I didn’t see it coming. It happened so fast, and the blow was devastating; I was out before I even hit the ground. Woozy, but I could hear the count loud and clear.

One

Two

Three

Four

I’ve got to get up, I thought to myself, but the voices around me were screaming, stay down, stay down. 

Five

Six

I got to my knees.

Stay down, stay down, they continued to shout.

Seven

I reached for the ropes.

Eight

I started to pull myself up.

You’re gonna get hurt. Don’t be a fool. Stay down, stay down.

Nine

I struggled to my feet.

You can’t win. Stay down, Stay down, they continued to shout. 

The ref looked me in the eye and said, are you sure you want to continue? Battered but not out, I looked him back in the eye and said I ain’t done yet.

Fight

Now the fight is over, the final bell has rung, and the judge’s cards are in; the announcer takes the microphone and informs everyone of the decision.  

The winner by unanimous decision and new champion! 

Me! Yes Me! He said Me!

I trained for this moment.

I overcame the brutal knockdown.

I refused to listen to those who said I couldn’t win.

I refused to stay down.

I kept fighting because I believed, even if no one else did, that I could, and I would succeed, I would control my own destiny. I would be great, and now here I am, the winner and new champion. How about that.