Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion

Link and Pitts's match had ended.

The Miami Herald described the match as 'brutal' and 'shocking,' nobody expected Link to shatter the 'Rock' Pitts's jaw, ending the match by forcing the opponent to surrender.

The outcome was shocking.

However, Link also faced some criticism afterward, claiming his method of competing was somewhat bloody. In amateur matches, even with protective gear, he could still shatter an opponent's jaw with his fist, which was simply too brutal.

He thereby earned another nickname—'Destroyer,' it was said his heavy punch could destroy any opponent, no matter how robust their body was, they would be destroyed under his attack.

The official Cuban newspaper Granma also reported on this, with more criticism than praise, claiming that Olympic series contests are amateur and focus on exchange and learning.

Link's method of winning every match by KO was 'too extreme, unacceptable,' and they believed the Olympic Organizing Committee and the American Boxing Association should intervene and urge Link to amend his way of competing.

Link did not care about the external disapproval; getting injured or injuring an opponent was very normal on the boxing ring, whether in professional or amateur matches, injuries among boxers occurred.

Some boxers, after getting injured, request stopping the match to treat wounds and prevent the injury from worsening affecting their future, like Rosniel; some choose to persist despite bleeding more, worsening the injuries, like Pitts.

Whether to continue the match after being injured or to give up is entirely a personal choice, and it is the individual's responsibility, not the opponent's.

Moreover, neither the Olympic Organizing Committee nor the Boxing Association had the right to interfere in this matter, as boxing competitions, whether amateur or professional, all regard the strength of the boxer.

Since boxers are allowed to infinitely improve their defense and resistance to strikes, they must also be permitted to infinitely enhance their offense and breaking defenses. Demanding changes just because someone's punches are heavy and aggressive is unreasonable.

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'Such demands are extremely unreasonable, amateurish, and absurd, like stopping the production of axes worldwide because an axe broke down your front door.'

Subsequently, the magazine "Ring" published a rebuttal to the Granma's critique.

——

After the fourth round of matches, the qualification moved into the semifinals.

Link drew Venezuelan dark horse Alva Enriques in the lottery.

Lorenzo Aragon's opponent was Mexico's Fernando Vargas.

Fernando, after being defeated by Alva in the previous round, advanced to the semifinals by defeating Jamaica's Douglas Silva and by Pitts of Haiti withdrawing from the competition.

Link's first match against dark horse Alva, unlike 'Rock' Pitts's toughness and bulk, featured a boxer known for technique and speed, very nimble in attack and dodging, and a tenacious fighting style.

Alva, taking advantage of this, won five consecutive bouts after an initial loss, directly advancing to the top three.

To deal with such a boxer, overpowering him in technique and speed was not difficult, the tricky part was how to KO him.

"Link, there's news from the Olympic Organizing Committee, Alva has voluntarily withdrawn from the match, you are advanced directly to the finals,"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Link was watching competitor Alva's match video in the hotel when coach Ed hurriedly came in and informed him that Alva had decided to withdraw from the next round.

In his last game against Fernando of Mexico, although Alva won, Fernando's aggressive style caused him to suffer rib injuries with two ribs fractured, and if he continued to fight, the injury would become more severe.

After careful consideration, they decided to withdraw from the subsequent matches.

"Haha, Link, it's your fierce style that scared him. Alva saw how you injured Rock Pitts and got scared, that's why he withdrew,"

Andzeje laughed.

"Link, every match you have to win by KO and you've done just that. This means everyone stepping into the ring needs to prepare to be knocked out by you, which is terrifying to think about,"

Jones Fullos said, smirking.

Link smiled faintly; an opponent voluntarily withdrawing from the match was good news—it meant one less match and one more day to rest and prepare before the next one.

The next opponent, Aragon, was more troublesome than Pitts.

He had almost failed to KO Pitts, how should he fight someone even tougher like Aragon?

Link had watched Aragon's fights on videotape over ten times and still had no clue.

Ding-ding!

The phone ringtone chimed; it was Taylor calling, stating she had arrived at Havana Airport and asking if he could pick her up.

Link was surprised; last time Taylor mentioned she wouldn't be able to come, so why the sudden visit?

He borrowed the keys from the boxing team's driver and drove the minibus to Jose Marti International Airport.

Located 18 kilometers southwest of Havana City center, named after Latin American liberation movement leader Jose Marti, Jose Marti Airport is Cuba's main international and domestic airport.

Due to tense relations between the two countries, from the 1960s, the Cuban government banned any US flights from landing in Cuban airports, only in recent years as relations thawed did they ease some restrictions, allowing certain US groups to travel to Cuba, but only flights from Miami, New York, and Los Angeles were available to Cuba.

Link drove to Terminal 3 of the airport and spotted Taylor in the lounge area, long unseen.

She was wearing a white printed T-shirt and blue jeans, topped with a pink baseball cap, tall and beautiful, with a guitar case slung on her back, very conspicuous among the crowd.

Beside her was a middle-aged man in a wheelchair and a female assistant who was busy on the phone.

"Hey, Taylor!"

Link took off his sunglasses and waved.

"Link!"

Taylor waved her arms happily and ran over from the crowd, laughing as she threw herself into his arms.

Link smiled lightly and gave the girl a gentle hug.

"You seem even cooler."

Taylor looked up, blinked, and laughed as she surveyed his face.

Link looked at the girl's beautiful face, her blue fox eyes, golden bangs, and cute smile, which seemed even prettier than before, and as he held her, all he could smell was her scent.

"You've gotten prettier too."

Link laughed.

"Taylor, don't run so fast, there are a lot of thieves around here."

A middle-aged man rolled his wheelchair through the crowd, following them. The man was in his forties, dressed in casual business attire, with a refined appearance, slightly balding, and sporting a bit of a middle-aged belly.

Link let go of the girl in his arms and looked at the man in the wheelchair, "Who is this gentleman?"

"This is my dad, he suddenly became paralyzed on one side of his body the night before last, my mom asked me to take care of him at the hospital, but I had promised you that I would come to watch the match, so I couldn't break the promise. I thought it over and suddenly had a great idea, why not bring him along? He also likes watching boxing matches, right Dad?"

Taylor wrapped her arm around his and looked at Mr. Swift with a smile.

Link looked perplexedly at the father and daughter. The daughter bringing her half-paralyzed father to a match? And the father agreed?

Mr. Swift felt a bit awkward. The day before, he had reluctantly agreed to his wife's suggestion to pretend he was unable to get up due to back pain. His wife, worried that a minor issue like back pain wouldn't keep their daughter by his side, exaggerated his condition, saying he was paralyzed on one side.

After learning this, Taylor was deeply upset and said she would find the best doctor to cure him.

Unable to bear seeing Taylor upset, he told her he was fine, that it was just a minor issue and he'd be better in a couple of days.

Taylor asked if he was really okay?

Mr. Swift confirmed he was really alright.

The doctor also said there was nothing serious, just temporary paralysis, and a few days of rest should do the trick.

Mrs. Andrea wanted Taylor to stay in the hospital to take care of him and not run about.

After taking care of him for half a day, Taylor suddenly proposed bringing him to Havana to watch a boxing match.

Mr. Swift didn't want to agree initially but seeing Taylor upset, he couldn't bear it and agreed, then followed her on the long flight from Los Angeles to the capital of Cuba, Havana, feeling as if it were all a dream.

"Mr. Swift, welcome to Havana to watch my match. I hope it won't interfere with your treatment,"

Link bent down, extended his hand, and spoke.

"No worries, it won't delay anything."

Mr. Swift shook his hand and also sized up Link, noticing he was dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, mild-mannered, and very polite, not seeming like a bad person.

"Link, this is my assistant, Emily."

Taylor pointed to the girl pushing the wheelchair and spoke.

The woman, in her twenties, was dressed in casual attire and was on the phone. Hearing Taylor's introduction, she nodded at Link and then quietly said to Taylor while holding the phone, "It's Anne's call, she heard that you secretly brought Mr. Swift to Havana and is very, very angry."

"Mrs. Andrea doesn't know you guys came to Havana?" Link asked in surprise.

"She's too busy, I didn't tell her."

Taylor playfully blinked and her lips curved slightly. She took the phone and carefully called out 'mom'. Immediately, an angry voice came through the speaker, "Taylor, I told you to stay at home and take care of your dad, and you take him abroad to watch a boxing match? Are you insane?"

Taylor moved the phone away from her ear as the voice in the speaker paused, then with a beaming smile, she said, "Mom, don't worry, I spoke with the doctor. The doctor told me that Dad's illness is mainly caused by psychological factors. It's best for him to walk around outside and get some sun. He'll be better in a few days."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Your dad is paralyzed on one side, and you want him to walk around outside?"

The voice on the phone was somewhat hysterical.

Taylor covered her ears and handed the phone over to Mr. Swift, "Dad, talk to mom, tell her you came voluntarily."

Mr. Swift spread his hands. How could a half-paralyzed man voluntarily go out? But it was his daughter's request, and so he took the phone and spoke gently into the receiver for a while.

Link noticed the sweat on Mr. Swift's forehead and quietly lamented, being a man was not easy, being a man for a strong woman was doubly hard.

The group was delayed at the airport for a few minutes, then Link drove Taylor, Mr. Swift, and the assistant Emily to the hotel. Since Mr. Swift and Emily were always sticking close to Taylor, whether she went, Emily followed closely, leaving little chance for Link and Taylor to be alone.

——