I thought I had fully appreciated Jang Sung-hyun's skills in the first match, but that was a misjudgment. Jang Sung-hyun's abilities were far beyond that. In the second match, Jang Sung-hyun demonstrated skills approaching world-class level.
Jang Sung-hyun was proving that the claim of having a close contest with Buakaw was not far-fetched.
He wasn't particularly tall, nor was his physique especially large. His face was pale and gentle, looking like a student if you put him in a school uniform. While not strikingly handsome, Jang Sung-hyun had a kind, warm appearance.
Unlike other stand-up fighters with bulky muscles, his body looked soft. In short, his appearance wasn't that of a typical fighter at all. Yet, this fighter was overwhelming Gil Sang-jun with remarkable performance.
Gil Sang-jun was a veteran in his own right. He had good stamina, strength, and a powerful punch. He also had sufficient striking skills to be called a stand-up fighter. However, there was a clear skill gap between him and Jang Sung-hyun.
Jang Sung-hyun's timing was always a beat faster than Gil Sang-jun's. He would draw out his opponent's attack and counter, or launch an attack half a beat earlier to disrupt the flow when his opponent tried to attack.
And when Gil Sang-jun properly aimed to come in, Jang Sung-hyun would use techniques like front kicks to maintain distance.
Despite being younger than Gil Sang-jun, Jang Sung-hyun was far more experienced. Throughout the second round, Gil Sang-jun couldn't launch a proper attack and allowed Jang Sung-hyun to land strikes.
Jang Sung-hyun's low kicks landed so frequently that both of Gil Sang-jun's thighs turned purple. Yet, the look in Gil Sang-jun's eyes remained undefeated.
As outstanding as Jang Sung-hyun's skills were, Gil Sang-jun's determination was equally remarkable. Gil Sang-jun didn't give up until the end and entered the third round. Then, as if exploding all the energy he had saved in the previous rounds, he unleashed it all in the third round.
[Gil Sang-jun is charging in without even thinking about defense. Jang Sung-hyun is being pushed back.]
[Gil Sang-jun has no other choice now. He must knock Jang Sung-hyun down at all costs. That's why he's using this kind of strategy.]
The square ring is narrower than the one used in mixed martial arts. Therefore, when an opponent charges in recklessly, it's harder than one might think to maintain distance with footwork and chip away at them. Just a few backsteps can quickly corner you.
The difference in skill shines when the opponent fights with defense in mind. When Gil Sang-jun attacked recklessly without thinking about defense, there wasn't much Jang Sung-hyun could do.
If he tried to counter-attack, Gil Sang-jun would raise his guard high and unleash big attacks, putting Jang Sung-hyun in a difficult position.
Gil Sang-jun had started to use dirty tactics to close in and attack. Counters require space to execute.
Jang Sung-hyun focused on defending against Gil Sang-jun's attacks as much as possible. A single hit could cause significant damage. There was no need to fight fire with fire.
Gil Sang-jun was hitting hard over Jang Sung-hyun's guard, whether he was guarding or not. Loud thuds echoed through the arena, and Jang Sung-hyun smartly blocked all of Gil Sang-jun's attacks.
'Can't you take it easy?'
Jang Sung-hyun took side steps to avoid Gil Sang-jun's pursuit. With telephone punches coming in, there wasn't much problem in guarding.
Telephone punch.
It meant a punch that telegraphs where it's going before it's thrown. It also implied that the motion was large, and that a lot of power was put into the attack. Jang Sung-hyun, focusing on defense, spotted an opportunity.
Gil Sang-jun threw a right hook with all his might at Jang Sung-hyun, who was cornered. Jang Sung-hyun had been waiting for this attack, dodged it with a shoulder roll, and immediately responded with a short uppercut. Although it was a short uppercut, it was a punch that hit Gil Sang-jun accurately, making Jang Sung-hyun think it was over.
The timing was perfect. Even though they wore gloves, the hands inside were tightly wrapped. A solid hit could break bones.
Crack.
A strange sound came from Gil Sang-jun's jaw. Jang Sung-hyun thought he had broken his own hand, but that wasn't the case. His hand was fine, and the problem was with Gil Sang-jun's jaw. Gil Sang-jun collapsed forward.
[Ah. Gil Sang-jun got caught by the short uppercut. That was a good opportunity!]
[Jang Sung-hyun is really amazing. He dodged the attack with a shoulder roll and launched a counter in that situation. That's a technique that requires innate sense to pull off.]
[That shoulder roll technique, although from a different discipline, is a technique that boxing legend Floyd Mayweather uses well, right?]
[That's right. It's a technique that deflects the opponent's attack with the shoulder. It's a high-level technique that requires considerable training.]
[Oh! But Gil Sang-jun is getting up.]
[It looked like it landed squarely on his jaw, but he's getting up. That's impressive.]
Although it was a short uppercut, it went in as a counter. And from the sound, it seemed like Gil Sang-jun's jaw might have cracked or even broken. But Gil Sang-jun was getting up. His eyes were still alive, as if he didn't even feel the pain.
'Is he a zombie or what?'
The eyes of Jang Sung-hyun, famous for his poker face, were slightly shaking. That's how surprised he was.
He was surprised by the unexpected skills of the newcomer in the first match, and now he was surprised by Gil Sang-jun's tenacity.
'Was he aiming for the third round from the start?'
Gil Sang-jun tucked his chin and charged in again. Jang Sung-hyun threw a jab while taking a backstep. It was aimed at the jaw.
Thud!
Jang Sung-hyun's jab hit Gil Sang-jun's jaw. Saliva was dripping from Gil Sang-jun's mouth. There was clearly something wrong with his jaw. But Gil Sang-jun charged in without caring.
'What the! Really!'
Gil Sang-jun's attacks were even fiercer than before.
Is this what a wounded beast looks like? Gil Sang-jun was overwhelming even Jang Sung-hyun, who hadn't been intimidated in fights with world-class fighters, with his momentum.
The rest of the fight was Gil Sang-jun's one-sided attack. Jang Sung-hyun couldn't properly counterattack even once and was busy defending.
However, he couldn't score a knockdown in the end. As soon as the fight ended, Gil Sang-jun collapsed on the floor.
Jang Sung-hyun approached and held Gil Sang-jun's hand. It was a tournament and they were opponents, but it was admirable. Jang Sung-hyun sincerely respected Gil Sang-jun. And he inwardly resolved that he must win the tournament.
Yu Jung-ak was watching all of this on a monitor.
"Impressive, isn't it?"
"Yes. How can we win?"
"Well."
"If we're not careful, we might get beaten to death."
Between the tournament finals, there are two special matches. This is to ensure fairness so that the last fighter to compete can rest. Of course, the fighter who reaches the finals first has that much more time to rest, so it's still advantageous.
In terms of luck, Yu Jung-ak was far ahead of Jang Sung-hyun. Yu Jung-ak wondered what would have happened if his first and second opponents had been switched with Jang Sung-hyun's. Of course, the fights wouldn't have gone exactly the same, but it wouldn't have been easy.
Yu Jung-ak was lucky. He knew that well.
'That's why I'll win.'
Yu Jung-ak acknowledged that Jang Sung-hyun's skills were two levels above his own. That's why he couldn't lose. It would be too unfortunate to lose after being this lucky.
"There's some damage from the low kicks. More than that, there should be considerable damage to his arms. Given how much Gil Sang-jun pounded them."
"Won't he recover before coming out?"
"You think it's that easy to recover?"
"They say he's a veteran. He probably has his ways."
"Still, we have to believe."
"I guess we should hope the special matches end quickly."
It was a matter of pride for Yu Jung-ak, but that's how tournaments were. There were far more variables than in a single match. That's why it was possible for a fighter with seemingly no chance of winning to become the champion in a tournament.
Yu Jung-ak was slowly warming up while watching Jang Sung-hyun's previous fights again.
The special matches were a middleweight match and a women's division fight. The women's division fight would likely go the full three rounds as knockouts rarely occur.
But something interesting happened.
The two scheduled special matches ended unexpectedly early in the first round. As a result, Jang Sung-hyun would have to enter the finals after resting for only about 30 minutes. It was the worst situation for Jang Sung-hyun and a good thing for Yu Jung-ak.
And finally, the World One Korea Tournament finals were about to begin.
==
[The World One Korea finals have finally begun. Yu Jung-ak is entering the blue corner. Yu Jung-ak has fought two matches but looks in pristine condition. He doesn't seem to have any damage. It looks like Yu Jung-ak might do something today. However, given his opponent, he can't afford to be careless. What do you think, commentator Seo Dong-gi?]
[Jang Sung-hyun is not at a domestic level, to begin with. On the other hand, this is Yu Jung-ak's first stand-up fight. Therefore, objectively, Yu Jung-ak is at a disadvantage. However, in terms of accumulated damage, Yu Jung-ak has an advantage, so it's difficult to predict the outcome.]
[If we compare just based on skill, Jang Sung-hyun has the advantage, right?]
[If this were a single match, most people would predict Jang Sung-hyun's victory. But today's match isn't a single match, it's a tournament. Anything can happen in a tournament.]
[Yu Jung-ak has stepped into the ring. He looks quite handsome and clean-cut.]
[He's one of the talents who will lead the future of Korean martial arts.]
Yu Jung-ak's entrance was over. Yu Jung-ak's condition looked better than ever.
"How is it? Any problems?"
"Today's condition is the best."
"Don't be intimidated, stick close. Stick to him tenaciously and wear down his stamina. If it becomes a point fight, you're at a disadvantage. Stick to him tenaciously and aim for the latter half of the fight."
While Yu Jung-ak was talking with Cho Yong-il, Jang Sung-hyun entered. Jang Sung-hyun's face looked fine. His face was clean, but bruises were visible on his legs, arms, and abdomen. As Jang Sung-hyun entered, the crowd's cheers grew louder.
Jang Sung-hyun looked at Yu Jung-ak with a grave determination. He had no intention of underestimating his opponent just because he was a novice in stand-up fighting.
He had already paid the price for underestimation in his first fight.
Jang Sung-hyun looked at Yu Jung-ak with eyes full of fighting spirit. Even with Jang Sung-hyun in front of him, Yu Jung-ak maintained a relaxed expression without any sign of tension.
[The match has begun.]
They touched gloves in the center of the ring. After a beat, Yu Jung-ak boldly threw an outside low kick.
Thwack!
The low kick landed properly, but at that timing, Jang Sung-hyun stepped forward and threw a combination.
Punches flashed before Yu Jung-ak's eyes. Yu Jung-ak narrowly avoided Jang Sung-hyun's one-two combination with weaving. And as he tried to maintain distance, Jang Sung-hyun's attack didn't end there.
He drove his left hand into Yu Jung-ak's abdomen as he was backing away, and immediately followed with a low kick.
'What's with this guy?'
Yu Jung-ak was bewildered. Jang Sung-hyun's attacks were much faster and more varied than Oh Jin-sung's. As Yu Jung-ak backed away after taking the low kick, he couldn't help but be shocked once more. Jang Sung-hyun immediately followed the low kick with a high kick. Jang Sung-hyun supported his weight on the leg that had just hit Yu Jung-ak's leg and immediately threw a high kick with the other foot.
A low kick followed by a high kick is a combination that anyone can do with practice, but Jang Sung-hyun had already attacked with a one-two straight punch and a body shot before that. It was a technique that required free weight shifting.
Yu Jung-ak couldn't use the technique Jang Sung-hyun used. Such techniques couldn't be mastered with just a year or two of practice.
[Wow. An amazing series of attacks continues.]
[The high kick was a real attack, but Yu Jung-ak narrowly avoided it. Oh, it looks like Yu Jung-ak has a cut on his forehead. He's bleeding heavily.]
Yu Jung-ak narrowly avoided Jang Sung-hyun's high kick. Jang Sung-hyun frowned and caught his breath for a moment, and Yu Jung-ak threw a jab. As Jang Sung-hyun blocked the jab with his front hand and was about to counterattack, the referee intervened.
It was because the area just above Yu Jung-ak's left eyebrow was badly cut.
[Which attack caused the cut?]
[It seems to have been grazed by the high kick. The fighters' kicks are so fast and sharp that such cuts can happen if caught by the tip of the foot. It looks like it caught on the toe.]
The ring doctor came up and examined Yu Jung-ak's condition. Although the cut was quite large, the fighter hadn't taken much damage, so they preferred to continue the match if possible. It was the tournament finals, after all.
If the finals ended so anticlimactically, the spectators would surely protest. The ring doctor stopped the bleeding while consulting with the referee.
The result was to continue the match.
Yu Jung-ak's bleeding had stopped slightly. As soon as the match resumed, Jang Sung-hyun quickly rushed in. He attacked Yu Jung-ak with a series of flashy techniques. Yu Jung-ak drew out Jang Sung-hyun's attacks while looking for an opportunity.
And then, the counter timing!
When Jang Sung-hyun came in close and threw his front hand, Yu Jung-ak threw a right hand with all his weight behind it. It hit above Jang Sung-hyun's guard, and Jang Sung-hyun staggered.
Then came Yu Jung-ak's high kick.
Jang Sung-hyun raised his guard firmly and blocked it. Until the end of the first round, the two fighters continued to fight fiercely without any significant effective strikes.
But 50 seconds before the end of the first round, something happened. Blood started dripping from Yu Jung-ak's forehead again.
Soon, Yu Jung-ak's face was covered in blood. Jang Sung-hyun didn't miss the opportunity and unleashed a barrage of punches.
Yu Jung-ak couldn't use his signature evasion techniques and was struggling just to guard.
'Damn it.'
The blood dripping down was turning his left field of vision red, preventing Yu Jung-ak from fully utilizing his abilities.
Jang Sung-hyun's attacks were also exceptionally sharp and fast.
Thud
Eventually, Jang Sung-hyun's high kick landed once again. Jang Sung-hyun knew that Yu Jung-ak's left field of vision was blurred due to the blood, and he had been waiting for this opportunity. Yu Jung-ak staggered from Jang Sung-hyun's high kick that hit the temple above his guard.
'He's still standing? That landed perfectly.'
Jang Sung-hyun cornered the shocked Yu Jung-ak and aimed for his body. Big punches rained down on Yu Jung-ak, but he managed to buy time by mostly defending.
And then the first round ended.
"Hey! Wake up! Are you okay? How bad is the damage?"
Cho Yong-il said to Yu Jung-ak.
"It's okay. Three."
"Are you sure you're alright? You don't need to risk your life. Don't ruin your career as a fighter, just give up."
"It's just starting to get interesting, why should I quit?"
Yu Jung-ak clearly had taken damage, but he still seemed relaxed. Cho Yong-il thought Yu Jung-ak's unique temperament was showing.
When Yu Jung-ak first came to Cho Yong-il's gym, he kept coming back no matter how badly he was beaten.
Such competitive spirit was one of the most important qualities for an athlete. Yu Jung-ak was the type to cling on more tenaciously the more he was provoked.
As the second round started, Yu Jung-ak began to attack aggressively instead of defending. When Jang Sung-hyun tried to attack, instead of receiving, he would move forward and counterattack.
As a result, he had to allow many of Jang Sung-hyun's attacks. In terms of skill, Jang Sung-hyun was a few levels above. Naturally, if they fought with a tit-for-tat strategy, Yu Jung-ak would be at a disadvantage. Yet, Yu Jung-ak clung on persistently.
[Ah. That one landed right on the chin!]
Jang Sung-hyun stepped to the side and landed a right straight punch precisely on Yu Jung-ak's chin. Yu Jung-ak's head clearly shook violently. Jang Sung-hyun sensed it and thought Yu Jung-ak would fall. There would be accumulated damage too.
But that wasn't the case.
'Is this guy a zombie too?'
Yu Jung-ak's chin turned sharply from the punch, but he only staggered as if dancing wildly, never falling down.
Jang Sung-hyun frowned and pummeled Yu Jung-ak with punches. Yu Jung-ak, instead of retreating, covered his face with his guard and pushed his weight forward.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Jang Sung-hyun's punches hit Yu Jung-ak's guard three times. However, the impact wasn't that great. Yu Jung-ak had pushed his body forward, eliminating the distance and preventing Jang Sung-hyun's punches from exerting their full power.
Of course, punches needed space to exert proper force. Yu Jung-ak had momentarily blocked that space with his quick wit.
However, this was only a temporary countermeasure, not a fundamental solution. After all, to win the match, he needed to attack and knock down Jang Sung-hyun.
Yu Jung-ak was unilaterally beaten by Jang Sung-hyun until the middle of the second round. He hadn't been knocked down, but in terms of points, he had almost no chance. Moreover, he was still bleeding from his forehead. The referee could stop the match at any moment.
He needed to show something. Yu Jung-ak, in his shocked state, pushed his body towards Jang Sung-hyun and looked for an opportunity.
As Yu Jung-ak protected his face with his guard, Jang Sung-hyun stepped slightly to the side and aimed for the body. Jang Sung-hyun's right hand punch flew towards the ribs.
Yu Jung-ak thought his chance had come.
Thud! Crack! Crunch!
Jang Sung-hyun's punch was not only strong but also accurate. It precisely hit Yu Jung-ak's ribs, and a strange sound came from Yu Jung-ak's ribs.
However, Yu Jung-ak didn't just stand there. He had struck Jang Sung-hyun's nose with his elbow at the timing of pushing in.
Jang Sung-hyun's nose was crushed and started bleeding profusely. Both had taken serious damage, though neither had been knocked down.
But it didn't end there. They both confirmed that the other was still standing and started exchanging punches as if in a brawl.
They stuck their legs together and exchanged punches like in a street fight. It looked like two beasts engaging in a bloody battle on the ring.
Even the commentators were momentarily stunned and silently watched the two. Both fighters' faces were covered in blood.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Clearly, both had taken significant damage, but as if transcending that, they continued to exchange punches. Neither of them cared about defense.
They couldn't even hear the crowd's noise. They only looked at each other and instinctively exchanged attacks.
Thud! Thud!
A cross counter exploded. Yu Jung-ak's straight and Jang Sung-hyun's uppercut! Both were powerful attacks that made their bodies stagger, but neither fell.
Beep!
The bell signaling the end of the second round rang. They had engaged in a brawl for nearly 40 seconds, barely even breathing properly.
Neither of them were fighters who liked brawls. They didn't usually fight in that style. Yet, on the ring now, a brawl that seemed like a fight to the death was unfolding.
They tried to exchange punches even after the bell rang, and the referee had to intervene to stop them. They both dropped their fighting poses simultaneously, but neither returned to their corner.
Jang Sung-hyun and Yu Jung-ak stood right where they had brawled, glaring at each other. They glared at each other for about 10 seconds after the bell rang, and only returned to their corners when the referee pushed them there.
The crowd's wild cheers were shaking the arena.
[A match worthy of the World One class is unfolding right now. What on earth is happening?]
[Ah. I was momentarily mesmerized watching it too. The brawl they showed at the end of the second round was truly deserving of their reputation.]
[Jang Sung-hyun was leading the match advantageously but got caught by an elbow. He seems to have an injury to his nose, will he be okay?]
[His nose seems to be broken, but I don't think they'll stop the match for such an injury at this point. Yu Jung-ak also has quite a large cut on his forehead.]
[That's right. And if they stop the match now, I don't think the audience will stay quiet. Everyone in the audience is standing up to watch. That's how great this match is, isn't it?]
[Yes. It's an amazing match.]
[The match is being paused for a moment. Is it for a doctor check?]
[It's probably better to do a thorough doctor check at the end of the round rather than interrupting the flow of the match in the middle. This is the ring doctor's unique authority. They should be given time to calmly do this, as they might need to boldly stop the match depending on the situation.]
[Jang Sung-hyun's nose is still bleeding.]
The bleeding was continuing from Yu Jung-ak's forehead as well. The faces of Jang Sung-hyun and Yu Jung-ak were a mess. Until the brawl, Jang Sung-hyun had been ahead on points, but Yu Jung-ak had made up for it all during the brawl.
Jang Sung-hyun's face, which had been clean, was now covered in blood. His left eye was slightly swollen, and his lip had been split for a while.
Yu Jung-ak's face was in a similar state. The cut on his forehead had grown larger, and a big lump had formed on his right forehead. Both were waiting for the doctor check to end.
"Hey. Is your nose okay? Spit out the blood."
When there's a problem with the nose, it becomes difficult to breathe and blood keeps flowing into the mouth. Jang Sung-hyun spat out a mouthful of blood and nodded vigorously. It was as if he was afraid they might forfeit the match.
"Your nose?"
"It's fine!"
Jang Sung-hyun shouted. It wasn't widely known to the media, but Jang Sung-hyun had once suffered a major injury to his nose during his amateur days. That's why his trainer was worried now. An injury to a part like the nose could directly affect a fighter's career if not handled properly. From the looks of it, it seemed broken, but Jang Sung-hyun was determined to fight regardless.
On the other hand, Yu Jung-ak had a better expression than Jang Sung-hyun. However, it was only his expression that was better; he was just as injured.
"Are your ribs okay? Don't push yourself. You can forfeit."
"I think they're slightly cracked."
"Are they not broken? It'll be serious if they puncture your internal organs."
"It doesn't hurt that much. There was a bit of a sound, but it's okay."
"Raise your arms."
"Ah! It hurts, uncle!"
"This won't do."
"What won't do? I told you it's fine when I throw punches."
"If you get knocked down, that's the end. I'll throw in the towel immediately. You're not planning to end your career here, are you?"
"I got it."
Yu Jung-ak said this and put in his mouthpiece before standing up. The two fighters who had passed the doctor check stood in the center of the ring again.
There was no glove touch.
As soon as it started, they began throwing punches at each other.
Bang
Both of their faces were pushed back simultaneously. Jang Sung-hyun's punching power was superior. This was true even though Yu Jung-ak weighed more. However, Yu Jung-ak was covering for this with his stamina and toughness. For every punch he took, he returned one.
And occasionally, he aimed at Jang Sung-hyun with threatening elbows.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Jang Sung-hyun, his face covered in blood, pressured Yu Jung-ak with combinations. Yu Jung-ak desperately protected his ribs.
Jang Sung-hyun persistently tried to aim for that spot, but Yu Jung-ak wouldn't drop his guard there even if it meant taking hits to the face.
Jang Sung-hyun hit the guard, hoping the impact would transfer through even if it was above the guard.
Bang! Bang!
After hitting the body twice in quick succession, Jang Sung-hyun's face was met with a straight punch from Yu Jung-ak. He thought he had narrowly avoided it, but Yu Jung-ak didn't retract the hand he had thrown the straight with and instead wrapped it around the back of Jang Sung-hyun's neck.
Then he feinted a knee kick. Jang Sung-hyun tried to defend against the knee kick with both hands. At that moment, Yu Jung-ak flipped Jang Sung-hyun over with a Muay Thai-style takedown. It was a strange tripping technique that also incorporated wrestling techniques.
Jang Sung-hyun was slammed to the ground. There was no damage, but it was an effective technique against Jang Sung-hyun who was running low on stamina.
And because Jang Sung-hyun didn't expect Yu Jung-ak to use such a method at this timing, his confusion was great. Jang Sung-hyun got up, and they exchanged attacks again.
Both were clearly slower than at the beginning of the round. Yet, neither showed any sign of backing down. As the middle of the round passed, Yu Jung-ak's effective strikes began to increase.
Thud!
Finally, with 30 seconds left in the round, Yu Jung-ak's elbow connected once again. A cut appeared on Jang Sung-hyun's forehead. It was smaller than the cut on Yu Jung-ak's forehead. But now, the cut wasn't the problem. Because damage had accumulated, this single blow was significant.
It was a moment when Rumsak Noi's special elbow training shone. However, Jang Sung-hyun's tenacity was not to be underestimated.
Even while staggering, he raised his guard high and defended against Yu Jung-ak's attacks. Yu Jung-ak pressured Jang Sung-hyun, wildly swinging punches.
20 seconds.
Jang Sung-hyun retreated, struggling not to get knocked down.
10 seconds.
5 seconds.
End of the round.
In the end, Yu Jung-ak failed to knock Jang Sung-hyun down. As soon as the match ended, Yu Jung-ak and Jang Sung-hyun stood there blankly, unable to do anything. Jang Sung-hyun stumbled, while Yu Jung-ak openly grabbed his knees and panted.
It had been a grueling match.
The battle between the two fighters ultimately went to the judges' decision.
The ring doctors came up to check the condition of Yu Jung-ak and Jang Sung-hyun and tended to their bleeding. After stopping the bleeding to some extent, the referee held Yu Jung-ak and Jang Sung-hyun on either side and took their hands.
Referee Kwon Kang-yoon
Red corner 28 Blue corner 27 Red corner wins
The red corner was Jang Sung-hyun and the blue corner was Yu Jung-ak. When Jang Sung-hyun's score came out higher, some audience members cheered.
Referee Lee Chul-gi
Red corner 29 Blue corner 29 Draw
The second was a draw. Now the authority passed to the last referee.
Referee Kim Ki-chan
Red corner 28 Blue corner 29 Blue corner wins
As the last referee's decision came out, there was a commotion.
"We will proceed with an extension round based on the judges' decision."
Extension round 1 Jang Sung-hyun and Yu Jung-ak trudged back to their corners. It seemed like a cruel decision for fighters who had just been through a bloody battle, but a decision was a decision. The decision was the referee's unique authority. Therefore, no objection could be raised no matter how it turned out.
"Hey. Your ribs can't take it. Let's forfeit."
Cho Yong-il was trying to persuade Yu Jung-ak, who was sitting in the corner. Yu Jung-ak barely had the strength to speak but kept shaking his head. Cho Yong-il wanted to throw in the towel right away, but he couldn't because he knew how Yu Jung-ak would react afterwards.
This was the stubbornness of someone who had shut himself away in the mountains for years to train wrestling. Because he was the type to do something once he set his mind to it, Cho Yong-il was in a dilemma.
'No, this isn't right.'
Cho Yong-il made up his mind and turned around. He thought he should forfeit even if it meant never seeing Yu Jung-ak again.
At that moment, something happened in the opponent's corner.
[Ah! Jang Sung-hyun has forfeited. It seems he judged that he couldn't continue the match due to his nose injury.]
Jang Sung-hyun's side had forfeited before Cho Yong-il could. As a result, they didn't go to the extension round, and Yu Jung-ak dramatically won the World One Korea Tournament. It was a victory stained with blood.