"Ha! This kid really put on an act. Looks like a bear on the outside, but sly as a fox on the inside—brilliant! To think of using that strategy in such a situation is truly remarkable. What a wonder. When I get the chance, I'll have to sit down with you and talk about performance art…" Wollers teased.
Jason Luo didn't care. So what if they figured it out? It wasn't against the rules. Throwing a fight would be match-fixing. Using tricks to win was perfectly normal.
He hadn't just fooled the audience—Pedro and Raul were nearly scared half to death too. When Jason Luo was getting pounded in the ring, they had both screamed themselves hoarse.
As soon as Jason Luo returned to the rest area, Raul grabbed him by the neck and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Amazing! That was incredible, kid! Who'd have thought someone who always looks so quiet and honest could be this cunning? Ha! But I love it!"
Pedro was equally thrilled. With Jason Luo's current technical ability, winning a straightforward exchange was extremely difficult. That made this victory even more precious.
"Excellent, just excellent, Jason! I've always said boxing isn't just about stamina—it's a sport of intelligence. Once you're in the knockout rounds, your opponents' skill level rises sharply. That's when you have to rely on adaptability, seizing every opening as it appears. Well done!"
It was the first time his coach had ever praised him so much, leaving Jason Luo stunned. The feeling was intoxicating...
After Cuban boxer Hado was carried off, the referee called Jason Luo over to announce his KO victory, securing him a place in the next round.
"Ding. Congratulations on another official victory. The Greedy Wolf talent has extracted 2 points in Footwork, 2 points in Reaction, 1 point in Rear-Hand Power, and 1 point in Punch Speed from your opponent's superior attributes. Please check promptly."
With this win, Jason Luo's amateur record stood at thirteen victories, twelve of them by knockout. But in the amateur world, such numbers weren't exceptional—Sugar Ray Robinson once went 89-0 as an amateur. That was true greatness.
The next match was scheduled for five days later, already in 2021. As soon as the team got back to the locker room, all their phones started ringing nonstop with congratulatory calls from friends and relatives.
The cramped space only added to the chaos. Nobody could ignore the calls, so everyone held their phones between their neck and shoulder while answering, all while struggling to take off gloves and change clothes—a complete mess.
The joy of victory was immense. Winning the first round meant Jason Luo had effectively broken into the top 300. But with that came pressure. His very first fight had nearly pushed him to the brink. What kind of battle awaited in the next round?
Jason Luo told Raul he wanted to take home the profiles of the top 500 fighters to prepare counter-strategies in advance. Raul checked with the coach, then nodded in agreement.
That night, Jason Luo studied the files alone in his room. He quickly realized the boxing world was full of talent and masters.
Some fighters specialized in control, others in counterpunching, some relied on agile Footwork, others on superb evasion... nearly everyone had their own style.
As he flipped through, Jason Luo came across his own profile. That was worth a careful look.
Jason Luo, age 18. Chicago-based Chinese-American boxer. Height: 184 cm. Reach: 187 cm. Weight: 76.9 kg. Excellent physical condition. Skills are balanced overall, but without a standout specialty.
Current amateur record: 12 wins, 11 by knockout.
Tournament results: Three straight wins in the preliminaries, five straight wins in the ranking rounds. Total of 18 points, overall ranking: 196th.
Jason Luo nodded slightly. The data held by the professional promotion companies seemed fairly accurate.
Compared to others, he lacked a standout trait. He could only rely on slightly better physical ability to push through. But as the tournament went on, that advantage was fading. Just like today's opponent, Hado—by this level, even technical fighters had strong physical attributes.
He kept flipping until one file caught his eye.
Tutkason, age 22. From the United Arab Emirates. Height: 176 cm. Reach: 180 cm. Weight: 78.2 kg. Heir to hidden wealth, but passionate about boxing from childhood. Solid technical ability with a dangerous rear-hand power punch.
Current amateur record: 23 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw.
Tournament results: Three straight wins in the preliminaries, five straight wins in the ranking rounds. Total of 20 points, overall ranking: 7th.
Jason Luo shook his head. To think someone would walk away from a life of luxury to box in America—and do so with such results—was baffling.
That night, he carefully reviewed every competitor's file, mentally casting each as a hypothetical opponent and studying counter-strategies.
He wasn't the only one. Over the next few days, with no way of knowing their next opponent, the coach and Brown also selected certain fighters from the profiles as mock opponents, designing targeted training for Jason Luo.
New Year's Day arrived. That evening, Grace came over, and the family shared a small reunion dinner to celebrate. Jason Luo handed Raul's 5,000 dollars bonus to Henry Luo for safekeeping, happily telling his father that his monthly salary had now risen to 7,600 dollars.
Boxing could indeed change a person's fate quickly. Life was starting to feel more hopeful. As the family chatted and laughed, Henry Luo asked Grace for her birthday, writing it down carefully on red paper. He folded it neatly and tucked it into a drawer.
Grace was puzzled.
Henry Luo chuckled. "Silly girl, I'm your father. I should know my daughter's birthday, shouldn't I? And one more thing—I'm setting a rule for you two. Whoever you date, they must be someone I can respect. That's non-negotiable."
Jason Luo laughed. "Dad, you're bringing this up way too early! We're still kids!"
"Exactly! I just turned eighteen…" Grace said, blushing.
But Henry Luo shook his head. "It's not too early—especially for you, Jason. You're already nineteen. If you meet the right person, I'd be happy to be a grandfather sooner rather than later, ha ha ha…"
...
The year 2021 had arrived. In two days, Jason Luo would step into the second round of the elimination tournament. Who would he face next?
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser