Chapter 958 - 958: Run, Champion, Run

At the beginning of December 2018, the WBA releases its latest update on the state of its rankings, and one name immediately draws attention from across the boxing world: Ryoma Takeda, sitting at number seven.

The reaction is mixed. Some see it as an unusual but perfectly legitimate development, while others question the unusual approach.

A major global sports daily wastes little time questioning the decision.

WHY CLIMB THE LADDER?

If Ryoma Takeda genuinely intends to add the WBA belt to his collection, why take the long road?

As a reigning world champion, Takeda already has the obvious route available to him: a unification fight. Instead of spending months or years climbing through the WBA rankings, he could simply pursue a champion-versus-champion bout and put both titles on the line.

So why become a contender first? The WBA ranking may be legitimate, but the motive behind it remains considerably less clear.

Another publication takes a more sympathetic view, suggesting the move may have less to do with ambition than preparation for an increasingly difficult road toward unification.

A BACK DOOR TO UNIFICATION?

Perhaps Ryoma Takeda and Ronin are simply being realistic.

The young champion has encountered one obstacle after another since entering the professional circuit, and securing a straightforward unification bout may prove far more complicated than it appears on paper.

If the direct route remains blocked, why not build another one?

By entering the WBA rankings and steadily climbing toward mandatory-challenger status, Takeda could secure an alternative path to a title fight without depending entirely on another champion's willingness to negotiate.

It may look unusual. It may even look desperate. But desperate strategies are not necessarily foolish ones.

Ronin is well aware of the criticism surrounding the decision, and none of it comes as a surprise. They have anticipated it, and for now, they have little interest in what anyone outside the organization thinks.

While Japanese sports media remains busy speculating about a future unification fight between Ryoma and Elliot Graves, Ronin is already looking elsewhere.

Their immediate priority is finding Ryoma's next opponent; someone ranked highly enough to matter in the WBO, while also carrying a position in the WBA rankings.

"Just telling you guys," Kurogane says, dropping a letter onto the meeting table. "Umemoto sent another challenge to our champion this morning."

Ryoma reaches for the letter and glances over it. "What's his ranking now?"

"Ninth in the WBO," Kurogane says. "And eighth in the WBA, right under you."

Nakahara blinks in surprise. "Wow… he climbed that high after just one world-level fight?"

Kurogane shrugs. "He had a solid win. Dominated his opponent for three straight rounds, scored two knockdowns, then finished him with a TKO early in the fourth."

Those details are enough to catch Ryoma's interest, but he quickly suppresses it and tosses the letter back toward Kurogane.

"Our plan is already clear," he says. "You find me an opponent who can help me climb the WBA rankings as well. Fighting a contender ranked below me won't do much for us."

"I know," Kurogane says.

Without leaving his chair on the conference table, he reaches for a file resting on his desk, then slides it toward Ryoma.

"Nikolai 'Knick' Dragunov from Bulgaria," Kurogane says. "Ranked tenth. He's been inactive in WBO for almost two years now, so we better reach him before the WBO kicks him out of the rankings."

"Another small fry?" Ryoma replies without much enthusiasm. "If you keep pampering me like this, my image and marketability are going to take a hit."

"You'd better not take him lightly." Kurogane smiles knowingly. "He's ranked fourth in the WBA now, and he hasn't lost in his last eight fights. And another thing… he also calls himself Nikolai the Sharingan."

Ryoma's face twists in disbelief. "What is he, a fucking weeb?"

"Yes. He often shows up to weigh-ins dressed as Kakashi Hatake," Kurogane says, barely managing to keep a straight face. "He's a fun guy. He likes giving his opponents surprise gifts during face-offs."

Kurogane taps the file. "But I'm telling… people have started comparing the two of you. He loves psychological tricks, and just like you, he deliberately uses his opponent's own weapons to break them."

Ryoma's attention returns to the photograph of Nikolai. The Bulgarian boxer wears a cheerful, confident grin, carrying just enough swagger to give him a slight main-character vibe. Ryoma's expression remains flat, but something inside him is quietly intrigued.

<< Hohoo... someone like you, heh? >>

A moment later, the corner of Ryoma's lips curls slightly. Kurogane notices it and smiles in relief, taking it as he's done a good job.

"Ah, I almost forgot to tell you," he says. "Sergei called earlier too. He says there's a good chance Elliot will fight Shimamura for his mandatory defense."

Nakahara doesn't look surprised, but his lips twitch as though he's trying desperately not to cry.

"A mandatory defense against Shimamura?"

Ryoma catches Nakahara's exaggerated reaction, his eyes lingering on him for a moment. Something ugly stirs in his chest, an unexpected hint of displeasure.

"Wait, does that mean…" Nakahara adds, "he's at the top now?"

"Yeah. After his recent win over Ivan Duarte, Shimamura just moved up to number one in the WBC rankings," Kurogane says. "And Sergei has already spoken directly with Logan about holding the rematch between Shimamura and Elliot here, at the Tokyo Dome."

"Did you tell Sergei that we have a deal with NovaLink?" Nakahara asks.

Kurogane nods. "Elliot's mandatory deadline is at the end of August. We've still got eight months, so one title fight for Ryoma in March is still doable. After that, Ryoma could even have his rematch with Liam O'Connell."

"That's assuming Liam can hold onto his position too," Nakahara replies.

"Of course," Kurogane says. "And that's also assuming Ryoma doesn't lose to this weeb. So, what you say, Ryoma?"

"Heh." Ryoma scoffs and rises from his chair. "Set it up. Let's see if he's really worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as me."

***

Ronin moves quickly to secure the fight with Nikolai Dragunov, and the negotiations prove far less complicated than expected. The contracts are signed without much trouble, and the matchup is officially secured.

On New Year's Day, 2019, Ronin officially announces Ryoma's next title fight, confirming that the WBO champion will face Nikolai "Knick" Dragunov in March 2nd 2019.

But Umemoto's camp has a much bigger surprise waiting. Only two days later, Shin-Osaka Teppan Boxing Gym makes a startling announcement of their own.

Standing before the Japanese press, Ishimaru reveals that Umemoto Kimitada will return to action against a far more recognizable name.

"Shin-Osaka Teppan Boxing Gym is pleased to announce a WBO Lightweight ranking bout between Kimitada Umemoto and Liam O'Connell, scheduled for March 16th, 2019, at Osaka-jō Hall in Osaka."

"With Liam O'Connell currently ranked number one, the winner will move into a strong position in the race for the WBO mandatory challenger spot."

The news reaches Ronin before the day is over. And Ryoma can't simply ignore it either.

Sitting inside the management room with Kurogane, Ryoma watches footage of Umemoto speaking to the media, his own name being brought into the conversation.

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again: my target is Ryoma Takeda."

"I gave up the JBC title, moved down to Lightweight, and entered the WBO circuit for one reason, to fight him. I've challenged him again and again, but that fucking coward Ronin keeps hiding him from me."

"You call Ryoma Takeda the face of Japan boxing. But he's never beaten me. Hell, he hasn't even had the balls to fight me. So I'm done asking. I'll climb the rankings, take the mandatory spot, and drag that belt out of his hands myself."

"And Ryoma, you better prepare yourself. Once I beat Liam O'Connel, there won't be anywhere left for you to run."

Kurogane laughs awkwardly, leaning back in his chair. "Damn… looks like he's really in love with you."

He then turns toward Ryoma. "But I'm curious. How the hell did they manage to secure a fight with Liam O'Connell?"

Ryoma shrugs casually. "Who knows? Maybe Liam doesn't see him as much of a threat, and they offered him a deal too good to turn down."

His tone remains casual, but when his eyes return to the footage of Umemoto, his gaze turns cold.

Somehow, Ryoma has started taking Umemoto's mouth personally, and the idea of shutting him up for good is becoming increasingly appealing.

"I hope he beats Liam," Ryoma says, his jaw tightening. "Then I'll have a reason to shut that fucking mouth of his."

***

Meanwhile, news of Ryoma's fight with Nikolai Dragunov has already reached Russia.

Erzhanov sits in his office, reading the report with a sour expression. For him, the matchup is more troublesome than it appears.

He can still block any attempt to arrange a unification fight between Ryoma and his WBA champion, Aleksandr Volkov. But if Ryoma continues climbing the WBA rankings and eventually reaches number one, the situation changes completely.

A mandatory defense would force his champion to fight Ryoma without requiring Ryoma to put his WBO title on the line.

The risk is entirely one-sided. If Ryoma wins, Erzhanov loses his WBA belt. If Ryoma loses, Ryoma simply walks away with his WBO title intact.

Erzhanov slowly tears the newspaper in half, then turns his eyes toward the Frenchman.

"We need to do something about this boy," he says.

The Frenchman raises an eyebrow. "And what about Logan Rhodes?"

Erzhanov's face twitches. He can't say a word, visibly struggling to contain his irritation.

For some reason, this decision is proving harder than he expected.