After checking into a hotel near Fisherman's Wharf, the exhausted Jason Luo had no energy left for sightseeing. He quickly took a nap and didn't wake up until noon.
After lunch, he went for a long jog along the coastal highway with Coach Brown to loosen up and get his body moving again.
Staring at the distant Golden Gate Bridge, Brown came to a stop. "Jason, Zack isn't someone you can take lightly. He may be Guatemalan, but his style is pure Mexican boxing—tough, relentless, and powerful. Tonight's match will come down to stamina. I think he'll go all out in the first two rounds, trying to finish it early. My advice is to play defensive and counterpunch early on, conserve your energy, and then go all-in by the third round."
This time, Jason Luo had his own ideas. With two Free Attribute Points in reserve, stamina wasn't a major concern. The real issue was avoiding an early knockdown. Once the Unyielding Body activated, the boost was tremendous—but if he couldn't finish the fight within that limited window, things could get ugly fast...
Unfortunately, Zack's recovery and willpower were frightening. From the fight footage, Jason could see that even when Zack got knocked down, he bounced back almost instantly and counterattacked with devastating power. That's why Jason couldn't afford to be reckless—he needed to save the Unyielding Body for the later rounds.
In the end, although Coach Brown's reasoning differed from his, their strategies aligned perfectly. Jason simply nodded.
"Watch out for his hook. He's got two main weapons—one's a fast, accurate, vicious lead hook when he steps in, and the other's a heavy rear-hand combo. But the hook is the real threat. He relies on it to break through his opponents' guard. Stay sharp. Keep your hands up. Throw fast and pull back fast. Don't give him any openings..."
The two continued discussing tactics along the shore, unaware that not far away, in a luxury hotel, Tutkason had just finished meeting with Zack Bruzz.
As Zack left, Charmu scoffed. "Sir, that Zack is something else—asking for a million just to deal with some nobody..."
Tutkason smiled faintly. "Money's not the issue. If he does it cleanly, I'll pay three million. You can bet a little on the side—get it all back anyway."
Charmu's eyes gleamed. "Heh, sir, you're getting sharper every day. I'm really starting to feel outclassed."
Tutkason stood and looked out the window. "Book me a seat. I want to see that guy lying flat on the canvas with my own eyes tonight."
"No problem. Everything's ready."
...
The AT&T Center was buzzing that night, hosting three major boxing bouts.
The first was the WBV World Boxing Federation Featherweight Championship. The second—WBA's Jason Luo versus Zack Bruzz—was the real highlight. The final match would be a WBF Super Lightweight Unification bout.
These days, boxing organizations are everywhere—IBO, IBC, APBA, and countless others. But most have little influence or prestige and can't compete with the Big Four.
That's why tonight's true main event was Jason Luo's fight. After about twenty days of promotion, local fans turned out in force to support the young fighter.
For them, seeing a young fighter competing under one of the Big Four organizations was a rare sight. Nearly half of the forty-thousand-seat arena was filled with fans, all eager to see someone finally challenge Western dominance in the sport.
The opening fight was one-sided. The challenger was knocked out in the second round, and the reigning WBV champion easily retained his title.
Then it was Jason Luo's turn. The announcer first introduced Zack Bruzz, who held the higher ranking in this non-title match.
"From Guatemala—26 years old, 180 centimeters tall, 183 centimeters in reach, weighing 173 pounds, with a professional record of 23 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, including 18 knockouts—Zack Bruzz!"
As Zack stepped into the ring, he threw a few shadow punches, radiating confidence. And he had reason to be proud—last year, he beat "The Bomb" Dushev in Monaco, and earlier this year, he shocked everyone by knocking out Halewicz, a seasoned veteran who had long sparred with Haye and Pulev. To have floored him with one punch was unbelievable.
Rumor had it Halewicz was preparing for a rematch, though it hadn't been confirmed yet.
Those victories made it clear—Zack's nickname, "The Mustang," was well-earned.
Soon, Jason Luo's name was called. Compared to Zack's credentials, his looked almost bare.
"From Chicago—19 years old, 184 centimeters tall, 187 centimeters in reach, weighing 172 pounds, with a perfect professional record of five wins and zero losses—Jason Luo!"
On paper, Jason was a complete rookie. Hearing his record, many veteran fans frowned.
"This looks like Zack just padding his stats! Making us watch such a mismatch—unbelievable."
"Exactly. Even if the kid's got talent, he's way too young and inexperienced. Another walkover match..."
Local fans murmured among themselves. "He's so young and barely has any fights... I don't like his odds."
"Maybe he's got something. It's rare to see one of our own up there—we've got to cheer for him."
Despite the doubts, the fans erupted in applause.
"Let's go, Jason Luo! We're with you!"
"Just stepping into that ring is something to be proud of—fight hard!"
...
In the ring, Zack grinned at Jason Luo. "Kid, how many rounds do you think you'll last?"
Jason looked out at the crowd. "Seniority doesn't matter tonight. Youth means the future—and my starting point is right here."
Zack blinked, then chuckled. "Alright then, let's hope you don't regret saying that too soon..."
Sensing the tension, the referee quickly performed the pre-fight checks, reminding both to secure their mouthguards and prepare for the bell.
When they touched gloves, Zack slammed his fists hard against Jason's, sending a jolt up his arms. Jason's chest tightened—he could feel it already. This wouldn't be an ordinary fight.
"Ding!"
The referee's signal rang out, and the ten-round non-title bout began!
Zack immediately took the center of the ring, advancing with pressure and aggression.
Jason Luo, sticking to the plan, didn't fight for control of the center. Instead, he focused on defense and counterattacks.
In a distant VIP box, Tutkason watched closely. "Charmu, how many rounds do you think the kid will last?"
Charmu laughed. "Two rounds at most! He's no match for Zack."
Tutkason smirked. "Then get the champagne ready—I'll be celebrating soon."
"Right away!"
No one could have guessed that a grueling war was about to begin!
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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