Ye Chen expertly managed the distance with his front hand, bent his knee, and quickly flashed forward, surprising the audience with an explosive move. In an instant, he unleashed another punch that connected sharply with Ava's abdomen. The impact caused Ava's body to instinctively bend forward, prompting him to react by using his back hand to block Ye Chen's momentum.
"Bang!"
However, Ye Chen had other plans and swiftly altered the trajectory of his punch, targeting Ava's head instead. Despite Ava's quick reflexes, he was caught off-guard by this sudden shift and was struck by the unexpected blow. The force of the punch sent Ava staggering back, visibly rattled.
The atmosphere in the arena intensified, a palpable tension hanging in the air. Hearts raced as the crowd held its collective breath. For those who had placed hefty bets on Ava's victory, every punch landed by Ye Chen felt as if it were hitting them instead, amplifying their anxiety.
Three commentators shared their insights, their voices rising with excitement.
Commentator No. 1 exclaimed, "Ye Chen has shifted the rhythm of his attack! Ava seems to be struggling to keep up!"
Commentator No. 2 added, "Under normal circumstances, Canelo is renowned for his defensive counterattacks, especially against pressing fighters like Ye Chen. Yet today, it seems his usual prowess isn't delivering the expected results."
Indeed, while Ava appeared to have the upper hand at times during the third round, it was not as commanding as spectators may have anticipated. Many had predicted that Ye Chen would crumble under Ava's relentless approach, possibly getting knocked out well before the end of the rounds. Initially, Ye Chen had relied primarily on a kiting style of boxing, which aligned with many experts' predictions, only aimed at surviving the onslaught.
However, the unexpected shift in Ye Chen's strategy in the third round caught everyone off guard, leaving Ava unable to capitalize on his supposed advantage.
Commentator No. 3 remarked, "Ava hasn't found his rhythm yet, and did you observe how Ye Chen targeted his abdomen three times in a row? Those blows might have disrupted Ava's condition and limited his capacity to launch an effective counterattack. Though their accuracy rates are roughly equal at this point."
Commentator No. 1 questioned, "So, are we saying that Ye Chen's accuracy in punches is nearly on par with Canelo's?"
All three commentators exchanged wide-eyed glances, a realization dawning upon them. The crowd had been conditioned to view Ye Chen as an underdog, leading to a focus on when he might be knocked out rather than recognizing his growing skills in the ring. Few realized that Ye Chen could hold his own against Ava, especially as the match pressed on and the competition remained fiercely contested.
With Ava retreating, Ye Chen seized the moment, charging forward with determination and compressing Ava's available space. Though Ava was reluctant to advance, he found himself pushed back as Ye Chen pressed on, hands raised defensively, forcing him into a defensive position.
Just as he was about to recede entirely, Ava unleashed an unorthodox punch while moving backward. This punch struck observers as peculiar; its trajectory and force seemed minimal at first glance, not aligning with expected techniques. However, both fighters were momentarily caught in a fierce exchange, with Ava's judgment possibly affected due to the prior hits he had taken.
Ye Chen, noticing the change in Ava's posture, instinctively adjusted his own stance, widening his arms in anticipation of a front punch.
"Bang!"
But Ava, with cleverness and skill, transformed his initial swing into a powerful jab, flicking it swiftly towards the centerline. Ye Chen barely reacted in time, receiving a sharp blow that caught him directly above his brow, nearly breaking the bridge of his nose.
A rush of warmth filled his nasal cavity, swiftly followed by a stream of blood as he experienced the shocking aftermath of the precise strike. Gasps echoed through the audience, the combined astonishment palpable as they witnessed such a skilled punch.
Even seasoned professionals in the front row couldn't restrain their applause, acknowledging the rarity and effectiveness of such connectivity in the ring. Ye Chen had not anticipated this sudden shift; it caught him off guard. Yet, as Ava's punch landed, the veteran fighter immediately prepped for a follow-up combination, intending to unleash a rapid-fire set of strikes as he sought dominance.
However, Ye Chen, despite the impact of the hit, maintained his fierce aggression and composed pace, advancing steadily towards Ava. It was evident that Ava's skills set him apart from any opponent Ye Chen had faced. As Ye Chen pushed forward, he received two quick counterstrikes from Ava that landed solidly against him.
Yet, amidst the exchange, Ava found himself cornered; a small victory for Ye Chen despite the toll the punches took on him. From Ava's point of view, though he had landed some decisive blows, he lost a fraction of ground, and the realization that Ye Chen was able to stay connected within the exchange weighed on him.
Even as Ye Chen's condition appeared to decline, he meant to retaliate. Ava was feeling confident, ducking low to evade Ye Chen's immediate threats and pursuing his own opportunity to strike. Ye Chen anticipated Ava's advance; he sidestepped and propelled his front hand forward with exceptional timing, successfully pushing Ava back once more just as he prepared to unleash a new attack.
Though hitting Ava in this defensive state could prove difficult, it served to halt Ava's momentum. In a fluid transition, Ye Chen included a powerful backhand hook. Evading the uppercut, Ava instinctively shifted back, trying to escape but soon found himself trapped in the corner against the ropes, realizing that the space he had desperately sought was rapidly closing in around him.