On the Ropes

Round 1:
It all happens so fast, you don't even remember it.

Round 2:
You bob and weave, you have plenty of energy. One, two. One, two. You stick and move. You float like a butterfly and you smile.

Round 3:
You take a shot to the chin and your knees wobble. Your trainer reminds you to keep your hands up.

Round 4:
You hit your gloves together and go in for more.  You deliver a left-right combination that almost shocks the world. The crowd goes wild. This is what they paid to see.

Round 5:
You take a hit below the belt. You're gonna feel that one tomorrow. 

Round 6:
You see stars and hear bells ring. The ref gives you a standing eight count and asks you if you want to keep going. Yes. 

Round 7:
You're down again. One knee, looking for your mouthpiece. I swear it's around here somewhere. 

Round 8:
Flashback to watching fights with your dad when you were a kid. Saturday night and you never thought you'd lose him. Two more drinks and the lights almost go out forever. 

Round 9:
You're your father's son again. Jab, jab, jab, and dance. This is what it's supposed to look like. Jab, jab, jab, and boom. Haymaker. The crowd's behind you and Disney's thinking about making a movie.

Round 10:
"This kid's got heart."
 
Round 11:
A lull. It happens every couple of rounds. We only have so much energy. You dance and hug, dance and hug. This thing's almost over. 

Round 12:
This is it. It feels like the end, but it lasts forever. Bright lights, crowd cheering, trainers yelling. This is it. You don't knock him out, but he doesn't knock you out either. The bell rings and you wait for the decision.