April 29, 1992 2:02 AM
Los Angeles, California
The crowd, slightly re-energized by MacNeil's overwhelming victory, as still subdued by Grendel's loss. The Jamaican seemed more invigorated than before the fight with Grendel, although a victory like that could very well do that to a person. MacNeil nervously strode back and forth on the sidelines, knowing full well that whoever won this fight would be the overwhelming favorite against him in the final.
Chandra wasn't nearly as overconfident as Grendel had been in the last round. In fact, she seemed a little bit cautious. Grendel and Chandra had met in Tontines before, and the fight always came down to the wire, although Chandra usually had come out on top. Those who didn't know Chandra better would say that maybe, just maybe, she was a little bit initmidated. Even the belt she wore around her waist seemed to shine just a little bit less.
The fight began and no insults were necessary. It was almost an issue of respect between these two veteran warriors. Chandra circled around the Jamaican, who returned the favor in kind. The Jamaican feinted left, which Chandra flinched back from it, then leapt to reach the Jamiacan's exposed right. The Jamaican spinned back and got out of the way.
This posing went on for most of a minute -- the crowd began to get a little bit back into it, starting to make barely subaudible remarks and whispers. A particularly daring individual from the bag actually let out a loud "Boo" in response to the competitors' caution. The two didn't seem to even notice, so focused in on their own activity.
Then it started for real. Chandra let out a snarl and jumped straight up in the air, catching a ceiling joist about fifteen feet above her head. The Jamaican hadn't counted on this, expecting her to come down, where he had an uppercut waiting for her. But she let go maybe a second late and ended up landing on the Jamaican's exposed back.
Or more accurately, where it should have been. For as fast as Chandra had executed her move, the Jamaican had been faster. As Chandra's feet cracked the concrete, the Jamaican planted a foot squarely into her stomach, knocking her back a few feet. She regained her balance just in time to catch the Jamaican's second kick and land a killing blow on his right knee, a blow that would have shattered anyone else's leg.
Not so the Jamaican. He seemed to barely notice it, coming back with a full on jab to Chandra's ribs, causing her to loosen her grip.
The action continued in a similar fashion for several minutes. Most of the witnesses couldn't keep up with the Celerity-enhanced action of the two fighters. Eventually, the blood of the fighters started to wear thin and the wounds began to pile up.
Like two Roman gladiators, it eventually came down to a toe-to-toe fight with each combatant slugging one tremendous punch at the other. Those who were there will talk about this fight until their grandprogeny are elders themselves. The power of the punches was causing vibrations in the ground that make one's legs ache. A limosine parked just inside the cargo doors had its windshield shatter from the impact.
One final punch from the winner knocked the loser to the ground with a shattered jaw and several protruding ribs. The winner raised his arms in triumph, barely standing. The loser extended a hand from the ground to shake the hand of the winner. "Next time."
The referee raised the hand of the winner. "The winner and finalist: The Jamaican!"