Royerson snapped back to his senses and quickly launched a counterattack, trying to make up the points he'd lost in the long-range exchange.
But Jason Luo immediately adjusted his tactics, retreating step after step and circling the ring.
This put Royerson in a tough spot. Jason Luo was clearly forcing him to charge—otherwise, he wouldn't get any chance to recover those points.
What a cheap tactic!
Royerson had been boxing for years, always defending against others' rushes forward. He never imagined he'd be forced into counter-charging. But at this point, he had no choice. Luckily, his inside fighting wasn't bad. Fine then—let's fight!
Every second in the ring mattered.
Royerson didn't hesitate. He charged straight at Jason Luo. Jason's heart leapt with joy—this was exactly what he'd been waiting for! He stopped retreating and met him head-on.
The two collided, instantly breaking into a furious melee. Blows flew back and forth. Neither dared to let their guard down, both carefully avoiding heavy shots. To the crowd, it looked like a brutal slugfest, but in truth, neither had landed a decisive blow...
Jason Luo was startled. Royerson's infighting was this strong?
Good thing Mr. Brown's strategy was in place. If he'd fought a normal opening—charging through Royerson's jabs and failing to gain an edge on the inside—he would have lost for sure. Only by activating Unyielding Body at a critical moment could he have turned it around.
"The kid gained a point advantage and quickly pulled back—is he trying to outbox Royerson? Oh? Royerson charges! Jason responds! They collide and unleash a storm of punches! What looked like a tactical match has turned into a raw slugfest. This is exciting..."
The crowd roared with delight.
Mr. Brown, face flushed with confidence, shouted, "Good, Jason! Power through it—don't hold back! Hit him hard!"
In the ring, after a few exchanges, Royerson grew more relaxed. Jason's close-range fighting wasn't so terrifying after all. Perfect—he'd claw back the points here!
He stepped up the intensity, attacking full force. Jason sensed the surge and refused to back down. If he couldn't even win in close quarters, he might as well go home and babysit!
He rallied his Stamina and went all out.
At the same time, he activated his Minor Title. Instantly, his aura and gaze changed. His defense slackened, but his offense exploded, driving Royerson back step by step...
Whoa!
Royerson was stunned. What was with this guy? He fought like a madman, eyes blazing with fury!
He quickly slid aside, retreating to create distance. But as soon as he backed off, Jason Rodactivated the Title and returned to normal, not pressing the chase. If he had, Royerson's Front-Hand Punch would have been deadly.
Royerson studied him carefully. He didn't look crazy otherwise. Why did he change so drastically in close quarters?
Was it just his imagination?
He tried again.
But the moment he rushed in, Jason slipped back into that same frenzied state. Under the wild, bloodthirsty aura, his attacks became even sharper. Royerson not only failed to gain ground but even lost a few points.
Despair set in. The initiative was Jason Luo's, and he couldn't beat him on the inside. This... even a god couldn't save him now.
After two rounds of attrition, the bell rang—the first round was over.
Back in the corner, Brown was delighted. "Good! You've seized the initiative, Jason. That kid Royerson must be miserable now. Next, guard against desperation. In close range, keep pressing him down, but watch his Cross—don't let him counter. Remember, each knockdown is worth two big points!"
Jason nodded while catching his breath.
Brown's voice was full of fire. "Heh, kid, if you can hold steady, victory's already in sight. The old devil will be thrilled when he hears the news. Don't drop the ball—keep going!"
Raul wiped his sweat with a towel. "Yeah, Jason, I've got a big bonus waiting. Just make the Top 16. You can do it—I believe in you!"
Thinking of Coach Pedro filled Jason Luo with strength. He had to win this fight.
"Ding!" The bell rang—the second round began.
This time, Royerson wasted no time and charged straight in. He knew he'd walked into Jason's trap. There was no other chance—he had to gamble everything. After all, if he landed a knockout blow, any point advantage would be meaningless!
Jason Luo knew Royerson was hunting for a KO, but he wasn't afraid. If he got knocked down, Royerson would only be in bigger trouble!
Once Unyielding Body activated, Jason's power would skyrocket. Royerson couldn't endure it.
Still, Jason kept a close eye on that Cross. With the tournament nearing its climax, future opponents might be watching from the stands. Best to keep some trump cards hidden for later.
It was a brutal slugfest. No clinches, no fouls—just heavy punches in close quarters!
The crowd went wild. Jason could feel Royerson's punches carried weight, but as long as they didn't land on vital spots, he could still take them.
Royerson earned his respect. For a half-technical fighter, his toughness was incredible. Even when Jason's heavy punches landed, he'd grit his teeth and endure. The fact he'd lasted this long showed how much punishment he could take.
But Royerson was at his limit, teetering on despair. Jason was locked on his Cross—there was no opening. And his opponent's durability was outrageous. If this kept up, his stamina would burn out. Then what?
Gritting his teeth, Royerson decided. It was time for his ultimate move. Life or death would be decided in one shot!
He retreated a few steps, then suddenly spun with full force, unleashing a massive roundhouse swing at Jason's head!
Jason, seeing him retreat, relaxed. His own stamina was draining, so he welcomed the chance to slow the pace. He gave up the chase—and that decision saved his life.
Royerson's spinning backfist was the kind of desperate counter that could turn defeat into victory if it landed clean—almost impossible to avoid if you pressed recklessly.
But Jason hadn't pursued. That ruined it. Royerson's punch fell just short. In that instant, Jason only saw a shadow hurtling toward him. No time to dodge or block—he instinctively jerked his head back. "Whoosh!" A gust of wind tore past his nose, lifting his hair!
Jason stumbled back, drenched in cold sweat.
Damn! If that had connected, he'd be crippled if not dead. What a terrifying spinning backfist!