"I seem to have forgotten something, something very important."
After a busy first day of the finals, the even more tense day of the finals arrived.
At noon, when Link walked into the finals venue, looking at the American Airlines Arena, he always felt that he had forgotten something. It was just that he had been too busy recently, with too many things in his mind, and he couldn't remember it for a while.
He thought about it for a while while walking, but he really couldn't remember anything. So he simply put the matter behind him and stopped thinking about it, focusing on the game in front of him.
"Link, there are a lot of news reports online now, saying that you are a fake fighter. The previous 16 matches were all fake. When you arrive at the competition site, reporters will definitely ask about this. You must be prepared."
West frowned and said worriedly.
When they first met, West didn't look that old. Because he had been too busy during this period, the old man's white stubble and white hair had all grown out, and he looked at least ten years older.
"Don't worry, West. Leave everything to me. I can handle it."
Link smiled nonchalantly.
Mario looked at him with strange eyes from behind. How could this guy be so relaxed? Didn't he know how much doubt there was on the Internet?
He didn't sleep last night and browsed the boxing forum all night, just to see what everyone thought of Link. He found that most people in the forum were questioning Link's fake boxing, saying that all 16 KOs were fake and were a trick of the boxing promotion company.
They wanted to create a boxing star, and Link was the one chosen. Link might have some strength, but he couldn't be that powerful.
As a member of Link's team, Mario also knew that Link's results were not fake, but when he saw someone scolding Link, he felt inexplicably good.
"Hey, Link, you probably don't know how many people on the Internet are saying that you're a fake fighter, right?"
Mario pushed Reggie aside and walked behind Link, ready to put some pressure on Link and see his reaction.
He grinned and said in an exaggerated tone, "A lot, a lot, you know? Former WBC-WBA-IBF middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, former WBA heavyweight champion Chris Byrd, Hashim Rahman, James Toney, giant Valuev and so on.
They all publicly stated that even if they were in their prime, they could not win all amateur matches by knocking out their opponents. They said that your punches were beyond their imagination.
Hehe, they were questioning whether you were faking it, understand?
Oh, and Roy Jones Jr., who said that if it was true, your achievements in the future might be greater than those of Ali and Tyson, but the premise must be true. Link, how do you feel when you hear this?"
"Where did you see the news? Why didn't I see it?" Reggie asked.
"There are a lot of posts like this on the Yahoo boxing forum. They're very, very interesting. I recommend you take a look." Mario stared at Link's face and smiled.
"Shit! They are talking nonsense. Link's results are real, not fake. The Amateur Boxing Association also came out to explain. Why don't they believe it?" Reggie asked dissatisfiedly.
Mario ignored him and grinned at Link, "Hey! Link, why aren't you talking? How are you feeling?"
Link looked at him and smiled, "Mario, if one day you succeed and you want to know how powerful you are, you don't need to ask others. Think about who your opponents are. If your opponents are very powerful, it means you are truly successful.
I am just an amateur boxer, but I was attacked by several boxing champions and famous boxing players. It seems that I have really succeeded and become a person that even boxing champions have to treat with caution. This is an encouragement and I am very excited. "
"Excited?"
Mario stared at Link in amazement. Someone scolded him, but he took it as encouragement? He was even excited? Was there something wrong with his brain?
"That's very well said!"
Reggie pulled out his phone and wrote down Link's words in his notepad.
Mario rolled his eyes. After watching the news last night, he realized that there was nothing wrong with him or the world.
The problem was with Reggie, West, and Link's fans. They were all poisoned by a poison called "Link".
Link came to the lounge, changed into his competition gear, and strode into the competition venue. When he walked out of the passage, a large group of reporters gathered from all sides, hundreds of them, blocking the exit tightly, scrambling to squeeze into the first row, competing to hand over the microphone, and throwing tricky questions to Link.
"Mr. Link Baker, I'm a reporter from the American Express. Someone reported that you cheated in the competition and suggested that the Amateur Boxing Association conduct a thorough investigation. What's your response?"
"Mr. Link Baker, some people think that there are problems with your first 16 games and your results and qualifications should be cancelled. What is your explanation for this?"
"Mr. Link Baker, former middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins said that if your opponent is him, he can knock you out in one round. He thinks your strength is over-exaggerated by the media and is not real. Will you fight him in the ring?"
Reporters put the microphone to his mouth as if they were feeding him ice cream.
Link took a step back, waved his hand, pointed at several reporters who were asking questions and said, "I don't like the way you ask questions, I really don't like it. When you interview me, please don't use unprofessional words like someone, someone, or netizens. I want to hear a real name, a person who can take legal responsibility.
And you, Mr. Washington Daily News reporter, you mentioned Bernard Hopkins, he is the former middleweight champion, right? If he still has the gold belt, I am willing to fight him, but he has no title now, I don't think it is necessary to fight him. "
After hearing Link's words, the reporter quickly changed the form of his question. The reporter from American Express said loudly, "Mr. Linkbeck, in yesterday's match between you and Andrej, many people thought you could knock out Anderzej in one round. Why did you fight until the ninth round? Our newspaper received a report call, and the person claimed that you had shady deals in private. Is this true?"
After the reporter from the American Express asked, the other reporters held their recorders, stretched out their arms from a distance, looked at him expectantly and said, "Mr. Reporter, I feel helpless about your question because you didn't do your homework before the interview and you don't know what amateur competitions mean or what the difference is between amateur and professional competitions.
I'm here to tell you that professional competitions focus on results and who wins the championship and the gold belt.
The purpose of the Amateur Boxing Association organizing the Golden Gloves Championship is to strengthen exchanges and communication among young boxers, so that they can learn from each other and make progress together.
The reason why I came to participate in the Golden Gloves Championship, in addition to winning the championship, is another important purpose, which is to learn the skills of my peers and accumulate competition experience.
I am a power boxer and I often study boxing techniques. I think I have good boxing skills. It is such a rare opportunity to meet Mr. Anderzej Fonfara, who has the most superb skills in the same industry. How could I waste it?
If I hadn't promised the fans in advance that I would win by knockout, I would have even wanted to fight him for ten rounds. Mr. Reporter, do you understand what I mean?"
The reporter nodded. "Mr. Baker, what you mean is that the match between you and Anderzej is not about the result, but about the process of the match, learning from each other. But if you are willing to knock him out in one round, you can do it, right?"
Link glanced at the other party and admired his ability to set traps. He would agree with you at first and then set a trap for you. As long as you nod, it can be written in the news tomorrow, 'Link admits that he can defeat Andre Zejer in one round'.
When netizens who don't know the truth see this, they will think that this is just an admission of fake fights.
Link shook his head, not intending to admit it or deny it. If he let others talk about it, the topic would not end early. As long as there was a topic, there would be news, which was exactly the result he wanted.
(End of this chapter)