The stadium was small, only a couple hundred seats. Friends and family of the boxers who were about to compete made up the majority of the audience. Boxing didn't draw the same kind of crowds as football. There were still hotly-awaited rivalries, but the circles that discussed them were much smaller.
Amanda and Jack were seated in the crowd, close to the front of the stage. The parents around them ranged from excited to deathly-tense. More than anything else the two of them felt confused.
Their son had never expressed any interest in boxing before he'd started university. Sure he was pretty athletic and had played in his high school football team, but he'd only been boxing for a few months. The invite they'd recieved from Alex displayed his own name as the first seed for the light heavyweight competition.
They'd googled the other students listed below him. All of them had public profiles detailing their previous competitions. A few even had a handful of news articles.
Alex's record was starkly empty. The head coach of the Michigan team had created a profile for his upcoming star boxer, but there was nothing to put in the section for past matches.
"We want this win kid. Most of the fighters you're gonna face debuted back when their parents still tied their shoelaces. Make your's count." The head coach slapped a hand on Alex's shoulder and offered a few words of motivation.
Alex nodded. The mouthguard between his teeth muffled his response, "Yes coach."
He pulled the ropes aside and stepped into the ring. In the other corner a coach stood whispering to a tall and broad-shouldered fighter.
The coach's hand over his mouth covered his grin, but the tall fighter could hear the delight in his voice, "Go get him ay' Jonny. Kid's got no record no nothing, must've been pulled in at the last minute. Don't go easy on him, we want to start strong, make the next couple fights nervous when they step in the ring with you."
Jonny nodded, his eyes were fiery, "Yes coach!"
The referee called for the match to start and the two fighters faced one another. The kid he was facing had no record, it might've even been his first time fighting a proper match. Jonny smirked. His opponent's eyes looked calm, he'd wipe that composure off his face in seconds.
"Start! The referee called out.
Jonny was still smirking. He bounced on the balls of his feet, ready to advance and throw the right hook he was known for. He never got the chance.
Alex pushed off towards his opponent like a rocket, his speed immediately captured the crowd's attention. The spectators who'd come to watch a good fight hadn't intially been excited to watch a complete ameteur compete, the suspense of not knowing who would win was what made boxing so exhilirating to watch. A single mistake could cost a fighter the entire round.
The impression that the crowd had towards Alex changed. Anyone who'd been in the ring before could tell that the unknown kid didn't move like an amateur.
Alex's shoulders were held low and he twisted with his waist to throw a fierce jab. The jab struck squarely against Jonny's forearms. The crowd watched with hungry eyes.
Jonny's smirk vanished. A cold and calculating stare replaced it. He could feel a dull pain radiating up his shoulder. The force behind the punch was immense, that kind of blow took training and practice.
Jonny stepped forwards, grimacing as he failed to dodge a second jab that glanced off the top of his shoulder. He threw out a jab of his own. The punch was fast and powerful, but it was clearly lacking in comparison to the two that the crowd had already seen.
Alex's chest twisted, the jab harmlessly struck empty air. His chest rotated again, generating power that fueled a right hook.
The nodule clusters he'd been building throughout his nervous system had a secondary strengthening effect on the other systems in his body. It had taken him a few days to notice that his powers were subtly upgrading his heart, lungs and other organs in order to better endure the strain placed on them by the accelerated state.
Before the fight Alex had used his powers to restrict how much force he was outputting. This kept his strength and speed still firmly within what an elite Olympian could achieve.
Although his raw strength hadn't changed, months of boxing had taught Alex how to properly leverage his strength. His control over his body had improved dramatically.
The right hook cut through the air. Jonny's eyes widened, his facial muscles contorting in horror. His hands twitched and desperately lifted towards his face. The reaction was too late. Jonny's eyes could see the right hook approaching, but his hands couldn't move quick enough.
The right hook landed with an almost-sickening crunch against Jonny's chin. The force twisted his neck and whipped his head to the side. He staggered backwards, his consciousness blurred and sounds became distorted and faint.
Jonny's coach slammed his hands against the stage and roared, "Stay with me Jonny!"
The familiar voice tugged at Jonny's blurring awareness and pulled him back to the fight. At the last second Jonny awkardly caught his balance and managed to remain standing. His left eye was swollen and rapidly turning purple.
The referee put his body between Alex and his opponent. Alex's eyes never left his opponent. He waited silently for the referree to signal for the fight to continue.
There was still a full one a half minutes left in the round. After a few more seconds the referee stepped away from Jonny and motioned for the fight to restart.
The right hook to the cheek had bruised the soft tissues around Jonny's eyes. His vision from his left eye was blurred and limited. He raised his guard high and charged forwards fiercely.
The expression of Jonny's coach was grave. A right hook like that would put most people to sleep. Jonny's experience kept him in the fight, but his chance of winning had fallen dramatically.
The crowd cheered wildly. Alex's parents were on their feet screaming, their shock was turning rapidly into excitement.
Jonny threw a fierce cross, the punch landed heavily against Alex's guard. The punch was good, Alex felt a dull ache in his forearms. The pain was nothing to him.
Jonny kept up the fierce assault, not giving his opponent any chance to retaliate. Alex recieved the blows, the confidence in his eyes never wavered. Some of the punches hit his guard, others landed on his chest.
Jonny was breathing heavily, his outburst had forced Alex to the ropes. A few fans thought that the match had turned around, but the building dread in Jonny's chest had only grown stronger.
Alex's right hook hadn't landed because of chance. He'd spotted and opportunity and grabbed it instantly. Jonny's violent assault was a desperate tactic to buy him time. Just to get through the round without giving Alex the chance to land another hook that could put him out of the match entirely.
The tactic worked. Alex fought back with a few lightning fast jabs, but the momentum of the fight remained with Jonny. The matches for the competiton were only five rounds. The competition spanned for three days, fighters who won would progress to the next stage of the knockouts.
Jonny was betting everything that Alex would choose to conserve his energy and minimise his injuries. The bell sounded and Jonny's shoulders slumped forwards with relief.
Jonny was panting heavily, Alex wasn't breathing any faster than he would on a light jog. He'd allowed Jonny to dominate the first round, giving ground and blocking or dodging the onslaught of punches. He could've forced his way through the attacks, trading taking some heavier hits in order to fire off some more powerful punches.
A superpowered individual with bordeline limitless stamina and near-instantaneous recovery time might do that. An intelligent and skilled boxer wouldn't.
Jonny staggered to his corner of the ring and looked up at his coach with a burning gaze. He was desperate to hear the new tactic, one that would allow him to hold onto a chance at victory. His coach's face was solemn.
Jonny's coach opened his fighter's jaw and squirted in a mouthful of water. With a rag he wiped away the sweat from Jonny's forehead.
After that was done he looked solemnly at the expectant young man in front of him, "I'm sorry kid. He...he's not what we thought."
Jonny's coach was an old ex-pro. Nearly every coach at the tournament was. The overwhelming majority of head coaches recognized each other from fighting in the ring more than a decade ago.
The fight had been brutal. Jonny was fighting more fluidly than he ever had and throwing punches that echoed like gunfire. His coach was proud to watch his student fighting with the very best he was capable of. It made his heart feel heavy that he knew it wasn't enough.
The kid who'd came out of nowhere, who had no records or championship belts; that kind of power and speed, even back in his prime he knew that he'd lose to him.
The referee called for the second round to begin. Jonny's jaw was tightly clenched and beneath his gloves his knuckles dug into his palms.
The two fighters stood opposite each other once more. The bell sounded. Alex leaped forwards, throwing a quick jab that forced Jonny to take a step back. He followed it with a left hook that forced Jonny back another few steps.
Rapid jabs struck Jonny in succession. One hit him hard in the stomach and he felt the air in his lungs empty out. His eyes bulged, he couldn't breathe.
Alex's gaze didn't change. He watched his opponent's eyes bulge without sympathy or hesitation. He threw a violent right hook that slammed into Jonny's side.
Jonny struggled to stay standing, the pain was overwhelming. He should've kept his guard high, he should've stayed light on his feet and ready to turn his body away from the next punch. The pain clouded his judgement.
Alex's shoulders twisted. His gloved fist whooshed and found it's target. Jonny's head span forcefully. The hook was heavier than the first.
Jonny's consciousness blurred. This time his coach didn't shout. He watched with a bitter smile as his student crashed to the floor.
"Knockout!" The ref yelled and called the fight to an end. He dropped to his knees and felt for a pulse in Jonny's wrist. The heartbeat was steady.
Jack's fists were raised triumphantly in the air. His seat shook as he jumped up and down, "That's my son!"
Amanda was by his side, red-faced from cheering and screaming no less loud, "I made that!"
Alex smiled to his parents and raised both hands. The gesture was universal for victory. After a moment of listening to the crowd cheering, he looked down at his opponent. Drool dribbled out from the corner of Jonny's lips and onto the stage. His drool was tinged red.
The head coach looked at Alex with glowing eyes. His smile was so broad it threatened to curl round into a full-circle, "Some debut kid! You showed em'! You sure showed em'!"
Alex took the mouthguard out from his gums and smiled, "Thanks coach."
The head coach grinned and proudly rubbed his student's hair. In the crowd, Jack's beaming smile twitched abnormally. Amanda's cheering stopped as well. The two exchanged a silent glance of understanding.
"That's my son." Jack said fiercely under his breath. His eyes burned holes in the back of his son's coach.
Alex turned back to wave at his parents. The fierceness on their faces vanished like it had never existed and they cheered and waved back with big smiles.
The competition continued. The crowd cheered for the fighters up on stage. The opening fight between the unknown Alex and sure-to-win Jonny had set the atmosphere to electric. The following fights benefitted from that leftover charm.
The crowd eagerly discussed Alex's next match. In one corner a group of older women and men with sly smiles and quick hands quietly exchanged handfuls of bills. Bets were placed and hopes burned brightly. As the boxers fought, it was this corner of the crowd that cheered the loudest.
Betting had always been a part of boxing. The majority of sponsors for the professional leagues were gambling companies. No one batted an eye at the quiet exchanges of currency and hushed conversations.
Alex had two more fights that day. He won both without difficulty. The coach's gaze towards him was so hot that it threatened to catch fire.
"See everyone tomorrow bright and early! Keep up the good work!" The head coach patted the backs of every fighter as they filed into the university minibus.
Alex stood to one side with his parents. The coach grinned at Alex and then looked to his parents, "You raised a good one! A champion!"
Alex's parents laughed and smiled back. The coach turned away and sat down in the minibus driving seat. The radio crackled and music began to blare. Loud discordant voices filled the bus as the boxer's gleefully sang along and celebrated their victories. Those that had lost were already used to the ups and downs of their sport and sang along happily as well.
The family of three watched the minibus drive off. Jack smiled and slung an arm over Alex's shoulder, he didn't notice that his son was an inch taller than he had been a few months ago, "You're incredible kiddo! Since when were you a champion boxer?"
Alex laughed, "Don't you remember when I gut-punched Max in second grade?"
Amanda pressed a button on her car keys and a pair of headlights across the car park flashed. She proudly kissed her son's cheek and smiled, "You stole his action figure, you should've been the one getting punched!"
Alex shrugged and smiled, walking with his father's arm across his back to the car, "Someone should've told him that then."
The car ride home was full of laughter. Amanda pulled up to the curb skillfully and they stepped out.
Jack threw his son a set of keys. It was dark and the nearest streetlight was more than a hundred meters away, but Alex caught them easily.
"Welcome home kiddo, we've missed you." Jack said warmly.
Alex smiled and replied, "I've missed you guys too."
He turned the key in the door.
"Surprise!"
The lights in the house suddenly switched on and a dozen relatives stood behind the front door with massive grins. The house smelled like gravy and roast chicken.
Alex blinked rapidly. For all his powers, he still found himself shocked. Then he grinned and stepped forwards to envelop his littlest cousin in a hug, "Benny!"
Dinner was delicious and the atmosphere was no less electric than it had been at the stadium. Alex was sharing his bed with a grandparent who snored loudly, but he didn't care about the noise in the slightest. He lay in bed smiling, feeling more content than he ever had.
He was still smiling when he drifted off to sleep an hour later. A new nodule pulsed quietly in his nervous system.