Chapter 931 - 931: The Names He Shouldn't Have Mentioned

Five days later, at the WBO's Tokyo office, the disciplinary hearing concerning Miguel Cabello is called to order.

The hearing room is considerably smaller than the grand conference rooms used for major WBO meetings, but it has the same restrained atmosphere of institutional authority.

A long rectangular table occupies the center of the room, with folders, nameplates, bottled water, and several copies of the documents relating to Cabello's post-fight examination arranged neatly in front of the people seated around it.

A large WBO emblem is mounted on the wall behind the commission panel, while the windows along one side of the room reveal only a narrow slice of Tokyo beyond the glass.

At the head of the table sits the senior member of the disciplinary commission assigned to oversee the proceeding. Two other commission members sit beside him, each with a folder containing the medical findings and supporting documentation.

Kanemura occupies a seat farther down the same side, with Yoshida seated beside him and a tablet open in front of him.

Across the room, Ryoma sits beside Kurogane as the representatives of Ronin. Ryoma is not wearing anything resembling his usual training attire. As the promoter responsible for the event and the party currently withholding Cabello's purse pending the outcome of the matter, Ronin has a direct interest in the proceeding.

Cabello sits at the opposite side of the room with Rivera beside him. Between them and the commission sits a local legal adviser Cabello has retained for the hearing, a middle-aged Japanese attorney who has spent the previous several minutes quietly reviewing the documents in front of him while occasionally whispering with Rivera.

Cabello himself looks considerably healthier than he had five days earlier. He is dressed in an expensive dark suit that fits him far better than the hospital clothes he had been wearing only days before. Yet the suit does little to restore the confidence that once seemed inseparable from him.

His lawyer leans toward him and speaks quietly. "Remember, Mr. Cabello, answer only what is asked. If you are uncertain about something, say that you are uncertain. Do not speculate."

Cabello gives him a sideways glance. "I know how to answer questions."

"I'm sure you do," the lawyer replies. "I'm reminding you because this is a disciplinary hearing, not a press conference."

Rivera remains silent beside them, keeping his attention on the documents while avoiding the commission's gaze.

At the other side of the room, Yoshida checks the time on his tablet before looking toward Kanemura. And Kanemura gives him a small nod.

The senior commissioner straightens the papers in front of him and looks across the table.

"This hearing concerns the post-fight medical examination of Mr. Miguel Cabello following his WBO title defense against Mr. Ryoma at the Tokyo Dome. The commission has reviewed the laboratory findings received from the hospital, the circumstances surrounding the delayed examination, and the preliminary information concerning the medical personnel involved."

His eyes settle on Cabello. "The purpose of today's proceeding is to establish the relevant facts and to determine whether Mr. Cabello violated WBO regulations. This hearing will also provide Mr. Cabello and his representative with an opportunity to respond to the findings."

The commissioner continues. "Mr. Cabello, do you understand the purpose of this hearing?"

Cabello looks toward his lawyer for a brief moment before answering.

"Yes."

"And do you understand that the commission has received a positive finding for prohibited substances in your post-fight sample?"

Cabello's jaw tightens. "I understand what you're saying."

The lawyer beside him quietly places one hand over the document in front of him, as though reminding Cabello not to rush ahead.

The commissioner nods. "Very well. Mr. Kanemura, you may proceed with the examination."

Kanemura opens the folder in front of him. He does not look at Cabello immediately. Instead, he turns to the first page, reads the laboratory findings once more, and then places the document flat on the table.

"When was the last time you received medical treatment before the fight?"

Cabello answers without hesitation. "Before the fight? At the Tokyo Dome."

"Who administered it?"

"A medical officer assigned to the event."

"Dr. Gabriel Morales?"

"Yes."

Kanemura finally looks directly at him. "And what treatment did Dr. Morales provide?"

Cabello pauses, and his lawyer glances at him. Cabello's fingers slowly close around the edge of the chair.

"He gave me an injection."

The room becomes noticeably quieter, but Kanemura's expression does not change.

"Do you know what was in that injection?"

Cabello looks at him. "No."

Kanemura waits a moment before asking the next question. "Are you saying that you received an injection immediately before the fight without being informed of what substance was being administered?"

"Yes."

"Did you ask?"

"I assumed it was part of the medical procedure."

"Did Dr. Morales tell you what it was?"

"No."

Kanemura makes a brief note. "Did you sign any documentation acknowledging the treatment?"

"I don't remember."

The lawyer leans forward. "My client has already stated that he was not informed of the substance."

Kanemura looks toward him. "I heard him."

He returns his attention to Cabello. "Who else was present when Dr. Morales administered the injection?"

Cabello hesitates before answering, and Rivera immediately notices the hesitation beside him. Ryoma notices it as well, while Kanemura patiently waits for Cabello to respond.

"My head trainer, Jorge Rivera, was there."

Kanemura's eyes move briefly toward Rivera before returning to Cabello.

"Anyone else?"

Cabello shakes his head.

"No. Nobody else."

Kanemura studies him for a moment before looking down at the statement in front of him.

"You mentioned Mr. Rivera. But you understand that his presence alone does not establish your innocence, correct?"

Cabello's expression tightens. And Kanemura simply continues without raising his voice.

"Mr. Rivera is your trainer, a member of your team, and someone whose interests are directly aligned with yours in this proceeding. His testimony may be considered, but it cannot be treated as independent corroboration."

Cabello shifts in his chair, his fingers tightening against the edge of the table. For several seconds, he says nothing, while the attorney beside him watches him with growing concern.

After considering it, Cabello finally exhales through his nose and forces himself to speak.

"There were two other people."

His attorney immediately turns toward him, his expression changing with genuine surprise. He had clearly not expected that answer, and for a moment he looks as though he is trying to determine whether he has simply misunderstood what Cabello said.

"Who?" Kanemura asks.

Cabello's eyes flick briefly toward Rivera before returning to Kanemura.

"Vaughan Alistair and Dominic Bowman."

The room seems to change the moment the two names leave his mouth. Kanemura's pen stops above the paper.

"Vaughan and Bowman?"

"Yes."

Kanemura leans back slightly, his attention sharpening. "What were two prominent promoters doing inside your locker room? Neither of them was involved in the title fight. They weren't members of your training team, they weren't part of the medical staff, and they weren't representing Ronin. So why were two influential promoters with no official role in the event inside your locker room?"