“Bit of news for you, Ruben and Ava. Your fight with Tremaine has been indefinitely put on hold.”
“Why?” Ava asked.
“It has come to our attention that Sarah Tremaine may have been known to associate with underworld figures. There have been accusations of intimidation and match fixing. It looks like she’s managed to keep this a secret with fraudulent documents and assistance from many others. There will have to be a full investigation as she’s used her right of appeal, but she has been suspended pending the result of said investigation.”
“How did you find out the truth?” Ava asked.
“It’s not appropriate for us to talk to you about that, Ms Beckinsale,” came a voice from one of the board members.
“OK, so why did we need a conference call to tell us what you shouldn’t be telling us?” Ruben asked.
“Because, as it so happens, Kim Taylor has just tested positive for a banned diuretic. She has also been suspended pending the results of an investigation. The division will take a heavy hit in the next few days and weeks when this comes out. We would like to present you with an opportunity to be Taylor’s replacement in a match we were about to announce.”
Ruben and Ava looked at each other and shrugged. “Well, we’ve been training for two months and were on track for Tremaine so we might have to make some adjustments or even throw our training out and start again. I mean, this is a serious thing to just throw at us. Who was she fighting?”
There was only a brief pause. “Veronica Nash.”
Ava felt her ears pop the way they do when you reach a high altitude. Or when you feel like you’ve dropped suddenly and quickly. “I’m sorry... what was that?”
“Ava... we are giving you the chance to fight Veronica Nash. Congratulations,” said yet another board member.
Ava felt weird. As if existing outside her body. The sounds around her were muted. Ruben continued the call, but Ava didn’t hear anything. Nothing made sense. The words she had just heard were the only things on her mind. She could’ve been sitting there seconds or hours. She only snapped out of it when Ruben touched her shoulder.
“Hey, babes... breathe. Talk to me.”
Ava nodded slowly, looking down. “What... um... what just happened?”
“OK... so they’ve chosen you to challenge the best there is. You got that, yeah?”
“Yes,” she replied slowly. “Why did they choose me? I haven’t had a pro fight yet.”
Ruben held her hand with both of his. “I asked that, babes. The division is in crisis after losing two top fighters in one day. There will need to be whole lot of reshuffling. But they want to establish a match with a virtual unknown quickly to bring the sport back to where it should be. Unpredictable, intense and awe inspiring. Nash needs an opponent, and they discussed all the fighters without a match already that they view as marketable and decided to go with you for an exhibition match.”
“Me? I’m the most marketable?”
“Yes, and I can see why. You’re a semi-pro, but they want to subvert the backlash everyone will be getting, after these suspensions come out, with a positive spin. Anyone can challenge anyone. Sunshine after the rain. It’s open to all. Dreams can come true. All that stuff. But, as far as we are concerned, that doesn’t matter. It’s marketing to promote a fight no one knows is coming yet.”
“But...” Ava interrupted, looking at Ruben and blinking heavily. “Why did they chooseme? I’m nobody.”
“Because... well, a scout has been watching your fights. We don’t know who it is. He’s obviously kept a low profile because we’ve never heard any mention of scouts at your fights. Anyway, he reported back to the board about the up and comers and you’ve evidently impressed him. According to Max, your quick rise was almost all this guy could talk about.
And I don’t know whether you heard, but they would like to do a lot of promo shots before the fight. You might not like it, but it’s my guess, they think getting your face, your looks, out for more people to see will bring in dollars. But look, focus on the important thing after all that shit. Your talent. Your results. You deserve a shot.”
“Ruben.” She pressed again, squeezing his hand, almost whispering. “This doesn’t make sense. You know that. I’m not ready for this. You of all people would be the first to tell me that. Am I living in a dream? In what universe does an amateur woman challenge Veronica Nash even just in an exhibition?”
“I know. I know.” He nodded. “I’m going to level with you. They know you won’t win. They aren’t expecting this to be anything but another win for her. Masking it as an exhibition really doesn’t mean anything, that’s the window dressing. They will advertise the shit out of it as a ‘dream’ match. As in, a dream come true for you and anyone else that wants to fight. ‘Oh look at her, plucked this insanely hot undefeated amateur from obscurity and now here she is. She doesn’t have a hope, but good on her for having a red hot go.’ They hope to make some money off either your face, or the feel good element of the story before the eventual lamb to the slaughter match up they all know it’s going to be. Now, they didn’t say any of this. I just know that’s the way to game is played. Well, you know what? Fuck that.”
Ava looked up at him, square in the eyes. “What?”
“Just because that’s what they think doesn’t mean it has to happen that way.”
“Ruben, you’re delusional. She’s been my idol for years. She’s the greatest fighter in the world. Of this generation. Hell, of any generation. She’s made women with three times my experience tap in the first round. How the hell am I going to defeat her?”
“Great question. The truth is I don’t know. You’re right. Experienced fighters have fallen to her time after time. They all had the same stuff I do,” Ruben said, pointing to the TV screen. “All the tapes, all the analysis. And they still couldn’t beat her. Nash has had the same access to all of her opponents. Except for you. She knows nothing about you, babes. Zero. There’s no video of your fights. They were all amateur. Maybe camera phones here and there, but that’s it. I know, we know you’re more than just a beautiful girl, and a ferocious hitter. To them though, you are a complete unknown. And that’s where I say we can win.”
“Ruben, this is insane. I can’t do this.”
“Why, because none of the experts think you can? Because you haven’t been in the ring long enough? Well none of those experts have figured out a way to beat Nash, have they? You know what I think? You have the power to trouble her. You can drop her with one punch. Shove her against the steel. Rattle her. I don’t mean fight dirty. That’s not what we are about. I mean you gotta believe in yourself, and show her that you are not going to be intimidated.”