7.

'Are you ready champ?'

'I am always ready. You know this.'

'Then let's go.'

Paul Malone, with his trainer and manager in tow, makes his way from the trainer's room out to the main arena floor where a championship boxing ring awaits the latest defense of his lightweight championship. The venue is packed to the rafters with approximately eight thousand people filling every available seat between them.

The undercard for the night had been considered an attractive one to boxing fans though many of those in attendance at this venue are there for the main event and Paul Malone's fight is that main attraction, he himself is that main attraction and as he does make his way to the ring the atmosphere steps up a notch.

The event is being broadcast live over a number of mediums and this is nothing new to the champ for Malone is currently unbeaten having completed twenty-seven professional fights with none of these previous fights going the distance. This, his twenty-eight-professional fight, is also the sixth defense of his championship and the twelfth of his bouts to be televised live.

The challenger is a worthy one and is someone who is also going into this fight undefeated. This is his first attempt to gain quite a prestigious title. As it is, the champion is indeed ready. He sees potential in his opponent though fears nothing and is confident that he can more than handle what is to come his way on this occasion.

The first round, once it gets underway, proceeds almost exactly to what Paul Malone expected it to. The challenger's offence coming in the manner Paul had prepared and trained for. The occasion is not getting to either man, sure the champion has been here before, it is nothing new. No big deal, if the fight continues along these lines then Paul is sure that he can wrap things up by the fifth or sixth round and it won't be long before he will be heading back to the showers.

'Take this guy seriously, will you?' speaks Paul's trainer during the interval between the first two rounds. 'He can turn it on and give you problems. C'mon Paul, we've been through all this.'

'Relax; I've got this, no problem.'

Round two and right off the bell Paul is on the back foot. This, right now, is something he is certainly not used to. He did expect this kind of turn, a threat previously ignored because of his own confidence. Yeah, he expected his opponent to come at him but not quite this strongly. His own confidence can often work to his benefit too for with it and his resilience Paul makes it through the round being more on the defensive rather than his usual offensive.

For the first time in his career Paul Malone is taken the distance. The fight goes the full ten rounds, and it does so at a grueling pace.

Despite the heavy blows he took to the head and body throughout the fight as a whole and especially towards the end, Paul is still sure he has done enough, and he is right. He wins the fight on a decision and keeps his title. His opponent, six years his junior, will definitely come looking for a rematch, if a rematch does occur then it too will surely draw quite an audience, probably more so given the quality of the fight which has only just occurred.

A rarity soon comes. Post-fight interviews within the ring are kept brief and a press conference style of questioning is quickly set up, so quickly set up in fact that neither champion nor challenger has had the chance to shower or change.

Down the tunnel leading just outside the main arena the conference room has been set up with a podium and all. With plenty of media coverage at the ready, the event promoter moves to stand behind a podium set to one end of the room and he is at the ready to organize the questions as both boxers sit at tables either side of him. Paul puts on a brave front. He is hurt, more hurt than he is willing to let on. In fact, the hurt is such that he only realizes its possible potential in the moment when the first question comes his way.

'Paul ... Paul ... did you expect tonight's challenge to be as tough as it was and if so, how did you prepare for it?'

Cameras click, collecting photographs for the sports sections and back pages of the following day's newspapers and Paul can't help but find that extremely distracting. Recording devices of all kinds are on the go too.

'Em ... err ... I knew it was only a matter of time before I would have a fight like this though. In truth, I didn't expect it quite yet. Em ...' a brief stinging pain shoots through his head, as professional as he is, he does all he can not to let it show. '... Fair play to my opponent ... he gave it his all ...'

'And Paul ... with the quality of the fight how likely is it that a rematch will be granted?'

'Yeah ... that is something that will be looked at I'm sure ...' there are many eager to ask a question or two and it is at this point right here that Paul finds difficulty in making out the features of those who have come seeking answers. '... Em there is no need to rush into anything right now ...'

Whether or not his opponent has detected something in him, Paul's challenger begins to speak up. 'On another night, I believe the score cards could have easily gone my way to the point I think they should have done this evening, so a rematch has to be on the cards ...'

As those words are being spoken Paul looks towards his trainer and swaps words with him and nods are shared. Another question comes Paul's way ...

'How do you respond to that champ?'

'As you say ... I am the champ ...'

There is brief laughter in the room due to this and as that laughter occurs, Paul's right-hand slips from the table he is at. This goes unnoticed by all except for his trainer. The challenger begins to add more to what has already been said but he is interrupted by Paul's trainer who calls an end to the session. He and one other begin to aid Paul out of the room.

Yeah, Paul Malone is hurt. This hurt goes to the extent that he feels dizzy on return to the locker room. He is so dizzy that he collapses upon that locker room return. At his manager's request this is kept behind closed doors.

The challenge for a rematch is soon formally put forward and Paul being Paul accepts the challenge despite being advised to put an end to his career. This advice is issued by his doctor and Paul's manager believes that Paul should not just consider but take that advice. Paul Malone is and always has been a top-class boxer and if it weren't for that most recent fight being as tough as it was then his career could have been a distance away yet from seeing its final day.

Against advice, the return fight is set up and due to occur sixteen months after the first match took place. Paul is sure that his opponent had the best fight of his career first time round and being as confident as he naturally is, is sure that the challenger will not step up so well again. Has Paul made an error in judgement? If an error is being made then only time will tell, then again in the eyes of another the effects of a return fight have already been seen and it may come down to if she will choose to interfere or not.