The Videos

MARCELO

“Fucking shit, man. He’s very good. I’ve noticed a pattern, Marcelo. You must have seen it too. That man has a very good strategy. Ouch! Did you see that? This is what I’m talking about.”

Charly pointed his finger at the moment when Ronald Smith brought his opponent to the canvas.

I raised an amused eyebrow at what I was seeing. Yes, I also saw the pattern.

“All right, I already saw what he was doing. Drop your guard a bit in order to get connected, and then he strikes with his left. In this way, his opponent will think that he hurt him, but Ronald is ready to strike him.”

“Yes, but not only that. I’ve seen these videos like ten times, man. And I tell you that every time I see it, there is something new that I can detect. Richard is a bit worried about this himself. He and I have analyzed it.

“That’s why he changed your training and diet completely. It would have been better if you had given us more time, champion.”

I coughed a “bullshit.”

Charly just turned to see me with a look of, “are you serious, mate?” “This is not a joke, champion. This man is giving everything in his fights. He’s alternating various strategies.

“As Richard said, this man is not in the big leagues because he has a shitty manager. But yes, I see it well here. Look at the next move.” Charly ran the video in slow motion.

I took a good look at what he was telling me.

“This is the part where he mixed three strategies. First, dodge. Second, he lets himself be hit, and third, he fights back. This, as you will be able to see a few rounds later.”

Charly advanced the video until he reached the seventh round.

“Here, look how he put him down. The opponent is tired. Ronald is like nothing has happened. This is his move. It weakens you, and when you don’t realize it, he attacks.”

Charly repeated that part of the video again. The very same moment when Ronald hit an uppercut and destabilized the opponent fully, who fell to the ground. After that, there was no return for him.

~Okay, okay. I already got it. I’ve seen enough. Likewise, I don’t need to see anything else.~ I already understood his play.

I got up from the couch with every intention of leaving. But Charly surprised me. “What are you doing, Marcelo? We haven’t finished watching the videos. That’s not all. This man has more tricks.”

I looked at him with a look of “are you kidding me?” I rolled my eyes at him and walked into the kitchen. Charly was on my heels.

“Marcelo, what’s wrong with you? This is serious. You’re not prepared the way you should be. And the last thing we want is for this man to take you by surprise.

“A boxer who goes into despair becomes helpless, and that’s how they lose.”

I shook my head and smiled. I raised my arms, showing him my muscles. Without taking my eyes off him, I kissed the right one and then the left.

Charly’s eyes widened comically. I laughed out loud at his reaction.

“Besides, Charly, I have you and Richard. Not for nothing you are the ones coaching me. You are my eyes, what I do not see, you are to tell me.”

Charly did not remove his surprised face.

So, I put my arm around his shoulders and said, “Come on, mate. I’m hungry. Mandy prepared steak. She insisted on fish, but I told her that I would not eat anything but red meat today. So, she has no choice but to make steak.”

“Man, I don’t think it’s okay for you to do that. Richard designed a unique menu for each meal. He knows what he’s doing.”

Charly took my arm off him and faced me. “Marcelo, this is serious. And since when do you not follow what Richard orders you? When he finds out, and I’m telling you that he will, forget about your day off.

“He will have you training eight days a week.”

“Ha, ha, ha.” I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. I imagined Richard putting me to work eight days a week.

“And not only that, mate. Mandy is always on his side.”

I laughed louder. ~Yes, they are both terrible when something gets into their heads.~

“If that happens, then you are going to help me escape.” I kept laughing as we walked through the kitchen heading to the refrigerator. Upon opening it, I immediately spotted the container that Mandy had left for me.

But there was a note stuck on it. I took it out and with great curiosity, I read what it said. “Bon appétit, Marce. I hope the fish is to your liking.”

Charly was next to me. He poked his head out and read it too. “Ha, ha, ha. If someone is going to put you on a leash, we already know who it is.”

I had no choice but to resign myself. Charly and I ate while we finished watching the videos. I had to admit it, this man was very good. But as I had told everyone before, I was the best.

Finally, after a while, we finished eating and watching the videos. A short time later, I heard my mobile ring. I took it out of my pocket and saw that it was Raf. I rolled my eyes at him.

But I answered. “Raf, to what do I owe the pleasure? Oh! Yes, I already knew. When will it be? Okay, I have it written down. Where and what time? Wait, I have to go get a pen and paper.”

I ran to the kitchen drawer, where I knew Mandy had pens and pencils. I took one and wrote down what he dictated to me.

“Well, I’ll see you there. Take care of yourself. Bye.” I ended the call and laughed at Charly, who was waiting to hear what Raf had talked about with his same shocked face.

I whirled around to where Charly was. “Okay, mate, Raf already has the date of the press conference.”

Charly opened his mouth as if he were a fish out of water.

“Mate, I don’t think you’re ready for that. Your muscles haven’t burned enough fat. We need to tone them more.” He shook his head. “When is it going to be?”

“In three days.”