The entire hall falls silent, still trying to grasp what just happened. Even the commentators are lost for words.
The steady, monotonous rhythm that had ruled the fight for nearly ten minutes has shattered in an instant, so sudden it caught everyone off guard.
Not just Junpei, not just the red corner, but everyone in the arena.
Finally, one commentator finds his voice, though it trembles. "Oh, down! Junpei's down! How… how did it come to this? Did he slip?"
"I'm not sure," the other stammers. "But he looked off balance just before Aramaki seized the opening and hit him with those heavy shots."
"What a turn! After struggling all this time just to get into the fight, Aramaki suddenly breaks through and scores a knockdown!"
"Fluke or not, I don't know… but the real question now is, can Junpei get up from that? He looks hurt, not gonna lie."
Murmurs swell across the hall as Coach Junji shouts from the red corner, trying to rouse his fighter.
