Half a month later, Jason Luo's intensive physical conditioning came to a temporary halt. For him, the past two weeks had been nothing short of a nightmare—endless endurance drills, repeated limit-breaking sessions, and extreme exhaustion that tested both body and mind.
Jab Power +4, Reaction +3, Explosiveness +5, Strength +3, Stamina +4, Recovery +2, Willpower +5...
The numerical gains told only part of the story. Jason Luo's biggest transformation came from within. The relentless drive to surpass himself had turned into something almost addictive. Where exactly were his limits? He even suspected he'd developed a bit of a masochistic streak. Just when he thought he'd adjusted, Pacquiao suddenly ended the physical training.
"Alright, Jason Luo, it's impressive that you lasted this long," Pacquiao said. "This type of training shouldn't go on for too long. You can keep it up on your own later. For now, our time's limited—we need to move on to technical and style training."
"Let's start with offense. Your attacks are smooth, but they lack variation—especially in rhythm. I'll teach you the first key concept: pause."
"Pause? You mean… stopping mid-attack?"
"Exactly. A deliberate pause," Pacquiao explained. "In a fluid offensive sequence, inserting a brief pause at the right moment can have an incredible effect. In the ring, most exchanges are driven by instinct and anticipation. That's where rhythm and timing become everything—especially against skilled opponents who rely on reading your tempo. So, don't let them catch your rhythm. You'll understand better by doing. Come on—let's get in the ring and work it out."
On the training platform, Jason Luo experienced for the first time the full oppressive power of a true world champion. Pacquiao moved with flawless precision, demonstrating each variation step by step—rhythm breaks, tempo shifts, the antelope hop, backward counter-thrusts, stance switches between orthodox and southpaw…
Pacquiao's offense flowed like an unending tide—crashing forward with constant force, yet unpredictable and ever-changing. Jason Luo was awestruck. Watching recordings could never compare to experiencing it firsthand.
Under such relentless pressure, he quickly felt a sense of helplessness. Pure defense only led to passivity, yet there was no clear window for counterattack.
Pacquiao abruptly halted his assault. "Well? You want to counter but can't find an opening, right?"
"Yeah," Jason admitted, panting. "If I want to counter, I'd have to take your punch first just to get a chance—and that's way too risky."
Pacquiao nodded. "That's exactly what we want. Jason, an Aggressive Fighter must have strong control over the ring. Offense is the best defense. You must hold the initiative firmly in your hands. Now—let's talk about defense."
"The kind of offense I just used can't last an entire match. Once the pressure drops, your opponent will definitely counterattack—otherwise, he'll lose points in the judges' eyes. You follow me?"
Jason nodded. He knew this all too well. If you stayed on the defensive without striking back, the referee could even stop the fight.
"That's where our advantage lies," Pacquiao continued. "When I tell you to defend, you defend. When I tell you to counter, you counter. By then, I've already reset my defense and started building power for the next wave. Unless the opponent commits to an all-out brawl, he'll never break this rhythm. That's what I call proactive defense."
Jason took a deep breath, absorbing every word. Dominant—that was the only way to describe this strategy. Forcing total control over the opponent's tempo, dictating when he could counter… what an incredible show of dominance.
Pacquiao smiled faintly. "Of course, with Mayweather and De La Hoya coaching him, Carl won't fall into traps easily. But don't let that shake you. Force him to the edge—give him only two choices: defend or fight. Don't let him find any room for a mid-to-long-range technical battle. We'll have to be cautious of his defensive counters, so strengthen your evasive drills, especially your left-hand guard practice."
Coincidentally, Pacquiao himself was famous for his devastating left hand. Under his personal guidance, Jason Luo's understanding and control of the left-hand attack and defense improved rapidly...
...
While Jason trained in isolation, the outside world erupted with excitement. Ten days earlier, BX Promotions had officially announced that Manny Pacquiao had accepted the role of Jason Luo's technical advisor!
The news rocked the boxing world. Though Pacquiao and Mayweather's "Fight of the Century" remained an irreplaceable classic, their new positions—each backing one of the sport's two rising stars—became the ultimate promotional hook. The entire boxing industry buzzed with anticipation.
After a week of intense negotiations, BX Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions finalized every detail: fight date, venue, appearance fees, ad revenue share, and more. Together, they issued a joint press release announcing the bout—
The WBA-WBO Championship Unification Match would take place on November 4th in Macau, with ticket preorders opening in five days.
But when ticket sales began, chaos erupted. All 50,000 tickets released online sold out in just thirty seconds. The problem? Data revealed that 43,000 of those tickets had been scooped up by automated bots from mainland ticketing platforms, leaving American fans with nothing.
Naturally, they were furious. Outraged boxing fans flooded the ticket company's offices, nearly causing riots. The company was forced to activate emergency protocols, releasing reserved tickets and appealing to both promotion companies for assistance.
The controversy only pushed the event's popularity even higher. CBS and YouTube secured exclusive pay-per-view rights, cementing the fight as one of the biggest sporting spectacles of the year.
...
On October 8th, Jason temporarily paused training. Under promotional arrangements, he embarked on a whirlwind press tour across the U.S. and Asia—fan events, interviews, and press conferences. After eight exhausting days of travel, he arrived in Macau to attend the official pre-fight weigh-in alongside Carl.
At the weigh-in, both men stood tall, each holding his championship belt. Carl clenched his fist toward Jason. "I've waited a whole year for this fight. This time, the victory will be mine!"
Jason met his gaze calmly. "I'm just as eager for this match. As for victory—I never give up. This time, I'll make sure you lose convincingly."
"Hmph. Jason Luo, don't let me down. We'll settle it in the ring!"
"Likewise. A fair fight—let's see who stands taller in the ring."
The post-weigh-in press conference turned into total chaos. Reporters shouted questions from every angle—about their rivalry, predictions for the outcome, and even the legendary figures coaching them. Soon the discussion spiraled into a broader debate: Which style defines the future of boxing—the Aggressive Fighter or the Technical Fighter?
It was a debate with no clear answer, but it reignited global passion for the sport. In that moment, Jason Luo and Carl weren't just fighters anymore—they had become symbols of two opposing philosophies, standing together on the grand stage of boxing history.
...
Happy New Year to all my readers!
Wishing you good health, peace of mind, and a year filled with positive energy and strength.