The system notification left Jason Luo a bit disappointed. Though he had easily earned six attribute points, only one—Coordination—had much to do with boxing. It seemed that grinding against such opponents wasn't exactly an efficient way to improve!
Still, the two points in Takedown Skills reminded him—Sanda fighters had their own set of grappling and throwing techniques!
His daily training was usually tight and disciplined, so with this rare chance to step out of routine, he wanted to experience everything to the fullest.
Jason Luo turned to Coach Datchai. "I noticed that when Tazim and the others were sparring earlier, their throws were pretty good. Could you let me try some? What kinds of throws are there?"
Datchai smiled, and Tazim grinned as well. The young fighter said enthusiastically, "No problem! It's easy to learn. We don't need to spar—I'll just demonstrate for you."
After they took their positions at mid-range, Tazim called out, "Alright, attack me with any punch, just keep the speed down."
Jason Luo followed instructions and threw a controlled rear-hand punch. This time, Tazim didn't dodge or block. He clamped Jason's glove between his own, lifted upward, stepped in, turned his body, grabbed Jason's arm, and executed a clean back throw!
Jason hit the mat for the first time, landing flat like a wooden board. Damn! Even with the soft mat, the impact was brutal. His back hurt, his head spun, and his whole body went limp as pain shot through his core...
The boxers on the sidelines burst out laughing. Jason's landing posture was just too funny. Trained fighters would normally adjust their landing to absorb the shock, but Jason had fallen like a sack of potatoes...
Datchai and Tazim quickly helped him up. Tazim apologized repeatedly, "Sorry, sorry! I thought you'd at least practiced some basic breakfalls…"
Jason gave a pained grin. "It's fine. I just didn't expect one throw to hit that hard!"
Datchai explained patiently. When you're thrown, you should land on your shoulders or hips first, then roll with the momentum to cushion the impact. He also showed that such back throws are actually easy to counter—either press against your opponent's waist with your hands or use your knee to block.
He went on to teach Jason how to lower his center of gravity and use a horse stance when facing throws.
After noting everything carefully, Jason felt much better. "Got any more throws? Teach me a couple more..."
The request made Tazim beam. The frustration from his earlier defeat by Jason had long disappeared. "Of course! There are plenty—more than a dozen common ones. They're simple moves, but I'm just worried you might not be able to handle them."
"No problem. I'm sturdy enough. A few throws won't hurt. Come on, teach me two more!"
"Alright, this time let's do a close-range one. Move in and attack!"
Jason stepped forward and slowly threw a punch. Tazim slipped to the side, ducked, hooked his leg around Jason's, and nudged him with his shoulder. Jason toppled instantly. This time, Tazim didn't use much force, so Jason quickly got back up.
"That's interesting! Again!"
Jason felt a strange excitement rising—this was surprisingly fun.
"Okay, this time try sweeping my leg."
Jason swung a low roundhouse kick, but Tazim caught it, lifted it slightly, gave it a twist, and down Jason went again, losing balance on one leg.
The sparring turned into a game, and the entire gym erupted in laughter. The female judo fighters were laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. The fierce pro boxer from moments ago now looked like a clumsy bear—the contrast was just too much!
Seeing that Jason had had enough, Datchai stepped forward with a grin. "Alright, that's enough. Even the toughest man can't withstand three throws! Jason Luo, you're welcome here anytime. Exchanging ideas benefits everyone—each combat sport has its strengths."
Jason rubbed his neck, embarrassed to be laughed at again. "Sure, Coach Datchai. I'll definitely visit again when I have the chance. I'd appreciate your guidance."
"Good! Next time, I'll show you some real Muay Thai techniques."
Tony quickly jumped in before they could leave. "Uh… Coach Datchai, do you accept new students here? I'd like to learn some martial arts too—anything works. Even judo's fine..."
"Hahaha!" Datchai laughed loudly. "Kid, this isn't a place you can just walk into. All these fighters have achieved something in their own fields before coming here. If you're serious, start from a basic training school first."
Tony's face turned red. Jason quickly took him by the arm and led him out.
Although this session didn't do much to improve Jason's boxing stats, it broadened his perspective and gave him new inspiration. From then on, during his free time, he often practiced simple leg and takedown techniques for fun...
After moving into their new home, Jason had planned to leave some space in the backyard for training. But his father wanted to grow vegetables, and Grace wanted flowers. Unable to argue with either, Jason settled for a corner by the front wall, setting up a pull-up bar and hanging a sandbag—his personal training spot.
Grace invited Susan Miao over to help with the flowers, and soon Susan became a regular guest. With two young women around, the once-quiet house was now filled with laughter...
Life gradually settled into rhythm, and Jason's boxing career continued smoothly.
On April 16th, Jason faced his third professional match—another challenge from a lower-tier fighter. This time, Coach Brown had carefully selected a technical opponent. His name sounded intimidating—Avarek—just one letter off from the famous boxer Alvarez.
But such coincidences were common in the boxing world, where only skill mattered—a name meant nothing.
Avarek, age 29, stood 183 cm tall with a 188 cm reach. His professional record stood at 8 wins and 2 losses, ranked 877th overall in the WBA.
He was a defensive counterpuncher, and Jason planned to pick up some countering techniques from him.
Jason and Brown drafted their strategy early. Avarek's defensive style perfectly complemented Jason's current goal—to build a fierce, aggressive image. Together, they aimed to deliver a thrilling "performance" for the audience.
Once the bell rang, Avarek's defensive countering stood out immediately. He seemed to read Jason's rhythm perfectly, landing precise counterpunches. Unfortunately, his power was lacking, posing little real threat.
Jason treated the ring like a stage, testing various tactics while treating Avarek as a free sparring partner.
By the fourth round, Jason forced his way through with superior striking, overwhelming his opponent and securing his third consecutive professional win.
"Ding! Congratulations on another official victory. The Greedy Wolf talent has automatically extracted superior attributes from your opponent: Fist Technique +2, Punch Speed +1, Explosiveness +1, Dodge & Anticipation +2, Front-Hand Punch Power +1—a total of 7 attribute points. Additionally, achieving three consecutive professional victories grants you two bonus free points. Please check promptly."
"Ding! The system has detected three consecutive KO victories since entering professional boxing, with total KOs exceeding twenty. Title upgrade: from 'Little Madman of the Ring' to the intermediate title 'Brave Roar!' Please check promptly."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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