180 Ask GGG To Be A Sparring Partner, The News Is Exposed

After Dana heard Ye Chen's proposal, the reaction was one of sheer disbelief. A sip of coffee sprayed out as he hastily wiped the keyboard, asking, "Excuse me, could you repeat that? I'm afraid I didn't catch you clearly."

Ye Chen's calm voice echoed from the other end of the line. "You heard me correctly—exactly what I intended."

Dada, taken aback, paused in disbelief, quickly rising to instruct the secretary outside to assist with the mess. "What are your thoughts? Can you break it down for me? Had I known you would opt for this route, I would have only presented Mayweather's offer to you. He's smaller, older, extremely renowned, and offers a hefty payday. This match would be the ideal fit for you. So why on earth did you choose Ava?"

Dana was seething with frustration. If anyone were to see him at that moment, he might have started venting his annoyance right then and there. Despite his anger, Ye Chen remained steadfast. The tall secretary, possessing a striking figure, was drawn to the quote thick with coffee stains on the table.

As she silently counted the bewilderingly long line of zeros on the document, her expression shifted dramatically. The vast sum was something a wage-earner like her would never dare to envision, let alone accumulate. Yet, from Dana's response, it appeared that Ye Chen was chasing after something that yielded much less.

What on earth was he thinking? Did he believe the money was excessive? Yes, most people would find it incomprehensible, even the sharpest of minds would struggle to grasp Ye's rationale.

Ye Chen asserted, "Just do as I wish; trust me, that's all I ask."

Dana retorted, "If you go up against Mayweather, our analysts project a 30% chance for victory. Do you even know what Ava's odds are? Six percent—six percent! Don't you yearn for a decisive win? Mayweather boasts an unblemished record; he has never tasted defeat. Should you overcome him, you will unsettle the whole world."

Ye Chen replied, "Mayweather is past his prime. Even if I land a victory, the narrative would still revolve around who he was at the apex of his career..."

Their discussion stretched beyond twenty minutes. Ultimately, Dana couldn't fully concede to Ye Chen's choice. He merely indicated the need for a meeting to further deliberate since Ye Chen's selection was a stark departure from the expectations of the company's upper management and board.

Once the call ended, Ye Chen murmured to himself, "Six percent? That's astonishingly low." However, if he were to evaluate his own chances, perhaps the reality would only hover around 20% at best, certainly not higher. He fully comprehended how significant the gap was between him and Ava.

Moving forward, he realized that he had to train with immense dedication. This time, hiring a sparring partner was essential. Venturing into cross-border competition was no easy feat.

He asked Dana to secure a connection with GGG Golovkin. This was an iconic boxer, one who fought Ava three times and accumulated a wealth of experience in those matches. His jab was legendary. Ye Chen aimed to leverage his longer wingspan, which exceeded Ava's by 14 centimeters. Perfecting his jab would considerably elevate his chances of clinching victory.

Yet, mastering the jab was no simple task. Thus, he sought a premier athlete deeply familiar with Ava. Initially, he contemplated two candidates: GGG and Bivol. Ultimately, he concluded it was wiser to approach them one at a time. Biting off more than one could chew had never served anyone well, especially considering the caliber of these athletes; enticing them out of their routines wouldn't be simple.

On the fourth day, Dana successfully reached Golovkin. Unfortunately, they struggled to pin him down on a conversation. Golovkin remained adamant that he wanted to speak directly to Ye Chen. It was a situation that Dana couldn't resolve.

Ye Chen swiftly went online for a video chat with Golovkin. Known for his affable demeanor within boxing circles, Golovkin greeted him warmly. "Hello, Ye Chen! I'm pleased to be first on your mind."

With a smile, Ye Chen responded, "When it comes to boxing today, who knows Canelo more than you? The moment I resolved to fight him, you instantly came to mind. So tell me, what do you think? Let's discuss what Dada mentioned; then we can decide about your assistance in my preparations."

Golovkin inquired, "I just have to ask—why choose Ava over Mayweather, who presents a more lucrative opportunity?"

Ye Chen was somewhat taken aback. Lately, everyone around him who grasped his choices had insisted he should face off against Mayweather due to the perceived ease of that bout. Yet Golovkin was probing him on why he'd made such an unconventional decision.

Ye Chen replied candidly, "Mayweather is retired. I have no desire to battle someone who has hung up their gloves. Ava offers the best matchup for me right now—when I think about skills, visibility, and everything else."

His reasoning was simple and direct. In terms of weight class, popularity, profitability, and prominence in the sport, Ava was the most optimal choice.

Golovkin nodded thoughtfully. "What do you assess your chances of winning to be?"

"I really can't say. I just want to win—losing isn't an option for me..." Ye Chen spoke sincerely. At that moment, he couldn't predict the outcome of this bout.

Why take such a risk? Because he felt cornered; without Pelila picking him up, he found himself at a standstill. He faced a choice between dropping down to lightweight to defend his title against Makhachev or pushing forward with a cross-border match. Fortunately, fans typically have lower expectations for cross-border fights; thus, if Ye Chen were to lose, as long as the fight was compelling, his reputation would remain intact.

"Understood. I'll head to Vegas as quickly as I can. In the meantime, focus on honing those fundamental boxing skills—I'd prefer not to be a sparring partner for someone lacking in the essentials," Golovkin stated matter-of-factly.

Ye Chen was taken aback. Was this an agreement? They hadn't even negotiated salary yet, it seemed... It wasn't only him; Dana, Catwoman, and others were equally struck with surprise. What just happened?

Of course, Ye Chen didn't question the ease of the agreement. He replied, "No worries, I've been adhering to an intense training regimen these past few days. However, it's worth noting that a contract hasn't been discussed. Individuals of this caliber usually demand significant compensation."

As Ye Chen pushed himself to train exceptionally hard, news of his anticipated bout against Ava exploded across the internet. This was unexpected, considering the negotiations between the two parties were still in preliminary stages and far from finalized.

It didn't stop there. Detailed contracts began surfacing as well, revealing his offer and that of Mayweather's. Rumors circulated explaining why he had rejected the lucrative proposal from Mayweather.

Later that night, dressed in a casual hoodie, Ye Chen jogged home after an exhausting training session. It was becoming a daily routine, as the gym wasn't too far, making running back from practice a habitual exercise.

However, that evening was distinct. Ye Chen noticed a throng of people congregated outside his villa—numerous media reporters. The moment they spotted him, a frenzy ensued as they rushed toward him like a tide. There was no time for him to retreat.

They bombarded him with a barrage of questions. After an afternoon of intense training, he had no energy left to engage in this media frenzy. Nevertheless, he had a sense of what was happening. Dana had called him earlier to inquire about the latest news. Ye Chen found himself wishing he could have more peace and quiet, granting himself the essential time to focus on his training.