We tune in to watch the fight between Alesia Schumann and Masae. Get your beer and popcorn ready.
“Hello and welcome back to the Paffen Sport Fight Night on Box TV, live at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. I’m Esther Schouten and I have a superb match-up for you as the final of this program.”
“Masae plays host to Alesia Schumann in an East against West series staged by Winning Japan, with this fight sponsored by Paffen Sport.”
“Schumann, 25, is a former WBC Silver Champion in the Super Lightweight division. Her record stands at 4 knockout wins and 2 losses. The last time she climbed in the ring, she suffered a knockout in a slugfest against Lilly Sanchez. Now, she vows to go back on the winning path in front of an international crowd.”
“Masae, aged 39, has enjoyed a highly successful career with 16 wins, 7 losses and 2 draws. Her fast punches and constant movement have bewitched 8 opponents before she imposed leather-induced sleep on them.”
“Schumann was scared stiff, as stiff as a metal bar, in the pre-fight press conference but her coach Regina Halmich told me an hour ago that she expects her protégéeto bounce back in style. The German legend said that her fighter went through an important transformation during the training camp.”
“Yumi Yashima, who coaches Masae, toed the line or her fighter’s talk when she told me that Schumann would be taught a 10-round lesson by a ruthless teacher, and predicted a late knockout.”
“This fight is tough to call in advance. Raw talent would favour Schumann but something has changed since she got knocked out by Lilly Sanchez. Usually fearless, the German was visibly intimidated by Masae and unable to look her in the eye. In the meantime, the Japanese was calm and confident while bullying the German.”
“Let’s watch as the fighters are introduced.”
In the German dressing room, Regina knows she doesn’t have to repeat things one more time before the fight with Masae. There is little conversation during preparations, but the coach does hear one thing from her fighter.
Alesia: “I have to say that I have butterflies in my stomach.”
Regina: “You are well prepared for this fight, babe. You’ve done everything I was asking for, and then some.”
Alesia: “I know, but after what I went through, it’s hard to be super confident, especially when fighting away from home.”
Regina: “It won’t be a walk in the park but you have done your homework and we know how to beat her. You just have to trust yourself to do it and listen to me. Take a deep breath. Focus and let me massage your shoulders. It will calm you down.”
The massage helps and the fighter loves her coach’s touch, but it doesn’t kill the anxiety. For the first time in her career, Alesia is afraid of getting in the ring. She’s afraid of getting knocked out one more time, this time in front of a foreign audience and on Japanese TV.
Masae and her coach Yumi Yashima warm up with the hand pads in their dressing room. The Japanese fighter lands fast punches and she’s having fun. Then they have a chat.
Yumi: “Good. We’re ready. Hey, did you notice Alesia’s body language at the press conference?”
Masae: “Yes. She looked away when I looked at her.”
Yumi: “She’s afraid of you. The pre-match talk and her last two fights are affecting her.”
Masae: “Good. She may have picked me because she thought I’d be easier to fight than Lilly Sanchez. She’ll regret that.”
Yumi: “Do as you promised. Take your time. Take her to school.”
As tradition wants it, the visitor is first to enter the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo as there is no belt on the line for this fight.
Alesia makes her way to the ring as the speakers blast the Fightsong by Doro. Regina decided that her old entrance song would be playing tonight to give her fighter a confidence boost.
Ally keeps the butterflies under control as she walks towards the ring. She thinks: “I guess it will be that way until the fight starts.”
The crowd gives her a semi-warm response, with some fans clearly cheering for her in the background. She’s not the local favourite, but she does have some support among the Japanese.
Esther: “Schumann remains tense as she walks under the lights. At the same time, you see seriousness in her face. Is she confident enough for this fight? Nobody knows. Yet. What we know is that Regina Halmich’s training has done wonders to her body, which seems ultra-fit.”
It is Masae’s turn to enter and walk towards the ring and she is still in excellent mood.
The Japanese veteran takes her time, stops right before stepping in, turns to her left and her right to salute the crowd. The attendance cheers, claps and whistles to bring out a big smile.
Esther: “The local fans are at Masae’s feet, and understandly so. She breathes confidence, is a natural beauty and an accomplished fighter.”
Ring announcer: “Her opponent across the ring, fighting out of the red corner… she is wearing green trunks with pink trims, a green top, green and pink boots, and red gloves. Her professional record stands at 16 wins, half of them coming by the way of knockout, 7 losses and 2 draws. At 39, she’s an ageless woman from Osaka City… Masaaeeeeeeeee!”
The crowd cheers again as Masae shadow boxes to keep warm. We see her making a motion for the right hook.
In the meantime, Alesia looks across the ring and thinks: “Masae has experience, she’s confident and the last time I fought a veteran, I got beat up. But jeez. I can’t walk out after flying to Tokyo. And dammit, I hate being in the blue corner!”
Regina: “Calm down, sweets. We got this. You’ll win this fight.”
Ring announcer: “Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, is wearing a white skirt, a black top with white trims, as well as black boots and white gloves. From Munich, Germany, the former WBC Super Lightweight Silver champion has 4 knockout wins and three losses on her record, and ranked at number 10 by BOX! Magazine. She is the Fierce Fraulein, the Queen of Uppercuts, Alesia ‘The Diva’ Schuuuumannnnnn!”
The crowd claps while Ally moves a lot to try and loosen up.
Japanese referee Lee Ochiro calls Masae and Alesia to the center of the ring for a reminder of the rules.
Lee: “We went over the unified rules in the dressing rooms. This fight is scheduled for 10 two-minute rounds. There is no three knockdown rule. There is no standing eight count. You cannot be saved by the bell in any round. In case of an accidental headbutt after Round 4, we go to the scorecards. If you knock your opponent down, you have to go to a neutral corner before I start a count. If you foul intentionally, I will deduct a point. Questions? No? Ok. Protect yourself at all times. Obey my command at all times. Respect each other at all times. I want a good, clean fight. Touch gloves.”
Masae is calm and she smiles. She locks eyes with Ally, exuding assurance. The German’s pulse accelerates under the Japanese opponent’s steady gaze and as she feels the touch of her gloves. She thinks: “In a minute, those gloves will be whipping every inch of my face.”
Esther: “Body language gives the advantage to Masae at the moment. The Japanese has the upper hand psychologically as we get into this fight but that could change once the bell rings. The action starts in a minute. Stay tuned!”