People like Dries were destroying the sport from the inside, but unfortunately no one, on a serious level, objected, because all the people Dries needed remained in a solid profit, including himself. The only people who lost money were the gamblers who lost hundreds and thousands of eurodollars month after month at the bookmaker's club. Poor people counted on luck, and thought that they were well versed in the sport, without knowing its kitchen from the inside.
Among the businessman's clients were not only ordinary citizens from a small town, but also unsuspecting businessmen and politicians from various localities.
The men sat on either side of the athlete and stared at him. The black-skinned businessman smiled at the boxer with his full mouth white smile. He took out a twisted wad of money from his inside pocket and handed it to the trainer. The latter instantly tucked the received amount into his tracksuit pocket.
Dries: ‘Well, how is our fighter doing? Ready for the fight?
Theodore: ‘As always.’
Dries (laughed loudly): ‘Ahahahaha. I like working with you. You're a very bright guy and you understand the business. So here's the deal, you're gonna lay down in round three tonight. Pretend you're exhausted and miss a few punches. Derek's been warned. He's not gonna hit you hard. But don't forget, you have to go down like he hit you really hard!’
Theodore: ‘I'm not giving in today. If I win, I win.’
Dries put his hand on the boxer's shoulder and smiled again: ‘Bargaining? Good. I'll throw another five per cent on you. Consider me in a good mood tonight, so I gave you a concession. In return, I expect you to lose in the ring to Derek tonight.’
Theodore: ‘No. I've been in this sport my whole life not to constantly leak contractual agreements. I only plan on adding to it so I can break through to city major competitions at the gold level and beyond.’
Coach: ‘Tedi, that's no way to do business. Stop fooling around! I've already taken the money. These are his requirements, his rules, and it's not for us to tell him what's right or wrong with them.’
Dries rose from his seat and pointed his index finger at the coach, pretending that the athlete needed to heed his advice.
Theodore: ‘I've said it all. Tired of being a punching bag already. I deserve better than that. I'm not you. For tonight's fight, I didn't take any extra money, and I'm not going to.’