Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion Chapter 96: Wanting to Wear the Crown

Link’s speech at Madison Square Garden had exploded like a bomb, shaking the entire world of boxing.

After the Olympics, Link’s fa had already broken through regional barriers and spread throughout the boxing world, familiarizing many with his na.

Upon hearing of his transition to professional boxing, everyone kept a close watch on his matches, looking forward to observing the performance of the Olympic champion.

People expected to wake up, open the newspaper, and read about Link’s debut, only to find such news instead.

The New York Post’s front-page headline read, "Olympic Champion Link Baker Makes Bold Claim, Aims to Sweep All Opponents Within 100 Seconds."

The subheadline stated, "He doesn’t think forr world champions Mikkel Kessler, Lucian Bute, Andre Ward, or even Joe Calzaghe could last 100 seconds against him."

USA Today’s front-page headline declared, "Link Issues a KO Warning to the World"; the subheadline proclaid, "Link warns all Super Middleweight boxers in the world, advising them to give up and not to contend with him for the Golden Belt, or he will KO them all."

Arican Express’s sports section featured the headline "Why Did Joe Calzaghe Suddenly Announce His Retirent from All Golden Belts? Link Baker Says It’s Because of Him"

The subheadline read, "Link believes the best tribute to Joe Calzaghe is to defeat him in the match and expresses regret over Joe’s announcent to relinquish the Golden Belt."

Everyone was stunned by these headlines.

What did he an by defeating everyone within 100 seconds?

Did he frighten Calzaghe into giving up the Golden Belt?

And what about KOing the whole world?

Was Link crazy?

People just wanted to see how Link fared in his matches, whether he won or lost, and in which round he would co out victorious.

So why were the papers filled with this kind of news?

Was it a publicity stunt or fact?

Anxious, everyone opened the papers, eager to read the details below the headlines, initially thinking the press had sensationalized the story to attract readers’ attention.

But after reading the content, they realized that wasn’t the case.

The few headlines could only showcase one aspect of Link’s speech; what he said was even more eye-popping than the titles.

The news was too sensational.

In less than a day, it was picked up by several major newspapers across Europe and Asia, including Germany’s Bild, Britain’s The Guardian and The Tis, France’s Le Monde, and Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun.

A few dia reporters conducted phone interviews with so of the ntioned parties.

Joe Calzaghe stated that Link’s comnts were amusing but not true; his decision to vacate the Golden Belt was to focus on the Light Heavyweight rank, not because of Link.

A reporter from The Tis asked Joe Calzaghe if he would face a challenge from Link in the future.

Calzaghe stated he wouldn’t refuse.

Another question followed about his thoughts on Link’s claim to defeat all his rank opponents within 100 seconds.

Calzaghe laughed heartily, saying it was interesting, but he didn’t think Link could do it, nor could anyone else.

A reporter from Le Monde interviewed forr champion Mikkel Kessler, currently ranked top three in the WBA Super Middleweight division and most likely to recapture the WBA Golden Belt, asking for his opinion on Link’s claim to conquer the Super Middleweight division within 100 seconds.

Mikkel responded, "Link Baker? I know that guy, he did well in the Olympics, but this is professional boxing, he’s oversimplifying things."

When Le Monde’s reporter asked Mikkel if he had the confidence to defeat Link should they et in the future,

Mikkel shrugged and said, "Him, fight ? First, he’d need to defeat Andre Ward, Jermain Taylor, and Jean Pascal to claim the Aricas Zone Golden Belt to even qualify to fight . If he sohow gets that chance, I’ll teach him how to speak with my fists."

Other dia reporters also interviewed Arnian champion Arthur Abraham, British boxer Carl Froch, and Arican Andre Ward, among others.

These hot-tempered individuals were all infuriated by Link’s claim that he could defeat them within 100 seconds. They called Link a loudmouth and a braggart, proclaiming that if they ever faced him in a match, they would teach him a harsh lesson with their fists, show him how to stay humble.

"Look, Link, look at this newspaper, and this one, and this one too. Mikkel, Andre, Calzaghe, Pascal, everyone is pissed off at you."

In the car, Dino Duva shook the newspapers in his hand.

"So what?"

"So what?!"

Dino paused, "Link, you’ve angered everyone. Now everyone will be your enemy. Do you realize you’re making the entire world your enemy?"

Link shook his head, "What’s our goal in competing?"

"To win the Golden Belt!"

Dino said.

"Exactly. Since I want to be king of the boxing world, these people would beco our opponents sooner or later. Does it make a difference if it’s sooner rather than later? If I don’t offend them and am polite, will they bow down to ?"

Link asked.

Dino Duva opened his mouth, then closed it. That might be the talk, but that’s not how things are done.

ntally sound people would think it’s best to offend others one by one and then eliminate them one by one, take them down individually; unlike Link’s reckless approach, spewing trash talk that offends colleagues the world over, he’s making enemies with the whole world.

This guy’s brain definitely isn’t normal.

"Don’t you feel the pressure is imnse?"

Dino really wanted to grab a microphone and interview him.

When he heard this question, Link suddenly rembered a famous saying that seed particularly fitting for his current situation and pretended to muse deeply, "To bear the crown, one must endure its weight!"

Whoosh! Everyone in the nanny van turned and looked at him, thinking that he should not be a boxer, but a philosopher.

"Link, that’s a great quote. Teach soti how to speak as coolly as you do."

Morales said with a flash of white teeth.

"Do you want to get beaten to death?"

Dino asked with a sideways glance.

Morales opened his mouth then closed it, agreeing that speaking like Link did indeed co with high risks, and it wasn’t for everyone.

Link shook his head; his reason for speaking that way, for releasing bold statents in front of the reporters, wasn’t about putting on airs or creating a sensation—it was to push himself.

Since his recent arrival in New York, or rather, since becoming a millionaire Olympic champion, he found himself becoming a little complacent, with stray thoughts creeping into his mind. During training, won would randomly pop into his head; he wanted to drop his training and frolic with them, sotis struggling to fall asleep at night.

Before the Olympics, this hardly ever happened.

After much deliberation, he surmised it was probably because he had achieved so success and made so money after the Olympics, which reduced the pressure and his drive, causing his mind and body to relax unconsciously.

This was not a good sign.

To counter this issue, he decided to add so pressure on himself.

Since his ranking competition opponents were too weak to exert any pressure on him, he ca up with the idea of provoking everyone, a do-or-die strategy, a last stand. Either he would knock everyone out in 100 seconds, or he would be humiliated.

To avoid embarrassnt, he would have to train desperately, compete desperately, and treat every second in the ring as a matter of his dignity and honor. Going over 100 seconds would an utter disgrace.

So, to succeed, one must first learn to dig one’s own hole.