History really does have a way of repeating itself. Just when Carl had caught sight of victory's light, it felt as if he had been thrown back to the amateur ring in Chicago a year ago!
Born into a proud boxing family, Carl had been recognized by his grandfather from a young age as a natural talent. Under his grandfather's careful guidance, he received rigorous training in both technique and ring strategy. After his defeat to Jason Luo a year earlier, Carl turned that humiliation into motivation. Under De La Hoya's tutelage, he threw himself into relentless training, rapidly elevating his technical and tactical prowess. For an entire year, he had almost no rest—if he wasn't training, he was competing.
Before this very match, he had even received personal instruction from Floyd Mayweather himself, mastering the Shoulder-Roll Defense. Technically speaking, Carl was now a complete fighter—both offense and defense perfectly balanced. With such solid foundations, he entered this fight brimming with confidence.
But who could have imagined that Jason Luo's growth had been just as shocking? Improvement was one thing—but this? Just when Carl had finally wrested the advantage, his opponent suddenly erupted with power, his speed and strength soaring exponentially. How was anyone supposed to handle that?
Though Carl was still the more polished technician, at this moment he was being completely overpowered. No matter how unwilling he was, he couldn't stop Jason Luo's ferocious advance. Forced to retreat under heavy pressure, he narrowly avoided disaster thanks only to his Shoulder-Roll Defense—which absorbed most of Jason's straight punches. Without it, he might not have lasted this long.
The crowd was on fire—the battle had reached a fever pitch, and the momentum had flipped once again. Carl's supporters were stunned to see him faltering. What on earth was going on?
He'd just had the upper hand—and now he was getting demolished?
Wait... could this be a fix?
"Damn it! What's wrong with Carl? How could he get turned around like this? This looks fake as hell! If this is a dive, at least make it less obvious!"
"No way, man. This is a championship match—Carl wouldn't throw away his legacy for a fix. But still, I can't explain what's happening. Come on, Carl! Push back! I've got money riding on this!"
Meanwhile, Jason Luo's fans were ecstatic.
"Beautiful! Let's go, guys—our Jason Luo's heating up! 'King's Successor'? He's dropping like the rest!"
"Exactly! Look at him—he's barely fighting back now. Still acting tough? Hah! Admit you're outmatched. Stand tall while you take that beating! Tonight, you'll learn what the Iron Fist of the East really means!"
...
The younger fans were shouting themselves hoarse, but at ringside, De La Hoya and Mayweather were both stunned.
"What's going on? Did Carl's stamina collapse? This doesn't make sense!"
De La Hoya shook his head. "Impossible! Carl's stamina is top-tier—he can easily go ten rounds at full pace. No, look—Jason's Punch Speed has clearly increased... has he been hiding his strength all this time?"
Mayweather narrowed his eyes, watching closely. "You're right. This is bad..."
Mayweather had fought in the ring for more than twenty years—he had outboxed the ferocious Arturo Gatti, knocked out the arrogant Ricky Hatton, defeated the iron-willed Juan Manuel Marquez, bested Shane Mosley, and faced the powerhouse Miguel Cotto...
But he had never seen a fighter like Jason Luo. After being knocked down and battered, not only did he not fade—he grew stronger, faster, and more dangerous with every exchange!
Was this kid hiding his true ability... or was he just built differently?
Whatever the case, Mayweather could smell danger. "This isn't good. Change tactics now! If this keeps up, it's too risky. Tell Carl to open up the distance—control the rhythm, quick!"
De La Hoya had already come to the same conclusion. In this state, Carl couldn't win a head-on exchange. He rushed to the ropes, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Don't trade punches! Create distance—use your jab to control him!"
But Jason Luo was far beyond being controlled. With his stats amplified by Life Burning, his toughness had reached monstrous levels. Carl's jabs did nothing to slow him—Jason pushed through them headlong, closing the gap with explosive force.
His relentless heavy punches drove Carl back step after step.
Even so, Carl's defense remained rock-solid. Though Jason completely dominated the exchanges, he still couldn't break through Carl's tight frontal guard for a finishing blow.
The clock was running down on Round Six. If this dragged into the next round, Jason knew the Life Burning effect could end at any moment...
No way. He couldn't wait any longer!
Jason Luo, who had been holding back his full power, finally let go. In a burst of fury, he swung both arms wide, his body arching backward as his fists flew out together—Twin Hook Strike!
In boxing terms, it was a Double Hook, but against a fighter who relied on Shoulder-Roll Defense, this was a nightmare.
The shoulder-roll could block one side perfectly—but not both. Carl's only option, in that split second, was to duck!
And that was exactly what Jason Luo wanted.
The moment Carl dipped low, Jason didn't counter with a Body Hook. Instead, he took a slight step back, jaw clenched, tongue pressed to the roof of his mouth, both arms coiling tightly as he waited for Carl to rise.
The sudden pause confused Carl—but the instant he came up, Jason's eyes flashed like lightning. Twisting his waist, he spun around and unleashed a savage straight punch!
Too fast!
Carl couldn't evade. He raised his shoulder again—but this time, Jason's full-powered strike crashed down like thunder!
The blow smashed into Carl's arm, sending a shockwave through his shoulder and rattling his entire frame. He stumbled backward, feet scraping across the canvas.
Before he could even catch his balance, the next punch came—another straight!
There was no time to think. Carl lifted his shoulder to block once more.
"BOOM!"
The explosion of force echoed through the arena. Carl's eyes went wide in shock as the impact nearly launched him off his feet. Only the tips of his toes dragged across the canvas, barely keeping him upright as he skidded back to the corner ropes.
He hadn't fallen—but his entire left shoulder was numb, completely unresponsive.
Unbelievable.
But as terror filled his eyes, Jason Luo roared, charging forward. He leaped mid-step, twisting his body in the air—a diagonal hook descended like a falling meteor!
No!
A wave of dread washed over Carl. Half his body was paralyzed—there was no way he could block it.
It's over...
There was no escape. In desperation, Carl lifted his right arm in a last, futile defense.
But at the last instant, Jason adjusted his strike mid-air. His fist rose slightly higher—the knuckles grazed Carl's scalp, and instead, the punch smashed squarely into the corner post of the ring!
"THUD!"
A thunderous impact shook the entire arena!
The steel post, padded with foam, quaked violently as if hit by a speeding car, the whole ring trembling with it. Jason's glove, unable to withstand the colossal force, tore open on contact with a sharp rip that echoed through the stunned silence of the crowd...