I looked carefully at the small ad.
"Take on our champion!" it read. "Win $5,000 in cash!"
Reading the details, it was pretty simple. I'd get in a fighting outfit and compete against the champion - a trim, toned, muscular woman who looked Oriental - and if I could knock her out or make her submit, I'd win the money. Her birth name was Hwa-Young Lee, but her ring name was Juri. That meant it would be a challenge -especially since the fight would be no holds barred, the only thing illegal would be a strike to the crotch.
But I had done some boxing and wrestling in high school and college, and I'd kept myself in good shape. I was only 27, a year younger than Ms. Lee. And while I wasn't on the verge of being homeless, my finances could definitely use the boost. So I called the number on the ad.
"Lee Enterprises."
"My name is Todd Rodgers. I saw your ad."
"And you wish to challenge Hwa-Young?"
"Yes."
"Do you need additional time to train, or can you come over tonight?"
Today was a Friday. I saw no reason not to do it immediately.
"I can do it tonight."
"Be at the address on the ad at 8 p.m., then. Bring ID, of course."
"Will do."
The address was out in the boonies. It was an isolated house. The living room was larger than normal and contained the ring I was to fight in. I was greeted by the woman who had spoken to me on the phone - Hwa-Young's mother. She checked my ID, then explained that her daughter made a good living fighting professionally, but also offered the challenge as a way to keep her skills polished. About one person every 10 days or so challenged her, on the average, and she hadn't lost one yet. Hwa-Young's late father, pure Korean just like his wife and daughter, had left them the house and enough money that they didn't need to work, but Hwa-Young loved to fight.
"Sign this wavier, please."
I skimmed it. It seemed to be standard boilerplate. I signed.
"She's never inflicted permanent damage on anyone. Did you bring your own outfit, or do you need to use one of ours?"
"I brought my own."
I was told where to change, and emerged three minutes later, naked except for my fighting trunks.
"My daughter, Hwa-Young Lee." She turned to her daughter. "Your challenger, Mr. Todd Rodgers."
"Delighted to meet you," Hwa-Young and I shook hands. She had a charming smile. "I do hope you enjoy tonight. It wasn't too hard to find this place, was it?"
"Not at all," I assured her.
"Ready to get in the ring?"
"Yes."
I stepped in at one corner. Hwa-Young slipped off her robe, revealing her fighting outfit - what seemed to be a bikini. She appeared to almost transform into another person entirely. The charming smile was gone, replaced by a snarl. Her body seemed to radiate anger.
"I, Juri, will make mincemeat of you!"
I shivered. A bell rang, and the fight was on. Hwa-Young's mom quickly made herself scarce.
Juri charged straight at me. I slipped to the side, got behind her and locked my arms around her. That didn't last long, as she used her tremendous strength to break out of my grasp. She launched a kick at me with astounding speed. I spun to avoid it, but it still grazed me.