In August, Link represented the U.S. boxing team in the Beijing Olympics.
The Olympic boxing competition consisted of five rounds: elimination round, preliminary round, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. The number of participants was relatively small, only 30, but they were all the strongest boxers from the four continents.
The elimination round was held on August 12th at the Beijing Workers' Stadium. Link faced Japanese boxer Nobuhiro Ishida and knocked him out with an overhand right in the first round, 86 seconds into the match, causing Ishida to be unable to get up for ten seconds.
In the preliminary round, Link faced Irish boxer Darren Sutherland, knocking him down five times in four rounds and causing him to fall to the ground for several seconds three times. Link successfully advanced to the quarterfinals, with an amateur record of 24 wins, 24 knockouts.
In the quarterfinals, Link faced Kazakh boxer Altaiyev, the super middleweight champion of the previous Athens Olympics. Altaiyev's defensive ability was comparable to Peterson's, and he was a very strong opponent.
However, Link's punching power had significantly improved in the past month, and his technique had become more refined. In the fourth round, he knocked down Altaiyev three times in a row, causing him to fall to the ground for several seconds. The referee eventually stopped the match, and Link won again.
In the semifinals, Link faced the challenge of British boxer James DeGale.
James DeGale was a black boxer, 188 cm tall with a 196 cm reach. He had excellent technique and physical condition, like a combination of Peterson and Andrzej Fonfara. Although Link knocked him down four times in four rounds, he still couldn't completely knock him out.
In the end, Link won the match with a score of 31:19.
This was the only amateur match where Link couldn't win by knockout.
In the final, Link faced his old opponent, Cuban boxer Lorenzo Aragon.
Since their previous match had caused a sensation in the world boxing scene, many people believed that Aragon had underperformed in that match and that the outcome could be different if they fought again.
Therefore, their match attracted the attention of boxing fans worldwide, and China Central Television's sports channel broadcast the match live.
However, the process of the match was surprising. After the match started, Link immediately used heavy punches to attack Aragon's defense, throwing 124 punches in the first round and knocking down Aragon in the last 10 seconds.
In the second round, the match was almost one-sided. Link continued his heavy punches, knocking down Aragon twice in a row and causing him to fall to the ground for several seconds. Before the third round started, the Cuban side announced their withdrawal from the match, citing Aragon's unhealed injury.
Link easily won the final and won an Olympic gold medal.
On August 25th, Link flew back to the United States. When he walked out of Los Angeles International Airport, more than a hundred media reporters were waiting for him outside the terminal. With the help of his assistant Simon, Link held a press conference in the airport lobby.
"Mr. Link Baker, congratulations on winning the championship at the Olympics and getting a gold medal of great value. This gold medal is also the only gold medal for the U.S. boxing team in this Olympics. How do you feel right now?"
A reporter from the Los Angeles Times asked, handing over a microphone.
"Great, just like the weather in Los Angeles."
Link pointed to the blue sky above and smiled. He was wearing a red and white Nike tracksuit, with a gold and jade medal hanging around his neck. The medal had the boxing event logo and his name on it, weighing a total of 219.3 grams, feeling heavy around his neck.
But he felt very relaxed.
During this trip back to China, he not only participated in the Olympics but also took the time to travel near his hometown. His parents were in good health, and his siblings were still in school. It seemed that there was no child named Link in the Lin family.
Coach Liu was still a coach at the city boxing team. Without Link's involvement, he should be able to stay in the city team until retirement.
Seeing that everyone was doing well, he was naturally in a good mood.
"Mr. Link Baker, how was your first time in China?"
The Los Angeles Times reporter continued to ask.
"It was great. The cities in China are also very prosperous, and the Chinese people are very warm and hospitable. I made many friends in China these days."
Link smiled.
"Mr. Link Baker, three days ago, Chinese media reported that you saved a drowning child in a Beijing park. Is this true?"
A CBS reporter handed over a microphone and asked.
"Yes, I happened to be passing by that day and saved the child."
"Mr. Link Baker, according to Chinese media reports, 200-meter medley champion Phelps and former Chinese diving champion Tian Liang were also at the scene. The three of you almost entered the water at the same time, but you arrived first. How did you do it?"
The CBS reporter asked.
"I live by the sea and am a good swimmer. As for swimming faster than them, it might be a misunderstanding."
Link shrugged.
Three days ago, just before the final, he was running near Houhai Lake when he suddenly heard someone shout, "Someone's drowning!" Without thinking, he jumped into the water and saved the child. After bringing the child ashore, he didn't stay long and went straight back to the dormitory to change clothes.
That evening, CCTV's evening news reported the incident, and someone even filmed a video of it. At the time he jumped into the water, Phelps and former Chinese diving team member Tian Liang were also running nearby.
The three of them entered the water almost simultaneously, but Link was farther away from the drowning child. However, he arrived first.
After the news broke, it became one of the biggest and most interesting news of this Olympics. Because he was wearing an athlete's uniform at the time, and his appearance and physique were very recognizable, his identity was revealed in less than half a day: Link Baker, the American boxer.
Then the news became even more exciting, saying that the diving champion, swimming champion, and boxing champion jumped into the water together to save a drowning child, and the boxing champion saved the child first despite being farther away.
People thought he was a hidden swimming expert.
Some boxing fans also joked that he was a KO maniac, an anesthesiologist, and must have knocked out the other two in the water before bringing the child ashore. Otherwise, how could a boxer be faster than the swimming champion?
"Mr. Link Baker, Phelps has publicly stated that he wants to compete with you again to see who swims faster. Will you accept his challenge?"
An ABC reporter asked.
Link smiled and said to the camera, "Of course, but please tell him that if he loses, he has to leave his gold medal. He has eight of them, and I'm very envious."
"Okay! We'll tell him."
The ABC reporter laughed.
"Mr. Link Baker, in the finals, many people thought it would be a close match. Why did you defeat Aragon in just three rounds?"
An HBO reporter asked.
"First of all, it wasn't a close match. I had defeated him in the qualifying round, and I'm stronger than him. Second, Aragon was injured and in worse shape than in July, so his strength was weaker. Third, before the Olympics, I had over a month of intensive training, and I was stronger than in the qualifying round. This is why I was able to defeat him again."
Link said.
"Mr. Link Baker, after becoming a world champion, what is your next goal?"
A New York Times reporter asked.
"My next step is to enter professional boxing and compete for the super middleweight championship titles of the four major organizations, to become a true world champion."
Link waved his fist and said.
After answering a dozen questions, Link winked at Simon, who stepped forward and announced the end of the interview, saying that the champion needed to go back and rest.
---
"Link, take a look. This is your itinerary for the next few days."
In the commercial vehicle, Simon Curtis handed him a bottle of water and then a schedule.
"Okay, let me see what kind of work you've found for me."
Link took it and glanced through it. There were more than thirty work arrangements, including CBS's "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," NBC's "The Tonight Show," interviews with the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, People magazine, Boxing magazine, HBO's "Following the Champion to Watch Boxing," six commercials, and three public welfare activities.
"Link, after you won the championship, we received more than fifty advertising invitations. According to your requirements, we didn't accept any ads below $500,000, leaving these six. The three public welfare activities are optional, but my suggestion is to do them. They can expand your fan base and increase your exposure."
"I understand."
Link had no objections to doing public welfare activities. He had a lot of negative news in the past, and participating in public welfare activities could allow more viewers to understand his personality and behavior through TV programs. If done well, it could wash away some of the negative news and turn many haters
"What's this 'Following the Champion to Watch the Olympics' program? The Olympics are over, what's there to watch?" Link pointed to the HBO activity on the schedule, which had three episodes and required three days of recording, the longest of all the activities.
"This is a program HBO created specifically for you. Because of your popularity and winning the gold medal at the Olympics, they're planning to make a show where you provide live commentary on the five rounds of Olympic boxing matches. HBO is offering $500,000 for it."
"Sounds good, I'll take it." Link nodded, put down the document, and looked out the car window at Los Angeles. The sun was shining, the blue sea and golden beaches, and the Pacific Coast Highway was lined with tall palm trees, looking much like Miami.
He took out his phone and sent a message to Taylor, asking if her tour was over. After a while, Taylor replied that she still needed half a month to return to the country.
Link didn't mention his arrival in Los Angeles. He sent a message to Gal Gadot, and Gal said she was at home and sent him an apartment address.
"Simon, to White Oak Apartments on Bird Street!"
(End of Chapter)