Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion

"Hey, dear viewers, good afternoon—this is your old friend Steve Mandanda, and I am currently at...."

"Link! Champion!"

"Link! Champion!"

"Sorry, just a moment, it's too noisy here; I might need to move."

At the match venue, host Steve Mandanda from HBO Sports Channel waved at cameraman Sean and covered his ear to move to a corner on the left side of the boxing ring.

After Link stepped onto the boxing ring, the audience loudly chanted his name, waves of deafening noise easily drowning out his words.

Reaching the corner, where a billboard provided some shielding, the noise was somewhat reduced.

Host Steve Mandanda exhaled, gave a thumbs up to the cameraman, and the cameraman restarted the camera.

Dressed in a suit, holding a microphone with the HBO logo, Steve Mandanda smiled at the camera and said, "Hey, dear viewers, good afternoon—this is your old friend Steve Mandanda, and I am currently at the American Airlines Arena in Miami."

Yes, that's right, the home court for the NBA's Miami Heat.

However, I'm not here today to interview Wade or any other player, who, I hear, are vacationing on Phuket Island—lucky them."

Today at the American Airlines Arena there's another event, familiar to boxing viewers I should think. Every May and June, the Amateur Boxing Association organizes an amateur boxing competition nationally: The Gold Gloves Boxing Championship.

If counted from the first one sponsored by the Chicago Tribune in 1926, there have been 53 editions held nationally or in various cities until now.

Each year, the Gold Gloves Boxing Championship attracts thousands of amateur boxers to sign up, and this year is no different.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

According to statistics from the Amateur Boxing Association, this year there are a total of 1403 boxers registered to participate in the championships across various ranks, making it the highest number in nearly ten years."

"Link! Champion!!"

The shouting from the stands suddenly came again, interrupting Steve Mandanda's broadcast once more.

He smiled at the camera, waving his fist and said, "That's right, Link, champion!

Many excellent novice boxers have appeared in this edition of the Gold Gloves, including the ironman Morales, Jones Fullos who unexpectedly beat the champion of the northern division, and many already familiar with Andre Berto, the amateur boxing championship veteran famed for his superb boxing skills, and the Eastern European youngster Andzeje Methodra. Yet the most famous of all is…."

Steve Mandanda covered his ears and raised the microphone.

"Link! Champion!"

The audience chanted.

"Yes, indeed, it's Link, Link Baker, a young man born in Miami Beach, 20 years old, a super middleweight boxer.

According to his coach, he learned boxing in less than three years. This Gold Gloves Boxing Championship is his first participation in an amateur boxing event, yet he amazed everyone with his performance.

From the Miami regional competition to the championship finals, he fought 16 matches, won 16 bouts by 16 KOs, defeating notable boxers including Mario Morales, Jones Fullos, and Andzeje Methodra.

Ring Magazine says this is a record-breaking achievement that Ali, Tyson, and Floyd Mayweather have never achieved, describing him as one of the most promising rookies in the boxing world this year.

After four rounds of competition, today, at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, the Gold Gloves Championship will also welcome its final match, where traditionally, the heavyweight competition has been the highlight.

This edition, however, is different. After a vote by the 10,000 spectators present, 86.2% wished to see the super middleweight competition in the main arena, prompting the organizers to decide to hold the super middleweight fight there.

The two boxers in today's super middleweight match are… Link Baker and his opponent, Andrea Berto!"

Cameraman Sean adjusted the camera to focus on the two boxers on the ring.

Under the bright lights of the boxing ring, two muscular young men stood face to face, one black and one white, with a referee dressed in a black shirt and white gloves standing between them.

Steve continued the live report, "The one in white shorts and white gloves, a muscular man, is the boxer Andrea Berto. He stands 181 centimeters tall, has an arm span of 188 centimeters, weighs 76.8 kilograms, and is 20 years old. His amateur record boasts 38 fights, 37 wins and 1 draw, having won the U19 National Championship and the All American Amateur Championships.

It is said that several boxing promotion companies have already offered him contracts, and Andrea Berto plans to turn professional after claiming victory at the Gold Gloves Championship.

Opposite him, wearing red gloves and looking strong, the leading man of tonight is none other than Link Baker, who boasts an amateur record of 16 fights, 16 KOs, and 16 wins."

Before the finals, he had publicly proclaimed that he would enter the finals and win the championship by knocking out all his opponents.

Just yesterday, right here on this boxing ring, he had consecutively knocked out Morales and Andzeje Methodra, two excellent boxers, and successfully advanced to the finals.

Today, here as well, he will continue his knockout legend to claim the championship, or be defeated by his opponent, regrettably missing the Gold Glove. Let us wait and see."

After finishing the broadcast in one breath, Steve took a long sigh, took a bottle of water from his assistant, took a sip, gargled it in his throat, and then spit it out on the ground.

"Mr. Mandanda, the organizers are asking if you want to interview the two boxers. If not, they're going to start the match," said a site work assistant as he approached.

Steve glanced at the boxing ring and nodded, "Link is a guy who really shakes things up, so an interview wouldn't be a bad idea."

The work assistant nodded and ran off to relay the message.

Steve walked toward the boxing ring with the camera.

HBO is a cable television broadcasting giant, and boxing broadcasts are a key program for the HBO network.

Normally, they broadcast professional boxing matches, making money through the PPV payment method, and occasionally they also broadcast some amateur events that attract considerable attention.

Traditionally, HBO only broadcasts the heavyweight championship finals annually, but this year a dazzling newcomer in the Super Middleweight, Link Baker, has caught the eyes of many, prompting HBO to switch their focus to the Super Middleweight division.

Steve briskly climbed onto the boxing ring, greeted the audience all around, and then walked up to Andrea Berto, handing over the microphone and asking, "Good afternoon, Andrea. Standing before you is Link Baker, the 'Ring Anesthetist' who has knocked out opponents 16 times. Facing him in the match, do you feel nervous?"

Andrea Berto, his thick arms flexed, flashing a bright white smile, laughed, "Of course not. The one who should be nervous is him. I'm not like other boxers who just spar with him; I will defeat him with my iron fist and then tell everyone that a boxer is made through real punches, not by faking."

"Wow!"

A gasp emerged from the crowd.

Link narrowed his eyes, a smirk lifting the corners of his mouth. He had been polite and friendly when interacting with Andrea Berto just now, but facing the camera, he openly slung mud his way. Interesting!

"Wow!"

Host Steve also exclaimed dramatically, then passed the microphone to Link, "Link, Andrea says you fight with fake punches. What do you have to say to that?"

Link shrugged, smiling, "Nothing much to say. For a worthy opponent, like Andzeje, I'm willing to spar a few more rounds, to exchange and learn. For those who I don't respect, I don't mind finishing the match early. Andrea Berto, you say I fight with fake punches? Great, to prove you wrong, I will KO you within five rounds. Be prepared for your defeat."

"Wow! Oh wow, what did I just hear?"

Steve exclaimed again, lifting the microphone and shouting to the whole venue, "Link says he will KO Andrea Berto within five rounds, wow! This is an amateur match, and Andrea Berto is the number one ranked amateur boxer in the Super Middleweight division. Oh my, did I hear that right? Link, are you sure you want to KO Andrea Berto within five rounds?"

"That's right, I only need five rounds," Link said, clenching his fist towards the microphone.

"Wow!"

"Link! Champion!"

"Link! Keep it up!"

The audience at the venue, having heard Link's call over the broadcast, began shouting excitedly.

Meanwhile, Andrea Berto clenched his fists tightly, his white teeth gritting together fiercely as he glared at Link with fury.

Host Steve then passed the microphone back to Andrea Berto, "Andrea, Link says he will KO you within five rounds. How do you respond to him?"

Andrea Berto glared at Link and bellowed, "He's dreaming. I will teach him a harsh lesson with my iron fist, KO him, and have him groveling on the ground like a coward."

"Link..."

Steve, holding the microphone, was about to ask Link for his thoughts when the referee came over to remind him that it was time to start the match. Steve, reluctantly retracting the microphone, left the ring with the cameraman.