CHAPTER 26 BEHIND THE MASK

Jake wondered how it would feel to get punched like that. Anderson shivered beside him, and when they exchanged looks, they chuckled because they thought the same thing. The two fighters engaged in a strategic battle, their gloves meeting in a symphony of impacts. Each punch thrown was met with a counter, a display of skill and agility that mesmerized Jake and Anderson. Anderson was sure he would win when his man landed a hot blow on his opponent, sending him flying to the other ring. The little crowd roared, but Jake remained utterly confident in his man. That knocked him out of whatever was holding him back. The crowd, including Jake and Anderson, watched in silence and awe as Jake's bet threw blows upon blows, punches upon punches at his opponent, eventually knocking him down. The crowd wasn't yelling in his favor, even when he had just knocked out his opponent. This confirmed Jake's earlier suspicion. This was no mutual dual. Curious, he called over one of the ladies from the