Anna Schwartz vs. Masae – Round 3

The bell rings.

Anna applies the method prescribed by her coach. She bends her knees a bit more than usual. She also bends her upper body and tightens her guard.

Esther: “Round 3 begins and Anna Schwartz seems more determined than before. Will that translate into efficient fighting, or will anything be lost in translation? I always have that question in mind when I put something into Google Translate.”

Alesia: “Darn. She’s even more attractive as a fearless warrior.”

Heidi: “Haha!”

Although she is in the mood for a scrap, Anna doesn’t jump on Masae after the bell.
 
Anna thinks: “I wanna land a big shot. One that she’ll feel next week.”

Masae starts with the jab to keep Anna at bay, and circles around her as they throw calculated shots. She doesn’t want the Ice Queen to get too close. A glancing blow lands here and there.

It looks like a chess match until Masae goes for a straight right hand with more grit. Her arm goes in full extension with the glove flying towards Anna’s chin, which is low in her compact stance. The Berliner goes all in. She slips under the incoming red glove to fire a powerful right hand. The timing is perfect. Pink leather whips Masae’s midsection.

Masae: “Uuuuurgh!”

Esther: “Schwartz delivers a stunning counter, maximising the amount of risk taken to go to the jugular! Well, she didn’t hit Masae’s neck. Oh, heck, you know what I mean!”


Esther: “She’s hurt! Masae is backing up after taking a strong right hand to the body!”

The crowd gets animated. Anna sees Masae trying to pull away.

Anna thinks: “I got her.”

Masae does her best to pull away and tighten her guard, but she doesn’t have enough time to prevent the next attack. The German comes in fast, plants her left foot on the canvas and puts everything she has behind a left hand that zooms to the Japanese opponent’s midsection.

The pink glove feels like a wrecking ball coming in.

Masae: “Ummmmfffff!”

The crowd emits another collective “oohhhhhhhh!”

Zelda thinks: “Oh dear.”

Esther: “Anna Schwartz, who was in trouble a couple of rounds ago, has a unique chance to score a big knockout and she’s going for it.”

Alesia jumps from her chair: “COME THE FUCK ON! KNOCK HER OUT! NOW!”

A tense coach watches from ringside, feeling like his eyeballs are about to pop out.

Maxim: “DO IT!”

In the other corner, Yumi’s jaw drops.

Masae is in great pain after taking two strong body shots. She drops back near the ropes.

The crowd gives mixed signals. Some people are starting to cheer for Anna. Many are astonished by this turn of events and talking between themselves.

As for referee Zelda, she is considering stepping in to stop the fight before another punch could hurt Masae further.

Referee Zelda decides to step in to stop the fight. Unfortunately, as it sometimes happens in boxing, Anna has a split-second advantage to strike as the ref moves in.

A hurting Masae is not in a position to fight anymore and Anna puts the finishing touch to her work. She comes in and blasts the defenseless Japanese opponent with a potent right hand.

As the punch lands, the ref is getting between the two fighters.

Zelda: “Stop! This fight’s over!”

Esther: “There we have it! Anna Schwartz pulls off the upset for a TKO win against Masae from Japan! She suffered, got up and conquered in her return fight. We don’t know if she will become a darling one day, but she can savour this much-wanted win after months of outcry over her past.”

Maxim: “Yee-ha!”

Alesia: “Yes, baby!”

Esther: “Masae is going down! She didn’t need that right cross from Schwartz for the fight to end. The referee was already stepping in to stop it.”

The Japanese boxer has crashed on the canvas after taking devastating blows from her German counterpart. She lets her mouthpiece drop and groans.

An animated crowd can’t believe what Anna just did. Is this fighter for real after all?

Alesia: “YAAASSSSSS!”

Heidi: “Well well. That was a convincing performance. Better than anything I had expected from Anna.”

As if it wasn’t clear already, referee Zelda calls it a night.

Zelda: “Enough! Fight’s over!”

Anna turns to the blue corner and looks at Maxim. She thinks: “This guy made it all happen.”

Esther: “What Anna Schwartz has done tonight is startling. Everyone thought she would be roasted by Masae and the first round was disastrous, but the opposite happened. We all owe her an apology.”

Maxim thinks: “She’s done it. And we have something real going on here.”

The winner

Ring announcer: “Ladies and gentlemen, at 1:22 in Round 3 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, we have a winner! By technical knockout! She showed the heart of a lion. Anna “The Ice Queen” Schwaaaaaaaarrrrtttzzzzz!”

The crowd rises to its feet to give the Berliner an ovation she did not expect. She ignores the cheers.

Anna thinks: “Wait… they’re cheering for me, after all the hostility they showed earlier? Hypocrites.”

The kiss

The result is official and Alesia wastes no time climbing inside the ring and going to Anna.

The Bavarian gets close to the Berliner with only one intention. She wraps an arm around her girlfriend and is about to give her a kiss.

Anna: “But I’m all sweaty!”

Alesia: “Am I supposed to care?”

Anna: “Hehe. Maybe not.”

Ally leans in and puckers up.

Anna thinks: “Sweet. The last months have been hell but now, I feel like a million bucks.”

Esther: “I won’t pretend to be a sociologist, but I believe that these two get along nowadays. Ain’t it cute?”

Suffering

While Anna celebrates her win with Maxim and Alesia, referee Zelda and coach Yumi take a look at Masae.

Zelda: “Masae… tell me how you feel.”

Masae: “Oh…. my head hurts. My body, too.”

Yumi: “Breathe and take your time. I’m not letting you get up yet.”

Zelda: “That’s right. After that, we’re taking you to the ring doctor for a checkup.”

A few minutes later, they help the boxer to stand on her feet and take her back to the locker room.

Doc: “Where are we?”

Masae: “Berlin.”

Doc: What is your name?”

Masae: “Masae.”

Doc: “What happened tonight?”

Masae: “Anna knocked me out. Third round.”

Doc: “What punch?”

Masae: “I… think it was the right hand. My head still hurts.”

Doc:“Walk towards me.”

The fighter is a little unsure at first, but she makes it without much of a problem.

The practician has good news.

Doc: “Ok, ladies. It seems to be only a mild concussion based on the symptoms. She’s a bit dizzy and has a headache, but hasn’t forgotten much from the fight. I recommend staying in Berlin for the next three days. Avoid physical efforts and all forms of contact. The symptoms should go away quickly, but you must go to hospital if they worsen. I’ll file my report to the federation for a medical suspension.”
Yumi: “Thank you sir.”

The interview

Esther approaches Anna after the official announcement and Anna accepts to give her a live post-match interview.

The boxer is reluctant, but she reckons she has the chance to say a few things that are on her mind. Also, Esther is friendlier than tabloids.

Esther: “First, congratulations on this win. Masae was the favourite going into this fight, and you convinced everyone with a knockout. What is your analysis?”

Anna: “Masae came close to ending it in the first round. I was hurt and discouraged, but Maxim’s straight talk reminded me of the work we did for half a year to get here. It gave me the hunger to at least try to win. It was a short but violent fight for both sides. The result speaks for itself.”

Esther: “The crowd saluted your performance when your hand was raised at the end. You seemed unmoved.”

Anna: “For good reason. Boxing fans kicked me when I was down. They berated me on social media. This crowd booed me when I needed was in dire need for support. I can’t embrace people who have changed their mind only because I won.”

Esther is about to ask another question, but she’s interrupted.

Anna: “Let me finish. I want to thank the people who gave me unwavering support. First, Alesia Schumann. She’s the one who came to see me in Berlin when I was in crisis. Nobody else cared, but she found me and gave me a verbal kick in the butt. Ally, I love you! There’s also my coach Maxim Weiß. He could easily have turned me down when I knocked on the door. He accepted the challenge and turned me into a real fighter. I also thank Heidi Becker, from DE Box-Promotion. She took a chance. The opponent she sent my way was tough, but at least I was given the opportunity to fight.”

Esther: “What’s your ambition now?”

Anna: “I just want to keep boxing. I’ll do my best to be successful. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.”

Esther: “Any last word?”

Anna: “Yes. I hope that your channel has viewers who see the true meaning of this fight. Don’t kick people when they’re down. You look like a cheap bitch when they get back up. If shit happens to you, believe in yourself and fight back.”

Esther: “Thank you, Anna.”

Contract offer

Maxim: “You’re back in the game, girl.”

Anna: “Thanks, but I owe you a lot. You picked me up. I want to continue with you.”

Maxim: “Of course!”

Someone knocks on the door. Max opens it, and Heidi comes in.

Heidi: “Fantastic job. Congrats on that win, Anna.”

Anna: “Thanks!”

Heidi: “I suggest taking a vacation before going further. When you are ready, we can open talks for a multi-fight deal.”

Anna grins: “Seriously? Even though I’m the bad girl?”

Heidi: “Well… that’s marketable, you know. If you sell it well.”

Maxim
: “Great. We can talk soon. You’re right. Anna needs a vacation beforehand.”

Heidi: “I’ll give thought to what can be done and have a proposal. In the meantime, welcome back to professional boxing.”