When it comes to Puerto Rico, it's a place worth talking about.
This remarkable island, located northeast of the Caribbean Sea, has all the characteristics of an independent nation—it has its own flag and president—yet it has long sought incorporation into the United States.
Since 1933, Puerto Rico has held five public referendums, each time striving to become the 51st state of the U.S. Outside major government buildings, you'll often see two flags flying side by side.
Call it a country, and the U.S. classifies it as a "commonwealth." Say it's not, and it still meets every condition of a nation—territory, people, culture, and government. What's more, the Puerto Rican government doesn't pay taxes to the U.S.
The most fascinating part is that Puerto Ricans hold U.S. citizenship. They don't need a green card and can freely live and work anywhere in the United States.
So when Americans talk about Puerto Rico, there's always a mix of curiosity and confusion...
Still, in the world of boxing, Puerto Rico's place is unquestionable. The island has produced countless world champions—Camacho, Gomez, Cotto, Ortiz, Trinidad—the list goes on. There's even a saying in the sport: "Puerto Rico never bows to Mexico."
Even the headquarters of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) is based in Puerto Rico, showing just how influential it is in the boxing world.
...
Ten days later, Jason Luo officially began his professional boxing career, flying to Puerto Rico with Raul, Brown, and Rod.
It was Jason's first time on a plane. Looking out at the sea of clouds and the endless ocean below, he couldn't quite describe what he was feeling.
BX Promotions had arranged the trip thoughtfully—they left a day early so Jason could experience the local sights and atmosphere.
After landing, Coach Brown, being older, was feeling tired. He gave Jason the day off and planned to discuss tactics in detail that evening.
Led by Rod, Jason visited the famous city of San Juan. The place had a completely different vibe from the U.S. mainland.
Narrow, sloping cobblestone streets, brightly colored old houses, and a distinct southern European charm filled the city. In the alleys and on the squares, groups of locals could be seen singing and dancing with infectious joy.
After touring an old castle, they stopped at a small restaurant. Alongside delicious local seafood, they even got to watch a lively flamenco performance...
Jason also took a short trip to explore the nearby tropical rainforest. Time and conditions didn't allow for a deep trek, but even that brief experience was unforgettable.
Honestly, even a single day like that made Jason feel that all his efforts had been worth it. Breathing in the fresh air of the rainforest, it felt as if his very soul had been cleansed.
During the trip, Rod shared plenty of valuable insights—how to handle media interviews, how to react to provocations during the weigh-in, and how to control the mood of a fight.
...
After a full day out, they drove back to the hotel by evening. Coach Brown, who had taken a long nap, finally met with Jason to go over their strategy.
"Jason, this is your first professional match. There's no room for mistakes. Your record will follow you for life, so protect it well. Koselan may be older, but he's got real skill. His shoulder-lift defense is a signature move. I've pulled some footage for you—come take a look."
Watching the video, Jason saw that Koselan's style was indeed unusual. His offense revolved around straight punch combinations, and as Brown described, his defense relied on raising his left shoulder and tucking his head behind it. Most incoming blows landed harmlessly on his sturdy shoulder.
Brown explained as the footage rolled. "This kind of defense is extremely effective. As long as he can anticipate the general direction of your punches, it's hard to land clean shots—especially with straight punches."
"So you'll need to rely more on hooks and uppercuts, and target his body and ribs to break through his guard."
Jason watched, completely absorbed. Brilliant! What a clever defensive system. He tried imitating it on the spot, shrugging his shoulder up—but could only raise it level with his mouth before it stopped moving.
In the footage, however, Koselan's shoulder rose so high it almost lined up with his forehead, and he did it with remarkable ease and flexibility...
Jason couldn't help but mutter, "This…"
Brown laughed. "He mastered that through years of training. But everyone's built differently. Jason, you can't learn every single technique—just focus on what you're best at."
Forcing his shoulder higher made Jason's whole body feel stiff. Rubbing it with a wince, he asked, "Coach, should I focus on scoring points first—try to take control early?"
Brown immediately shook his head. "No. Veterans like Koselan have too much experience. Forget about playing it safe—just go all out and push the pace. Make it a test of endurance. That's what older fighters hate most. And this isn't just my idea—Rod agrees too."
"This is your professional debut. BX Promotions wants you to leave fans with a fierce impression. So tomorrow, attack hard and keep up the pressure—don't give him a moment to breathe. But stay alert. Koselan's rear heavy punch can't be ignored."
Jason nodded. "Got it. So I need to stay aggressive, but also keep my guard up and watch his counterpunches."
Brown chuckled. "Exactly! It sounds contradictory, but that's boxing—one second of carelessness, and you're done. Boxing doesn't forgive mistakes."
Jason took the words to heart.
"Alright, it's been a long day. Get some rest. Tomorrow morning at six, we'll hit the beach for a run."
"Okay, Coach. I'll turn in now."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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