Across America, Starting with the Boxing Champion

Chapter 4 Fight in the ring again

In the afternoon, Mike from the surfboard shop next door came over and said that today was the second anniversary of the opening of his shop and invited the neighbors to have fun at the bar. Link and James readily agreed.

Bar Street is one of the busiest places in Miami's Palm Bay district. It is surrounded by Miami's largest Latino community, with a permanent population of more than 200,000. There are also two vacation villa areas nearby, with a population of about 50,000.

 There are many dance halls, casinos, nightclubs, clubs, restaurants, etc. on Bar Street. The buildings are densely packed and the flow of people is large.

 The predecessor used to hang out nearby, and Link was relatively familiar with this area.

When the car arrived at the western section of Bar Street, he suddenly remembered that there was a boxing bar nearby, which used boxing matches as its selling point and invited boxers to compete on stage from time to time. Each match would attract hundreds or even thousands of people to watch.

Link decided to take a detour and take a look.

 James and Daniel from the hot dog shop next door heard his proposal and followed him on their bikes to the boxing bar.

The sign at the entrance of the boxing bar is a huge red boxing glove, which glows red at night. There are many photos of boxing champions posted in the entrance aisle.

There are veteran boxing champions Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Michael Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Mayweather, Roy Jones Jr., etc. wait.

There are also new boxing champions and boxing stars who have emerged in recent years, such as Terrence Crawford, Andre Ward, Edison Miranda, etc.

Compared to the 1970s and 1980s when there were numerous famous boxing fighters, the American boxing scene today is stagnant and there are almost no rookies worthy of attention. Most of the people active in the boxing ring are veterans in their thirties or forties.

The reasons are very complex and have to do with the times, the current entertainment consumption situation, publicity and promotion methods, and boxing rules. However, the main reason is that they are generally weak in strength and lack a powerful character who can unify the four major organizations. .

Link looked at the photos on the wall and said to James and Daniel at the hot dog shop,

 “Do you believe it, my photos will also be hung here in the future.”

 “Haha, stop dreaming, this is not your living room.”

James pushed his shoulders and walked inside.

“Link, secretly posting a photo of your face doesn’t count, I can do that too.”

Daniel from the hot dog shop joked.

“Just wait and see.”

Link waved his fist and pushed open the glass door of the bar. A huge sound wave hit his face along with the smell of heat and alcohol.

 “Hit him! Don’t let him hold you!”

 "Mario, don't retreat anymore, punch him quickly! Fake Fake, you don't know how to box at all!"

　　"Mario, you softie, stop fighting and go home to feed yourself!"

When the three Links walked into the bar, a match was going on in the boxing ring. Two sturdy boxers hugged each other, hit the fence, and were separated by the referee.

There are about a thousand people around the boxing ring. Most of them are adult men. After drinking, they will have a very bad temper. Once the boxer passively avoids the fight, they will curse and vent their dissatisfaction at will.

 “It’s so lively, we should have come here earlier. Mario, get out of here!”

James started shouting before he even recognized who Mario was.

 “Stop shouting.”

Link picked his ears, sat on a chair by the bar, and looked at the two boxers in the ring.

 Both of them are Latinos, weigh around 90 kilograms, and are heavyweights.

 One is a boxer with a ferocious appearance, a fat body, and a big belly, like a roly-poly. This man is the weak Mario whom the audience scolds. His opponent is a muscular bald man.

During the game, the bald man kept attacking and fought vigorously. Mario kept dodging and changing positions. He often used hugging tactics and only occasionally attacked. His playing style was very conservative.

This is also the reason why the audience is dissatisfied with him. In places like bars, everyone prefers to watch the excitement. The more exciting the game, the more everyone buys it. Defensive tactics are not popular here.

However, in Link's view, Mario advanced and retreated in a controlled manner and defended properly. He had obviously received professional boxing training, while the bald man's fighting style was relatively amateurish. He had no rules, no tactics, and just kept squandering his own strength.

 If nothing unexpected happens, Mario will win this game.

Sure enough, in the fifth round, Mario succeeded in a sneak attack and knocked the bald man to the ground with a jab. The bald man struggled for a few times and failed to get up.

 Mario wins this game.

 “In the second game, who is going to challenge Mario on stage?”

The ring referee took the microphone and shouted to the audience.

 The rules of the boxing bar competition are more interesting.

 The bar owner placed a cash box in the boxing ring with $200 in cash.

 If drinkers want to watch a boxing match, they put money into the cash box. Every time the cash box accumulates $1,000, the bar will announce a boxing match.

Boxers who win three consecutive games that night have the opportunity to clear the prize pool, regardless of gender, regardless of weight, and the strong one will take the money and leave.

"I come!"

A strong black man took out a hundred dollars and threw it into the cash box. With the help of the bartender, he put on braces and boxing gloves and went on stage.

 At the beginning of the second game, the strong black man was obviously well prepared. After touching gloves with Mario, he waved his fist and blasted Mario in the head. In the first round, Mario was knocked down twice. In the second round, Mario insisted on not falling. In the third round, the black man's strength gradually failed. In the fourth round, he was knocked down once by Mario. In the fifth round, Mario won. Contest.

 The strong black man was carried off the ring.

 “In the third game, who else is going to take the stage to challenge Mario Joao.”

 The referee shouted.

 After two games, the drinkers all knew that Mario was not a softie, and everyone who was about to go on stage was hesitant.

 “Hey, who wants to challenge me?”

Mario won two games in a row and his morale was high. He stood on the corner post, waving his fist and yelling at the audience.

"You call me a coward, why don't you dare to come up? Haha, you are the cowards, you are all cowards."

 Mario raised his fist and laughed.

Link glanced at him, then at the cash drawer full of change, and took out a hundred dollar bill from his pocket.

 “Link, what are you doing? That’s not a donation box.”

James asked doubtfully.

 “I’m going to go up and box.”

Link pointed to the boxing ring.

 “Are you crazy?”

James widened his eyes and said, "You don't think that practicing sit-ups at home and playing with skipping rope will make you box, right? Boxing is not as simple as you think."

“Link, go ahead, I’m calling an ambulance for you.”

Daniel from the hot dog shop took out his mobile phone and said pretendingly.

Link glanced at the two of them. He originally wanted to ask them to bet on him to win and earn some pocket money, but the two of them looked like they deserved a beating, so let it go.

Link squeezed through the crowd and came to the stage, threw a hundred dollars into the cash box, took off his shirt, put on a bandage and boxing gloves, and stepped onto the ring.

 “Wow, it’s a white-faced boy.”

 “Is he going to deliver money?”

 “Hey, man, come down quickly, don’t be embarrassed by going up there.”

The audience shouted loudly.

Link shook his fist at the ring and told them to shut up.

 “Hey, boy, are you sure you want to fight me?”

 Mario crossed his arms, looked him up and down and said, "My fists can kill people."

 “Mine too.”

Link said, raising his fist.

“Hmph, you tough-talking boy, I’ll let you know the consequences of bragging later.”

Mario bared his teeth and said viciously.

　　"The bet is placed! The bet is placed! Bet on the handsome boy with a white face to win, ten times the odds, ten times the odds! Guys, don't miss this good opportunity to make a fortune."

The dealer at the bar gambling stall yelled.

“Ten times the odds? You’ll make ten bucks for a dollar bet. James, do we want to bet one?”

Daniel from the hot dog shop said with some excitement.

 “Who are you betting on? Link? Are you crazy too? Do you think he can beat Mario like that?”

 James gestured with his hands to show their bodies. Although Link was very fit, with large chest muscles and six-pack chocolate abs, he was obviously much worse than the fat, roly-poly-like Mario opposite him.

 “Try it and just cheer for Link.”

　　Daniel took out two small bills from his pocket and said.

“Okay, I’ll bet two dollars and I’ll eat one less hot dog tomorrow.”

 “You could eat one less sandwich.”

Daniel from the hot dog shop took the money and went to the gambling stall to place bets.

 (End of this chapter)