Chapter 183: 183 Advantages and Disadvantages: Official Announcement of the Competition
After two rounds of intense boxing, Golovkin unexpectedly picked up his pace. He openly acknowledged that he had initially underestimated Ye Chen's boxing skills. "Continue," Golovkin commanded succinctly. In a sudden burst of movement, he sidestepped expertly to evade an incoming strike and unleashed a backhand uppercut with impressive speed.
Ye Chen's defense, honed through countless bouts, was impeccable. Yet, just as he was gearing up to counterattack, an epiphany struck him. He realized that Golovkin had transitioned to a counter frame at the precise moment he had stepped in with the back hook. Unfortunately, it was too late to alter his momentum; his punch was already launched.
"Boom!"
The sound echoed as his fist connected with Golovkin's head, which had just tilted sideways. The impact was substantial, enough that it seemed to ruffle Golovkin's hair. However, Golovkin retaliated with a fierce punch aimed directly at Ye Chen's abdomen. The force was tremendous, leaving Ye Chen momentarily stunned, feeling as if his internal organs had been crushed. He struggled to maintain his stance.
Despite this, Golovkin had no intention of holding back. Though he felt the dizziness from Ye Chen's strike, it was far from debilitating. After landing his blow, he continued with a poised left hook, aiming for Ye Chen's head. As Ye Chen bent over from the pain, the natural instinct for most fighters would be to guard their midsection, precisely what Golovkin had anticipated.
This was a signature combination in Golovkin's repertoire. He had faced countless opponents with it, and if it landed correctly, it could lead to serious injury, if not a knockout. However, in a moment of quick thinking, despite his compromised posture, Ye Chen pushed Golovkin away with both hands, causing the latter's powerful punch to miss its intended target.
In the previous rounds, Golovkin had claimed victory over formidable boxers using this very combination. Yet, as Ye Chen instinctively retreated, the sharp pain in his liver radiated through his body, leaving him feeling vulnerable and weakened.
Golovkin pressed forward again, unleashing a heavy jab to establish control. At this juncture, albeit briefly, Ye Chen found a bit of rhythm after a momentary break. He leaned back to evade Golovkin's advancing punch, but in doing so, he encountered the ropes...
A significant aspect of Golovkin's strategy involved his lateral movement, continuously constricting Ye Chen's space in the ring. He unleashed a series of jabs with relentless precision, hiding his backhand strikes to exert psychological pressure. The awareness of Golovkin's devastating knockout power created profound anxiety among opponents and often led to openings that he exploited masterfully.
"Call!"
Another powerful jab made contact. Ye Chen, driven by instinct, swayed and leaned back, yet, he momentarily forgot that the ropes were not forgiving. As he leaned back, his body rebounded off the ropes. Golovkin anticipated this maneuver. At the very instant Ye Chen sprung back, he delivered an unyielding straight punch.
"Bang!"
Although it struck his guard, the sheer force sent Ye Chen crashing backward into the ropes, only to rebound once more. This time, Golovkin seized the opportunity, swinging out his front hand with lightning speed. He followed that with two swift punches to Ye Chen's abdomen; the blows were so forceful that they disrupted Ye Chen's defense, causing him to stagger sideways.
Golovkin was quick to capitalize on Ye Chen's weakened state, stepping in to block his escape routes before delivering a power-packed flat hook from his back hand. In an urgent reaction, Ye Chen leaned back yet again, finding himself propelled backward by the ropes a second time.
Learning from his earlier mistake, he quickly wrapped his arms around Golovkin as he rebounded this time, using the clinch to his advantage. With a minor adjustment in stance, he managed to pivot away from the ropes. The margin between him and elite fighters had never felt so tangible; their techniques were sharp and refined, and the atmosphere weighed heavily on him.
The pressure was immense, leaving Ye Chen struggling to execute his full combinations. Additionally, he almost resorted to kicking out of habit, a remnant of his MMA training—a mistake that might cost him dearly. The period of hesitation and grappling could easily turn into a lost opportunity. Overcoming a top-tier boxer like Golovkin seemed a monumental challenge.
Yet, amidst the chaos of their exchanges, a realization dawned on him. The tight embraces commonplace in boxing could actually serve as a strategic advantage for him, especially considering his grappling prowess. As Golovkin made an attempt to wrestle, it became evident to Ye Chen that his counterpart's grappling experience didn't even compare to his own.
Recognizing this advantage, Ye Chen firmly willed himself to take control of the situation, even amid the onslaught of blows that came particularly to his abdomen—painful but not cowing him altogether. With a twist of his body, he maneuvered Golovkin toward the ropes and threw out a powerful backhand punch, pressuring Golovkin to hesitate.
Though Ye Chen's efforts inflicted damage, it was evident that his attacks were not having the desired effect. Golovkin's remarkable agility, ability to defend, dodge, and counterattack made the path to victory more challenging than any scenario he had calculated. In his mind, he reflected on the hope that he could simply wrestle Golovkin and throw him onto the canvas, but it was merely an idealistic wish rooted in frustration.
The two had engaged in combat for over ten grueling minutes without reprieve. Now, they found themselves leaning against the ropes, both wearing the effects of the battle on their roughened attire. Ye Chen acknowledged the sobering reality: despite not being knocked out, he had clearly lost on points. It was almost unfathomable to think how Golovkin, at his peak, would have likely ended this match within minutes.
"You're stronger than I anticipated," Golovkin remarked. "Your physical advantages are notable: good stamina, youth, size, powerful punches, and quick reactions. From here on, we need to refine your techniques utilizing these strengths."
Golovkin mentioned Ava, a boxer known for exceptional punching power, advising Ye Chen to focus less on striking him directly and more on leveraging his own physicality and reach for dominance in the ring. The intention behind Golovkin's statement wasn't to dismiss Ye Chen—though the former hadn't deployed all his strength in their bout, he had expected a quicker victory.
This was not his first encounter with MMA fighters, and he recognized that Ye Chen's boxing skills were notably superior to those he'd previously faced. Ye Chen, aware that Golovkin had held back, remained cognizant of the importance of this test. However, a conviction burned within him that his improvement would soon astonish everyone.
In his mind, he replayed the matches he had simulated against Golovkin, visualizing the alterations he would make should they face each other again. Confidence surged within him, believing he was on the cusp of enhancing his game significantly.
As days passed, the highly anticipated bout between Ye Chen and Ava was suddenly brought to public attention. This announcement did not require shrouded secrecy or subtlety. Word spread rapidly: this would be the pinnacle match of the year, transcending others in significance. It held the promise of being one of the most monumental battles
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