Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion

With Lorenzo Aragon beating his opponent, Fernando, with a score of 32:14 in the semi-finals to secure another Olympic berth, the time for the finals was also drawing near.

Before the final match arrived, debates about whether Link or Aragon would become the Super Middleweight champion of the Americas Zone had not ceased since Link defeated the rock-solid Pitts.

Online, in the newspapers, and among ordinary people's conversations, everyone following the event argued about this issue.

Some supported Link to win but didn't think he could KO Aragon. They believed that if he insisted on a KO, Aragon would undoubtedly emerge as the ultimate winner.

For instance, Doug Fisher, the editor-in-chief of "Ringside" magazine and also a seasoned sports commentator who served as HBO Boxing's gold-standard host from 1994–2002, wanted to tell a reporter in an interview.

He thought that Link's insistence on a KO could likely lead to his loss.

In the last match, with only 12 seconds left, if Link's attack pace was a few seconds slower, or if Pitts had held on a little longer, he wouldn't have been able to win by KO.

And Aragon was a more troublesome opponent than Pitts; his physical condition, ability to take hits, and defensive skills were not inferior to Pitts.

Another important point was that Aragon was more agile than Pitts, with faster reaction and evasion speeds.

The Rear Hook Punch tactic that Link used to blindside Pitts in their match would not work against Aragon, which was a disadvantage for Link.

Additionally, Aragon had participated in two World Boxing Championships and one Olympic Games, with more extensive experience than both Pitts and Link.

Especially in the 86 amateur matches Aragon took part in, he was undefeated in the last 50 matches, and in 70% of them, he scored over 30 points.

One could say that Aragon was an elite among the elite.

If Link chose to compete with Aragon on points, he had a 50% chance of winning. Insisting on winning by KO, his chances of victory were less than 10%.

Doug Fisher suggested that Link should use tactics flexibly and not be fixed on a KO.

Apart from Doug Fisher, boxing experts and opinion leaders in North America also expressed their views on the matter. Some were optimistic about Link, believing he could continue to break records, while others favored Aragon, thinking he could win on points.

Amidst the debates on who would win and how, there was endless controversy.

For a time, this originally inconspicuous Olympic qualifier had become one of the hottest sports news in the Euro-American region, even more so than the news of the Celtics lifting the NBA Championship trophy for the seventeenth time.

On the day of the final, the Havana Social and Sports Center venue welcomed more than 200 media journalists from various countries, a number far beyond the Cuban government's expectations. Reportedly, dozens of journalists were detained at the airport port because they were not adequately prepared and failed to pass Cuban customs in time to reach the venue.

Moreover, on the day before the finals, all 12,427 tickets for the main venue of the Social and Sports Center sold out. Many citizens and Euro-American tourists, unable to buy tickets, requested the Havana government to change the venue to the larger Havana University Sports Hall.

This request was refused by Havana officials, but the government said it would open up surrounding venues to add over three thousand seats.

So on the day of the match, throngs of pedestrians and vehicles converged on the plaza of the Social and Sports Center.

—

"Look, so many people! Are they all here to watch Link box?"

"Selena, don't be so rude. You should call him brother."

"I'm not calling him brother!"

Tourist Selena Gomez wrinkled her nose, took several pictures of the dense crowd with her camera, and then turned to the tall lady behind her and said, "So, Catherine, we flew all the way from New York just to watch a boxing match?"

The dark-haired lady named Catherine flicked her forehead, "Isn't it you who wanted to come here? You said after filming, you wanted a vacation, we gave you several options, and it was you who chose this place, so why blame us?"

"I picked Miami, okay, it's all Link's fault, always running around, even coming to Cuba for boxing."

Selena pouted unhappily, then with furrowed brows, she asked, "Catherine, did Link ever practice boxing before? I had no idea."

"No!"

"Then how did he become a boxer, even preparing to participate in the Olympics? I heard that only very, very impressive boxers can take part in the Olympics, the few best from each continent."

"I don't know."

"How can you not know anything? Catherine, you're kind of failing as a mom."

Selena tilted her little face, her finger pointing to her chin, teasingly.

Thump!

The woman named Catherine flicked her on the head again.

Selena, holding her head and glaring at her, felt very dissatisfied inside. Why did her mother and aunt height over 170 cm, and even that jerk Link at 186 cm, while she was only 165 cm? It was so unfair.

"Okay, I admit I've been a failure, not caring enough for Link, but he's doing fine now, he doesn't need my concern. How about I pay more attention to you from now on?"

The woman named Catherine said, ruffling her fluffy hair with a smile.

"Hmph, I don't need it!"

Selena flicked her hand away.

"Catherine, I got the tickets, we can go in now."

An older lady approached, holding three tickets and called out.

"Anna, how much?"

Selena rushed forward, snatching the tickets and asked.

"320 dollars, we bought them too late."

"320? That's so expensive? No way, when I see Link, I'll make him pay me back; if he doesn't, I'll beat him up."

With the tickets in hand, Selena stormed off towards the ticket checkpoint, fuming.

The two ladies shook their heads and followed.

——

Behind the scenes in the venue's locker room, Link changed into his competition gear and walked out to the resting area outside, where he told Taylor who was waiting there, "Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Just sit comfortably in the stands and watch the match."

"I heard Lorenzo Aragon is really strong, aren't you afraid?"

Under the bright lights of the locker room, Taylor Swift stretched his calves while sitting on a bench. He was appraising Link, who was baring his muscular back, his powerful pectorals, the clear contours of his abs, and his sexy Adonis belt, making Taylor take a few extra glances.

"Haven't you heard that I'm even tougher?"

Link said with a smile while tying his shoelaces.

"I've heard that, heard you've had 21 fights with 21 KOs, and in the last fight, you even made your opponent bleed from the chin—tough to deal with."

"Then that's right. How's Mr. Swift's condition? Will coming here to watch the match affect his treatment?"

"It's fine, the doctor said it's just too much stress, and I don't even know why he has so much stress working at a finance company."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Taylor shrugged, his face carrying an inexplicable smile.

Link gave a light smile; of course, the pressure on a middle-aged man was immense.

"Link, it's time for the physical, how are you feeling?"

Morales called out from outside the door.

"I'll be right there!"

Link responded, then said to Taylor, "Go ahead to the match, take good care of your dad. I'll find you both after it's over."

"Okay!"

Taylor gave a slight smile, kissed him on the face, and then left the locker room humming a tune.

Link did a warm-up routine in the locker room, his skin starting to sweat, and followed Morales to the medical examination and gear check area for the pre-entry checks.

Besides a drug test, another important pre-fight check was the weight measurement.

As the super middleweight category for the Olympics ranged from 71 to 76 kilograms, before the match, Link had to cut nearly two kilograms. During his stay in Havana, he dared not eat or drink lavishly, sticking to bread and water brought from the United States every day.

This time, his measured weight was 75.65 kilograms, barely making the cut.

"Link, you've already secured your Olympic spot, so don't be too nervous about this match, and don't take it too seriously. Just fight like you normally do; if you can win, win, if not, losing is okay too. There are many more bouts next month, and we'll have chances to win back. Remember, don't get injured at all costs."

Coach Ed advised earnestly.

"I understand. You don't need to be too nervous either."

Link looked at him, his face looking a few years older, and smiled.

"Link! Come on!"

"Link! Come on!"

Morales, Andzeje, Andrea Berto, and a few other teammates acting as assistants looked at him and shouted, throwing their fists in the air.

"Come on!"

Link also shouted back, waving his fists energetically.

After his equipment passed inspection, Link, dressed in red protective gear, walked out of the gloomy corridor with his coaches and assistants striding beside him.

Boom~ The moment he emerged from the passageway, waves of tsunami-like cheers and shouts assailed his eardrums from every direction.

"Aragon! Come on!"

"Aragon! Must win!"

"Aragon, champion!" Read new adventures at empire

"Aragon, beat that American guy to death!"

Link was initially stunned for a second, then suddenly realized this wasn't Miami, nor his home ground, and the audience wasn't his supporters; this was an away game.

He looked up at the densely packed spectator seats, laughed, and with a powerful shout amidst the roar of the crowd, raised his fists and exclaimed,

"Victory for Link!"