After settling his mindset, Pedro had Jason Luo start training with the hired Southpaw sparring partner to get used to the style.
The moment they put on their protective gear and touched gloves, Jason Luo immediately noticed the difference. Strictly speaking, opponents like this were rare. They didn't really have a conventional lead hand—both hands could act as the main weapon, with the left being quicker and more active.
The sparring partner was light, only 61 kilograms and 175 centimeters tall. Against Jason Luo, he posed little real threat. Still, his Punch Speed was sharp, and Jason Luo wasn't yet adapted to the style. Even though he focused on his guard, he still got clipped several times by the left hand.
The punches weren't powerful, but they were irritating. Without realizing it, Jason Luo started throwing harder shots. Two heavy punches broke through, and the sparring partner took the brunt. His guard failed to fully block, the blows slammed into his protective gear, and he stumbled back several steps, nearly falling...
Strength and weight go hand in hand. As the old saying goes, "A big body doesn't lack strength." Seeing Jason Luo losing composure, the coach quickly called for a stop.
"Don't rush," he reminded. "The left hand isn't really hard to defend against—it just takes adjustment. Keep your guard up. Earlier you dropped your hand mid-attack, that's how he caught you."
Jason Luo realized he'd lost his cool. He quickly went to help the sparring partner up, who gave a wry smile and said it was fine.
When training resumed, Pedro whispered to Brown, "He'll just have to get used to the left hand. What we really need to fix is his technical disadvantage."
Brown nodded. "Exactly. It's impossible to raise his technique across the board in such a short time. Our only option is to win with strategy."
"Oh? What do you have in mind?"
"My thought is this: Carl is Joe Frazier's descendant, from a boxing family. He's entering as a seeded fighter, so he's here with a must-win mentality. We attack that mentally. Push him into anger. That way he'll get impatient and try to force a win with close-range aggression. Only then will Jason have a chance."
Pedro nodded repeatedly. "Frazier's just 21, the perfect age to be hot-blooded. I think this could work. If that's the case, then we'll go with..."
He paused deliberately, exchanged a look with Brown, and the two said together, "The Iron-Man Tactic!"
"Ha ha..."
Up in the ring, Jason Luo heard their carefree laughter and couldn't help feeling puzzled. When he glanced down, he immediately took another left from the sparring partner. This time the sparring partner hadn't pulled back in time and laughed while apologizing.
Jason Luo fired a punch in return, but at his current level, the sparring partner's power was hardly threatening...
During a break, the coach laid out the preliminary plan. "First, we have to admit it—you and Carl have a real gap in technical skill. That's the biggest headache! If he boxes purely technical, piling up points, you'll be in real danger."
He was right. That was exactly what Jason Luo feared. Carl's Punch Speed was faster, his technique sharper, plus he had dangerous close-range ability and a heavy punch as his finisher. Jason Luo doubted he could even break through Carl's defense. And even if he did, there was no guarantee he'd come out on top.
"So the only way is to win by surprise. Provoke him into brawling with you. Only then can you look for chances in the exchange."
Jason Luo's interest spiked. If he could pull that off, losing wasn't a certainty. His physical Strength and close-range ability were top notch, and he still had two Free Attribute Points and Unyielding Body in reserve. In a brawl, he'd have plenty to work with!
"But how do I provoke him?"
Brown grinned. "That's where your acting comes in. As a seeded fighter, Carl definitely doesn't rate you. His real target is Yorkliel, the top seed. So in the first round, his plan will be to eliminate you quickly and conserve his state for the finals."
Jason Luo nodded. It made sense, even if it stung a little.
"We flip that on him. Don't let him get what he wants! Your job is simple—go in there making it clear you're not aiming to win, only refusing to fall! Stall him, show absolute determination to last all four rounds. Tell me, wouldn't Carl lose his temper?"
"This..." Jason Luo put himself in Carl's shoes and instantly understood. What a vicious plan!
Carl, like him, was stepping on the big stage for the first time. In front of tens of thousands of fans, with TV and online broadcasts—what young fighter doesn't want to dominate, showcase their style and power? But if the opponent just played stubborn, refusing to go down and dragging the fight out, who could stay calm?
Brilliant!
Jason Luo's eyes lit up. "I get it! If he's desperate to win, he'll attack aggressively. That's my chance—almost the same as when I fought Royerson..."
Brown shook his head. "Not the same. Against Royerson, by the time he realized it, you already had the initiative. He had no choice but to keep fighting. This time, the initiative stays with Carl. Jason, you'll have to keep provoking him, keep him angry. If he cools down, your chances drop close to zero."
Jason Luo understood. Compared to Royerson, this was only a loose trap. If Carl snapped out of it, the plan would collapse.
Seeing that Jason Luo understood, Pedro said, "Alright, we'll iron out the details later. For now, aside from adapting to the Southpaw, you'll have to step up your defensive work. No holes in your guard!"
"Yes, Coach. This time, I'll defend until my opponent breaks." Jason Luo finally felt some confidence return, his fighting spirit reignited.
With renewed energy, his sparring looked different. He focused carefully on reading the left hand's rhythm and the finer points of slipping it. Soon, it wasn't so easy for the sparring partner to land clean.
Pedro watched a while, nodded slightly, then turned to Brown to discuss the details of their counter-strategy...