Back in the ring, Jason Luo—his stamina fully restored—lunged forward again. With his Explosiveness boosted, his offense grew even fiercer.
After slipping away twice, Steven frowned. What kind of freak was this kid?
How could he attack relentlessly for an entire round without showing the slightest fatigue? On the contrary, he seemed even stronger than before. At this rate, Steven realized, he might not outlast him...
Meanwhile, following his coach's instructions, Jason Luo increased his use of hooks whenever he neared the ropes, making it harder for Steven to circle out. With his movement restricted, Steven resorted to clinching to break Jason's momentum.
Now guided by his coach, Jason Luo didn't struggle to break free right away. Instead, he hammered Steven's midsection with short, sharp punches. But the seasoned veteran, though in pain, refused to loosen his grip. He clung on even tighter, tying up Jason's arms, leaving him no room to punch.
Inexperienced, Jason Luo didn't know how to respond. That's when Pedro shouted from ringside:
"Tuck your waist! Pull in your stomach! Make space and keep pounding!"
Jason's spirits surged. He drew in a deep breath, tightened his core, and struck in one smooth motion—digging hooks into Steven's chest and midsection again and again.
Steven's face darkened. Since Jason was taller, the only way to clinch was by locking tightly around his neck. That left his arms pinned, unable to block the punches.
Though Jason couldn't generate full power at such close range, the shots still hurt. Left with no choice, Steven released his hold and quickly slipped to the side.
Sure enough, the instant Steven let go, Jason fired a thunderous uppercut that whooshed past Steven's head, sending a cold sweat down his spine. If that blow had landed on his chin, the fight would have been over right there.
The crowd roared in astonishment. The punch had missed, but it was terrifyingly close... and the close call set the arena ablaze. Shouts erupted:
"Keep going! Do it again!"
"Now that's more like it! Hit him harder! Ha! This Rookie's technique is still rough, but his ferocity is exactly my kind of style…"
In the ring, Jason felt a pang of regret at the missed shot. Steven truly was an experienced veteran—he must have anticipated the move. Otherwise, in a clinch with no vision, there was no way he could have evaded that punch. But no matter. If it didn't work this time, he'd try again.
This round was nothing like the first. Jason could feel it clearly now: Steven was being forced into his rhythm. The sensation was exhilarating. The more they traded, the more fluid Jason became. He knew that if he kept pressing, eventually Steven wouldn't be able to hold out.
Steven sensed it too. He was being pushed back, and Jason's bull-headed style was suffocating. By skill and technique, he was far ahead—but this kid could take a beating, had endless stamina, and simply wouldn't back down. He couldn't knock him down, couldn't outlast him—it was maddening!
Seeing Jason charge again, Steven braced himself. He couldn't keep dodging. He knew his stamina limits—if this dragged on, he'd have nothing left. Clinching wouldn't save him. The only option now was to stand and trade.
Jason was thrilled—Steven was finally willing to brawl head-on. This was exactly what he wanted.
The two locked into a brutal exchange. By sheer volume, Steven landed more shots thanks to his sharper technique. But against Jason, they barely had any effect.
Jason's punches, on the other hand, were devastating. As a technical fighter, Steven's toughness had always been his weakness. After just two rounds of toe-to-toe trading, he was already faltering.
Then Jason drove a rear straight heavy punch straight at his face. Steven raised both gloves to guard, but with his stamina drained, his fists weren't tight. Jason's heavy punch crashed through the gap, blasting Steven back several steps, his vision exploding with stars.
Jason saw the opening and wasted no time. He tore in, swinging wildly. Boxing Technique no longer mattered—he threw whatever came naturally. Wild hooks battered Steven side to side like a rattle, leaving the veteran staggering, unable to steady himself, let alone counter.
The arena erupted. Fans leapt to their feet, pumping their fists and shouting:
"Yeah! Hit him harder! He's finished!"
"Hook him! That's it! No—again, another one! Hurry!"
Finally, Steven could endure no more. Though he used his experience to shield his head and avoid a knockout blow, Jason's relentless storm never let up. Wave after wave crashed into him, until a string of heavy punches slammed into his ribs and midsection. Agonizing pain ripped through him.
Steven dropped to one knee, clutching his side, unable to rise again.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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