Chapter 23: **Chapter 23: KO to the End**
"Link, you've been tricked. You shouldn't have told those reporters that you would continue to win the championship by KO. It's too difficult."
In the lounge, West frowned with his gray eyebrows, the age spots on his cheekbones were slightly deformed due to the frowning brow and corners of his eyes, like dead leaves floating on coffee, and his dry bags under his eyes were also due to his eyes filled with worry. There are a few more wrinkles.
"West, don't worry, I have a plan."
Link took off his T-shirt and put it in the closet.
"Link, don't you understand? Those reporters are cheating you, they want to dig up big news from you, so they will keep stimulating you with sensitive questions and forcing you to answer.
You are too young and lack experience in dealing with the media, so you will be fooled.
If you encounter this kind of situation in the future, you just need to skip the topic and ignore it, and those reporters can't do anything to you. "
West continued, "As for you telling reporters that you will continue to win the championship by KO, you can ignore it. As long as you can win and get the championship, those reporters can't use this matter to criticize you."
"No, West, before I said that, I thought it through carefully, and I wasn't forced to make a decision by the reporters, so I will continue my previous game style, KO opponents, until I win the championship."
Link sat on the bench, leaning his shoulders against the closet, the golden sunlight came in from the window and fell on his angular side face, illuminating a confident smile on the corner of his mouth.
"Heh!"
Mario curled his lips and was about to speak out, but was swept away by Link's sharp eyes, he immediately closed his mouth and clenched his fists and beat Reggie's shoulder next to him.
Link saw that West was a little disbelieving, and smiled: "It's true, Tyson once said that the reason why boxers today are not as good as they used to be is not only because their fists are not hard enough, but also because they are too good.
They are all like good children taught by church schools, abide by the rules, don't make trouble, don't hype, don't know how to use various methods to market and promote themselves, their popularity among the people is too low, and their influence is too small.
For example, John Ruiz, the popularity of a world boxing champion is not even comparable to that of a third-rate Hollywood actor. How can a boxer like him expect the audience to spend money to watch their matches?"
West stroked his gray beard with a thoughtful look on his face.
"The purpose of my doing this is to continue to create newsworthy topics for the media."
Link looked at West and said calmly, "Although it is an amateur competition now and there is no prize money for the competition, we must also market ourselves anytime and anywhere as much as possible, and treat ourselves as a professional boxer.
I just publicly announced that I will continue to win the championship by KOing my opponents, so from now on, those media will be eager to focus the camera on me and pay attention to my every move.
If I do, they will continue to tout me and give me a lot of space.
If I don't, they'll make fun of me and make fun of me with a lot of news coverage, but so what, I'm still the most popular boxer in this Golden Gloves tournament. No one can compare with me. "
Link clenched his fists, his face overflowing with a victor's smile, more dazzling than the Miami sun outside the window.
"."
Golden Retriever Reggie opened his mouth and looked at Link with admiration.
He stopped in the quarter-finals of the state competition in this Golden Gloves Championship.
He thought that the gap between himself and Link was only in strength. After hearing Link's words, he realized that he was much worse than Link, not only in strength, but also in concept, awareness, way of thinking, courage, tactics, etc. .
When Link was still playing amateur games, he began to pave the way for the transition to professional boxing and prepare to become the world boxing champion, but he only knew how to fight stupidly, completely unaware of what he was fighting for.
A person like Link, he should become the world boxing champion.
Reggie quickly took out his mobile phone, opened the notebook, and recorded Link's words.
"I have a question."
Mario restrained the annoying expression on his face, and said solemnly: "Link, you make it sound simple, but what if you fail to KO your opponent, or you lose the game?
Hey, at that time, those media will laugh at you and call you a clown, a person who can only brag, is this what you want to see?"
Link smiled indifferently, "If you have studied history, you should know that all great figures in history, Washington, Lincoln, Franklin, etc., were not praised by everyone when they were alive, even after they died. Can't do it.
Since my goal is to become a great boxer, what does a little insignificant criticism count? Will a giant stop moving forward because it is afraid of being bitten by ants?"
Mario rolled his eyes, this guy opened his mouth to talk about great historical figures, and closed his mouth to talk about great boxers. This kind of person should not stay in the boxing world. He should go into politics and use his frightening words to fool the public. Maybe one day he can enter the White House.
West didn't quite understand Link's words when he heard them, but he felt that Link was a smart person and shouldn't be joking with his career, so he didn't say much, as long as Link prepared well and relaxed, he would be welcome The upcoming game.
Link nodded and entered the lounge to warm up.
Mario saw his back disappear at the door, his expression immediately collapsed, and he curled his lips and said: "Reggie, do you think there is something wrong with Link's spirit? Since he won the first place in the divisional competition, the whole person seems to be crazy, and what he said It's crazy, what changes the boxing world, unifies five levels, four major organizations gold belts, and becomes a great boxer, is this something a normal person can say?"
Reggie said with a serious expression: "I don't think so. Back then, Copernicus told the cardinal in a crazy way that the sun is the center of the universe. The people in the church thought he was crazy and burned him to death; Magellan went around the world back then After traveling, I told everyone that the earth is actually round, and many people said he was crazy. Now Link said that he wants to become a great boxer, you think he is crazy, is there a possibility that he is not crazy, but our knowledge and pattern are not enough?"
Mario opened his mouth and looked at Reggie in shock, "Are you crazy too? You would actually compare Link with Copernicus and Magellan?"
"Why not?" Reggie blinked and asked suspiciously.
Mario looked at him, got up and walked away silently, these guys are all sick, it's safer to stay away from them.
---
After Link publicly told the media reporters that he would continue to kill the game by KO in the next game, the news was quickly published by the reporters on the news website, and it became a hot news on the sports channels of Yahoo and other websites.
The boxers participating in the competition also quickly got the news.
Since the Golden Gloves Championship progressed to the divisional competition, Miami boxer Link Baker has emerged and broke a lot of news in the media, becoming one of the most popular athletes in the amateur boxing circle.
I heard that he must KO his opponent in every game to win, 14 KOs in 14 amateur games. Even as an opponent, everyone has to admit that Link Baker is a very capable guy.
Now I heard that he wants to continue the previous game style and KO to the end. Some people are nervous and start to think of countermeasures, thinking about how to crack Link's ultimate move and heavy punches, and many people don't take it seriously, thinking that Link is bragging.
"Haha, Link Baker is so arrogant."
In the lounge, a burly black boxer with dreadlocks laughed loudly, "Last time he played against Jones Fowles, he almost lost. His strength is not much stronger than Jones. Just like him, he dares to say that he will continue to use KO to flatten all of us? Dreaming!"
"You can't say that either. Link's punches are still very powerful. He has knocked out his opponents 14 times in 14 battles. No one has ever done this in amateur competitions before. Link is very strong and you must not underestimate him."
Someone retorted.
"No, no, he is very good, but heis not stronger than us. His opponent Jones Fowles is ranked seventh in the super middleweight. Andre Berto has defeated him before, I don't think Link can beat Andrzej and Andre Berto, let alone KO them, it's simply impossible."
Everyone listened, it seemed reasonable.
Link played very reluctantly in the divisional arena before, and almost failed. Now it is the national finals, and the boxers are as strong as Jones, or even stronger.
Link had a hard time defeating a Jones, and he still wanted to defeat several?
It is indeed a bit arrogant.
In addition, they also heard that Link originally planned to change his tactics and give up KOing his opponent in the finals. It was the media reporters who liked to make trouble and dug a hole for him. He failed to respond and was forced to change his words and announce that he would continue his previous style.
This shows that he doesn't have much confidence in the finals, and the tactics are hastily decided.
From this point of view, although Link is troublesome, there is no need to worry too much.
The game was about to start, and everyone returned to the lounge to prepare, and Link also put on his gloves and strode onto the ring.
(End of this chapter)