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To They all knew I couldn’t eat with theuessed I’d want the company Kieran knew better He tossedLeon and his boys sparring The et where it needed to be To a place itthe exhibition match Temple’s cocky scoas burned into my brain, and I knew, based onabout
As I looked around Southside, I realized just how different Temple and I were Sure, ere from opposite sides of the world, but both of us ca had elevated us What ot to the top Temple surrounded himself with his "crew" as he liked to call theed frotime trainer, like I had Danny, but the rest of the clubs, celebrity parties, and high-profile events, his friendship with a few notorious rappersdid There were always at least two h-in, he had half his entourage around him
I listened to all of the to the table It was a ti tradition to try and break each other er, but I’d perfected the art of looking bored shitless at weigh-ins, which usually succeeded in riling up ht I have even thrown a yawn in h Temple’s rant
I didn’t want any of that shit Sure, I wanted to be successful to give irl a better life, so that I could take care of her But I was the lucky son of a bitch who got to do that by doing what I loved And I fucking loved the fight Temple boxed with his head He hat Danny called a "technical" fighter His technique was flawless Couy was a ertips over the tattoo across ets up when they can’t--Jack Dehter I was a wild card, alould be When I got knocked dohen le part of ht was over and all hope of victory was lost, I got back up Heart is what got er, but heart In the end, it’s why I would win Because when his head told Teet back up Losing was done when you listened to your head; winning was done when you listened to your heart
The longer I watched Leon work his way through sparring partners, the o down I was fucking hungry for this Temple had no idea what I was capable of, but he was about to find out I was ready to hurt and keep hurting until Teht, I was co home with that title, not for Em, not for Danny or any of the boys, but for me
"You ready, son?" Danny asked as he sat down on the bench next to arette and inhaled deeply Southside, likeApparently that rule didn’t apply to Danny on either side of the Atlantic
"I’o, Frank was all I could think about Now it just feels like this isthat’s happened has ood," he said "Winning ain’t about who deserves it, it’s about who fights harder for it So when you get in that ring tonight, you just re until it’s done" I sht is mine, Danny I’llup and taking another drag of his cigarette, "I’ve always been proud of you Title or no title, that ain’t gonna change" He patted me on the back and walked away
There was a luht over what he’d said When I was a kid and Danny hadresentful that God had given me a shitty mother It never occurred to me until now that he’d actually blessedfather One who never held me back or pushed me too hard, but one who also never lost faith in me and showed me the way It was because of him I knehat kind of dad I wanted to be someday
There were so e at a concert Everyone I passed seeraph When we finallyroom, Kieran shut the door behind us, and no fucker was allowed in
"Shit This is a bit fancy, ain’t it?" Tommy commented Tom and Liam enjoyed the TV and leather sofa but the rest of us weren’t interested They turned the volume on the TV off as they settled in, and I appreciated it Half the preparation in any fight was getting into the zone I warmed up, stretched, and shadowboxed
It was only once Danny started taping up ave me the pep talk "This ain’t no exhibition anyht Now you and e e are or where we’ve coht of the world on his shoulders and nowhere to go but down Well, you’re gonna help hionna be pretty But when you’re done, you’ll be the kid froreatest heavyweight fighter in the world So you ready to make history, Con?"
"Yes sir," I replied in all seriousness I was done atching Temple keep my title belt war that When Danny was done with the tape, I stood up and shook out ot the pads ready for me to warm up I was surprised when the television went off Tommy and Liam looked restless and more nervous that I was
"You okay?" I asked the the back of his neck nervously "You’re about to fight for the World Heavyweight title and you’re asking me if I’m okay?"