Chapter 184: 184 Business War: The Game Is Approaching
The game is set to take place in Madison Square Garden, featuring a global simultaneous live broadcast. However, there are still five months remaining until the competition. Five months. This timeframe feels exceedingly short for Ye Chen. Even online fans and supporters of Ye Chen are expressing their concerns, insisting that he deserves a full year to prepare for such an important bout. Isn't it apparent that there's a significant push for boxing to emerge victorious?
As we know, while MMA events have surged in popularity in recent years, there remains a notable disparity between boxing, which has a storied history spanning hundreds of years. Although boxing has seen some decline, even a skinny camel is larger than a horse. This can be underscored by examining the earnings of top athletes. As the premier fighting sport, if Ye Chen manages to defeat Ava, a contemporary boxing icon, it will undoubtedly exacerbate boxing's ongoing struggles.
Even if Ye Chen had a whole year to prepare, few believe he could secure a victory. While many are vocally critical of Ye Chen, he himself feels he has ample time. Additionally, he has already initiated dialogues with Bivol. In reality, there are two contributors aiding his training. They practice with him around the clock in a simulated environment, ensuring that his skills develop at an astounding rate. In truth, after only a few days of training with Golovkin, the pace of Ye Chen's improvement left the champion in awe.
One more element worth mentioning is the matter of appearance fees. With assistance from Catwoman's economic team, Ye Chen has secured an impressive deal. Naturally, this economic team does not operate pro bono; Ye Chen is also compensated. Ultimately, he agreed to a five million appearance fee, divided such that he retains 25%. Other sponsorship agreements also net him a 25% share. This arrangement is mutually acceptable to both parties involved.
Now, it hinges on the ability of Ye Chen and Ava to draw in revenue. This matchup is, at its core, a pure business endeavor. Regardless of who triumphs, the appearance fees and profit shares remain identical. Capitalists aim to capitalize on the fame of both Ye Chen and Ava, a substantial opportunity indeed. Meanwhile, Ye Chen and Ava aspire to leverage this confrontation to generate a significant profit and further elevate their fame, status, and honor. Simply put, this arrangement thrives on mutual benefit.
Delving deeper, there is another layer to this situation: both athletes are advancing and promoting their respective sports. As a result, UFC shareholders are making bold proclamations; should Ye Chen prevail, he would receive an additional 30 million dollar bonus. This announcement sent shockwaves through both boxing and MMA circles. However, amidst the excitement, it's clear that shareholders are almost certain of Ye Chen's defeat, utilizing this as a chance to invigorate support for the UFC and the event itself.
The fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao brought the world to a standstill. It recorded an astonishing 4.4 million PPV sales, and during the bout, the original PPV price of $74 was directly elevated to $100 per share. Ticket prices soared, with some VIP seats fetching millions. The event demonstrated extraordinary commercial viability, with total revenue surpassing $600 million, marking it as a global sports phenomenon. Notably, this achievement outstripped records set by traditional powerhouses like football, breaking the historical milestone previously held by the Super Bowl. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao walked away with significant earnings from this spectacular event.
Before long, three months elapsed, and within the training hall, the rhythmic sound of punches echoed. "Okay, that's enough for today," Ye Chen announced, seeing that Golovkin was visibly fatigued. After all, the champion was older and at a different stage in his career, while Ye Chen was still at his peak, capable of tremendous feats.
Golovkin, hands on his hips and breathing heavily, spoke, "What kind of monster are you? How can you improve so rapidly?" The astonishment he felt was profound. With a lifetime in boxing, he had encountered numerous prodigies and talented athletes, yet Ye Chen's swift advancement was unlike anything he had witnessed. Sparring with Ye Chen daily led Golovkin to ponder if his pupil was secretly training at night, a notion that seemed unlikely given their rigorous training schedule.
"It's all thanks to your guidance," Ye Chen replied, unfastening his glove with his mouth.
Golovkin playfully punched him in the chest, saying, "If I had that ability, don't you think I would have noticed it?" Their daily practice had fostered camaraderie, and Ye Chen continued to play coy, "So, how do you think I'm progressing so quickly?"
Golovkin fell silent, struggling to articulate a response. The truth was, he couldn't quite fathom it himself. "Bivol will be here in a few days. Once he trains with you, he'll think you're a freak too," Golovkin chuckled, shaking his head.
Ye Chen shot back, "Isn't it still your guidance?"
Golovkin waved dismissively. "You're quite perceptive. Bivol is indeed an excellent choice to help you enhance your skills. His physique is similar to yours, though his wingspan may not be as extensive. However, his technical approach aligns well with what you need. He's beaten Canelo, so his experience in this realm surpasses mine."
Ye Chen nodded, agreeing with Golovkin's assessment. "The bout between you and Ava was highly debated. Many believed you deserved the victory," he remarked.
Golovkin shrugged with a smile, "Regardless of public opinion, I lost that fight; my win was hardly clear-cut. Bivol's victory over Canelo was unquestionable and unanimous. It simply highlights that he held a more significant advantage in the ring; it's as straightforward as that."
Ye Chen was not surprised by Golovkin's perspective, as he anticipated this reaction based on their past conversations. Days turned into weeks, and soon over two months had flown by, leading them into the thick of the competition.
Ye Chen found himself in New York, meticulously preparing for the anticipated matchup. During this time, it was Bivol from Russia who was guiding him through his preparations. "4, 6, 4, 6, 7…" came the shout of target drills echoing from the training hall.
Bivol raised his hand, instructing, "Focus on your footwork; keep your footwork in check. That's it—excellent. Canelo is a well-rounded boxer, but if there's one significant flaw to exploit, it's his movement. Therefore, mastering your mobility in the ring will be crucial for your success."
Bivol was an upfront individual. Upon beginning his training with Ye Chen, his initial goal was simple: to help Ye Chen survive the first three rounds. He genuinely felt the two were not comparable in their boxing prowess. However, after spending time training with Ye Chen, he entirely shifted his outlook. Bivol's objectives evolved from merely helping Ye Chen last three rounds to fostering an environment that positioned Ye Chen to win the bout.
This change illustrated the remarkable progress Ye Chen made in such a short span of time. Bivol was initially taken aback by Ye Chen's skill level from day one, as it was entirely different from his earlier perceptions. The question nagged at him—how on earth did Ye Chen train to achieve such an astonishing level of proficiency?
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