Page 24 of Life's a Beach
Gareth knew that no harm would come to his girl. Or her friends.
And that was the only reason she was allowed at the fight.
He took a deep breath when someone knocked on the door and Sam opened the door and spoke quietly to the person on the other side.
“Gareth, Dec, they are ready for you.”
Gareth nodded and Declan looked at him, “I know you are going to kick his ass. I just know it. Sam has his friend helping Trevor to keep an eye on your girl too. Don’t get your head out of the game when you see her. Okay? Stay focused and when you win, I will make sure she is by your side immediately after.”
Gareth nodded and Declan handed him his mouth guard and they walked down the tunnel together.
The crowd was chanting his name and cheering, yelling and clapping.
He kept his eyes to the front, not wanting to lose his focus.
When he made it to the ring, he and Declan stepped under the ropes and he held one of his hands up.
The crowd went crazy and he walked over to his corner and Declan checked the tape on his hands.
“You got this Silver. I know you are going to kick ass. Stay focused.”
Gareth nodded and he watched the other guy walk out and climb into the ring.
He had a few inches on him, which was saying something, but he wasn’t as thickly muscled as Gareth was.
Gareth had seen all of his previous fights and knew where his weak spots were.
Even though most of the guy’s other opponents didn’t use them to their advantage.
He would.
When the referee spoke into the microphone, he let it all fade into the background as he put his mouth guard in.
He kept his focus on the man in front of him and when he was asked to touch gloves to Mike, he did so.
Mike gave him a nod and then the referee started the fight.
Gareth held back for a second, letting Mike get into his rhythm and then he struck out with his leg into Mike’s right one.
His knee buckled before Mike righted himself and swung out with his long arm toward Gareth’s face.
He missed, barely and Gareth danced out of the way.
Mike kicked out, hitting Gareth in the stomach, but only just and Gareth knew it was time to live up to his nickname.
He got in close, giving Mike a one, two double punch to his face and stomach, before jumping out of the way.
Mike tried to swing out again, and he caught Gareth in the face, hitting him right in the eyebrow.
Gareth let out a grunt as he felt the skin split and blood started to run into his eye.
He didn’t even care, just let it happen. Needing the sting and it fueled him to keep going.
He danced in close, hitting Mike anywhere he could hit him, before dancing out of the way and at the end of the first round, Mike was breathing hard and Gareth felt barely winded.
He went back to his corner and his team doc rushed over and dabbed at his cut, making him hold back a wince as the alcohol rushed into the cut.
The man taped it up the best he could, but during this quick intermission, it was all he could do.
