CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: SEMIFINAL - JAVIER RESTREPO VS CHRIS MARTINEZ I

Chris reeled back from Javier’s opening right hand, shoulders hitting the ropes hard. He grabbed at Javier’s arms straight away and tied him up before any follow-up could land.

The referee muscled between them with thick hands. "Break!"

They stepped back and reset at center ring. Some of Chris’s early confidence had cracked. His eyes looked sharper now, more focused.

Javier moved forward with purpose and set his jab to work. He touched Chris’s chest with leather, then lifted the next jab to the headgear. Clean contact snapped Chris’s head back slightly. The judges could see every shot.

Chris answered with a double jab of his own. Javier slipped the first; the second caught him on the forehead of his headgear. The officials would have marked the clean touch.

[MISSION STATUS]

Jabs in Round 1: 3/10

Win by knockout: Active

[JAB SKILL +0.1] [RING IQ +0.1]

Javier showed the jab again, then drew it back without throwing. A feint. Chris reached across his body to parry the fake, his left hand extending too far.

There it was: the gap just like the system had indicated with Chris’s signature parry-and-hook counter. Chris’s reaching parry left his right side exposed.

Javier slid left, outside the lead foot, and drove a short right to the body. The shot dug into the ribs through protective gear. He stepped off at an angle before any counter could load.

Chris turned and flicked a jab that clipped Javier’s shoulder. Light contact.

[CROSS SKILL +0.1] [TECHNIQUE +0.1] [FOOTWORK +0.1]

Chris came forward behind his guard and let a three-punch combination go: jab to set the range, straight right toward the head, left hook to the ribs.

The hook landed clean and punched air from Javier’s lungs. He slipped the right by inches, feeling leather brush his ear. As Chris reset his feet, Javier bumped a short uppercut through the middle, then finished with a clean jab as he stepped away.

The last touch was his—exactly What he had learnt. Always finish exchanges with your own shot so the judges see you in control.

From the red corner, Miguel kept his voice level. "Touch and step!"

[UPPERCUT SKILL +0.1]

[JAB COUNT] 5/10

Chris tried to crowd him against the ropes, forearms pressing, a short uppercut rising inside. Javier tied him up properly, head high, arms framing the shoulders and killing the angle.

"Break! Box!" The referee’s command came quick.

They separated cleanly without rough stuff. Vicente’s voice reached Javier, soft and steady.

"Own your breath. Stay calm."

Javier inhaled through his nose and exhaled slow. His heartbeat stayed controlled despite the pace.

[DEFENSE SKILL +0.1] [ENDURANCE] Stable

Javier doubled the jab and stepped around Chris’s lead foot. As Chris turned, Javier dug a shovel hook to the body and moved off before the counter could spool.

A short hook from Chris caught his shoulder as he angled out and knocked him slightly off balance. Javier reset his feet quickly and kept him turning.

The crowd stirred with each clean exchange. This was tight, technical work.

[HOOK SKILL +0.1]

[JAB COUNT] 7/10

Chris led with a jab–cross. The cross grazed glove and headgear and shifted Javier’s stance. He planted, sent a straight right to the headgear in return, and refused to admire it. A jab finished the sequence as he moved away, the last clean touch again his.

From Chris’s side, a coach barked, "Keep that chin tucked!"

Miguel answered from the red corner. "Turn with him!"

[CROSS SKILL +0.1] [RING IQ +0.1]

[JAB COUNT] 9/10

Chris tried to pin Javier’s arms for another body shot. Javier kept his chin tucked, framed with his forearms, and spun out cleanly as the referee stepped closer.

"Keep it clean!" The ref raised a hand to warn them both.

Noise lifted in pockets around the gym, then settled as they reset.

Miguel’s cue cut through. "Finish on the jab and make him turn!"

One jab remained to complete the mission. Javier showed the same high jab that had drawn the reaching parry earlier. Chris’s hand started across his body again, falling into the pattern.

Javier did not swing wide. He tapped a right to the body, popped a short jab upstairs, and stepped right. Chris answered with a compact right downstairs that caught more elbow than rib.

[TECHNIQUE +0.1]

The final seconds ticked away. Javier placed one last clean jab down the center line, touching the headgear as he pivoted off. Chris flicked a light jab that met glove as the bell sounded.

[MISSION UPDATE]

Objective 1: Complete — Jabs 10/10

The round was done. Both men boxed clean and technical. Chris had the better body shots; Javier controlled the ring and finished most exchanges with his own touches.

A close round, edge to Javier

They walked to their corners without showboating. This was only Round 1 of three.

Javier sat and planted his feet flat on the canvas. He breathed long and slow through the mouthguard, chest rising and falling steady. The pace had been fast but controlled.

Miguel slid the stool through the ropes and stepped in. The cutman came with towels and water.

Cold hit the back of Javier’s neck as the ice pack settled there. The fog in his head cleared. The cutman wiped forehead and cheekbones and ran a thin line of petroleum jelly along the brow ridges.

Javier took a sip, swished, and spat into the bucket. His breathing settled completely.

Miguel leaned close so his voice would carry. "Good first round. Keep your feet first. Touch the chest jab and lift it to the head. Don’t wait for him. Finish every exchange with your lead."

Javier kept his eyes on center ring and gave a short nod. "I got it."

Two taps on the right glove. Miguel pointed down the middle. "He still reaches for that parry. Show it high, then send the right straight through the lane. No wild swings. Bring it home fast and step off."

He kept going. "If he shells, walk him into the corner and make him reset. Don’t let him get comfortable."

The cutman checked the chin strap and mouthguard again and gave a quick nod. "You’re clean. Breathe. Keep that chin tucked."

Javier breathed in through his nose and out slow, the same rhythm he had drilled a thousand times.

Vicente edged into view, presence calm. He kept his voice quiet. "You’re not here to argue with him. You’re here to prove your work. Dignity first, then damage."

Javier’s shoulders loosened. A smaller nod answered him.

Across the ring, Chris sat with elbows on knees. His coach worked the shoulders and spoke in low, urgent tones.

"Double the jab and step first. Keep that right hand tight. Stop reaching for the parry."

"Turn with him when he steps around. Don’t square up."

Chris never took his eyes off Javier’s corner. "I’ll take center back."

His team clapped in rhythm to build energy.

Near the apron, families murmured. Gym jackets leaned in and pointed. A kid in a red hoodie chanted Javier’s name until his father tapped his shoulder.

The timekeeper lifted a hand. "Ten seconds!"

Stools went out. Towels disappeared. Miguel checked Javier’s eyes one last time and tapped his chest.

"Feet first. Make him reach. When that shoulder opens, send it straight and bring it back."

Javier rose and rolled his shoulders loose.

"Seconds out!" The referee’s call cut across the noise.

Corners cleared the ring. The referee glanced to each side and then to the timekeeper. Javier and Chris walked to their lines with gloves high and eyes locked.

[STATUS]

Condition: Good

[MISSION STATUS]

Objective 1: Complete — Jabs 10/10

Objective 2: Win by knockout — Active

Miguel’s final cue floated from the red corner. "Touch and step. Hands home."

Javier gave a small nod. Across from him, Chris stamped his lead foot once and lifted his guard higher.

The bell was about to sound for Round 2.