To counter this Mexican Style approach, Jason Luo spent the entire morning intensively practicing how to control attack distance and escape pressure. Coach Pedro's strategy was clear: he wanted Jason Luo to pull back, use his front-hand punch to build up a points lead, avoid close-range exchanges, and ultimately secure victory on points.
To be honest, Jason Luo didn't fully agree with this strategy. But Coach Pedro was the professional—far superior in both experience and perspective—so he didn't argue.
Besides, this training would definitely help him. As for how he would actually fight in the ring, that would depend on the situation. The coach often said that once a boxer steps into the ring, he must rely more on his own judgment than the trainer's tactical guidance.
During the session, Pedro, watching from the sidelines, was surprised to notice Jason Luo's Reaction, Footwork, and overall performance had all improved to some extent. To outsiders, such changes might seem negligible, but for a coach who had spent his entire life in boxing, Pedro knew that every bit of progress required relentless and professional training.
So how could this be? Jason Luo had only been doing routine training, all right under his eyes.
Could it just be his condition?
Boxers weren't machines. As emotional beings, even professionals were affected by mood, feelings, and countless other factors that could cause fluctuations in performance.
Age was another important factor. Generally, before the age of 27, a boxer's abilities continued to rise as physical potential was gradually unlocked. After 30, however, performance usually began to decline—though there were exceptions.
Pedro felt increasingly puzzled by Jason Luo. The kid was diligent, disciplined, and of good character. His lifestyle was clean. His only real shortcomings were his weak foundation and somewhat stiff physique.
The coach sometimes wondered if pushing him down the path of a technical boxer was really the right decision.
...
That afternoon, Mr. Raul returned, visibly upset.
He grabbed a glass of water, took a few gulps, then said loudly, "Those people are so smug, acting like the win is already in their pocket! Not only did they raise the challenge bet to ten thousand dollars, but they also moved the venue to Podiat."
"What? Podiat!" Pedro was just as shocked. "That's not a place you can just casually fight at."
Raul sighed. "That woman seems to have some influence. She promised it wouldn't be an issue. Supposedly, we might even be the undercard before a major fight."
Pedro let out a sharp "Oh," then turned to Jason Luo with a fiery look. "In that case, we'll fight with everything we've got! Let that Mexican brat crawl back home. Mexican Style boxing isn't invincible—we'll give him a proper fight!"
It was Jason Luo's first time seeing his coach so fired up, and he couldn't help but glance curiously at Raul.
Raul smiled and explained, "You don't know about Podiat, do you? It's called the holy land of amateur boxing. They usually host elite-level amateur tournaments there, and even some professional fights are held at that venue. The standards are high, and the influence is huge. That's why Coach Pedro is taking it so seriously."
"Jason, this opponent is strong. They want to use you as a stepping stone to boost that Mexican kid's profile before the Golden Gloves Tournament. But for you, it's also a huge opportunity. Don't be nervous. In the ring, nothing is absolute. You have to believe in yourself."
So that was it. Jason Luo felt a surge of excitement. This meant he was stepping onto the big stage. He looked at his coach and declared, "Got it. No matter how strong my opponent is, I won't back down. We Chinese have a saying: 'A man with nothing to lose has nothing to fear!' I was just a penniless kid with nothing. If it weren't for meeting Mr. Raul, I never would have had today's chance. Now, to uphold Coach's honor, I'll see this through to the end."
"A man with nothing to lose has nothing to fear?" Pedro repeated the phrase, thought it over, then smiled. "That's an interesting saying. Well said. Don't feel pressured—you're still an unknown fighter. Even if you lose, it won't be shameful. But we do need to take this seriously. If we want to win, just controlling the fight won't be enough. We'll take advantage of the rules: in the last thirty seconds of every round, you'll launch a full-force counterattack. Otherwise, being too passive will hurt the judges' scoring. At the same time, it'll wear down your opponent's stamina."
Jason Luo boldly added, "Coach, I'd also like to mix in some counterpunching during the pullbacks. I thought about it last night—anticipating punches ahead of time is still difficult for me, but catching openings when the opponent throws is much easier. I want to try that in the match."
The coach considered it. "Alright. But be careful—don't overdo it. Always protect yourself. Sometimes opponents deliberately show openings to bait you."
"Understood."
...
Two days flew by. On the eve of the match, Jason Luo sent Mr. Miao a text to thank him and to inform him of the fight's time and location. This time, however, Mr. Miao didn't reply right away. Jason Luo didn't think much of it.
He then called Tony Huo. The moment the call connected, Tony shouted, "Ha! I was just about to call you! Same meeting spot as usual?"
"This time it's different. The fight's been moved to Podiat. It's supposed to be really famous—a mecca for amateur boxing. Shouldn't be hard to find."
"Oh, I'll drive over tomorrow to pick you up. We'll find it together. And I got a streaming app ready to broadcast the whole fight live. You'd better give it your all!"
Jason Luo hesitated for a moment. "Tony, tomorrow I'll go with Mr. Raul. They're taking this fight very seriously. Plus, the opponent is strong. Honestly… there's a chance I might lose."
Tony was taken aback, but quickly laughed it off. "Hey, come on! In any fight, the odds are always fifty-fifty. I'll say it again—I believe in you, bro. For all we know, maybe he's still carrying damage from one of your punches? Haha! Either way, my brother Jason is winning this!"
Jason Luo always enjoyed chatting with Tony. The guy was an optimist through and through—he could always lift your spirits. "Alright then, come by yourself tomorrow. After I win, you can drive me back and we'll celebrate."
"No problem! When you win, I'll treat you to a big feast!" Tony shouted over the phone.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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