Against the Ropes Page #8

It's a one-time deal.

I go down the street,

I get a manicure.

I come back,

the papers are drawn up.

The terms are clear.

Once this deal is done...

...you're done with Shaw.

You disappear.

No wiping his ass

between rounds.

You understand?

I don't wanna see you.

At last...

...the feeling is mutual.

Too smart by half.

I thought the agency was kidding

when they faxed your rsum.

I read it twice just to be sure.

I mean, insurance is about as far away

from boxing as a girl can get.

I'm counting on it.

You won't have trouble at Dee-Dee's

desk. It's very organized.

And Mr. Sloan doesn't expect much,

just answer his phones, get his coffee,

don't take it personally

if he doesn't talk to you.

Mr. Sloan never bonds

with the temps.

OK, Kim, what about these?

Those are client files.

Do you think you can put them

in alphabetical order?

Sure. Is there anything else

I should know?

Dee-Dee would appreciate it

if you water her plant.

Hello?

Hey, Felix.

What? What's the problem?

You're downstairs?

Yeah, OK.

Felix.

Hey. What's wrong?

- What?

- LaRocca's putting Luther in the ring

with Hernandez in three weeks.

That's too soon.

That's crazy.

The guy Pedro was scheduled

to fight,

they're saying he cracked a rib,

so he's subbing Luther instead.

- "They're saying"?

- There's nothing wrong with his ribs...

- I know, Felix.

- That's why I hate this game.

We wanted a shot at the title.

We wanted an honest shot.

Why should he give us

an honest shot?

So he can watch the fighter you found

walk away with the belt?

I mean, he knows there ain't no way

I can get that boy ready in time.

What am I supposed to do, huh?

I can't take this to Luther, Jackie.

I can't do it. I can't.

I wanna see LaRocca.

Did you hear me?

Did you hear me?

Mr. LaRocca's in a meeting.

Look, he can't screw

my fighter like this.

He is setting him up to lose,

goddamn it.

If he is in a meeting,

you go in there,

and you tell him

to get the hell out right now.

He said to tell you he's in a meeting

for the rest of your life.

Ain't no way I can train for Hernandez

in three weeks, Felix.

Ain't no way.

What's the point?

Point is, you still got a shot, son.

It ain't the fairest shot,

but you still gotta take it.

I ain't ready.

Oh, you think you the first boxer

to have a bad time, huh?

A raw deal.

Luther, you gotta take the shot.

Right here.

Y'all put your hands in the air!

Put your hands in the air!

That's what we're doing!

Luther Shaw!

Well, tonight, Luther Shaw's dream

has become bona fide real life.

He's about to face

Pedro Hernandez

for the WBC Middleweight

World Championship.

And he comes into this fight

a big underdog.

- How do you see it?

- "Underdog" is the word.

This is a big question mark.

I like Shaw.

He's got lots of courage, heart,

but he's green.

To put him in the ring,

with only 16 professional matches,

against Hernandez,

that's the deciding factor.

You know, Hernandez

has made it abundantly clear

he has no love lost whatsoever

for young Shaw.

Here comes Shaw now.

Luther was not the originally

scheduled opponent tonight.

That was meant to be

Cecil Young,

who suffered an injury in training,

creating the opening for Shaw.

Pedro! Pedro! Pedro!

Ladies and gentlemen,

Pedro Hernandez,

the WBC Middleweight Champion

of the World, is entering the ring.

And what a hand

he's getting from the crowd.

It's overwhelming here.

He is lighting this place up.

This is the one you wanted.

Don't feel him out.

- Smoke this sucker! Let's go.

- He's nothing.

- He has got a mission to accomplish.

- Hernandez is a fast starter.

In the early rounds,

it's necessary

for Shaw to use his legs,

stay on the outside, remain elusive.

- Look at me, man!

- He doesn't want a slugfest early on.

There's no question about that.

And we'll see what kind of fight

Hernandez brings too.

Hernandez, of course,

has tremendous power.

He's undefeated

in 30 professional bouts.

And he really brings

a complete package into the ring.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is

the moment we've all been waiting for.

Twelve rounds of boxing

for the WBC Middleweight

Championship of the World.

And now, for the thousands

in attendance

and the millions

watching around the world,

let's get ready to rumble!

- It's sold out.

- Sorry, lady.

Sold out.

Here is the pride of Cleveland, Ohio.

The undefeated challenger,

Lethal Luther Shaw!

Luther! Luther! Luther!

And fighting out of

the red corner...

Listen to me.

You stay relaxed.

Keep your hands up and circle him,

you understand?

All right, keep him turning. Every now

and then, touch him with a jab.

All right? Now, don't worry

about his head.

Hit him in the chest, shoulders,

arm, anywhere.

That's all I want this first round.

Understand what I'm saying?

Pedro "El Tigre" Hernandez!

Referee in charge of the action,

Ray Marsh,

will give instructions

at ring center.

Gentlemen, you both had the rules

explained in the dressing room.

I wanna see a good, clean fight.

Good luck to the both of you.

Touch gloves. Let's do it.

You're nothing.

He looks a little scared.

It's nothing but another fight,

that's all it is.

Second's up!

Remember, stay relaxed.

Keep your hands up.

- Come on!

- We're set for round one.

Hernandez has a look of fury

in his eyes.

Hernandez comes charging out!

Oh, a big right hand

lands for Hernandez.

Come on, Luther.

Punch out, punch out.

Come on, turn him. Turn him, Luther.

Off the ropes.

Shaw is taking punch after punch.

Can't throw his own.

Clearly, Hernandez wants to finish

in the first round.

No feeling-out process here.

He must be double-parked

because he's in a hearse.

Yes!

- Oh, look at that.

- An intentional foul.

- That was very, very, low.

- Referee Ray Marsh is all over him.

Luther can take up to five minutes

if he wants to.

If Shaw retaliates with the same,

this will be a dirty fight.

Surprisingly, Hernandez is the one

letting his emotions

- get the better of him.

- Fight clean!

Punch out and move.

Turn him. That's it.

Keep that jab in there,

keep that jab in there.

All night long, all night long, that's it!

Keep him missing!

Shaw's starting to dance...

Oh, Pedro leaps in with a left hook!

- A huge shot!

- Follows with a right-left combination.

Oh, a great shot to the jaw!

And you know what?

Luther's hurt.

He's gotta feel hurt.

Come on, Luther!

Come on, baby! Come on!

There's the bell to end round one.

What a furious pace!

Come on, Ray!

How much rough stuff

you gonna let him get away with?

I'm gonna turn my boy loose next!

Gavin!

I'd pay to see the look

on Kallen's face right now.

Oh, really. Name your price, Irv.

What?

Sh*t.

Listen to me, Luther. Listen.

The only chance you got

of winning this fight,

you gotta do what I tell you, now.

He's charging in there

wide open,

- and you ain't making him pay.

- He's hitting me low.

Luther, there comes a point

in every boxing match

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