Truth be told, Griffin wasn't weak at all. With solid technique, superb evasions, and that annoying Switch Stance, he could have easily lasted two more rounds if he'd just held on.
Unless Jason Luo had triggered Unyielding Body right from the start, this match was won purely on momentum—he overpowered Griffin with sheer presence.
"Reputation always casts a long shadow."
For example, if Jason Luo's opponent had been Carl Frazier or the top-ranked Yorkliel, he never would have dared to fight this recklessly.
Winning this round immediately changed the situation. Back in the locker room, besides the congratulatory calls from friends and family, Pedro and Raul received countless texts and emails from strangers. Jason Luo had already drawn the attention of several small and mid-tier professional promotion companies.
But Raul wasn't naive. This wasn't the time to engage with them. Jason Luo was in great form and had a real chance at breaking into the Top 16. They couldn't afford to reveal their intentions too soon.
Jason Luo also received messages of congratulations from Tony, Mr. Brown, and Dr. Miao. After replying quickly, his phone rang again. Checking the caller ID, he was surprised—it was Tannika, the girl he'd met the other day. After a brief hesitation, he picked up.
On the other end, Tannika's voice carried a hint of excitement.
"Jason, it's me, Tannika. Haha, remember me? I came to watch your match! Wow, you were so fierce! You actually forced your opponent to surrender! I never imagined you'd be that strong in the ring. Congratulations! Because of you, I think I've fallen in love with boxing."
Jason Luo glanced at his coach and Raul, both busy on their own calls, then lowered his voice.
"Of course I remember. What made you suddenly decide to watch a boxing match?"
"The newspaper! I saw your photo in the paper. They were all praising you, so I thought I'd come see for myself. I never expected you'd scare your opponent into submission so quickly. You were amazing! So, are you planning to win the championship?"
"Uh... Tannika, I wouldn't dare think that. Honestly, I'm not that strong..."
"Hehe, you're really humble. Anyway, I won't take up your time. I've got plans with my girlfriends, but I'll definitely come cheer for you again next time. Bye!"
The line went dead.
Jason Luo froze for a moment. He put away his phone, still feeling a faint sweetness linger inside
...
By the third round of the knockout stage, the number of fighters had dropped sharply. The locker room no longer felt so tense, and there was no need to rush when changing.
After everything was settled, Pedro suggested that Jason Luo and Raul stay to watch a few matches. At this stage, there was no such thing as an easy draw. Only the strongest remained, and watching their fights was the best way to gauge real combat strength. Files and data could only tell so much.
Jason Luo and Raul nodded in agreement. Because of health reasons, Coach Pedro couldn't stay longer. After seeing him off, they returned to the arena and joined up with Tony to watch the matches.
They watched seven or eight bouts that afternoon. Jason Luo grew increasingly tense—the competition was stacked with talent. Getting Griffin as an opponent had been pure luck. By now, every boxer had their own unique advantages and distinctive styles.
Who would his next opponent be?
It was during this stretch that Jason Luo first saw the top-ranked fighter, Yorkliel, in action. The man was terrifying. He used only his front-hand jab to keep his opponent at bay, and just before the end of the first round, he timed two rear-hand shots perfectly to put his opponent on the canvas. Judging by his relaxed expression, he still had plenty in reserve...
Watching from ringside, Jason Luo shook his head slowly. Even without stepping into the ring, he knew—with his current strength, facing Yorkliel would be brutal...
From his fight with Griffin, Jason Luo gained two points in Dodge & Anticipation, two points in Reaction, one point in Footwork, and one point in Boxing Technique—six attribute points in total. Not bad, considering how easily he won.
That night, Jason Luo lay awake, restless. After watching so many matches, he felt even more pressure to establish his own boxing style...
Earlier, he had tried imitating Gossagen's relentless offensive style, and it had worked fairly well. But while it might work against technical fighters, it wouldn't hold up against boxers with raw power.
Maybe the style needed to be tempered with calm observation and other elements—but Jason Luo wasn't sure how to make it work...
Although his win was starting to set him apart from the competition, under Pedro's strict discipline, he ignored all distractions and devoted himself fully to training.
The decisive battles were coming, and Coach Pedro emphasized three priorities: Punch Speed, superb evasion, and heavy punch power.
Pedro personally handled the first two, while Brown was responsible for power training.
Punch Speed training meant shadow boxing in front of a mirror. Each punch had to be thrown with full force, retracted quickly, and the guard restored before striking again.
It was exhausting and difficult. The coach patiently corrected his form and taught him how to coordinate his breathing...
The evasion drills were even harder. Pedro hung six or seven small sandbags and set them swinging. Jason Luo had to slip and weave his way through them nonstop.
At first it wasn't too bad, but after four or five passes his vision blurred and nausea hit.
Pedro taught him to rely on other senses—listening to the wind, spotting patterns, sharpening subconscious judgment.
For heavy punch training, Brown was even stricter. He didn't just work on Jason Luo's rear hand, but also demanded power in both fists. His front-hand had to deliver a threatening jab and a left hook to the body.
Jason Luo realized the harsher his coaches were, the better he performed. The more success he achieved, the higher their standards became...
Days of nonstop training left Jason Luo feeling like he'd shed a layer of skin.
Finally, on the afternoon before the match, the torture ended.
"Alright, the fight's tomorrow. Rest this afternoon and recover your energy. Clear your mind. I won't be there tomorrow—you'll be coached by old Brown instead. I need to rest while I can. I'm getting old... I just don't have the energy anymore."
Jason Luo's chest tightened. He had grown so used to Pedro's presence that without him, he felt a sense of unease. He was about to speak, but Pedro pressed him down firmly.
"Don't worry, kid. Brown's got far more big-match experience than I do. Several of his fighters have become world champions. You just focus and make me proud—I'll be waiting at home for your good news."
At that moment, the sternness in the coach's face faded, replaced by warmth and kindness.
Jason Luo looked at Pedro, whose face seemed far more worn than usual. Words failed him—he could only nod, hard and determined...