The words followed Tyler home.
The next morning, he arrived at Champions Den and found Martin adjusting a loose section of rope near the ring.
"Ready?" the old man asked.
Tyler nodded.
"Ready."
And for the first time, Tyler was no longer training solely to become the fighter everyone expected him to be.
Chapter 14: Marcus Reed Sees the Difference
Marcus Reed arrived at Champions Den on a Thursday afternoon.
He had been invited to attend a joint promotional event before his upcoming fight with Tyler. Both fighters would participate in interviews, photographs, and a short public workout.
Marcus was taller than Tyler, with a lean build and a calm expression that rarely changed. He had fought professionally for nine years and had learned to avoid wasting energy on arguments outside the ring.
Tyler greeted him near the entrance.
"Marcus."
"Tyler."
A local reporter stood nearby, preparing questions.
"Tyler, you've been receiving a lot of attention recently. Do you think the controversy surrounding the janitor incident has affected your preparation?"
Tyler felt the familiar urge to dismiss the question.
Instead, he answered honestly.
"It affected me because it showed me something about myself that I hadn't wanted to acknowledge."
"Which was?"
"That being talented doesn't give me the right to treat people badly."
Marcus looked at him with mild surprise.
Tyler continued.
"I was disrespectful to Martin. I made a situation into a joke because I thought it would make me look powerful. It didn't. I was wrong, and I'm working on that."
The reporter glanced at Marcus.
"Do you believe him?"
Marcus shrugged.
"I don't know him well enough to judge his character. I know what I've seen in the ring, and I know what I've seen in the video."
"Does the incident change how you view the fight?"
"No. The fight is still a fight."
Marcus looked toward Tyler.
"If he shows up prepared, disciplined, and focused, I'll have to deal with that. If he doesn't, I'll take advantage of it."
"Any prediction?"
Marcus's expression remained neutral.
"I predict that one of us will win, and the other will have to figure out what to do next."
After the interviews, the two fighters completed their public workouts.
Marcus moved with controlled precision, demonstrating combinations and defensive drills without appearing to exert himself. Tyler worked through a sequence of punches, focusing on balance rather than power.
When the session ended, Marcus approached him.
"You're moving differently."
Tyler wiped sweat from his forehead.
"I've been working on it."
"With Raymond?"
"Mostly."
Marcus studied him.
"Mostly?"
"Martin has been helping me."
Marcus followed his gaze.
"The janitor?"
"His name is Martin."
Marcus looked back at Tyler.
"You know what I mean."
"I do."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"How long has he been training you?"
"Not long."
"Is he actually a trainer?"
Tyler considered the question.
"He used to be a professional boxer."
Marcus's expression changed slightly.
"What's his record?"
"I don't know."
"Then how do you know he's qualified?"
Tyler felt irritation rise, but he did not let it take over.
"Because I've watched him move. Because he understands things I didn't. Because he's helping me become more disciplined."
Marcus gave a faint smile.
"Fair enough."
"Can I tell you something?"
"Sure."
"People are expecting you to behave like the man in that video. If you spend the next six weeks trying to prove that you've changed, you'll be fighting two opponents instead of one."
Tyler frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Your opponent in the ring, and the version of yourself you want everyone to forget."
Marcus adjusted the strap of his gym bag.
"That second opponent is harder to beat because he follows you everywhere."
Tyler considered the words.
Marcus continued.
"You don't need to convince me that you're a better person. You need to prepare for the fight. If you've changed, it will show in how you conduct yourself. You don't have to announce it."
"Good luck with your training."
Tyler shook it.
"You too."
After Marcus left, Tyler found Martin near the equipment rack.
"Did you hear that?"
"Some of it."
"What do you think?"
Martin secured a loose strap.
"I think Marcus Reed understands his own priorities."
Tyler smiled faintly.
"He made me sound like an idiot."
"Did he say anything that wasn't true?"
Tyler sighed.
"No."
"Then perhaps you should be grateful."
Tyler leaned against the wall.
"I keep wanting people to see that I'm trying."
Martin looked at him.
"That is understandable."
"But it means I'm still doing things for their approval."
"Sometimes. Not always."
Martin paused.
"The desire to be recognized doesn't disappear simply because you understand it. The question is whether you let that desire make your decisions."
Tyler nodded slowly.
Later that evening, the gym's owner, Patrick Sloan, called Raymond into his office.
Patrick had managed Champions Den for fifteen years. He cared about the gym's reputation, its finances, and the fighters whose success kept the business alive.