Red Star

Chapter 16

After the performance of the first persons, the presentation of the final pairs began. There were three age groups: the younger group was 12 years old, the middle group was 13-14 years old, and the older group was 15-16 years old. Each group was divided into three "weights". I had to box in the middle group, in the "top weight".

Couples in all groups were introduced in turn and the audience greeted the boxers with cheers and applause. The distinguished guests sat in the first row, one of the hastily erected stands, which in the first days of the competition, the hall was not in sight! Now they filled a large part of the hall and presented the audience with an excellent opportunity to see everything, without the slightest interference.

After the presentation of the pairs, a TV reporter with a microphone, followed by a multi-meter cord, got into the ring for some reason and started trying to ask the young boxers some basic questions: about their plans in sports, Hobbies and grades at school. Next to him, also with his microphone, was the host who presented the final pairs. Thus, the answers of the athletes were heard throughout the hall.

Although there was nothing to listen to, the guys were already desperately worried, and there was also a journalist with a microphone and a camera! Therefore, in response to the simplest questions, I heard something indistinct and monosyllabic.

The young journalist looked around our row, full of despair - the interview before the final did not come out at all. Suddenly he caught my mocking look at his hopeless attempts and turned to me as if I were his last chance.

- And, introduce yourself, please?!

- Please, - politely answer him-Viktor Seleznev, seventh" A " class, 81st school.

There was a loud yell and clapping from one of the stands. I turn my head-your mother! I see my seventh " A " there, a couple of teachers and the headmistress. That is because the "trapped"! But, after a moment of confusion, I pull myself together and answer another question from the journalist:

- I Study well, almost on one five.

In this quarter, it was absolutely true, and very different from the slurred "normal" of other boxers, to a similar question.

- What other Hobbies do you have in life besides Boxing? - glad that it turns out, at least some conversation, the journalist continued to ask questions.

"I'm writing a book, I'm writing poetry, I'm writing songs," I said, and the audience responded with a surprised hum. I glance at the VIP podium, where they are also listening to our conversation with interest.

- What are your poems and songs about? - persistent "shark pen" felt a "gold mine" for a conversation with a boxer.

- About different things: about our Homeland, about sports, about childhood. I even composed music for some of them, so I hope that one of our famous singers will perform them.

"Who would you like, for example?" - with a smile, the reporter asks.

- Well, I have a good song for our wonderful Leningrad singer Lyudmila Senchina, I think it will become very popular in her performance! - I notice a smile on Romanov's face, after all, maybe they don't lie about his Shura-Mura with Senchina.

- Does Boxing prevent you from studying and writing poetry? - the journalist insists.

I keep a serious expression on my face - on the contrary, quite the opposite. I used to have a bad memory and was even laughed at for it.

- And now, as you took up Boxing, your memory has become better? - the journalist doesn't understand.

- No. Now stop laughing! "I make honest eyes. The journalist doesn't get it. There was silence in the hall, too, and then a loud laugh. I look up and see that it's laughing... Block. A wave of laughter from the VIP-tribune spreads around the hall, as you understand my subtle humor!

The journalist finally wishes us all success and gets out of the ring...

...The first matches started with the Junior group. The guys did not bear the excitement of the final, the pressure of a Packed hall and TV cameras. They waved their hands and jumped at each other like roosters. Then two fights were held in "my" middle group, it was at least a little like Boxing. Then the fight in the first weight of the senior group was announced.

When Lech and I, sitting in specially designated places for athletes, were watching this fight, an unfamiliar police captain approached us and invited both of us to follow him. I tensed.

After leaving the hall, and following the captain down the corridor, we finally came to a large office, where we found the following picture. Three men in suits and a fat bald man in a General's tunic sat at a long table. The General was constantly wiping his red face with a large white handkerchief and panting heavily, although the office was not at all hot. Before them stood a grim-faced Retluev, Shota-Misiunas ' trainer, and a police Lieutenant Colonel.

- And I'll reiterate - angrily and in a raised voice broadcast General sports festival in the presence of the Deputy Minister of internal Affairs of the USSR and the top party leadership of the city I you good not allow, on the basis of some suspicion and unfounded accusations.

"Comrade major-General," a Lieutenant Colonel I didn't know who was standing next to Retluev began to say. We have an official response from the Riga police Department, Juris Misiunas is 16 years old and according to the rules, he cannot box with a fourteen-year-old teenager.

- Comrade Ananidze, - misyunasovsky Shota entered, we have all the documents on hand that Yura Misyunas is 14 years old, captain Retluev is just afraid that his pupil will lose, and all we want is a fair fight, in Boxing everything is decided in the ring, and squabbles are not made under the Minister, the first Secretary of the regional Committee and television.

- Shota, you are a fraud and not a trainer, and about the honesty not to tell you,- she said dully Releev.

"Labeling is for the weak," Shota said immediately.

"Stop it," the General thumped the table with his fist, "And..." he exclaimed, only now noticing Lech and me, " come here, boy.

I went to the table. The men in plainclothes looked at each other in confusion and were silent, and the General started for me:

- do you want to become a winner, like a real man, or do you just write poems? Here is your coach trying to remove you from the final, if you do not enter the ring, then your opponent will be recognized as the winner - the General almost shouted all this absurd tirade in my face. A fourteen-year-old. That's another Georgian b***h!

- I won't let you put a teenager against a grown guy. This is a children's sport, not fights without rules! - also raised his voice Releev.

"You forget yourself, captain! - the red-faced General was already shouting-silence!

- Well, I'll go to the ring, - I say looking this bastard in the eye - only I have one request for You.

"What is it?" the fat-bellied bastard stared at me with swollen eyes.

"Could you tell me your last name, comrade General?"

"What," the General's voice beams with self - satisfaction, " do you want to complain about me, you little slanderer?"

- No, - I'm patient and calm - I just want to hear Your last name again. You don't care anymore, but I just want to ... LAUGH!

In the silence that followed, I turn around and leave the office, dragging Lech with me.

***

I didn't regret my decision. If I don't get in the ring, then my whole conversation with the TV reporter didn't make sense. They won't remember. Will not win the fight - won't give, won't give - don't remember for sure! And it is vital for me to communicate with them, at least at the awards ceremony. I already know exactly what I will say to both Churbanov and Romanov.

So we must fight. What's the use of burying yourself ahead of time? I have a strong punch, and I can hold the punch myself. If everything is resolved quickly, the wound should not interfere. After all, Misiunas is only a 16-year-old kid, and I am an adult man who knows the theory of world Boxing well, who has been doing it for many years, occasionally, and has been actively training for six months under the guidance of the Cuban "collection". Yes, and these conspiring Georgians, face in the s**t would dip...

... Our fight was put last. I didn't have time to prepare before. While my hands were being bandaged, Retluev tried to dissuade me, but I shook my head and said:

"I need to do it myself...

When they were done, I took the analgin out of my trousers and took three pills, washed down with water from the tap. Ryleev looked at the package and said nothing. Put on gloves. Several times hit the air, in the left side immediately began to pull. So we need to finish everything quickly. Poprygat.

- Ready.

- Then went - Releev opened the door of the locker room...

... The audience greeted our couple with a joyful hum and applause. Many people remember me, others liked the blond Misiunas. In addition, the fight was the last and the young fans pinned their last hopes on us for a "bloody draaaaaachka" - as one highly paid American gentleman exclusively screamed in the ring to the gray hair.

I decided to turn on "professional" and joyfully greeted the audience with a wave of my hands. He personally greeted his class, eliciting deafening screams from his classmates in response. Jokingly saluted the VIP-tribune, earning in response the benevolent smiles of Churbanov and Romanov, the rest, on it, I was frankly on figs. And, as the apotheosis of my emancipation-I blew a kiss to some young journalist near the TV cameras. This has already caused everyone to laugh! And her reddened ears.

While I was doing nothing in the ring, a scowling Misiunas stood in his corner and glared at me with watery eyes. He wasn't waving at anyone today, and he was clearly uncomfortable with my confident demeanor. Surely, the story with the exposure of fraud with age, too, pretty frayed his nerves.

The referee invited us to the center of the ring and quickly said "mandatory program". I checked the presence of the cap and indicated to greet each other. I pointedly put my arm around Misiunas, who threw off his hands and pushed me away. A murmur of disapproval ran through the room. Test...

Gong and the Boxing team! I rushed at the Baltic like a tiger and rained down a hail of blows on his defense, and when he raised his arms higher than he should have, I ducked and hit the body. Misiunas bent over and fell to his knees. The audience howled with delight! Still - the first knockdown for nine fights. The referee opened the account.