The arena seemed to stop.
The sound of the crowd became a single enormous gasp.
Elena shouted.
“Marcus!”
Marcus raised his guard.
Reyes came forward.
He threw a left hook.
Marcus blocked it.
A right hand followed.
Marcus slipped outside.
Then he moved.
Not backward.
Not straight toward the ropes.
He stepped diagonally, turning Reyes's momentum away from him.
Reyes had to adjust.
That fraction of a second was enough.
Marcus landed a clean right hand.
Then a short left hook to the body.
Reyes backed away.
The crowd erupted.
Marcus maintained his balance.
He did not chase.
He did not throw a wild combination.
He simply held his position, ready to respond if Reyes came forward again.
The challenger did.
Reyes attempted one final combination.
Marcus blocked the first punch, moved away from the second, and landed a short counter.
The referee watched closely.
The final seconds passed.
The bell rang.
Both fighters lowered their hands.
For a moment, neither man moved.
They stood several feet apart, breathing heavily, their faces marked by the work they had done.
Then Marcus stepped forward.
Reyes did the same.
They touched gloves.
Marcus looked at his opponent.
“Good fight.”
Reyes nodded.
“You too.”
They separated.
The referee guided them toward the center of the ring.
The judges were preparing their decision.
Marcus could feel his heartbeat in his chest.
He had been in this position before, but tonight felt different.
He wanted the victory.
He wanted the belt.
He wanted to know that the work had been enough.
But he did not feel the same desperate need to control the result.
He looked toward Elena.
She nodded.
He looked toward the audience.
He found Ben first.
The young fighter was standing with both hands clasped beneath his chin.
Then he saw Raymond.
The older coach raised his hand.
Finally, Marcus found Althea.
She was standing now.
Her hands were clasped in front of her.
She did not shout.
She did not wave.
She simply watched him.
Marcus smiled.
The announcer stepped into the center of the ring.
The arena lights brightened.
The crowd grew quieter.
The decision was split.
One judge scored the fight 96–94 for Daniel Reyes.
The other two scored it 96–94 for Marcus Vale.
The referee raised Marcus's hand.
The arena erupted.
MARCUS VALE HAD DEFENDED HIS TITLE.
The championship belt was placed around his waist.
Photographers crowded the ring.
Reporters shouted questions.