The Challenger Page #2

This ain't fighting.

Boxing is one of the hardest

sports in the world.

It requires

endurance, strategy,

technique.

I'm not looking for a fighter.

Show me your stance.

Feet shoulder-width apart.

Left foot forward.

Spread your feet

like a triangle.

Back foot always up.

These up, firm.

Okay. Throw a punch.

-What was that?

-What do you mean?

That's a straight right.

It's a power punch.

Where's the power?

Where does the power

in that punch come from?

-My arms.

-That's a jab, rookie.

Power punches

aren't thrown with your arms.

Okay, we're gonna

try this again.

This time, rotate your hips,

and shift your weight from

your back foot to your front.

Snap back immediately

and return to

defensive position.

Okay. Again.

Hips. Again.

Harder.

--Hips!

Swing your hips again.

--Harder!

--Harder, hips.

--Again!

--Harder!

Okay.

So, why are you here, kid?

I don't know.

I want to be somebody.

Sick of playing the lottery.

What'd you mean when you said

you used to fight?

I was 11. Was gonna start

private school in the fall.

And then I, uh,

got in my first fight.

Got kicked out of school.

Lost the scholarship.

Got in more schools,

more fights...

Never finished high school.

Never finished

anything really.

Been job-to-job ever since.

Why do you fight?

The right reasons.

You win?

Always.

I don't, uh,

train boxers anymore.

What do you mean?

What about...

What about

Maxwell and Terrence?

Exactly. I really

just run the laundromat.

My last real boxer

was Keenan Anderson.

After four years,

we were finally

gonna get a shot at the title.

But the other manager needed

a win for one of his fighters.

So, I matched him up

with another one of my guys.

Malik Jones.

He threw that fight.

I remember.

In three months,

I lost two fighters

and my reputation.

I'm sorry.

It's like playing

the lottery, kid. Dumb.

So, that's why

they call you "sneaks"?

Yeah.

When you

come in here tomorrow,

I want you to get

some new ones.

Tomorrow?

Those things

will ruin your back.

So, uh... that means

you're gonna train me.

I think it's time Hector

did some damn work

at that laundromat.

Thank you.

Okay.

So, um... I never got your

full name, or is it just "j"?

No, it's... it's Jaden.

Jaden Miller.

Jaden Miller?

Well, Jaden.

Same time tomorrow?

Yes, sir. I'll be here.

All right.

Jaden Miller.

Jaden Miller,

have you lost your mind?

I need to get us

back home, ma.

No. Not like that, j. No.

Uh, excuse me,

this ain't your place.

So, look. You go to this...

Uh, trainer...

I can't even watch

my own damn TV.

Regina, please. Hush, Regina.

Go and tell this man

that you're not

doing this anymore,

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