Days passed in repetition. Under Pedro's guidance, Jason Luo's understanding of boxing deepened, and he gradually realized how many of his old ideas had been wrong.
He used to think boxing was all about head-on collisions—that was what made it thrilling. But his coach quickly corrected that misconception.
Pedro told him that for a boxer, whether moving from amateur to pro or climbing toward the peak of glory, countless fights were necessary. If every match relied only on brawling and brute force, no one could last long.
After all, boxers are still human. The head is the prime target in the ring, and after thousands of punches, the brain inevitably suffers lasting damage—a terrifying thought!
So no matter how tough you are, you must avoid taking heavy shots to the head in the ring. Accidents can happen at any time...
Pedro explained that amateur boxers had two possible paths to turn pro.
One was to steadily gain strength and reputation through constant matches until a professional management company noticed them. Then, by signing a contract and registering with a boxing association, they could officially turn pro.
The other was the Olympic route. A medal there naturally attracted management companies, allowing a direct transition into the professional circuit. It was considered a shortcut.
But Pedro wasn't impressed with that path. Those who came into the pro ring with Olympic halos often lacked the hard-earned grit of the boxing underworld. Their starting point looked higher, but in reality, few truly succeeded that way.
Jason was puzzled. "Coach, why do I have to sign with a management company? Can't I just compete independently?"
Pedro laughed at his simplicity. "Silly kid, boxing is the most lucrative sport in the world. It's fully commercialized. Once you go pro, you can only fight within the structure of major organizations. If you try to go as an independent, you wouldn't even know where the WBC's doors are—how would you get a fight? Opponent arrangements, promotion, venue rentals, ticket sales, appearance fees, advertising... Can you handle all that by yourself?"
"Even now, as an amateur, you rely on an agent. How much more so as a pro? Remember, since you've stepped into boxing, just train seriously. Don't worry about anything else. Keep winning, and earning tens of millions a year won't be just a dream!"
"What?" Jason was stunned. Tens of millions?
Pedro grinned. "Why so shocked? Not long ago, Mayweather and McGregor—'The Notorious'—each made over a hundred million in a single fight. But kid, that's still far away for you. Right now, you're just a rookie—and a slow rookie at that! Hard work is your only hope. Sharpen your weapons, strengthen your wings, and when you're ready, carve out your own sky."
Jason felt exhilarated, but muttered under his breath, "Coach, call me a rookie if you want, but am I really that dumb?"
"Not dumb? You've been practicing dodging for days and haven't improved at all. And the speed bag? Still can't find the rhythm. Of all the fighters I've trained, you're the slowest! Stop arguing and get back to training!"
"Okay!" Jason answered, diving back into his drills at the sound of Pedro's familiar roar.
"I've told you so many times—keep your dodges small! Just enough to avoid the vital spots... Keep your eyes locked on the opponent. That's when you'll spot their openings. Learn to find chances even in danger..."
"Good, faster punches... Yes! More power..."
Pedro's scolding sounded harsh, but he was actually pleased with Jason. The kid was hardworking, obedient, and learned quickly. The only drawback was his youth—at times he was still just a child. Even Pedro, known for his fierceness, sometimes found himself holding back.
When the morning session ended, Jason went to spar with Kamman as usual. But they didn't go all out every day—such intensity could only be sustained occasionally, otherwise neither could endure it.
In the ring, Jason was still helpless against Kamman's nimble footwork. Forced onto the defensive, his sunch speed and reaction lagged behind, turning him into little more than a punching bag.
Day after day, frustration built up until Jason even slammed his own head with his fist. Was he really that hopeless?
Seeing his outburst, Kamman laughed. "What's this? Training your Toughness by hitting yourself?"
"No... it's just too frustrating. Sparring with you makes me lose all my fighting spirit. If this were a real match, I'd want to throw in the towel..."
"Nonsense!" Kamman's tone suddenly sharpened. "Jason, as a boxer, the moment you think of surrender—even once—you lose your courage and drive forever. Defeat in the ring is normal, but you must never fear your opponent!"
"But..." Jason's face flushed red, but he couldn't find the words.
"I'll say it for you," Kamman continued earnestly. "You see me as your opponent and want to beat me to prove yourself. That's fine, completely natural. But when you couldn't find your rhythm, you got discouraged. Isn't that right?"
"Yes, exactly! Mr. Kamman, your footwork is too agile. My jab doesn't threaten you, and my power punches can't land. Can you give me some pointers?"
"Pointers?" Kamman chuckled. "Pointers on how to beat me?"
"That..." Jason froze. Right—who would ever reveal their own weaknesses?
Even though he and Kamman weren't on the same level now, who could say they wouldn't meet as rivals in the future?
Kamman leaned against the ropes and looked at him. "Jason, you still don't understand why Mr. Raul and the coach sent you here. Think carefully—besides earning money, what else can you gain here?"
"Let me give you something that will serve you for life: sometimes your greatest teacher is your opponent! That's as far as I can go. The rest, you'll need to discover for yourself. Go back and think about it."
Kamman's words struck Jason deeply, though he couldn't fully grasp them yet. Learn from his opponent? He'd always wanted to copy Kamman's style and techniques, but his own skills and speed weren't anywhere close. How could he possibly learn?
...
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