That finally gets a reaction around the gym. Kenta, who has just finished removing his headgear after the sparring round, frowns slightly and walks closer to the ring apron.
"Wait, what?" he asks. "Aleksandr Volkov? The WBA champion?"
Aki nods eagerly, clearly pleased that she has everyone's attention now. "Yes. That Aleksandr Volkov."
Kenta scratches the back of his head, still unsure whether to take the statement seriously. "Hold on," he says. "Is this just another rumor floating around online? You know how those boxing blogs get when they need clicks."
Aki shakes her head immediately. "No, this isn't one of those. It's already becoming a big topic overseas." She raises her phone as if it were evidence. "He said it himself during an interview earlier today."
Hiroshi steps away from the heavy bag, wiping sweat from his forehead with a towel as he walks closer. "What exactly did he say?"
