The Hong Kong Entertainment Ring’

‘Hmmmm…” said Ryu, “Sounds interesting!’

Ken and Ryu were gazing up at a relatively large building, over decorated with blinking lights and into which people were swarming. It was the dodgy side of Hong Kong Island, not the main area filled with reflective buildings, but a small street, nicely tucked away where you went to have a bit of adult fun.

“Yeah, and according to the guide,’ Ken held up a dirty, walked upon pamphlet he had found on the ground, ‘there are some very exciting fights going down every night. Fifty yen at the door…”
Ryu winked at Ken mischievously.
“Lets make tonight a little more interesting for the crowd, shall we?”
“Well, you’re eager!” Ken was surprised.
“Hey, I’m just bored of sightseeing and being locked up in a small room. Why don’t we get some action while we can, huh?’
Ryu could already feel his adrenalin rising. He had a good feeling about tonight.

Tuen Chung was enjoying the crowd. His opponent was huge, but in comparison to Tuen Chung, he was like comparing a Quarter-pounder to a Big Mac with an extra meat pâté.
“I have to put my mind off food until I beat this wimp,’ he thought as he casually swing his massively thick forearm into his opponent’s face. Tuen Lung had spent most of the day eating, the rest of it with women and occasionally for a bit of exercise he broke a few bricks.

“Wow, look how slow he is!” Ryu was in awe.
“I’ll say. He’s like a walking Marshmallow. I can’t believe that he’s actually winning!”
“Well, its not so surprising, seeming his opponent keeps trying to do wrestling moves on him. Trying to throw the guy would be like trying to throw a whale!”

The crowd rose for Tuen Chung as he applied his devastating finisher, a double-handed chop to his opponent’s neck. He could just imagine the snapping of the fragile vertebrae. As a stretcher was raced to collect the unconscious man, Tuen Chung swung his mass towards the crowd and lifted his hands as he soaked in the applause.
“Thins is what I live for.” He said to himself as he leaned against the corner post to wait for his next opponent. Or victim he mused.

“Ladies and Gents! Once again Tuen Chung has dominated the first few rounds of the night. We await eagerly for a challenger for this great warrior!” The announcer screamed in rough English.

“You or me buddy?” Ken turned to his friend, but Ryu was already moving.

A lean figure, agile but solid, flipped high over the ring’s rope to land next to the shocked announcer.
“W...We have a new challenger!” He quickly regained his professional composure. “What’s your name buddy?” he asked Ryu, hand over microphone.
“…Uh, Ryu,” he replied.
“ And you know that Hong Kong Entertainment Ring takes no responsibilities for any injuries, or even death blows you may receive?”
“Yeah, sure,” Ryu replied. “I’ve done this kinda thing before.”
“Not here you haven’t,’ the announcer replied before screaming back into the mic. “Ryu is our new challenger!”

Tuen Chung eyed his young opponent. He had just witnessed an amazing show of agility as this guy carelessly flipped into the ring, yet the kid still appeared quite concrete, his shoulders broad and defined under a thin sweatshirt. “This one may be a nuisance,’ he muttered to himself.

Ryu readied himself for the rush of the fight, facing his opponent and analyzing him with calm eyes.
He was a big one, and had demonstrated some power behind those arms.
“Not point fussing too much. He looks slow enough to try out some new moves on anyway.” He thought to himself.
The two fighters faced each other, dropping back into their own stances, Ryu in his typical Shotokan karate stance although out of uniform, and Tuen Chung in a semi sumo stance, which was all his body would allow.

“Fight!”

Something hit Tuen Chung crack on the nose. He swung his hands trying to catch it but itt was no longer there. His eyes began to water, but he could still see Ryu standing as he had before, crouched and poised.
Had Ryu moved?
Or had something been thrown from the crowd? He risked a glance to them. They seemed to be unaware that something had hit him, or if they had seen something, they weren’t quite sure.
Frustrated already, Tuen Chung charged his opponent, but he was hit with a full-scale straight punch, which this time almost broke his nose, connecting with a sickening crack.
Ryu still didn’t seem to have moved, his right hand held guarding his face, his left lower at his waist.
Tuen risked another glance to the crowd, peering through crying eyes. Nothing suspicious. Apart from shocked faces. He swung back to the unmoving figure in front of him. Tuen’s cracked nose was evidence that he had been punched, but how could this almost teenage kid hit with so much power and at such speed that Tuen didn’t notice? Then before he could blink, Ryu leapt suddenly towards him, his foot engulfed by the mass of Tuen Chung’s face.
“Yes, A perfect flying side kick…and a spinning back kick in the same motion!” Ken shouted, pushing himself closer to the ring.
Ryu continued the devastating combination to Tuen’s boxing bag of a body, as the crowd gasped in awe. Easily slipping past the older man’s feeble defense, Ryu continued to release his wicked combination, until he at last slipped passed the larger man under a swinging arm.
“He may be able to knock him around, but how long will it take to floor him?” Ken contemplated to himself skeptically, his hand on his chin.
Tuen Chung turned to meet Ryu, swinging his arm as he turned in hope to hit the little pest.
Ryu kicked the arm as it arrived with such force it sent Tuen spinning back around the way he had come.
Then, with the same leg still in the air, Ryu stretch his leg up as high as it would go and brought his heel down on the center of Tuen’s fore head.

Flashing lights filled Tuen’s eyes as he fell to the ground, and just before he lost consciousness, he decided ring fighting was not for him at all, and maybe he should take up Sumo.

The crowd reluctantly at first, but growing in volume and excitement, cheered the new winner.
“We have a new Champion!” The announcer screamed into the mic. “But do we have any new challengers?”

Fei Long edged his way closer to the ring. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so boring after all.