Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Bite from the Boxing Champions
"I seem to have forgotten something, something important."
After a busy first day of the finals, the more intense final day arrived. At noon, as Link walked into the venue of the finals, looking at the American Airlines Arena, he felt that he had forgotten something. He had been too busy recently, with too many things on his mind, and he couldn't remember it for a while.
He walked and thought for a while, but he couldn't remember it. He simply put the matter behind him and focused on the game ahead.
"Link, there's a lot of news online saying that you're fighting fake matches, that the first 16 matches were all fake. When you get to the arena, the reporters will definitely ask about this, so be prepared."
West said with a worried frown.
When they first met, West didn't look this old. He had been too busy lately, and his white beard and hair had all grown out, making him look at least ten years older.
"West, don't worry, leave everything to me, I can handle it."
Link smiled unconcernedly.
Mario looked at him with a strange expression. How could this guy be so relaxed? Didn't he know how much doubt there was online?
Last night, he stayed up all night browsing boxing forums, just to see how everyone evaluated Link. He found that most people in the forum were questioning Link's fake fights, saying that the 16 KOs were all fake and were just a tactic of the boxing promotion company. They wanted to create a boxing star, and Link was the chosen one. Link might have some strength, but he couldn't be that good.
As a member of Link's team, Mario knew that Link's results were not fake, but seeing someone scolding Link, he felt inexplicably happy.
"Hey, Link, you probably don't know how many people are saying you're fighting fake matches online, right?"
Mario squeezed past Reggie, walked behind Link, ready to put some pressure on Link, wanting to see Link's reaction. He grinned and said in an exaggerated tone, "A lot, a lot, you know? Former middleweight WBC-WBA-IBF champion Bernard Hopkins, former WBA heavyweight champions Chris Byrd, Hasim Rahman, James Toney, giant Valuev, and so on.
They all publicly stated that even in their prime, they couldn't win all their amateur matches by KO, saying that your punches were beyond their imagination. Hey, that is, they are questioning whether you are fighting fake matches, understand?
Oh, and there's also Roy Jones Jr. Roy Jones Jr. said that if it's true, your future achievements may be even greater than Ali and Tyson's, but only if it's true. Link, how do you feel hearing this?"
"Where did you see the news? Why didn't I see it?" Reggie asked.
"Yahoo boxing forum, there are a lot of such posts, very, very interesting, I recommend you take a look." Mario stared at Link's face and smiled.
"Shit! They're talking nonsense, Link's results are all real, there's no faking, the Amateur Boxing Association has also come forward to explain, why don't they believe it?" Reggie asked dissatisfiedly.
Mario ignored him and smiled at Link, "Hey! Link, why don't you say anything, how are you feeling?"
Link looked at him and smiled, "Mario, if one day you succeed, you want to know how good you are, don't ask others, think about who your opponents are, if your opponents are very good and powerful, it means you are truly successful.
I'm just an amateur boxer, but I've been attacked by several boxing champions and famous boxers. It seems that I've really succeeded and become someone that even boxing champions have to take seriously. This is an encouragement, I'm very excited."
"Excited?"
Mario looked at Link dumbfoundedly. Others scolded him, and he took it as encouragement? And he was excited? Is there something wrong with this guy's brain?
"Well said!"
Reggie took out his phone and recorded Link's words in his notebook. Mario rolled his eyes. Through last night's news, he figured it out, there was nothing wrong with him and the world, it was Reggie, West, and Link's fans who had problems. They were all poisoned by a poison called 'Link'.
Link came to the lounge, changed into his competition gear, and strode into the competition venue. When he walked out of the passage, a large group of reporters gathered around him from all sides, there were hundreds of them, blocking the exit, scrambling to get to the front row, vying to hand out microphones, and throwing tricky questions at Link.
"Mr. Link Baker, I'm a reporter from the American Express. Someone reported that you faked your matches and suggested that the Amateur Boxing Association should investigate it thoroughly. What's your response?"
"Mr. Link Baker, some people think that your first 16 matches were problematic and that your results and qualifications should be canceled. What's your explanation for this?"
"Mr. Link Baker, former middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins said that if he was your opponent, he could KO you in one round. He thinks that your strength has been exaggerated by the media and is not real. Will you fight him in the ring?"
The reporters put their microphones to his mouth as if they were going to feed him ice cream.
Link took a step back, waved his hand, and pointed at a few reporters who asked questions, "I don't like your way of asking questions, I don't like it at all. When you interview me, please don't use unprofessional terms like 'someone', 'someone', or 'netizen'. I want to hear a real name, a person who can take legal responsibility;
And you, Mr. Washington Daily News reporter, you said Bernard Hopkins, he's a former middleweight champion, right? If he still has the gold belt, I'm willing to fight him, but he doesn't have any title now, I don't think there's any need to fight him."
Hearing Link's words, the reporters quickly changed the form of their questions. The American Express reporter said loudly, "Mr. Link Baker, in yesterday's match with Andrzej Fonfara, many people thought you could KO Andrzej Fonfara in one round. Why did you fight until the ninth round? Our newspaper received a whistleblower call, claiming that you had an improper transaction in private, is this true?"
After the American Express reporter finished asking, the other reporters all held up their recording pens, stretched out their arms from afar, and looked at him expectantly, "Mr. Reporter, I'm helpless about your question, because you didn't do your homework before the interview, you don't know the meaning of amateur competition at all, and you don't know the difference between amateur competition and professional competition. I'm here to tell you that professional competition values the result, who has the champion and the gold belt.
The purpose of the Amateur Boxing Association organizing the Golden Gloves Championship is to strengthen the exchanges and learning among young boxers, to learn from each other and make progress together.
The reason why I came to participate in the Golden Gloves Championship, in addition to winning the championship, there is another important purpose, is to learn the skills of my peers and accumulate competition experience.
I am a power boxer, and I also often study boxing techniques, I think my boxing skills are good, and I met Andrzej Fonfara, who has the most exquisite skills in the industry. This is such a rare opportunity, how could I waste it?
If I hadn't made a promise to the boxing fans in advance to win by KO, I would even want to fight him for ten rounds. Mr. Reporter, do you understand what I mean?"
The reporter nodded, "Mr. Baker, you mean that your match with Andrzej Fonfara is not about the result, but about the process of the match, learning from each other, but if you want to KO him in one round, you can do it too, right?"
Link glanced at the other party, a little impressed by his ability to dig holes. At first, he followed your lead, but then he dug a hole for you. As long as younodded, the news tomorrow could say, 'Link admits that he can solve Andrzej Fonfara in one round'. When unsuspecting netizens see this, isn't this a clear admission of fighting fake matches?
Link shook his head, not intending to admit it, nor to deny it, letting others talk about it. This topic would not end early, and there would be news if there were topics, which was exactly the result he wanted.
(End of chapter)
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