Fate can be strange at times. When you climb out of life's lowest valley, everything suddenly feels lighter. As Coach Pedro once said: after you've crossed one mountain after another, what lies ahead is an open plain.
Two days later, Jason Luo entered his fourth points match, this time against Maenkoot.
The veteran's experience was undeniable, but Jason Luo charged forward relentlessly, refusing to play a technical game. Using his superior Toughness, he forced an attritional battle. In the end, Maenkoot collapsed from sheer exhaustion, and Jason Luo claimed the knockout victory.
The post-match score gave Jason Luo three points, bringing his total to fourteen. His ranking slipped slightly, dropping to 174th place.
One notable moment came when Jason Luo, in the heat of the match, equipped the [Little Madman of the Ring] title for the first time. Once activated, he felt a surge of violent rage, as though his opponent were his mortal enemy. Under this influence, his offense grew wild and merciless, but it also cost him composure. Jason Luo realized he didn't like the feeling and that such a title was best used only under special circumstances.
This was also his first fight since upgrading the Greedy Wolf talent. Watching the system prompts closely, Jason Luo saw that after his victory, the system extracted attributes: +2 Footwork, +1 Reaction, +1 Dodge & Anticipation, and +1 Jab Power—a total of 5 points.
...
On December 24, 2020, Jason Luo stepped into his final points match, facing Horn, another technical fighter. This time, the fight was much tougher than expected. Horn was balanced in every area, showing no obvious flaws, and his Toughness was stronger than Jason Luo had anticipated.
In the third round, Jason Luo scored a knockdown, but Horn held on. The match went the full four rounds, and Jason Luo won by a narrow decision, edging ahead thanks to that knockdown.
It was his first time going the distance and winning by points. In the later rounds, Jason Luo felt his Stamina falter. His punches grew soft and weak—even he doubted they could drop his opponent.
Fortunately, after this victory, the system extracted 5 attribute points from Horn: +1 Toughness, +1 Punch Speed, +1 Explosiveness, +1 Stamina, and +1 Coordination.
The post-match score awarded him four more points, raising his total to eighteen. His ranking stood at 186th, essentially locking in his qualification for the knockout stage. Still, the official standings wouldn't be finalized until the last round of matches concluded the next day.
When the final rankings were confirmed, Jason Luo proudly secured a spot in the Top 500 of the 84th Golden Gloves Tournament, finishing 196th overall.
That moment was sheer madness. Raúl and Tony Huo tackled Jason Luo to the ground, and the three of them laughed, wrestled, and celebrated like maniacs...
Pedro and Brown were equally pleased. Brown pulled out a small flask, took a long swig, and sighed in satisfaction. Pedro scowled at him, snorted, and walked away in annoyance.
Raúl, thrilled with Jason Luo's results, waved his hand generously and treated everyone to a feast at Chicago's most famous restaurant.
They devoured seafood, caviar, and fine red wine, leaving the table littered with empty glasses and dishes. When the bill came, everyone roared with laughter at the pained expression on Raúl's face.
For Jason Luo, it was the most carefree day he'd had since the age of twelve. Though he only drank a few glasses, he—who never touched alcohol—ended up drunk. Perhaps deliberately so. He had Tony drive him to the lakeshore. Facing the vast expanse of Lake Michigan, he screamed, laughed, and vomited freely...
When he awoke, it was already past seven in the morning. Morning training was out of the question. Rubbing his aching head, he gathered his thoughts.
Right—time to check the Attribute panel.
System Binder: Jason Luo
Age: 18
Height: 184 cm
Reach: 187 cm
Weight: 76.9 kg
Occupation: Amateur Contract Boxer
Reputation: Somewhat Well-Known
Strength: 11
Stamina: 11
Boxing Technique: 10
Footwork: 10
Reaction: 9
Punch Speed: 9
Coordination: 9
Explosiveness: 9
Recovery: 8
Dodge & Anticipation: 8
Toughness: 14
Jab Power: 9
Cross Power: 13
Free Attribute Points: 1
Overall Assessment: With technically competent skills and excellent physical conditioning, you are already an outstanding amateur boxer. It is recommended that you establish your own tactical style as soon as possible to move toward a professional career.
The stats panel finally looked impressive. Since entering the tournament, Jason Luo had won eight consecutive fights, earning nearly thirty attribute points. His technical skills had improved dramatically—he was no longer the clumsy novice he once was.
Even the system now judged him an "excellent amateur boxer." Jason Luo wasn't sure if that equated to a second-tier amateur in reality, but even if not, it couldn't be far off.
...
The knockout stage loomed. From tens of thousands of fighters, only the Top 500 remained. The thought made Jason Luo nervous. In the knockouts, there was no way back—only victory mattered. Could he win five straight matches and reach the Top 16?
No use worrying. Focus on the first fight. Jason Luo still had a Free Attribute Point and his hidden trump card, Unyielding Body. That gave him confidence. As long as he won the first match, he would earn more points. That was his true ace in the hole.
After breakfast, back in the gym, Pedro spoke with vigor. "The tournament begins tomorrow. You must win your first knockout fight, no matter who the opponent is! With matches held every five days, this will be your final bout of the year—and the last of your 18th year. Win this fight, and you'll have a chance to catch the eye of professional promoters. The new year is almost here! This is my minimum requirement. Can you do it?"
"Coach, I will!"
Brown stepped forward solemnly. "Jason, to be honest, we're all surprised you've made it this far. You truly have exceptional talent... But the more critical the moment, the more you must endure. At this stage, every win will have a huge impact on your boxing future—and on us as well." Brown shot Pedro a meaningful glance.
"For fairness, there will be no opponent dossiers for the knockout stage. That means no pre-fight strategy—it all comes down to your adaptability in the ring. But by now, you should have found some patterns."
"Against technical fighters, attack aggressively. Use your physical advantage, close in, and grind them down. Against aggressive fighters, stay at range, rack up points, and control the fight."
Jason Luo nodded. "I get it. Basically, play to my strengths, avoid my weaknesses, and attack his vulnerabilities."
Pedro added, "But be ready—the knockout stage opponents will be stronger, and many won't have obvious weaknesses. Keep that in mind. Still, don't be afraid. You're no pushover now. Believe in yourself."
"Tomorrow's the big day. No need for hard training today. If you have questions, ask them. If not, just loosen up. We'll focus on video analysis."
Jason Luo thought for a moment. "Coach, I do have a question."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"It's about fighting styles and tactics."
Pedro and Brown both chuckled. "Perfect timing. Today's lesson is exactly about that. It's something you need to start thinking about. We'll explain the options, but the choice is yours. No one can give you the right answer."
"Styles vary greatly. Even the same fighter may change over time. Take Mayweather—he started as a power puncher, but now he's the world's most renowned technical boxer."
"Among technical stylists, you have Hamed with his tricky, unorthodox footwork, Ali with his elusive butterfly style, and explosive attackers like Pacquiao with his 'Manila Ice,' or Sugar Ray Robinson with his flawless technical-tactical game..."
Brown added, "Offensive styles range from relentless pressure fighting to nimble, technical aggression, to opportunistic one-punch knockout strategies. These styles don't always come from deliberate training—they often evolve naturally through combat experience and a fighter's own strengths."
"Exactly. What we're giving you today is just reference material. Once you pick a direction, start by imitating a style that suits you. Then gradually refine it until you create your own unique fighting identity."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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