Today marked the day before the fight.
The official weigh-in had already taken place a few days earlier, but now it was time for the ceremonial weigh-in, a spectacle for the fans.
The minibus came to a stop at Madison Square Garden.
Damon peered at the iconic building, his nerves kicking in.
He wasn't someone who feared crowds, but this felt different, overwhelming even.
The door swung open.
He glanced at Whittier, who looked calm and casual, as if he had done this a thousand times before.
And in reality, he had.
Damon envied that calmness, feeling a knot of anxiety twisting in his stomach.
As they stepped out, the noise hit them, a roar of voices calling out from all directions. "Whittier! Donald Whittier!" The fans were chanting for his coach, not him.
Damon's name was absent from the shouts, and while he didn't expect a hero's welcome, the reality of it stung.
He forced himself to look up at the towering building ahead, its size intimidating.
Together, they walked past the fans and paparazzi, heading inside without breaking stride, shutting out the noise behind them. Continue your saga on m|v-l'e -novelhall.net
Damon followed Whittier through the bustling backroom, trying to absorb the atmosphere.
He was finally here, standing in the same place where so many legendary fighters had prepared for their bouts.
The moment felt surreal, and he caught glimpses of a few familiar faces, famous fighters who were chatting or stretching.
It was a reminder of the level he was about to compete at.
Whittier gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "You handled that pretty well," he said, a small smile on his face. "Now, let's get the medical check-up done and confirm the weights."
Damon nodded, taking a deep breath as they made their way toward the medical staff.
.
.
The medical check-up was brief, and the weigh-in confirmation went smoothly.
A rush of cheers, shouts, and camera flashes filled the air as anticipation built.
The atmosphere was electrifying, fitting for a crucial point in the competition.
Keeping his focus, he moved to the scale, taking off his shirt and tossing it aside.
Standing there, the cameras flashed from all directions, capturing every angle.
"Official weight, 185 pounds on the mark for Damon Cross!" Jim Logan announced, his voice filled with enthusiasm as the crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
As Damon stepped down from the scale, the cameras kept flashing continuously, capturing every moment.
Damon approached Brian for the face-off, his steps steady.
As they stood face to face, fists raised, the tension was palpable.
He could see the hint of nerves in Brian's eyes, though Brian tried to mask it, just as Damon did.
Jim Logan, standing beside them, took to the microphone, his voice booming across the theater, "Tomorrow night, in our co-main event, we have a fight that's been brewing since the start of this season. In the middleweight division, it's Brian Walker versus Damon Cross!
These two have battled through the toughest competition to make it to this stage, and now they'll go head-to-head to determine who will be crowned the next Supreme Fighter!"
As Damon and Brian kept staring at each other, the cheers of the audience erupted into a ferocious roar.
When they broke the stare down, Jim Logan approached Brian, microphone in hand. "Brian, anything you'd like to say to your opponent?"
Brian smirked confidently. "I don't have much to say, but I'll repeat my brother's words, tomorrow night, I'll show you how to act in front of the man of the house, son."
The audience's excitement was obvious as they cheered and applauded.
Damon didn't react outwardly to Brian's taunt, keeping his composure, though his clenched fist betrayed the tension simmering beneath the surface.
Jim Logan grinned, clearly enjoying the tension. He stepped closer to Damon. "Damon, any response to that statement?"
The crowd went silent, a hush falling over the arena that sent a jolt through Damon.
But he didn't falter. He glanced at Brian, considering what to say.
Giving an emotional response would be easy, but he knew the fans appreciated a bit of flair.
"I mean, he can say whatever he wants," Damon replied with a smirk. "I've already beaten his brother. I'll beat him too. In my opinion, I took out the toughest opponent last week, so you, boy, are just easy work."
The crowd roared in approval, cheering loudly.
Jim Logan took a step back and spoke loudly. "There you have it, Damon Cross versus Brian Walker, tomorrow night for The Supreme Fighter finale! Thank you, gentlemen!"