บท 95: Chapter 95: The Three-Round Agreement
"Good morning, everyone!" In the Atlantic City hotel, Richard walked into the restaurant with Bundchen.
"Sleeping in just because you won a match? Richard, you've become decadent," Paul said, munching on bread at the table.
"Can't help it, having a beautiful girlfriend makes it hard not to sleep in," Richard said with a smile, his arm around Bundchen.
"You blame me for you sleeping in? It's you who's lazy and won't get up, okay?" Bundchen patted his shoulder.
"Alright, it's all my fault, honey. Let's have breakfast." Richard put down his plate and sat down, pulling Bundchen with him.
"Tsk~" Paul curled his lips. Is it so great to have a girlfriend? Showing affection all the time, how immoral.
"Richard, several media outlets want to interview you. When are you available?" Anthony asked.
"Noon is fine!"
"Richard, some people from promotion companies also want to talk to you, including Bernard Parker. These people have extensive connections and resources in the boxing world. Establishing a good relationship with them will be very helpful for your future development," Alvin said.
"Okay, please arrange it for me," Richard said while eating.
"Richard, when you have time, you'd better go to the hospital for a full check-up to prevent any hidden injuries," Dr. El reminded him.
"Okay, I'll go for a check-up when I get back to New York. By the way, is Vasily awake?" Richard said.
"Yes, he woke up around 8 am. I sent him a bouquet of flowers on your behalf," Anthony said.
"Well done!" Richard smiled.
"Richard, thank you for helping me earn a lot of pocket money," Norman said, raising his juice glass with a smile.
"Richard, we also thank you!" Everyone at the table raised their glasses and smiled.
"Haha, you're welcome. I also want to thank everyone for believing in me," Richard laughed.
Clink~
Everyone clinked their juice glasses as a substitute for wine.
"Hey? Old Tang, why aren't you happy? Didn't you bet your retirement money on Richard? You must have made a fortune this time, right?" Paul grinned mischievously.
"Hmph!" Old Tang ignored him with a sullen face.
"Old Tang, it's okay, there will be other opportunities in the future," Richard smiled.
"No need, I don't like gambling," Old Tang said.
"You don't even like picking up money?" Paul joked.
"Hehe, was that picking up money? Last night, during the last round, someone was still complaining about Richard being useless, calling him a wimp. Now that they've won money, they've forgotten how nervous they were at the time," Old Tang snorted.
Paul blushed. "Richard, it's all your fault. If you were confident in beating Vasily, you should have told us directly, making us worry."
"Yes, Richard, you should have told us your plan directly, making me shout until my voice was hoarse," Norman said, clutching his throat.
"Me too!" Many people at the table had hoarse voices and looked at him with resentment.
"You're blaming me now? I said I could win, and I definitely could win. Who told you not to believe me?" Richard laughed.
"You said you could win, but we didn't expect you to win like this. You fought for twelve rounds, were knocked down three times, and almost couldn't get up the last time. It was too thrilling."
"Yes, Richard, with your skills, you could have finished the match in six or seven rounds by directly fighting Vasily head-on. But you insisted on using twelve rounds and made it so thrilling. I don't think your tactics were very good," Paul shook his head.
Richard smiled lightly. "I had an 80% chance of winning by fighting head-on, and a 100% chance by following the tactics. If you were to choose, which one would you choose?"
"100%?" Paul curled his lips. "If you couldn't stand up at the end, you wouldn't be saying that."
"Couldn't stand up?" Richard smirked.
"What are you laughing at?" Paul was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened. "Oh~ fuck!! Were you acting? You were actually fine, you deliberately lay on the ground to create drama and make the audience cheer for you? Oh, damn it, I remember now. I punched you for a week with iron gloves and you were fine. No matter how powerful Vasily's punches are, they're not as strong as mine. How could he knock you down? So you damn bastard were acting the whole time?!"
"Mind your language, your saliva is spraying all over the table," Richard said, covering his plate with his hand.
"Richard, is what Paul said true?" Everyone at the table looked at him.
Richard shook his head. "Half true, half false. Vasily is very strong. The newspapers said that after this round, he will move up to cruiserweight to compete for the cruiserweight championship. With someone like that, could I fool him with just acting?"
"Tsk~ With your skills, you could even fight a heavyweight champion. Could Vasily beat you? And your punching power, if you used your full strength, how could you not knock out Vasily? I think you bastard were just acting. You not only played Vasily, but also us," Paul snorted.
"So last night's match was just a performance, and I, Susan, all of us, and the tens of thousands of spectators in the audience all became extras?" Bundchen laughed.
"No, honey, you were the leading lady. Yesterday, if you hadn't shouted 'Richard, stand up, Richard, get up quickly', I definitely wouldn't have been able to stand up. Honey, thank you!" Richard held her hand and smiled.
"Hmph, you're such a bad guy, but also very awesome!" Bundchen smiled and kissed him.
---
After breakfast, Richard accepted another interview. He continued his trash-talking style, saying some truths that were taken as bragging. The reporters got a lot of news material and left satisfied.
In the following days, news reports about him came out.
He defeated the previous Olympic champion, Vasily, and won the title of WBC North American Light Heavyweight Champion, equivalent to an international boxing champion. This title brought him great fame.
"Richard is a very valuable newcomer," said renowned promoter Don King publicly.
"The biggest surprise of this year's championship challenge. His performance in the ring is impressive," said Jose Sulaiman, president of the WBC World Boxing Council.
"Richard's boxing matches have a strong performance style. He treats the ring as a stage and the match as a performance. Every match is exciting, full of surprises, and very watchable," commented 'Sports Weekly'.
"A rising sports star from the slums, the hope of white boxing," the sports section of the 'New York Post' wrote.
There were also some negative comments.
"Who is Richard? That pretty boy who can act? He should be in Hollywood, not the boxing ring!" Former world champion Mike Tyson told a reporter from 'Boxing Fan' magazine.
"Relying solely on tactical deception, he won't go far on this path," WBC Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis told a reporter from 'Sports Weekly'.
"I've watched his matches, his performance is average... Yes, I said it, he's far worse than Vasily. Someone like him who can only win by tricks can't last three rounds against me," WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Roy Jones Jr. said in an HBO TV sports interview.
Roy's words caused a great response in the boxing world.
Many people were discussing who was better between the two.
Regarding Richard's performance, there was a common view in the circle: The reason why Richard Brad was able to defeat Vasily was mainly due to tactical deception. His overall strength was not as good as Vasily's, and he was even further behind Roy Jones Jr.
However, his overall strength had reached the level of an international boxing champion, and it would be extremely difficult for Roy Jones Jr. to win the match in three rounds.
"Mr. Brad, what do you have to say about the comments of these three boxing champions?" Once, Richard had just walked out of the bathroom and was blocked by reporters at the door.
Since winning the match, reporters had been harassing him frequently. There used to be twenty or thirty, but now there was only one young reporter from the 'New York Daily News' left.
Richard wiped his hands with a paper towel. "Thank you, Mr. Mike Tyson, for the compliment. I am indeed the most handsome man in the boxing world..."
"Wait, Mr. Brad, Mr. Tyson said you're a pretty boy, not the most handsome man in the boxing world," the young reporter reminded him.
Richard glanced at him sideways. "Are you new to this industry? I'm giving you a topic and you don't even want it?"
The reporter was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he quickly took out his notebook and started writing.
"Remember, Tyson himself said I'm the most handsome man in the boxing world, and I thank him for that.
Also, Mr. Lewis, I want to thank him for his guidance. He's right, relying on tactical deception won't get you far. But I don't rely on tactics, my strength is also very strong. I hope to have the opportunity to fight him in the future.
And Mr. Roy Jones, did he say three rounds? Okay, then I'll set a small goal, to defeat him in three rounds."
"... Mr. Brad, are you saying you can defeat Roy Jones Jr. in just three rounds?" The young reporter asked excitedly.
"Yes, you understood correctly. Report it that way." Richard waved his hand and walked away.
"What a nice guy," the young reporter smiled, looking at his back.
---
Thank you to the book friend 'Looking for a Book I Can Understand' for the reward (*^▽^*)
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(End of chapter)
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