Chapter 60: Mario

When Taylor Swift suddenly arrived in Havana, coach West and his team also arrived in Havana. Since it was relatively close from Miami to Havana, they took a ferry directly across the Florida Strait. There were more than 20 people in the group, Reggie, Mario and the other boxers and apprentices from the boxing gym all came.

Two old acquaintances, Rafael Varane, editor-in-chief of the sports edition of the "Miami Herald", and reporter Simmons, also came along.

Mr. Rafael Varane is a thin white old man, wearing brand-name sunglasses, holding a black pipe, and carrying a beautiful young girlfriend beside him. He has the demeanor of a French literati in the early 20th century.

When he speaks, he also has a strong French accent, and occasionally pops up a few obscure French words, such as praising Link's last game as amazing, using 'impressionnant' instead of 'impressif'.

"Link, you gave us a big surprise in the last game. We guessed many results, but we didn't expect you to win the game in that way. It's amazing."

Mr. Varane spread his hands and said in an exaggerated tone.

Link shrugged, "Mr. Varane, if you believe me, there will only be one result in my future matches, KO!"

"Haha, confident boy, I like you!"

Mr. Varane laughed loudly and patted his arm.

"Raphael, allow me to interrupt. Link, I have a few questions about the last game and I want to interview you, is it convenient?"

Reporter Simmons asked, interrupting.

After a few days of absence, Simmons changed into a new hair cover, from the previous bangs to two or three inches of brown curly hair, which looked younger and more fashionable.

Link nodded yes.

Simmons immediately took out the recorder and turned it on, and said: "Link, in the last game, you injured Peters' chin, which forced him to admit defeat. Is this a tactic you made in advance?"

Link denied this, "Before I came on stage, I had only one tactic, KO him, how to beat him specifically, I didn't have a plan, after all, the ring is also a battlefield, the battle situation changes rapidly, and it's better to make a plan in advance than to play on the spot."

Mr. Varane nodded beside him, took a puff of pipe and said, "So injuring Peters' chin and forcing him to surrender was also your improvisation?"

"Almost, Peters' defensive ability is very strong, the strongest one among all the opponents I have met, and I feel that it is not inferior to professional boxers like Chris Byrd, and his ability to resist blows is also very strong. It's like an iron barrel.

During the game, I attacked hundreds of heavy punches, but I couldn't break through his defense. Later, coach Ed reminded me that instead of attacking his whole body, it is better to attack his weak points, such as his nose, eyes, and chin. Then I succeeded."

Link spread his hands and smiled.

Mr. Varane clapped his hands, "Well done, Link, your punch not only shocked the amateur boxing world, but also scared those professional boxers. I think when you go to the professional boxing world, there must be many cowards , because of fear of your iron fist and refuse to compete with you."

Link smiled and said: "This is also the result I hope to see. I hope that those guys who are in vain can give up the golden belt before I enter the professional boxing world and leave them to me. If they are reluctant, please do Be prepared to be KOed by me."

Mr. Varane wowed, clapped his hands, and praised Link for his good words.

"Famous without real talent? Which boxing champion are you referring to?"

Simmons asked enthusiastically.

"Not one, but everyone who dares to question my strength."

Before the qualifiers, many people on the online media questioned that he had cheated in the Golden Gloves Championship, suspecting that his full KO score was fabricated by the promotion company and the boxing association. They were creating boxing stars, and Link was the chosen one.

But as the qualifiers entered the fourth round of the semi-finals, Link used his iron fist to KO one strong opponent after another, raising his amateur record to 21 wins and 21 KOs in 21 matches. Doubt disappeared without a trace.

On the contrary, Link's boxing fans are chasing after those people, often using his game data and short videos on various forums to slap those who have questioned him in the face, and the boxing fans have also greatly relieved their anger.

Proving his strength and eliminating doubts from the outside world is also one of the reasons why Link insists on using KO tactics to play in the qualifiers.

Simmons heard his tone of voice and secretly praised him. As expected, Link's style is like this. Just Link's words just now, after it spreads, many people will call him a mouthpiece.

"Link, since yesterday, there has been a lot of news in the media questioning your way of playing, thinking that you have the ability to win by points in the game, but you insist on winning by KOing all your opponents. They think this way of playing will hurt To the opponent, it is too cruel and violates the Olympic spirit, how do you view this issue?"

"They're talking nonsense."

Mr. Varane held his pipe and scolded, "All human sports are for the pursuit of higher, faster and stronger, and boxing represents the strongest. Boxing matches cannot hurt opponents, so what's the point of boxing? It's like a rabbit in a tortoise and hare race. It's absurd that you can't run too fast to prevent hurting the tortoise's self-esteem."

Link smiled lightly, "Mr. Varane is right, boxing is the art of knocking down, if you can't knock down your opponent, it's a sissy's boxing, I don't think I did anything wrong, I think I'm wrong They are all laymen, why should we listen to laymen's nonsense?"

Simmons nodded and recorded his words.

After the interview, Varane and Simmons had other interview tasks and left early. Before leaving, they asked him to continue to cheer and try to KO Aragon, and said that it doesn't matter if he can't KO, try to win the American championship first.

Obviously, these two gentlemen, like everyone else, felt that he had a chance to defeat Aragon by scoring points, but it should be difficult to KO him to win.

"Link, how did you do it? The people in the qualifiers are the best guys in all countries, how can you still KO them to win?"

Reggie finally found a chance to talk to him, and came up to him with admiration and exclaimed.

"Probably because I'm better than them."

Link shook his fist and smiled.

"Yes, yes, you are so powerful, so powerful, no one in the world is as powerful as you."

Mario grinned and said with a smile.

Link glanced at him, felt that his expression was a bit awkward, said thank you, and went to talk to West.

When Link left, Reggie bumped into Mario, "Why did you talk like that just now?"

Mario immediately slumped, curling his lips, "You said it, let me praise him and please him when I see Link, maybe he will be happy and let me continue to be his sparring partner, I just praised him, Is there anything wrong?"

"I want you to sincerely praise Link, praise him with your heart, not to satirize and sarcasm him." Reggie said helplessly.

Mario scratched his fat face, frowned and said, "But I really can't flatter, I can't say some things, I feel ashamed."

Reggie covered his forehead, waved his hands, and went to drink water.

Mario shrugged, and looked at Link who was chatting with West again. At this moment, West was smiling all over his face, patting Link on the shoulder from time to time, laughing heartily, happier than seeing his own son and grandson.

Mario couldn't help clenching his fists, isn't he just talented, what's so great about it?

But when he thought that West was recently selecting new boxing sparring partners for Link, and heard that he would find two, Mario felt a sense of loss and discomfort in his heart. Isn't it enough to have a powerful sparring partner like himself? Why go outside? Find another sparring partner?

Thinking that after other sparring partners join the boxing gym, they will occupy their own punch target and boxing ring, and will also replace themselves to practice boxing with Link, Mario feels even more unhappy.

No way!

The job of sparring must not be snatched away by others.

Mario took a deep breath, grinned, and smiled at Link and West.

(End of this chapter)