Post by anthony on Aug 29, 2024 15:27:31 GMT -5
The rain pours down harder, and Anthony King, standing in the dimly lit alley, smirks as if welcoming the storm. He begins to move, leaving the alley behind, his boots splashing in the puddles, his breath visible in the cold air. The camera follows as he turns a corner and steps onto an abandoned basketball court, a single flickering streetlight illuminating the cracked asphalt. The chain-net rattles in the wind, and graffiti covers the walls surrounding the court.
Anthony King: This court… right here… This is where it all began. Where I learned to hustle, to scrap, to claw my way out of every situation life threw at me. You see, life ain’t always fair. It’s not about who’s stronger, who’s faster, who’s smarter. It’s about who wants it more. And I wanted it. I wanted it more than anyone else out here. That’s why they called me ‘The King.’ Not because I had everything, but because I fought like I had nothing to lose."
He picks up a worn out basketball lying on the ground and starts dribbling, his movements fluid and confident. The sound of the ball hitting the wet ground echoes through the empty night.
Anthony King: See, every time I step onto this court, I remember the hunger, the desperation. I remember playing until my hands bled, my feet ached, my lungs burned. And that hunger… that hunger is what drives me now. It’s what makes me relentless. So Misery, when you step into that ring with me, you’re stepping into my world. A world where there are no second chances, where the weak don’t survive."
He shoots the ball; it bounces off the backboard and falls through the hoop with a metallic rattle. He turns back to the camera, his eyes locked in, unyielding.
Anthony King: This is where I learned to fight for every inch. And that’s what I’m bringing to the ring. A fight you’ve never seen before. So get ready, because when I step through those ropes, I’m bringing the streets with me."
He walks off the court, the rain now falling even harder, and the camera cuts to him moving through a dark, rundown neighborhood a place of his past. He moves past boarded-up houses and empty playgrounds. King walks with purpose, every step echoing determination. He stops at a dilapidated building, a youth center with faded paint and shattered windows.*
Anthony King: This place… this is where I learned to survive. Where I learned that nothing in life is guaranteed, where I learned that every moment could be your last. I was just a kid, thrown into a world that didn’t give a damn about me. I had to grow up fast. I had to learn the rules of the street the first one being ‘take or be taken.
He steps closer to the building, touching the wall as if feeling the memories seeping from the bricks.
Anthony King: And that’s what I’ve done my entire life. I took every chance, every opportunity, every moment to prove myself, to prove that I belong, to prove that I’m more than just some kid from the streets. So John Blade, when I look at you, I see a man who’s had it easy, who’s been handed opportunities that I’ve had to fight tooth and nail for. And that’s why I’m coming for you, Blade. Not out of hatred, but out of necessity. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that nobody is gonna hand you anything. You gotta take it.
King’s voice grows louder, echoing through the empty street, carrying with it the weight of his journey.
Anthony King: And I’m gonna take everything that’s yours, Blade. I’m taking your spotlight, your accolades, your respect. Because you don’t need it the way I do. You’ve never been hungry enough to understand.
He turns and starts walking down the street, his pace quickening as he moves toward another location. The camera cuts to King standing in front of a barbed-wire fence that surrounds an old boxing gym, the sign barely hanging on by a thread. The gym's name is half-lit, the rest broken. He steps through the gate, the sound of it creaking under the weight of time.
Anthony King: This place… this is where I became the man I am today. Where I learned that pain is just a part of the process. Where I learned that you either get up or you get knocked down. I used to come here every day, throw my fists against that bag until my knuckles were raw, until I couldn’t lift my arms. Because I knew… I knew that if I didn’t make it here, I’d never make it out there.
He walks over to a heavy bag, its leather cracked and worn, and starts throwing punches, each hit sending a shiver through the old building.
Anthony King: So TJ Alexander, you might think you know what it takes to be great. You might think you’ve been training hard, putting in the hours, doing the work. But you don’t know what it’s like to train when your life depends on it. You don’t know what it’s like to fight with nothing but desperation in your heart. I’ve got respect for you, TJ, but in that ring, respect doesn’t mean a damn thing. Because when you’re up against a man who’s been forged in fire, who’s been molded by the streets, there’s no training in the world that can prepare you."
He stops punching and faces the camera, sweat dripping down his face, mingling with the rain.
Anthony King: And KJ… Kyra Davison… you’ve got a spark, I can see it. You’ve got passion, but passion won’t protect you. Not in this match, not against me. Because when I come at you, I’m coming with everything I’ve got. I’m coming with the pain of my past, the scars of my journey, the fire of a man who’s got nothing to lose. And that… that makes me the most dangerous man in this fight."
He grabs his gym bag, slings it over his shoulder, and starts walking again. The camera follows as he makes his way down a long road leading to an overpass. Cars rush by above, the sound of traffic filling the air. He stops beneath the overpass, where a group of homeless people huddle around a fire in a barrel, their faces lit by the orange glow.
Anthony King: This right here… this is reality. This is where you end up if you don’t keep fighting. This is where you end up if you let the world beat you down. I’ve been on the edge, I’ve felt the coldness of this life, and I made a choice—I chose to fight. I chose to rise. And that’s what I’m bringing to AAW.
He looks at the fire, his face lit by the flames, shadows dancing across his features.
Anthony King: So Mac Bane, when you talk about being a ‘Bad Man,’ understand that I’ve seen bad. I’ve seen evil. And I’ve faced it down without blinking. I’m not afraid of you. I’m not afraid of your reputation. Because I’m not just fighting for myself—I’m fighting for everyone who’s ever been counted out, everyone who’s ever been told they’re not good enough.
He turns back to the camera, his face fierce, his eyes blazing.
Anthony King: Nicky Douché, Axel Shaw… you boys think you’ve got it all figured out. But you don’t know what it means to be truly hungry, to be truly desperate. You don’t know what it means to be a Street God. But you’re gonna learn. Oh, you’re gonna learn.
He walks away from the fire, his silhouette disappearing into the darkness as the camera lingers on the flames before cutting back to the street. He stops outside a small diner that’s barely open, a flickering neon sign reading “24/7.” He steps inside, takes a seat at the counter, and the camera zooms in on his face as he speaks, his voice softer, but no less intense.
Anthony King: I’ve fought my way from places like this, late nights, empty pockets, a million dreams and not a single guarantee. I’ve been told ‘no’ more times than I can count. But every ‘no’ was just fuel for my fire. Every rejection, every setback, every failure just made me hungrier, made me stronger.
He looks around the diner, taking in the faces of the few patrons scattered around workers, drifters, people trying to make it through the night.
Anthony King: And that’s why, at Champions' Conquest, I’m coming for everything. I’m coming for everyone. Because I don’t know how to lose. I don’t know how to give up. And I sure as hell don’t know how to back down. I’ve come too far, I’ve fought too hard, and I’m not stopping now. Not for you, not for anyone.
He stands up, drops a few bills on the counter, and heads back outside, the rain now a downpour. He turns to the camera one last time, his face set determined.
Anthony King: This court… right here… This is where it all began. Where I learned to hustle, to scrap, to claw my way out of every situation life threw at me. You see, life ain’t always fair. It’s not about who’s stronger, who’s faster, who’s smarter. It’s about who wants it more. And I wanted it. I wanted it more than anyone else out here. That’s why they called me ‘The King.’ Not because I had everything, but because I fought like I had nothing to lose."
He picks up a worn out basketball lying on the ground and starts dribbling, his movements fluid and confident. The sound of the ball hitting the wet ground echoes through the empty night.
Anthony King: See, every time I step onto this court, I remember the hunger, the desperation. I remember playing until my hands bled, my feet ached, my lungs burned. And that hunger… that hunger is what drives me now. It’s what makes me relentless. So Misery, when you step into that ring with me, you’re stepping into my world. A world where there are no second chances, where the weak don’t survive."
He shoots the ball; it bounces off the backboard and falls through the hoop with a metallic rattle. He turns back to the camera, his eyes locked in, unyielding.
Anthony King: This is where I learned to fight for every inch. And that’s what I’m bringing to the ring. A fight you’ve never seen before. So get ready, because when I step through those ropes, I’m bringing the streets with me."
He walks off the court, the rain now falling even harder, and the camera cuts to him moving through a dark, rundown neighborhood a place of his past. He moves past boarded-up houses and empty playgrounds. King walks with purpose, every step echoing determination. He stops at a dilapidated building, a youth center with faded paint and shattered windows.*
Anthony King: This place… this is where I learned to survive. Where I learned that nothing in life is guaranteed, where I learned that every moment could be your last. I was just a kid, thrown into a world that didn’t give a damn about me. I had to grow up fast. I had to learn the rules of the street the first one being ‘take or be taken.
He steps closer to the building, touching the wall as if feeling the memories seeping from the bricks.
Anthony King: And that’s what I’ve done my entire life. I took every chance, every opportunity, every moment to prove myself, to prove that I belong, to prove that I’m more than just some kid from the streets. So John Blade, when I look at you, I see a man who’s had it easy, who’s been handed opportunities that I’ve had to fight tooth and nail for. And that’s why I’m coming for you, Blade. Not out of hatred, but out of necessity. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that nobody is gonna hand you anything. You gotta take it.
King’s voice grows louder, echoing through the empty street, carrying with it the weight of his journey.
Anthony King: And I’m gonna take everything that’s yours, Blade. I’m taking your spotlight, your accolades, your respect. Because you don’t need it the way I do. You’ve never been hungry enough to understand.
He turns and starts walking down the street, his pace quickening as he moves toward another location. The camera cuts to King standing in front of a barbed-wire fence that surrounds an old boxing gym, the sign barely hanging on by a thread. The gym's name is half-lit, the rest broken. He steps through the gate, the sound of it creaking under the weight of time.
Anthony King: This place… this is where I became the man I am today. Where I learned that pain is just a part of the process. Where I learned that you either get up or you get knocked down. I used to come here every day, throw my fists against that bag until my knuckles were raw, until I couldn’t lift my arms. Because I knew… I knew that if I didn’t make it here, I’d never make it out there.
He walks over to a heavy bag, its leather cracked and worn, and starts throwing punches, each hit sending a shiver through the old building.
Anthony King: So TJ Alexander, you might think you know what it takes to be great. You might think you’ve been training hard, putting in the hours, doing the work. But you don’t know what it’s like to train when your life depends on it. You don’t know what it’s like to fight with nothing but desperation in your heart. I’ve got respect for you, TJ, but in that ring, respect doesn’t mean a damn thing. Because when you’re up against a man who’s been forged in fire, who’s been molded by the streets, there’s no training in the world that can prepare you."
He stops punching and faces the camera, sweat dripping down his face, mingling with the rain.
Anthony King: And KJ… Kyra Davison… you’ve got a spark, I can see it. You’ve got passion, but passion won’t protect you. Not in this match, not against me. Because when I come at you, I’m coming with everything I’ve got. I’m coming with the pain of my past, the scars of my journey, the fire of a man who’s got nothing to lose. And that… that makes me the most dangerous man in this fight."
He grabs his gym bag, slings it over his shoulder, and starts walking again. The camera follows as he makes his way down a long road leading to an overpass. Cars rush by above, the sound of traffic filling the air. He stops beneath the overpass, where a group of homeless people huddle around a fire in a barrel, their faces lit by the orange glow.
Anthony King: This right here… this is reality. This is where you end up if you don’t keep fighting. This is where you end up if you let the world beat you down. I’ve been on the edge, I’ve felt the coldness of this life, and I made a choice—I chose to fight. I chose to rise. And that’s what I’m bringing to AAW.
He looks at the fire, his face lit by the flames, shadows dancing across his features.
Anthony King: So Mac Bane, when you talk about being a ‘Bad Man,’ understand that I’ve seen bad. I’ve seen evil. And I’ve faced it down without blinking. I’m not afraid of you. I’m not afraid of your reputation. Because I’m not just fighting for myself—I’m fighting for everyone who’s ever been counted out, everyone who’s ever been told they’re not good enough.
He turns back to the camera, his face fierce, his eyes blazing.
Anthony King: Nicky Douché, Axel Shaw… you boys think you’ve got it all figured out. But you don’t know what it means to be truly hungry, to be truly desperate. You don’t know what it means to be a Street God. But you’re gonna learn. Oh, you’re gonna learn.
He walks away from the fire, his silhouette disappearing into the darkness as the camera lingers on the flames before cutting back to the street. He stops outside a small diner that’s barely open, a flickering neon sign reading “24/7.” He steps inside, takes a seat at the counter, and the camera zooms in on his face as he speaks, his voice softer, but no less intense.
Anthony King: I’ve fought my way from places like this, late nights, empty pockets, a million dreams and not a single guarantee. I’ve been told ‘no’ more times than I can count. But every ‘no’ was just fuel for my fire. Every rejection, every setback, every failure just made me hungrier, made me stronger.
He looks around the diner, taking in the faces of the few patrons scattered around workers, drifters, people trying to make it through the night.
Anthony King: And that’s why, at Champions' Conquest, I’m coming for everything. I’m coming for everyone. Because I don’t know how to lose. I don’t know how to give up. And I sure as hell don’t know how to back down. I’ve come too far, I’ve fought too hard, and I’m not stopping now. Not for you, not for anyone.
He stands up, drops a few bills on the counter, and heads back outside, the rain now a downpour. He turns to the camera one last time, his face set determined.