TL: sleepymaru
Editor: SlowAsLightning
6. Changgong Lee Debuts <1>
It was finally the day of the Golden Glove Interleague Grand Prix.
Changgong drove to the Korean University Olympic Gymnasium with Dongsub and Doyoon.
"Are you nervous?"
Dongsub asked.
"Sigh……I feel like I'm dying."
Changgong wasn't kidding. It felt as if his balls were going to shrivel up.
He had been fine up until yesterday, but realizing that he was going to have an official match in a few hours Changgong's heart began to race. He had already pooped a big one, but his stomach still hurt.
"You ate the salad I prepared for breakfast, right?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Dongsub nodded his head.
It was as if he was speaking to a kindergartener, but a trainer must keep their fighter's diet in check.
"Dongsub, I keep forgetting to ask."
"What?"
"I was normally 85 kg, right?"
"You were."
"So why am I entering the welterweight class? I wouldn't have to lose much weight if I entered the middleweight class."
Changgong's question was only natural.
He had been able to lose weight comfortably in 3 months this time around, but there could be times when he would have to lose 10 kg in a month when it was bad. He wouldn't even be able to drink water freely at times like that.
It was pretty difficult losing 8 kg even in 3 months. Why did he have to go through the stress to lower his weight class?
"Well……The weight class that works is different for everyone, but it's usually more advantageous to enter at a lighter weight."
"Why?"
"When the weight decreases, the height and reach shorten too. You know how important that is, right?"
"Yes."
"Plus, you'll still have the strength from your normal physique so you can get the upperhand in terms of power too."
"……I guess that makes sense. I believe you."
"It's not a guess, it really is like that, kid."
They soon arrived at the gym while they were chitchatting.
Doyoon parked the car, and the three went into the gym.
"You guys are early."
The weigh-in area was crowded with people. It was still 10 minutes before the weigh-ins started, yet a few of the people were already getting weighed.
"I'll register. Wait a sec."
Dongsub walked over to the reception desk alone and spoke with the receptionist.
While he was doing that, Changgong looked here and there checking out the other fighters.
'Are these guys fighters or thugs?'
All of the so called fighters looked so wild.
Tattoos were a given, with some skinheads, and even a guy with a knife scar for some reason. Changgong looked pretty tough amongst his peers, but here, he was an innocent child.
"Intimidated?"
Doyoon asked.
"No way."
"It'll get worse once the match starts. Staring each other down is normal, and there's even some guys who rub their face into yours. They're just trying to intimidate you so don't get scared."
"Those kinds of guys will learn their lesson when they get destroyed."
"Yeah, so just focus on your match."
"Mr. Changgong Lee! It's time for your weigh-in!"
The weigh-in judge called out Changgong's name.
"They're calling you, Changgong."
"Here! I'm going!"
Changgong took off his clothes in a hurry and stood on the scale.
The judge was startled momentarily.
Changgong suddenly got worried. What is it? Am I overweight? I'm pretty sure I made the upper limit, though.
"Ack! Changgong!"
"What are you doing, kid?"
Dongsub and Doyoon covered Changgong up with a towel.
Changgong was so nervous that he had even thrown off his underwear.
"Huh? My undies!"
Changgong hastily put his underwear back on.
Changgong left a strong impression before the matches even started.
"Jeez, how embarrassing, man."
Dongsub muttered in the waiting room.
"It would have been funny if there had been female staff."
Doyoon spoke, snickering.
Changgong, who had shown off his sturdy(?) lower half, was sitting like a guilt-ridden criminal. The fighter who was using the same waiting room gave Changgong a big thumbs up.
Putting that aside, Changgong had passed the weigh-in at the weight limit of 77.1 kg and had no problems in the medical check either.
"I thought that was a sundae (Korean sausage) hanging down there. How much does it weigh? A kilogram? You probably have to lose more weight than others because of your dick."
It seemed Doyoon still thought it was funny just thinking about it again.
"God! That wouldn't have happened if you paid me some attention! What kind of second are you!"
"Did I tell you to strip? Don't complain after stripping of your own will."
"It's fine. Forget it. Since the weigh-in is over, let's eat."
Dongsub took out a lunchbox.
Changgong brightened.
"Is it okay for me to eat?"
"Eat as much as you want. Just take your time so you don't get indigestion."
It depended on the tournament, but it usually didn't matter how much weight a fighter gained after the weigh-in.
Changgong began inhaling the food before Dongsub even finished talking.
-This is an announcement. We request that all entrants come onto the stage by 2:30pm. Once again, we request that all……
The broadcast rang out as Changgong immersed himself into his lunch. It was exactly 2:10pm right now. He would have to go to the stage within 20 minutes.
"Why are they calling us? What're they going to do?"
"You'll see once you get there. It'll be fun."
Doyoon sniggered as he spoke.
'Fun my ass……'
Changgong was absentmindedly following the tour guide around.
He hadn't been this bored since his birth.
The matches began at 7 in the evening. He had wondered why he had been called by 1 o'clock, and it was because of these stupid preparations.
The tournament managers rounded up all the fighters and started an orientation. They were teaching them about obvious things like no personal actions, no photography, or how the winners would have to participate in a post-fight interview.
And they took an hour to explain that. These people.
After that was the entrance rehearsal.
It was called a rehearsal but it wasn't much. They just had to enter after their introductory comments. They would play music during the entrances and would just play any old rock music if the fighter didn't have any requests.
Changgong thought it was over with that, but now the management herded the fighters into the ring and told them to take some time and adjust.
'God, how many hours am I spending doing stuff like this for a match that lasts 10 minutes at the most?'
Fortunately, that was the end.
Thankfully at least, Changgong's nervousness subsided during the boring orientation.
Changgong returned to the waiting room an hour before his match.
"It was fun, right?"
Doyoon spoke.
"What?"
Changgong shook his head and went to Dongsub.
"Is it always like this?"
"The majority are amateurs, and it's a for-profit event. They can't risk any mistakes. You'll get used to it."
"Ah, I really hate it……"
There was a sudden commotion outside of the room.
"What is it?"
"It seems the audience is coming in."
Dongsub spoke.
Changgong's heart beat hard.
Audience.
The people who came to watch my match.
Anxiety fell upon Changgong once again.
"How do you feel?"
"……Nervous."
"After 30 minutes, you're going to go on stage for introductions. You're showing your face for the first time, so be confident and don't shrink away even if there's no reaction."
"Yes."
"Let's stretch until then. Hold onto my shoulders. Okay, stretch!"
"Stretch!"
Following Dongsub's orders, Changgong loosened his body.
The introductions soon ended and the first match began.
Changgong's first match was third in line.
The second match had just ended.
In about 10 minutes, Changgong would be fighting his debut match.
Changgong warmed up his body with shadow boxing before his match.
"You're really pumped up. It's your debut match, right?"
The the trainer of the other fighter in the waiting room asked.
"Yeah. He's the rising star of our team."
Dongsub answered.
"His physique is good. Sturdy. He's a striker?"
"Are you spying on us this blatantly?"
"I'll get the answer once the match starts, anyways. We won't be matched up unless we make it to the finals either."
There weren't enough waiting rooms, so two fighters shared a room. They had at least paired two fighters who wouldn't meet until the finals, but the funding for the minor league really was poor.
A staff member suddenly opened the door and came in.
"Mr. Changgong Lee, please standby at the entrance."
"Yes."
Dongsub and Doyoon moved out of the waiting room with Changgong.
"We'll go on ahead."
Dongsub spoke.
"Good luck."
The other trainer in the waiting room clenched his fists in encouragement.
The staff member lead the three to the entrance.
"Please standby."
During the short standby, Changgong moved his shoulders up and down as he focused on his image training.
"Just do what you've always been doing. It'll be fine."
"Yes."
As he answered, the announcer's voice streamed out of the speakers.
-Golden Glove Interleague 4. Third match, welterweight super fight will begin.
"Get ready to enter."
-First entry, Changgong Lee!
"Please enter."
The staff opened the door for Changgong.
"Let's go!"
Dongsub shouted confidently and slapped Changgong on the back. The three walked down the entrance self-assuredly.
Upbeat rock music stirred up the mood. The cheers of the audience also echoed throughout the arena.
Woooooooh!!
Changgong froze.
'Ugh……What is this……'
An audience reaching 800.
Everyone's eyes focused in on him.
To him, someone who had never been the center of attention in his life.
It felt like his heart would burst. He was alert.
Is this what doing narcotics would feel like?
'At least in this moment, I'm the main character.'
"Ah!"
Changgong suddenly charged towards the octagon.
It was not planned. Startled, Dongsub and Doyoon quickly ran behind Changgong.
"Disrobe."
After arriving at the entrance, Changgong disrobed according to the cutman's (the person who treats injuries during breaks in the fight) orders. Changgong's body was full of clearly distinct muscles.
Changgong was wearing white fight shorts with 'Team Fighting Spirit' printed on it.
The cutman checked Changgong's no-foul cup (groin protector) and mouthpiece before spreading vaseline on his face.
He then finished with a body check (checking for weapons) and slapped Changgong on the shoulder.
"Enter!"
Changgong didn't even hug his seconds before entering the octagon.
"……That guy, that guy. He's forgotten all about us."
"Yeah. It's not good to be that excited."
Dongsub and Doyoon licked their lips as they climbed into their corner.
-And continuing, Kisub Kim!
I'm prowling, prowling, prowling
Kisub entered dancing to the beat of singer Exe's song.
That was a brief moment for communication. Dongsub stood on the chair, reaching over the cage to massage Changgong's shoulders.
"Don't get excited. Keep your guard flexible. Loosen your shoulders and always be wary of your legs."
"Changgong?"
"I'm listening."
Changgong turned around and looked at Dongsub.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For giving me this opportunity. I think it was a good decision to start training."
"I'll win for sure."
"Yeah, win and let's celebrate with Korean BBQ."
"You're buying, right? Hehe."
"Sure, kid."
Changgong grinned.
Dongsub smiled, too.
Changgong had been so nervous just a moment before, but he was smiling now that he was in the octagon. He was born to be a fighter.
The ring announcer stood at the center once Kisub entered the octagon and warmed up.
-Introducing both fighters in the Golden Glove Interleague Grand Prix 4, welterweight super fight!
The ring announcer shouted in a powerful voice.
-In the blue corner, weighing in at 77 kg at 183 cm, the shooting star representing Team Fighting Spirit, the leading team of Korea's martial arts world, high school fighter, Chang! Gong! Lee!
Changgong waved both his hands at the audience.
-In the red corner, weighing in at 77 kg at 179 cm, the striker! The grappler! The all-around figher! Kisub Kim!
Kisub shouted with both of his arms raised.
-This match will consist of two 5 minute rounds. The main referee for this match is Kyungrak Choi.
The ring announcer backed away as the referee came to the center.
"Fighters, center!"
Changgong and Kisub faced each other at the center of the octagon. Just as Doyoon had said, Kisub glared at Changgong as if he could kill him.
'Fuck you. I'll rip your eyes out.'
Not one to lose, Changgong glared right back at Kisub. Changgong had come from the rough streets and wouldn't lose a staring contest.
"No attacks at the throat, no fingers in the face, no attacks on the testicles, and don't grab on to the cage, okay?"
The two nodded.
"Touch gloves. Corners!"
The two touched gloves before returning to their corners.
"Let's do this, Changgong."
"Yes. I'll be off."
Changgong stared at Kisub.
"Ready? Ready? Fight!"
Ring!
The bell rang.
Changgong's debut match started.