When Jason Luo took the WBA World Championship Gold Belt from the referee and raised it high, the entire arena of boxing fans erupted in wild celebration. A 19-year-old world champion—at super middleweight, no less. At Jason's age, his future seemed boundless.
Moving up, he could challenge the light heavyweight, cruiserweight, even heavyweight divisions. Moving down, he could dominate the middleweight field. With his two-round destruction of David Morell, Jason Luo had sparked limitless imagination among fans worldwide...
Holding the Gold Belt, Jason walked around the ring with Coach Brown and Raul, thanking the crowd. Then his eyes landed on Manny Pacquiao sitting in the front row—his idol. For a moment, Jason froze, overwhelmed like an excited child. When Pacquiao smiled and nodded in his direction, Jason quickly bowed in respect to the legendary champion.
But as he turned slightly, his gaze caught Carl standing not far away, and he blinked in surprise. He's here too?
Riding the high of victory, Jason grinned broadly. In front of tens of thousands of spectators, he lifted his Gold Belt high toward Carl and shouted, "Carl, it's your turn now!"
The crowd's attention instantly shifted. Carl hadn't expected Jason's sudden public challenge. After a quick glance at Hoya, he stood up with a faint smile and called back, "Alright! Three months from now—let's settle this once and for all!"
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire arena exploded, like a spark hitting gunpowder. Their long-running rivalry—carefully hyped by both promotions—was already legendary in the boxing world. Now, with Jason Luo holding the Gold Belt and issuing a direct challenge, and Carl answering without hesitation, it was clear: Carl fully intended to claim the WBO title next.
A future clash between champions from two major organizations—combined with their personal feud—was enough to set every fan's blood on fire. Both were the brightest young stars in the super middleweight division, celebrated as the "Twin Stars."
Two prodigies, two champions—destined to collide.
Who would become the true ruler of the super middleweights? This single match could reshape the entire division. The crowd's excitement reached a fever pitch...
The victor is crowned king; the defeated, forgotten. Few spared a thought for the fallen champion David Morell. His confidence shattered, he knew—even with a signed rematch clause—that it no longer mattered.
Later, after some rest, Morell fought Tomio again, but his poor condition led to another defeat. Disheartened, he quietly announced his early retirement.
...
After returning to the locker room, Jason Luo immediately opened a video call to Coach Pedro.
"Coach! I did it! The Gold Belt—look, I... I really did it!"
Jason's voice caught. He could never forget the man who had guided a clueless boy step by step into the world of boxing. He could never forget the old coach coughing up blood at ringside, or the time he'd fought for Jason's justice despite his failing health.
Each memory felt as vivid as yesterday. The promise he'd made back then, driven by pride and determination, had finally been fulfilled. Yet to Jason, this triumph still felt like too small a repayment.
Pedro's lips trembled as he held the phone. His voice shook. "Good boy... I knew it. I always knew you could do it. I'm satisfied now... this old man's truly satisfied. Jason, my boy—Sonny was right. He said I had the best eye for talent, and this... this proves it! It's just a pity I can't be there with you on that stage. That old Brown really lucked out this time..."
"Coach, please wait for me!" Jason said quickly. "I'll come see you tomorrow—no, we'll all come. We'll take a photo together with the belt."
Pedro chuckled weakly. "No rush... I'm not dying anytime soon. Just... thank that old bastard Brown for me. I admit... he's luckier than I am..."
Brown, standing nearby, couldn't hold back. "You old devil, enough of that! Jason will always be your student. You taught him more than just boxing—you gave him his spirit. Take care of yourself. Once we wrap things up here, we'll come see you right away!"
Pedro's breathing grew uneven. "Alright... I'll be waiting for you."
Seeing the old coach's strength fading, Jason didn't dare keep him talking. After ending the call, still uneasy, he immediately rang Catherine.
He told her about his victory—and asked her to visit Pedro in the coming days, just to make sure he was alright.
Catherine readily agreed, though she couldn't resist bringing up their unfinished conversation. Jason promised he'd give her an answer after visiting the old coach.
...
When Jason's team flew back to Chicago, they were met at the airport by cheering fans. Mr. Miao had organized a large local welcome group, waving flags and banners. Jason happily obliged, holding up his Gold Belt for group photos.
They wanted to throw him a grand welcome banquet, but Jason politely refused. Once he explained the situation with the old coach, everyone understood.
Back home, his father and Grace were laughing and jumping for joy, clutching the Gold Belt as if it were treasure. Henry Luo pulled Jason to his mother's portrait, eyes misty.
"Elaine... our son is a world champion now—a real champion! Heaven bless you, it's your protection that made this possible. I can finally face you with pride. Look—this is the Gold Belt!"
They spent half the night celebrating, finally hanging the belt in the most prominent place in the living room. Afterward, Jason sat down with his father.
"Dad, I want to go visit Coach Pedro tomorrow. I'll probably stay a few days—there's no match coming up anyway."
Henry nodded immediately. "Of course. We'll all go. Old Pedro's a great benefactor to our family. You paying him respect is the least we can do. You have my full support."
After finalizing the plan, Jason called Tony over.
"Tony, I need you to make a trip to China and take care of a few things for me."
Tony blinked. "What's up? Just tell me—as long as you still trust me."
Jason smiled. "Come on, don't say that. It's mainly two things. First, go to Putian and find Master Liu. Ask if he'd be willing to help manage a boxing gym I plan to invest in. Second, check out nearby major cities—look into local investment conditions, policies, market prospects, and venues suitable for a boxing gym. The more detailed your report, the better. Then hire a professional marketing firm to draft a complete investment plan. Don't worry about expenses—if we're doing this, we're doing it right.
In the future, you and Master Liu will handle operations. I'll take care of building the coaching team in the U.S. and importing training equipment."
Tony gasped. "Whoa... Jason, that's a huge investment! We're talking at least two million, easy!"
Jason waved it off. "Don't worry about the money. Just focus on the research first—we'll go over the details later. Oh, and while you're there, reach out to Han Libo. He knows all the local policies and can help you navigate things."