It wouldn't be incorrect to say that Natalia Davis has dedicated all of her life to boxing.
From the moment her grandfather, the legendary three-time super middleweight champion Harrison Davis, first introduced her to the electrifying world of boxing, Natalia found herself utterly captivated.
The adrenaline of the ring, the rhythm of the punches, and the stories of determination and triumph not only enveloped her but set her soul on fire, igniting a passion that would forever change her life.
When Natalia first donned the gloves and struck her first heavy bag, it was a moment that symbolized her unwavering determination. She pushed her mind and body to their limits, striving for perfection in her craft.
From mastering the fundamentals through hours of practice to developing new strategies and counters to established styles, Natalia's training was a testament to her versatility and dedication.
She left no stone unturned in her quest for excellence.
It was thanks to her tireless hard work that many in the boxing world called her a prodigy in the sport. Her strength and skill were second to none. Once she came of age and became a pro, she would take over the world of women's boxing with an unflinching gaze.
Her potential in professional boxing was undeniable, and her undefeated record as an amateur boxer, with seven wins, zero losses, and zero draws, was a testament to her skill and determination. As she prepared to graduate high school in a year and enter the world of pros, the future of women's boxing was all but set in stone.
Unfortunately, this left her to be left in isolation.
Determined to carve her name in the annals of boxing history as one of the greatest female fighters, Natalia had immersed herself so deeply in her training that she had largely dismissed what she considered the frivolities of youth.
Friendships, laughter, and spending carefree moments with peers seemed trivial to her, mere distractions from her singular goal.
Each day, she woke before dawn, fueled by an unwavering resolve to hone her skills, perfect her technique, and build the strength necessary to dominate in the ring.
In her mind, the sacrifices she made—missing out on social gatherings and the simple joys of friendship—were necessary sacrifices on the road to greatness.
For Natalia, every punch thrown and every drop of sweat was a step closer to her dreams, overshadowing the sense of solitude that often accompanied such focus.
Because to her, why would she waste her time on people who would ultimately drag her behind and leave her?
...people, much like her mother.
Natalia didn't care for friends.
Natalia didn't care about being alone.
All she needed was her grandfather and boxing.
That was enough for her.
But something or someone had suddenly appeared, throwing a wrench in her life.
Mathew Johnson.
He was an odd individual.
Natalia's first meeting with him was a volatile one.
Coming off fresh from a street fight, she was in no mood to be messed with. So when they had bumped into one another in the hallways of her high school, she reacted like she always did. With anger and violence.
After slamming Mathew into the lockers, she found herself momentarily confused. His expression wasn't one of fear like all those who usually interacted with her; it was of curiosity. At the same time, she didn't feel his body buckle from her attack. No, his body had tanked the blow and was ready to react. But he didn't.
Natalia nearly found herself in trouble with the assistant principal, an old friend of her father who always showed her leniency and was the reason she hadn't been expelled. However, something strange happened: Mathew stepped in and diffused the situation, saving her from being sent to detention or worse. Surprisingly, he began treating her like a friend, as if she hadn't slammed him in a locker. It was as if her actions had no impact on him at all.
After that, she ignored him to the best of her abilities by actively avoiding him at school.
Unfortunately or fortunately, fate seemed to want to bring them together because Mathew was there right at the moment she was about to be jumped by several of Rojer's goons.
He moved in and fought those who would have beaten her down or worse without any regard for his own safety. All for her. A girl that slammed him into a wall of lockers. This had deeply confused Natalia.
Perhaps it was this confusion that led her to take him to her grandfather's gym to get patched up after one of Rojer's goons landed a mean right swing on him.
Did her confusion lead her to discuss her grandfather's career and her love for boxing? This is something she has never done with anyone but her grandfather.
She didn't know.
All she knew was that she didn't mind his presence any longer.
One day, perhaps due to his run-in with that knife-wielding man, Mathew had come to her for her help in preparing for the upcoming California Junior Boxing Tournament, a tournament she had entered and dominated in last year, that Natalia found herself once again annoyed with him.
Here he was, saying he wanted to pursue boxing out of nowhere.
It made her angry.
Did he think boxing was some joke?
Did he think the sport she dedicated herself to her whole life was so easy that anyone could decide one day it was what they wanted to commit to? Just like that?
No. You couldn't.
And she would prove it.
Natalia had issued him the challenge of having another spar with Jason to see if he was worth her help.
It was an impossible challenge.
It was one he would lose without question.
So then, how? How did Mathew beat Jason, a vastly more experienced and strong boxer, after only a few weeks of training?
This baffled her immensely.
But that all didn't matter once she saw Mathew deliver the match-ending blow by using an almost exact replica of her grandfather's signature move—the Gazelle Punch.
Seeing it recreated in front of her made her feel elated and excited.
Perhaps Mathew wasn't all talk?
Perhaps he did have what it takes to go the distance?
Per their agreement, once he was healed, Natalia began his training.
She wanted to see if he was truly a diamond in the rough like she suspected.
What she never expected from him was to soak up her training like a sponge.
Every new technique and piece of advice she offered him was learned quickly as if he were a thirsty sponge hungry for knowledge. It was almost scary how much of a quick learner he was.
Still, he had a long road ahead of him before he met her standards.
"Stop your whining! Here's another one!"
"O-okay!"
Natalia huffed and slammed the gym's large medical ball into Mathew's stomach. He was hanging from a set of steel bars that were normally used for pull-ups while holding his legs out to put pressure on his core.
Mathew grunted as the heavy ball struck his core once again. Sweat covered his face and body after two exhausting hours of training. Natalia, too, had sweat dripping down her face as she pulled back and slammed the ball into his abs once more.
"Geh!" He groaned but held strong. "K-keep going, Nat!"
Natalia smiled, seeing his grit, and pulled the medicine ball back once more.
To conclude their training for the day, Natalia and Mathew laced up their running shoes and ventured out onto their familiar route, a winding path that meandered through a neighborhood blanketed in soft twilight.
As they jogged at a relaxed pace, the gentle rhythm of their feet against the pavement offered a soothing reprieve for their tired and sore muscles, which had endured an intense workout earlier.
The crisp evening air filled their lungs, invigorating them with each breath while the fading sunlight painted the sky in shades of orange and purple.
"Hey, Nat?"
"Who said you could call me that?"
"You free this Sunday? I rented this really cool movie called The Raid. It's full of awesome fights! You wanna watch it at my place?" Mathew smiled as they came to a stop, their breathing quick but even.
"Of course not-" Natalia was about to refuse but paused when she saw his expectant expression. Turning away, she sighed and ultimately nodded. "Fine. It better be as good as you say, or I'm doubling your drills for the week."
"Hell yeah."
Hearing his happy tone, Natalia continued their run to hide the small smile on her face.