Ahiga Montejo
Ahiga Montejo was a prodigy boxer that rose quickly in the world boxing rankings, becoming a champion at a very young age. However, for reasons unclear, he unexpectedly left the game. He was nowhere near his peak and rumors ran rampant as to why he suddenly disappeared. Much of what happened to Ahiga during a span of years directly after his disappearance is still unclear, even to the few people he has kept in touch with.
It wasn’t until after his unknown years Ahiga ran across a young Fleet Blackwood, eventually deciding to take Fleet under his wing and train the boy along side his good friend Tony. Tony and Ahiga have been amigos since they were teens, with Tony being one of the few people Ahiga has remained “unhidden” from since his disappearance from boxing, and the world in general, all that time ago. It is Tony’s hope that Fleet will be the light to bring Ahiga back from the shadows, into the world once more. He feels Ahiga has so much to give, so much knowledge to spread. And Tony wants nothing more than to see his lifelong friend defeat his inner demons and be the man he once was and still views him to be.
Although he can be long winded at times, Ahiga’s philosophical ways have been deeply affective on Fleet. In fact, Fleet himself doubts if anyone else could have gotten him where he is today. What Ahiga calls his 9 Principles of Life have been the foundation of his teachings throughout his time as Fleet’s mentor. These Principles are his way of connecting life with boxing and everything in between.
Much of Ahiga’s philosophy comes from his Native American heritage, which he holds dear. His past has much sorrow, as does that of his ancestors and their fate. But it is Ahiga’s personal belief of the incorporation of the now which allows him to push past his short comings and the tragic history of his kin. He believes in a balance of the old ways with the new. But he also recognizes how often the old ways are ignored, with the new ways dominating and clouding people’s minds. Ahiga sees that a connection between new and old ways will always be present. Therefore, there always must be balance, for no one way is totally right and each way is dependent on the other. Each way is important. This balance is the same for all things in life.
Despite Ahiga’s beliefs, he remains in inner turmoil to find his own balance. Lucky for him his philosophical characteristics share space with quite a cooky sense of humor, which helps the old spirit cling to optimism, always seeing the best in any situation. Hopefully Ahiga will one day find his peace.
But on this evening of events it is what Ahiga has taught his pupil that truly matters. What Fleet has learned and incorporated into himself from Ahiga’s Principles will come to be of great importance on this peculiar night in which the young man must test his might against a plethora of challenges. And with Fleet’s obstacles too comes an ultimate test for Ahiga’s teachings.
