章節 90: Chapter 90: The Verbal Joust Begins
“Hahaha!â€
Some of the reporters laughed, while others glared at the laughing journalist. Link had just said he would only answer five questions, and this was not the time for such irrelevant questions.
Link, however, was surprised and glanced at the journalist. This guy must have studied Chinese medicine, his observation skills were too sharp.
“Yes, the weather in New York is terrible. I've been here for ten days, and it has rained for six of them. I miss the sunshine in Miami,†Link said seriously.
“Mr. Link Baker, congratulations on your first professional win. How do you evaluate the performance of today's opponent, Gerald Rowe?†asked a reporter from the New York Daily News.
“Gerald is a very strong boxer. His skills are quite good, especially his defense. Among amateur boxers, he is definitely above average,†Link replied seriously.
But the reporters didn't hear it that way.
“Mr. Link Baker, but you defeated him in just 6 seconds,†said the reporter from the American Express.
“Yes, I defeated him in 6 seconds, but that doesn't mean he's weak. It just means I'm very strong. In my weight class, they can only last a few seconds or a few dozen seconds against me, not just Gerald,†Link said, clenching his fist.
The reporters exchanged glances. What was Link talking about? Did he say that all boxers in his weight class can only last a few seconds or a few dozen seconds against him?
A slip of the tongue? Or is Mr. Trash Talk back at it?
“Mr. Link Baker, does that include former champions like Mikkel Kessler, Lucian Bute, Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, Carl Froch, and Arthur Abraham?†shouted a reporter from the New York Post.
“That's right, I'm talking about everyone, no matter what former champion or intercontinental champion they are. If I meet them in a match, I am confident I can end it in a few seconds or a few dozen seconds. That's what I said, you can quote me on that,†Link said firmly.
Wow! The reporters were stunned by his victory declaration. This guy just had his first professional match and dared to say such bold words. Did he think winning an Olympic gold medal made him invincible?
“Tommy, did you hear what Link said?†Dino Duva asked Brooks, not believing his ears. “He said he could beat those champions in seconds? Is he crazy?â€
Brooks, the coach, couldn't help but twitch at those words. He had heard people say Link was a ‘trash talker,’ but after spending a few days with him, he found Link to be a gentle person, speaking and acting very genuinely, not at all like an arrogant trash talker. Why was he suddenly saying such big words today? Was it because of the reporters?
He stroked his chin and said to Dino, “Maybe Link isn't talking nonsense. With his skills, he could indeed beat those guys in seconds.â€
“Are you serious?†Dino looked at him in shock. “The people that reporter mentioned are all top-ranked super middleweight fighters in the WBA-WBC-WBO-IBF organizations, especially Danish champion Mikkel Kessler. Last year, he fought Joe Calzaghe in a 12-round battle, and Calzaghe won by a narrow margin. Such a strong person, and Link dares to say he could beat him in seconds?â€
Brooks scratched his head, feeling a bit uneasy. Although he knew Link was very strong, Mikkel Kessler and the others were also very powerful, all former world champions. It seemed almost impossible for Link to defeat them in seconds.
“Mr. Link Baker, are you issuing a challenge to all super middleweight boxers?†asked the reporter from the New York Daily News.
Link smiled lightly and shook his finger. “Guys, if you read the July issue of the Miami Herald, you would know my challenge was issued long ago. During the July qualifiers, reporter Simmons asked me about professional matches, and I told him my goal is to become the world champion. I hope those so-called champions will give up their belts before I enter the professional arena. If they don’t want to, they better be ready to be KO’d by me. Joe Calzaghe must have read that article and gave up his belt early, setting a good example. I hope Mikkel Kessler, Lucian Bute, Andre Ward, and the others will also give up their dreams of competing for the super middleweight belt and quit early, because those belts will only belong to me,†Link said, pounding his chest.
Boom! Thunder rumbled in the sky, and the reporters' minds were also in turmoil. Did this guy just say that Joe Calzaghe, who had dominated the super middleweight division for years, gave up his belt because he was afraid of being KO’d by him? How dare he say that?
Dino Duva, Tommy Brooks, and Morales were also stunned. This was too arrogant. Wasn't he afraid of being pelted with rotten eggs by Calzaghe's fans?
Simon tugged at his mouth and quickly called Franco to report the situation. Link had just dropped a bombshell, and it was bound to cause a huge stir in the news tomorrow. No, it might explode in the boxing world and the sports entertainment world online tonight. After all, the Olympics had just ended, and Link's popularity was at an all-time high.
Franco, after hearing this, broke out in a cold sweat and shouted for a meeting with everyone, not missing a single person.
“Mr. Link Baker, did you just say that the undefeated champion with a record of 44-0 and 32 KOs, Joe Calzaghe, gave up all his super middleweight belts because of you?†asked the New York Post reporter, too shocked to control his tone.
“Yes, Joe Calzaghe is very strong, and I respect him a lot. But as a boxer, I believe the best way to honor him is to defeat him with my fists. Unfortunately, he gave up the belts early, which is a pity,†Link said, spreading his hands.
Seeing the reporters wanting to ask more, he waved his hand and said that the five questions were up and he would not answer any more. He then left the match venue, leaving behind a group of dumbfounded reporters and onlookers.
“The best way to honor him is to defeat him with my fists. Is that something a normal person would say?†Dino Duva asked blankly.
“So cool!†Morales exclaimed.
“Stop standing there, follow Link,†Brooks urged.
(End of Chapter)
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