The red corner feels tight with unspoken strain as Coach Yoshizawa crouches in front of Yanagimoto, his presence heavy in the narrow space between rounds.
"You keep chasing the head," Yoshizawa says. "You want to wipe that ugly grin off his face so badly you've forgotten what actually breaks a man."
Yanagimoto flicks his eyes up at him, blinks once, and the truth settles in. His jaw tightens as pride and ego push back together, because he knows it's true.
He wants to end the fight his way, the way he believes a champion should, by breaking that ugly grin and proving his boxing is superior.
"I know why you're doing it," Yoshizawa continues, eyes never leaving his fighter. "You want to fight the way you've trained your whole life. But it isn't working now."
Yoshizawa leans in closer and lowers his voice. "Stop chasing the head. Close the distance. Take a punch if you have to, and drag him into infighting where you can punish his body. The body doesn't disappear like the head."
