Page 68 of A Fighter’s Love

“Nope.”

Jenny was glad her name hadn’t been dragged into the fight at this stage. But it likely would be at some point.

Dale suddenly skipped away from Michael, his hands raised, and as light on his feet as a dancer. “Come on then.” He gestured for Billy to come get him.

“Yeah, you asked for this. Remember that later when you’re in hospital,” Billy snarled.

Jenny held in a gasp. She was cold, despite the hot room.

For several seconds the two men twitched and hopped this way and that, eyeing each other up.

Jenny knew full well that despite his vision not being good enough to go professional, Billy could still throw a mean punch. Years of training didn’t get erased because his sight in one eye had.

Suddenly Billy lashed out. Throwing a hard, straight jab toward Dale.

But Dale was quick. He moved to the right and struck out himself, catching Billy on the side of his head.

Billy’s neck jerked to the left but he quickly recovered. In an instant he struck out again, hitting Dale’s right shoulder.

Dale didn’t appear to notice.

But Jenny did. She hated seeing punches being thrown his way.

Michael was acting as referee and hovered around the two men.

Dale hit out, missed.

Billy did the same, got a lucky side punch to Dale’s torso.

Dale reacted fast, moved close and shot an uppercut into Billy’s chin sending his head reeling. He followed it up with a nose shot, then a rounded blow to his jaw.

Billy staggered backward. He hit the ropes, bounced off, then shook his head.

Jenny risked a glance at Jackson. He was at an outer corner of the ring, his arms hanging over the sides. He had a look of absolute concentration on his face as he watched his lover fighting. Jenny was sure he’d be as worried as her about the man he adored.

This was no ordinary fight.

The crowd were shouting and heckling.

Billy’s face was red, and his lips stretched in a grimace, showing off his mouth-shield. He aimed a right punch at Dale, caught his ear, chased it with a left catching Dale’s cheek.

Dale staggered for a second then retaliated. He got lucky with a temple blow, matched one to the other side.

The crowd pushed forward. Things were heating up.

Billy pirouetted as if to move away. Dale followed him, struck out again, catching his face. Billy’s knees appeared to give way and he bobbed down before straightening.

Michael moved closer.

Dale took full advantage of Billy’s weakness. He struck out again, a head blow, another and another.

Billy reeled back, grabbing the ropes as he twisted to escape.

Dale was behind him, firing off kidney blows.

“Enough!” Michael shouted, signaling it was over.

But Dale didn’t appear to hear. He carried on pummeling Billy, fury in his eyes.

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