Chapter 1052 The Promoter Pulling the Strings

The weigh-in proceeds without a hitch, with neither camp causing any trouble or stirring up drama.

Declan and Redmond's hostility remains directed at Ryoma, who is present at the venue but has no part in the weigh-in itself. Their fixation on him leaves little room for any interest in Kenta, the man Declan is actually scheduled to fight.

To them, Kenta barely seems to exist. And Declan makes no effort to hide that attitude during the press Q&A.

"Am I looking forward to this fight?" he says, leaning back casually in his chair. "Well, they did offer me an incredible purse, and I appreciate their generosity. Ronin Fight Management really lives up to its reputation. Not just when it comes to paying fighters handsomely, but also when it comes to showing a lack of respect for their opponents. As if offering someone a fat paycheck gives you the right to look down on the person they're fighting."

"That's a strong accusation, Mr. Byrne," says a reporter. "What exactly has Ronin done that you consider disrespectful toward you?"

Declan lets out a scoff. "Come on, don't play dumb. Don't act like you people don't know."

He leans forward, resting both elbows on the table.

"You know who I am. Two-time world champion. I may be a king without a crown right now, but I've held the WBO throne longer than Vargas himself."

He pauses, turning to his left, not toward Kenta, but directly toward Ryoma, who sits among the audience in his capacity as the promoter.

"And they've already been busy arranging a fight between Moriyama and Vargas before my fight with him has even taken place."

"It's not unusual for a fighter to speak confidently about his chances," one reporter points out. "Moriyama is the WBO Asia Pacific champion, and the fact that he's made it this far must mean he has a shot at winning, doesn't it? Is that still not enough for you to accept their confidence without taking offense?"

"A shot at winning?" Declan repeats before letting out a loud, brief laugh. "Heh! Kenta Moriyama has never even been on my radar. If the WBO hadn't mandated this final title eliminator, I might never have even known who ruled the Asia Pacific region."

Another reporter turns to Kenta. "And Moriyama, what's your response to Declan's remarks?"

Kenta remains reserved, trying his best to speak in English with terrible accent. "Now that I hear him saying he was once a world champion… I think I can understand why he's offended. That's how it usually goes, right? When you've been at the top for too long, your pride gets so big too. And it stays with you, no matter how many times you fall."

Declan's brow twitches instinctively. Kenta looks somewhat awkward as he answers, and even sounds as though he understands why Declan feels insulted. Yet somehow, his words only leave Declan feeling more insulted.

But he remains silent, unsure whether Kenta is taking a jab at him or genuinely trying to show him respect.

Ryoma notices the slight twitch and his lips begin to curl into a smile, anticipating an even bigger spectacle.

Sato is next to stand and direct a question at Kenta. "From the way you answered, it almost sounds as though you only just realized Declan is a former world champion. Or am I getting the wrong impression?"

Kenta nods with an apologetic smile. "Yes, you could say my ignorance is part of the reason. I didn't look too deeply into his reputation, so I failed to show him the respect he deserves."

"You're saying you never studied his career?"

"Only the fight footages," Kenta answers, still looking somewhat awkward. "And it's only recently. You see, we never planned to challenge Mr. Byrne. I never saw him as a target. I've always focused on my own boxing career and, of course, whoever holds the world title, whoever that might be. It just so happens that the WBO set up this final title fight, and that decision brought me up against Mr. Byrne."

Declan's expression twists with anger. Still seated, he grips the microphone and suddenly raises his voice.

"You little piece of shit! You sit there acting all polite and humble, pretending you don't even know who the fuck I am, and then you start running your fucking mouth?!"

He even slams the microphone toward Kenta and abruptly rises from his chair, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"You're just like that fucking management of yours! All smiles and fake courtesy on the surface, but underneath, you're nothing but a bunch of two-faced, backstabbing cunts! You think I can't see through that innocent act of yours? You think you can insult me to my face and hide behind that fucking smile?!"

Kenta is completely caught off guard, staring at Declan with a confused, awkward expression.

Declan steps toward Kenta, his finger still pointed at him. "Wipe that fucking smile off your face!"

Several event staff rush forward to block Declan before he can get any closer to Kenta. But even as they try to hold him back, he continues to curse and point at his opponent, his face red with fury.

"Get the fuck off me! I'm talking to that piece of shit! You hear me, Moriyama?! I'll knock that hypocritical mouth of yours into the fucking back of your throat! Let's see how polite you sound when I've smashed every last fucking tooth out of that filthy mouth!"

Kenta, meanwhile, still struggles to follow the barrage of English curses. And he still can't figure out which part of his answer has pushed Declan this far. He was only trying to focus on the lines Ryoma gave him, nothing more.

Below the stage, Ryoma's face contorts as he struggles to hold back his laughter. Coincidently, Declan catches sight of him, and his anger immediately shifts targets.

"You! You fucking bastard! You think this is funny?! Wipe that smug fucking grin off your face! You and your whole goddamn outfit are a bunch of fucking snakes!"

Redmond quickly steps in, grabbing Declan by the arm. "Declan, enough! We'll settle this in the ring tomorrow. That's where you get to shut him up!"

"Fuck tomorrow!" Declan snarls, wrenching his arm free. "I don't give a shit about tomorrow! I want to smash that little hypocrite's fucking mouth in right now!"

He lunges toward Kenta again, still shouting curses as event staff rush to intercept him.

Seeing the chaos spiral out of control, the officials decide to end the event prematurely, even canceling the planned face-off photo session.

Before Ryoma can even rise from his seat, several local reporters approach him and bombard him with questions.

"Takeda-san, what do you have to say about Declan Byrne's outburst?"

"Do you think Ronin Fight Management has done anything to provoke him?"

"Will this incident affect tomorrow's fight?"

"Do you have any comment on Byrne's accusations against your management?"

Ryoma raises from his seat, maintains his composure, wearing a mildly apologetic expression as he responds to them.

"I'm sorry things turned out this way. I certainly didn't expect it to end like this. Hopefully, everyone can put this behind them and focus on tomorrow's fight."

Before the reporters can press him further, Hayakawa arrives with the rest of Ryoma's team to escort him away.

Ryoma offers the reporters a polite nod and leaves calmly, showing no hint of satisfaction, as though the entire spectacle has unfolded entirely beyond his control.

From the stage, Kenta watches him go, still seated behind the table, slowly shaking his head.

"I didn't think it would actually work like this."

Nakahara rises and pats him on the shoulder.

"He's done his part. The rest is up to how you use it."