Chapter 62: Good Looks Are Capital

"Alvin, why is there an extra bottle of Lafite here?" In the boxing gym's office, Richard noticed a new bottle in the wine cabinet. He took it out and examined it – a bottle of 1992 Lafite, with a market price of around five hundred dollars.

"Andy gave it to me a few days ago," Alvin replied, leaning back in his chair with a teacup in hand.

"A few days ago? So you knew he wanted to sign Paul?" Richard asked, surprised.

"I did. He initially wanted to persuade you both through me, but I refused. I'm getting old and don't want to get involved in your affairs."

"Alright, what do you think about this?" Richard sat down and asked.

Alvin shook his head. "It's not about what I think, but what you two think. If you agree to sign, I'll go with you to retire. If you don't want to, we'll stay here and train. It's all up to you. Richard, what are your thoughts?"

Richard pondered for a moment. "I never intended to sign a contract or look for a promotion company. Firstly, I don't need it, and secondly, I don't want to work for others."

"The second reason is understandable, but the first one might not be feasible. Boxing is not just a sport, it's also a business. A boxer without commercial value is not a good boxer.

Without the support of a promotion company, even the most skilled boxer is destined to remain unknown. So, if you want to be famous and make money, you must cooperate with an agency or promotion company." Alvin spoke slowly.

"I know that, but I don't need it for now. The first reason is that I'm very handsome and white. Hey, Alvin, can you stop smirking? Listen to my explanation first."

"Alright, go ahead!" Alvin put down his teacup to avoid spitting it out.

"Think about it, I'm handsome and white, which is rare in the boxing world. Rare things are valuable.

As long as I step into a professional boxing ring, even without a company promoting me, newspapers and TV stations will take the initiative to report on me, calling me the 'White Hope,' the 'Handsome Prince Charming,' and so on. Don't you agree?" Richard said frankly.

Alvin stroked his stubble. "You're right, but it's not enough. Promoting a boxer requires long-term, high-frequency coverage to be effective. Your way of relying on your looks for publicity has some effect, but it won't be significant."

"I know, and I have a second and third reason. Second, besides boxing, I'm also acting in movies.

My idea is to become a famous actor through acting, accumulate fame, and become a movie star. At the same time, I'll build my reputation through boxing and become a champion.

In the future, when promoting movies, the distributors will actively tell the audience that I'm a professional boxer, and people who watch boxing will also become movie fans. The two complement each other and progress together.

As long as I persist, my fame will grow bigger and bigger. Isn't this more effective than a promotion company's publicity?" Richard smiled slightly.

"So you've had this planned for a long time." Alvin pointed at him and laughed. "Your idea is good, but it's difficult to implement. The competition in the entertainment industry is no less fierce than in the boxing world. Every year, there are so many unemployed actors in Hollywood, many of whom are no worse than you. Why would you be the one to become famous?"

"I know, but I'm not like them. I'm more handsome and stronger than them, and my acting skills are not bad either. I also know two Oscar-winning actors and many Hollywood stars. This is my capital." Richard said confidently.

"Alright, tell me the third reason."

"The third reason is the fundamental one, which is that my own strength is strong enough. As long as I keep fighting and keep winning, my fame will grow bigger and bigger in the future, and more people will come to me for cooperation.

So I don't need a promotion company for now. Cooperating with them now will only restrict me and hinder my development." Richard said.

Alvin nodded slightly. "You're right. Cooperating with an agency has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that you can become famous and make money faster.

The disadvantages are many.

One is that it's not conducive to the growth of boxers. Those boxing agencies are like gladiator merchants in ancient Rome.

They take their gladiators around to compete and make money every day, treating them as money-making tools, not caring about their mental and physical conditions at all.

Over time, their will and fighting spirit will wear out quickly, which will shorten their careers.

Tyson is a typical example. He debuted in 1985 and rose to the top, replacing Ali as the highest-paid athlete in the sports world.

After 1995, his situation changed frequently. He lost to James Douglas, was convicted of raping a black woman, got into fights, and his condition continued to decline. This may not be unrelated to his rebellion.

He sued his agency, trying to break free from their control, but he was the one they promoted. After becoming famous, it wasn't so easy to break free.

But you're different, Richard. Your strength is earned through your own hard work, and your fame is also earned through fighting. Everything depends on yourself, so you don't need to follow that path."

"Yes, that's what I think too." Richard picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea. "What about Paul? Should we persuade him to refuse?"

"He's not like you. Do you think he can win the championship belt?" Alvin asked.

"It's difficult!"

Currently, the WBC heavyweight champion is Lennox Lewis, with a professional record of 35 fights, 34 wins, and 1 loss.

He has defeated many heavyweight champions, including Donovan Ruddock, Frank Bruno, Oliver McCall, and others. His overall strength ranks among the top three in his weight class.

The possibility of Paul taking the championship belt from him is extremely small.

Besides the WBC, the titles of other boxing organizations are not easy to win either.

The WBA and IBF heavyweight championship belts are held by Evander Holyfield, the IBO championship belt is also held by Lewis, and the WBO championship belt is held by Chris Byrd.

Chris Byrd's strength is average, so it wouldn't be difficult to snatch it from him. As for the remaining WBU, WPBF, IBC, and other boxing organizations' championship belts, their gold content is insufficient, and there's no point in winning them.

"It's not easy for Paul to win the championship belt at the moment, so he needs to find an agency to cooperate with. After the WBC title challenge, he can follow the agent to participate in intercontinental competitions, training and earning money at the same time.

After five or six years, when the contract expires, if he still doesn't have the strength to win the championship belt, he can consider retiring. Besides, in five or six years, you should be famous too. He's your sparring partner, maybe someone will be eager to hire him as a coach." Alvin smiled slightly.

Richard chuckled. "You've thought it through very well. But if Paul goes to Starlight, will you go too?"

"Of course not. I'm so old, why would I run around?"

"That's great, otherwise I'd have to find a new coach." Richard laughed.

---

After discussing with Alvin, Richard expressed his regret to Andy that afternoon. His excuse was the same as Mayweather's – he would talk about it after winning the championship title.

Andy grumbled a few words and hung up the phone unhappily. He was most optimistic about Richard and really wanted to get him to make money, but this bastard was too cunning to catch.

However, being able to sign Paul was still a small gain.

"Richard, when Paul transfers to Starlight Boxing Gym for training, you might need to find another sparring partner." Alvin said at the gym.

"No need, who said I'm leaving?" Before Richard could speak, Paul ran in from outside and said, "Alvin, don't even think about kicking me out. Although I signed with Starlight, I don't plan to leave."

Alvin frowned. "They have coaches, sparring partners, and people for massage and physical therapy. Why don't you go?"

"I don't want to. I like it here. Hehe, is that okay?" Paul grinned, showing his white teeth.

"No, it's not in line with the rules. I'm not your coach, what's the benefit of training you?" Alvin shook his head.

"$3,000 a month for training fees," Paul said.

"Okay, deal!" Alvin smiled.

"Fuck, Alvin, when did you become as greedy as Richard?" Paul cursed with a dark face.

"Don't blame me, I learned it from Alvin." Richard laughed, pausing his training.

"Then why didn't I learn it? No way, I'm going to be greedy too. Alvin, I've thought about it, $3,000 a month is a bit much, how about $2,000?"

"Get lost and go train. Ten sets of strength training, and no dinner if you miss one." Alvin walked away with his hands behind his back.

---

"Sigh, Alvin has changed. He's become distant and doesn't care about me as much as before," Paul lamented.

"Stop overthinking it, hurry up and train." Richard gave him a punch and walked to the punching bag, pummeling it with a series of thuds.

"Richard, do you think Alvin will blame me for leaving?" Paul asked, leaning against a nearby punching bag.

"...No." Richard stopped and said, "He trains you because he wants you to succeed, not to make money off you. So as long as you train hard, compete, and strive to win the championship belt as soon as possible, that's the best reward. You don't need to think about anything else."

"Will you ever leave the gym?" Paul asked again.

"No, when I have enough money in the future, I'll buy this place, renovate it, and turn it into a boxing club..."

"Ah!!" Before he could finish, Paul shouted, "I'm buying this place, don't fight me for it."

"Haha, this land is close to Youth Park, it's a good location, worth millions. Can you afford it?" Richard laughed.

"Of course, why don't we compete to see who can get this land first?" Paul chuckled.

"Whoever loses will be the sparring partner." Richard extended his fist.

"Deal!" Paul bumped his fist against Richard's, and they both started training seriously.

---

Over the next three months, Richard and Paul participated in five more matches. Richard had a record of 10 wins out of 10 fights, with 6 wins by knockout, ranking 56th in his weight class.

In his next match, he would face a formidable opponent, Wladimir Klitschko, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics light heavyweight champion, who also had a record of 10 wins out of 10 fights with 10 knockouts in the WBC title challenge.

This match was the final stage of the first round of the WBC title challenge ranking tournament.

The winner would advance to the semi-finals and compete with other winners for the title of "Challenger to the Champion."

Only with this title would one be qualified to challenge the champion, Roy Jones Jr.

"For the world championship, charge!" Boom! Richard punched the punching bag, causing it to explode.

"Alvin, the punching bag exploded again. You should order a sturdier one," Richard shouted.

"Heavyweight champions train with this. You've broken two in a month. Isn't your strength growing too fast?" Alvin frowned.

"Hehe, this is potential." Richard smiled.

"You're a monster!" Alvin shook his head and left.

Richard smiled and continued training.

---

P.S. Next, we'll write about the movie.

Thank you all for your support (*^▽^*)

(End of chapter)