From Kayla's Perspective:

Michael and Kayla grew up in Fairfield and always seemed to be in the same places at the same time but never met until June 2018 at their workplace, ICON.

Kayla started work and heard about this guy who was on PTO traveling Australia and she was intrigued to see firsthand this international man of mystery. Fast forward to Michael's return where they introduced themselves at the printer where Kayla not only grabbed her items but Michael's as well (classic awkward office exchange). From there, they'd go to happy hours, eat lunch and Kayla would go to Michael for help, which started a friendship.

A few months into their friendship Michael decided he was moving to Fort Lauderdale where they opened up the 2nd ICON office. Knowing that Michael would be moving they started hanging out every weekend where they went to vineyards, ax throwing, and to breweries. Michael showed Kayla some of the best CT spots like Dew Drop and Kings Breakfast (RIP). As they grew closer like Michael's moving date they started wondering what's going to happen next?

February 15th, 2019 Michael asked Kayla to be his girlfriend despite the distance. Little did they know that year would be full of adventure and laughs. They traveled to North Carolina where Michael surprised Kayla with Panther tickets, a cruise to the Keys and Bahamas, they'd spend every day FaceTiming for hours and Kayla would visit Michael every other month where he'd show her the hot spots of Fort Lauderdale and what living in Florida was all about. While this chapter was new and exciting the distance had to come to an end. Finally Michael popped the "first" question of moving down to Florida with him. Kayla falling in love with Florida but even more so with Michael jumped at the chance.

The two moved in together February 2020 and have been living the dream and enjoying the Florida sun ever since.

In the interest of keeping all relationship milestones in February, Michael proposed to Kayla February 3rd, 2023 and yet another reason we will be gathering February 23rd, 2024.

From Mike's Perspective (the REAL story):

In 1975, the heavyweight boxing world champion, Apollo Creed, announces plans to hold a title bout in Philadelphia during the upcoming United States Bicentennial. However, he is informed five weeks from the fight date that his scheduled opponent Mac Lee Green is unable to compete due to an injured hand. With all other potential replacements booked up or otherwise unavailable, Creed decides to spice things up by giving a local contender a chance to challenge him.

Creed selects Mike Astolfi, an Italian American journeyman southpaw boxer who fights primarily in small gyms and works as a collector for a loan shark, on the basis of his nickname: The Italian Stallion. Mike meets with promoter George Jergens assuming that Creed is seeking local sparring partners. Reluctant at first, Mike eventually agrees to the fight which will pay him $150,000. Mike undergoes several weeks of unorthodox training, such as using sides of beef as punching bags.

Mike is later approached by Mickey Goldmill, a former bantamweight fighter turned trainer, whose gym Mike frequents, about further training. Mike is not willing initially, as Mickey has not shown much interest in helping him before and saw him as a wasted talent, but eventually Mike accepts the offer.

Mike begins to build a romantic relationship with Kayla Scholz, a shy woman who is working part-time at the J&M Tropical Fish pet shop. Kayla's brother and Mike's best friend, Paulie, helps Mike get a date with his sister and offers to work as a corner man with him for the fight. Paulie becomes jealous of Mike's success, but Mike placates him by agreeing to advertise the meat packing business where Paulie works as part of the upcoming fight. Mike trains really hard for the championship fight and he is ready. The night before the fight, a sleepless Mike visits the Philadelphia Spectrum and begins to lose confidence. He confesses to Kayla that he does not believe he can win, but strives to go the distance against Creed, which no other fighter has done, to prove himself to everyone.

On New Year's Day, the fight is held with Creed making a dramatic entrance dressed as George Washington and then Uncle Sam. Taking advantage of his overconfidence, Mike knocks him down in the first round—the first time that Creed has ever been knocked down. Humbled and worried, Creed takes Mike more seriously for the rest of the fight, though his ego never fully fades. The fight goes on for the full fifteen rounds, with both combatants sustaining various injuries. Mike, with hits to the head and swollen eyes, requires his right eyelid to be cut to restore his vision. Apollo, with internal bleeding and a broken rib, struggles to breathe. As the fight concludes, Creed's superior skill is countered by Mike's apparently unlimited ability to absorb punches and his dogged refusal to go down. As the final bell sounds, with both fighters embracing each other, they promise each other there will be no rematch.

After the fight, the sportscasters and the audience go wild. Jergens announces over the loudspeaker that the fight was "the greatest exhibition of guts and stamina in the history of the ring", and Mike calls out repeatedly for Kayla, who runs down and Paulie distracts security to help her get into the ring. As Jergens declares Creed the winner by virtue of a split decision, Mike and Kayla embrace and profess their love for each other, not caring about the outcome of the fight.

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