Ava resumed his earlier tactics, determined to entice Ye Chen into a pursuit or provoke a counterattack. He launched a jab with his front hand, which prompted Ye Chen to duck just in time, skillfully slapping away Ava's attempt with his back hand. Although there was a good chance this was just a feint designed to lure him in, Ye Chen remained vigilant. He understood the necessity of avoiding or blocking every potential strike. After all, what if Ava's attack was genuine?
In a swift motion, Ye Chen snapped his front hand out like a whip, aiming for Ava with surprising speed. As he did so, he retracted his leg instinctively. *Bang!* The punch connected solidly with Ava's nose, but this time, to Ye Chen's surprise, Ava didn't seem inclined to evade; instead, he instantly leaped into a combination of prompts, gauging Ye Chen's response with the aim of landing a powerful blow to the abdomen with his back hand.
However, due to the rapid withdrawal Ye Chen executed to facilitate his attack, Ava's punch failed to connect. The fist halted mid-flight, leaving spectators guessing whether Ava had truly intended the strike or was simply auditioning the very feints that beguiled Ye Chen in previous rounds. Soon enough, Ye Chen realized that his instinct to throw the punch and retreat had been validated; Ava certainly had a genuine intent behind that attack.
The unanticipated speed of Ye Chen's retreat left him little time to formulate a follow-up assault. If he had pressed forward without caution, he would have fallen victim to Ava's carefully laid traps. So, he opted for a calculated halt. After stopping, an involuntary smile crept onto his face. He feigned indifference, shrugging as if to signify he held no real desire to engage.
The stronger his air of nonchalance, the more it revealed Ava's previous punch had indeed been a calculated maneuver intended to exploit Ye Chen's vulnerabilities—yet Ye Chen remained unfazed. Notably, in all the earlier times Ava had attempted to deceive him with feints, he had never once cracked a smile or offered any physical cues of comical indifference or provocation.
As they exchanged grins—YChen's so bold it said "You think you can play me?"—the surrounding atmosphere transformed. The earlier tension caused by the intense display of skill between the two fighters was palpable; the audience was left holding their collective breath, hesitant to make a sound lest they miss a pivotal moment. With the frenetic pace having subsided somewhat, many spectators exhaled softly, appreciating the brief halt in action.
Commentator No. 1 broke the silence, pointing out, "Canelo's boxing style is notoriously unpredictable. His opponents often struggle to discern which of his punches are genuine threats. He has faced and commented on several matches where elite fighters have fallen victim to his stealthy heavy shots." Following suit, Commentator No. 2 noted, "On the other hand, Ye Chen has countered spectacularly. He is fully utilizing his wingspan advantage and employing a series of quick jabs that leave Canelo visibly uncomfortable."
Adding his observation, Commentator No. 3 remarked, "Ye Chen demonstrates remarkable movement speed and opportunity recognition. His retreat and swift counterattacks are executed meticulously, always adhering to his strategy while denying Canelo any chance to gain a foothold."
As the battle between these two titans raged on, it appeared poised for an unpredictable resolution—an abrupt end or an extended clash of skill and determination.
Suddenly, an unforeseen turn of events unfolded in the ring. Ava surged forward aggressively, unleashing a swift backhand straight punch akin to a cannonball's force. With Ye Chen still favoring the Philadelphia stance, he immediately elevated his shoulders to block the incoming attack while hastily retreating. He knew it was inconceivable to impose his wingspan as a dominant factor for the entire duration of the bout.
With Ava standing at a height of 1.75 meters, a four-time boxing champion, and a veteran fighter against numerous adversaries with notably long appendages, it was clear that underestimating him would be ludicrous. If Ava were so easily defeated, his illustrious legacy wouldn't hold much weight. With this understanding, Ye Chen approached the bout with utmost seriousness.
This time, Ava advanced differently, his front feet rooted strategically to control the center line. Effectively, he made his move right along Ye Chen's path, creating difficulty for Ye Chen to maintain distance. Fooling Ye Chen into focusing on his defense, Ava darted forward with his front fist. *Bang.* The punch landed squarely on Ye Chen's chest, emitting a dull sound that reverberated through the arena.
In that fleeting moment, Ye Chen felt an unsettling sensation, as if his heart had paused momentarily. Quick to react, he thrust his front hand against Ava, disrupting the momentum of Ava's attack and carving out space for himself. However, Ava retaliated with a flat hook to Ye Chen's chest again. As he reached for a backhand punch, he was inadvertently pushed off balance by Ye Chen's maneuver; his backhand landed on Ye Chen's head with less intensity than intended due to the prior disturbance.
*Bang!* Seizing the moment, Ye Chen capitalized on the chaos to deliver an uppercut. Though the punch veered slightly off-course, it still connected with the edge of Ava's chin, causing his movements to falter. Recognizing this temporary advantage, Ye Chen pressed on and, while maneuvering backward, successfully landed another front hook against a still-reeling Ava.
The force behind that punch rattled Ava, visibly shaking him. Nevertheless, true to his reputation, Ava composed himself and launched a seamless combination of punches: a flurry of body shots, uppercuts, and sweeping hooks that targeted Ye Chen with uncanny precision. All three strikes struck true, and Ye Chen felt the impact reverberate through his body, leaving him somewhat disoriented.
Just as Ye Chen registered the pain, the end-of-round bell rang. With only ten seconds left on the clock, both fighters were feeling the fatigue. In a desperate move to keep close, Ava wrapped his arms around Ye Chen. Without hesitation, Ye Chen retaliated with another uppercut to Ava's abdomen, causing him to double over in pain; the instinct to protect himself kicked in, leaving his arms dangling helplessly.
In a last-ditch effort, Ava struck back at Ye Chen's midsection, but with his head lowered against Ye Chen's chest, he felt physically compressed, clasping Ye Chen tightly, both fighters caught in the throes of exhaustion.
*Beep!* The second round came to an end.