Bloodhounds: White Ash

Joe Yabuki was once a champion. At 20, he became the OPBF Bantamweight Champion, conquering the Asia Pacific boxing scene. But his brutal fighting style and harsh weight cuts took their toll. After his devastating match against Jose Mendoza for the WBC and WBA belts at age 21, Joe's body gave out. Parkinsonism—triggered by Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy from repeated head trauma—forced him into retirement. His trembling hands, deteriorating depth perception, and failing reflexes ended the career of a world-class boxer. Six years later, at 27, Joe is broke. Every cent from his championship days has gone toward treatment in Seoul, searching for a cure that doesn't exist. When his doctor delivers the final verdict—that his condition is permanent and will only worsen—Joe's last hope dies with it. That same night, while eating at a small restaurant run by a kind elderly woman, Joe witnesses a loan shark scheme. Team Manager Yoo In-yeong from "Smile Capital" attempts to trap the old woman in a predatory contract disguised as pandemic relief. Joe intervenes, exposing the hidden clauses. His decision to stand up for someone else—despite having nothing left himself—sets off a chain of events that will drag him back into a world he thought he'd left behind. As thugs surround the restaurant, Joe Yabuki must face a question: Can a broken champion, whose hands shake and reflexes have dulled, still fight? His glory has vanished. His spirit has dimmed. His body is failing him. But Joe decides to burn once more. Burn until he becomes white ash. --- Bloodhounds: White Ash is a story about a fallen champion's struggle against his failing body, loan sharks, and the ghosts of his past—a tale of one man's decision to ignite what little fire remains, even if it means burning himself to nothing. --- Copyright Disclaimer Fanfiction Notice: This is a fanfiction work based on the Netflix K-Drama Bloodhounds (2023) and its source webtoon. All rights to Bloodhounds, including its characters, settings, and storylines, belong to their respective creators, writers, producers, and copyright holders. This work is not affiliated with, authorized, or endorsed by the original creators or Netflix. Cover Image: The cover image used for this work is not owned by the author and remains the property of its original copyright holder. All rights to the cover image belong to the respective owner. The image is used for illustrative purposes only. Crossover Characters: The character Joe Yabuki and related characters (Jose Mendoza, etc.) are originally from the manga and anime series Ashita no Joe (Tomorrow's Joe), created by Asao Takamori (writer) and Tetsuya Chiba (artist). All rights to these original characters belong to their respective creators and copyright holders. This is a transformative fanfiction created for non-commercial purposes as a tribute to both Bloodhounds and Ashita no Joe. No copyright infringement is intended.