Ava's straight punches were both swift and precise, showcasing his formidable skills. Despite Ye Chen's best efforts to evade his strikes, he fell victim to one of Ava's targeted blows. Nevertheless, his reliance on nimble movement alleviated a significant portion of the pressure he felt in the ring. Aware that Ava sought to create distance again, Ye Chen had no intention of granting him that opportunity. As Ava lunged forward with a punch meant to push him back, Ye Chen opted to dodge and press forward rather than retreat.
In that moment, he skillfully leaned to the left and delivered a well-placed hook aimed directly at Ava's abdomen. This decisive action not only accelerated Ye Chen's offensive pace but also unleashed the full potential of his fighting style. Regardless of whether he managed to dodge it or not, the key was to act swiftly and decisively. When Ye Chen executed a left uppercut towards Ava's stomach, Ava instinctively halted his own uppercut, startled by Ye Chen's sudden aggression.
Caught off guard, Ava struggled to comprehend why Ye Chen was targeting him so intensely. Did he genuinely intend to knock him out in this round? That possibility seemed far-fetched. As soon as his uppercut failed, Ava countered with a powerful backhand, the impact echoing through the arena as his glove collided with Ye Chen's muscles. This strike found its mark on Ye Chen's right shoulder, momentarily disrupting the heavy punch he had been poised to unleash.
With the rhythm of the attack interrupted, Ye Chen retaliated, using his front hand to deliver another hook to Ava's stomach. The solid impact reverberated as he once again connected. At such a close distance with such a large target, it had become nearly impossible for Ava to dodge or defend himself. Each blow had to be anticipated, as he focused on Ye Chen's looming heavy punches. The force of the hit took a toll on Ava, prompting him to immediately guard his abdomen with an arm.
In the midst of retreating and angling back to dodge, Ava seamlessly transitioned from an upright stance to a reverse stance, his left hand now poised to protect his face. With intense focus, he locked his gaze onto Ye Chen's right ribcage, triggering an instinctual reaction in him. As if on cue, Ye Chen moved his right arm to shield himself from what he anticipated would be a punishing shot. Yet, Ava's swift adjustment disrupted Ye Chen's calculations; the ferocity of his punches did not allow for unpreparedness.
Ava's footwork shifted, enabling a rapid change of pace reminiscent of a technique he had observed from Bivol, who had previously utilized such maneuvers to elude many of Ava's strongest hits. The concept of a "line change" pertains to unexpectedly altering one's trajectory—both the body and head adapting to this new rhythm in perfect synchronization. Even if struck, this technique could absorb a considerable amount of force.
With a resounding crash, Ava's jab targeted Ye Chen but instead landed on his head. However, thanks to his timely adjustment, the power behind Ava's punch was significantly diminished. Although it still registered as a hard hit, sending a jolt through his body, Ye Chen maintained his composure. At that instant, he adeptly stepped to Ava's left side, catching him off guard.
This move appeared to astonish Ava, as he hadn't anticipated Ye Chen's lateral shift. The unexpected angle allowed Ye Chen's punch to land directly on Ava's cochlea, resulting in a momentary loss of hearing for him, leaving Ava disoriented. Determined not to yield, he quickly attempted to counterattack with a straight punch. Yet, Ye Chen pressed forward relentlessly, combining his strikes into a series of combos that left the crowd on edge.
As the intensity of the fight heightened, it became evident that Ye Chen's stamina was being tested more than Ava's, pushing him to expedite the conclusion of the bout. Instead of retreating, he received a barrage of punches yet responded with increasing aggression, his determination amplifying with each blow.
When the third round commenced, ecstatic screams and cheers erupted from the audience, creating a palpable atmosphere of excitement. "What's up with Ye Chen? Is he actually trying to settle this in the third round?" someone shouted, astonished. "He's lost it; does he think he can knock out Ava?"
The crowd was in a frenzy. "No way, this is utterly implausible! Ava can't possibly lose!" came the cries of disbelief, soon overtaken by shouts for Ava—his name ringing out as fervently as the adrenaline in the arena.
Yet, amidst this chaos, many who had once rallied behind Ye Chen began to shift their allegiance, silently riddled with anxiety over their bets. Regardless of their wish for Ye Chen's triumph, the blunt reality remained: they had wagered on Ava to win. The stakes were high; for many, losing meant forfeiting everything. It was a grim reminder of the odds prior to the match, where most believed Ava would emerge victorious.
With the allure of high-risk, high-reward betting, many spectators placed hefty sums on Ava, eagerly anticipating returns far greater than those in conventional financial investments. Recent revelations claimed that numerous celebrities had also banked substantial amounts, further illustrating the immense pressure surrounding the match.
Back in the ring, Ye Chen's intensity only escalated, channeling his rage into each strike. Ava once more managed to connect with a precise jab on Ye Chen's forehead, a move that was as powerful as it was damaging. Each connection from Ava's heavy gloves left its mark, blood trickling from the corners of Ye Chen's eyes and down the bridge of his nose. Yet, undeterred by the pain, Ye Chen, consumed by sheer will, suddenly dropped into a squat before propelling himself upward.
This sudden movement prompted a reflexive response from Ava, who instinctively raised his arms to shield his head, anticipating a significant blow. His apprehension reflected the gravity of the situation. Ye Chen's unyielding resolve left all present—both in the arena and in the crowd—bracing for the unpredictable conclusion of this dramatic encounter.
This punch was undeniably powerful. Ye Chen was seemingly eager to follow up with more attacks. However, the momentum of his previous blow had just knocked Ava down completely. He slipped out through the gap in the ropes, and as Ye Chen was throwing yet another punch into the air, he caught a glimpse of Ava perilously hanging above, his legs dangling from the ropes, teetering on the edge of a fall.
Without a moment's hesitation, Ye Chen instinctively grabbed Ava's legs. It was a reflexive action, one that did not require conscious thought. In fact, he didn't even have time to ponder the implications of saving him. His mind and nerves were in a heightened state, rendering him unable to process any thoughts clearly.
As Ava dangled in mid-air, his body was positioned unnaturally, facing the audience with his head and feet upside down, his arms hanging loosely, appearing completely unconscious. His face, smeared with blood, sent several startled fans of the "Zero Qiqi" team in the front row into a panic. They screamed and jumped back, fearing that they might be next.
"Is he—dead?" This was the immediate thought that crossed many minds. The combination of his precarious posture, the distressing sight of his bloodied face, and the force with which Ye Chen had struck moments prior led many to jump to conclusions about his fate.
The referee rushed over to help, accompanied by other staff members who quickly moved to support Ava and check on him outside the ring. Meanwhile, Ye Chen, seeing his opportunity, didn't wait for the referee to officially stop the match before celebrating his victory. If this didn't count as a knockout, then certainly something was amiss.
In the chaotic aftermath, the sounds around the arena turned noisy with discontent. Those who had lost confidence expressed their outrage. "Shui Luo, is this the boxing king???" one disgruntled customer exclaimed. Another lamented, "It's like a bad joke; I lost a hundred thousand!" A third person chimed in, "One hundred thousand? I lost two hundred thousand! What the heck… how can a top boxer lose to an MMA fighter? This match has to be rigged; there's got to be someone pulling strings behind the scenes!"
Those around them were equally incredulous, voicing their disbelief. "This… how can this be happening? It's impossible! I must be hallucinating. I must have read it wrong!" echoed several fans. "No way, Innero cannot lose..."
A palpable anxiety hung in the air as the reality sunk in, and all those present realized the implications of what had just unfolded. Not only Ava's devoted fans were disappointed—Ye Chen's supporters were equally dismayed. For a moment, there wasn't much celebration for Ye Chen.
Yet, amid the chaos, there were still pockets of excitement. Figures like his future father-in-law, Dana, UFC fighters, and staff members erupted in joy.
Without hesitation, Dana sprang into the ring, climbing over the ropes with impressive agility. He was quicker than most and rushed to embrace Ye Chen, lifting him in a celebratory bear hug. Ye Chen didn't mind who had picked him up; all that mattered was that he had emerged victorious. He truly won against all odds.
Initial expectations guided him to believe it would be a drawn-out match that could potentially last the full twelve rounds. The sudden and decisive ending took him by surprise. As he absorbed that moment of victory, he realized that Ava's downfall was largely due to his swift tactical adjustments—changes he implemented in rapid succession, making it hard for Ava to find his rhythm and mount a counter.
After taking a barrage of heavy punches, even seasoned boxers can appear to be novices. It's an unavoidable truth in the fight game. In any case, this moment warranted celebration despite the chaos surrounding him.
"I won, I really won, and I made a substantial amount of money…" thought his future father-in-law, a boxing enthusiast and frequent bettor. If not for Ye Chen's connection to his daughter, he would have undoubtedly placed his bet on Ava without second-guessing. Instead, he decided to back Ye Chen.
Compared to high-stakes gamblers, his bets were modest, usually capped at a thousand yuan. But this time, driven by an emotional connection, he boldly wagered 5,000 yuan on Ye Chen when the odds were especially in his favor. Upon assessing the results, he was ecstatic, calculating that he netted thirty thousand dollars—a significant earning after many years of steady losses.
As Ye Chen turned to gauge the reaction of those around him, he noticed the gleeful expression on his future father-in-law's face. Then, his attention was drawn to a figure with a shiny, bald head. "Dana, let me down," he chuckled, feeling both the exhilaration of victory and the awkwardness of being hoisted.
Dana, still caught up in jubilation, hugged him tightly, his strength warming Ye Chen's heart. "You win, Ye Chen! You really did! I knew you wouldn't lose. Just look at you—so confident and powerful! How could you possibly lose?" the energetic promoter exclaimed, practically bouncing with enthusiasm.
Ye Chen smiled back, amusement sparkling in his eyes. "Honestly? Did you really believe I could win from the very beginning?" He wasn't ignorant of the skepticism surrounding his match. Prior to the event, most analysts and fans, alongside the likes of Golovkin, Bivol, and Catwoman, barely put him in contention as a serious competitor. It was a common sentiment.
Undoubtedly, Dana's loyalty was commendable, but Ye Chen didn't expect him to genuinely think he would triumph over Ava. After all, Dana had often found himself caught up in moments of anxiety during UFC fights and had witnessed many boxing matches, often splitting his attention. It was no secret that whenever UFC and boxing clashed, Dana would always seek to watch the latter.
With a broad grin, Dana replied, "Regardless of your doubts, you won! And to celebrate, we're throwing a grand bash for you this time…"
Yet the audience remained divided in emotion. Ava was revived quickly by medical staff, and though he sat there in a daze, a bitter look crossed his face as he looked up at Ye Chen in the ring. The boxing community had not anticipated such an outcome, and Ava himself had never imagined he would find himself in this situation.
Now, ensnared in the throes of self-doubt, he lingered within a vicious cycle that preyed on his confidence. For a fighter, self-belief is paramount—it's the foundation upon which victories are built. Many athletes persistently reinforce their self-image, outright convincing themselves of their supremacy through psychological mantras and hypnotic affirmations.
As he processed the stark realization of his loss, he found himself questioning everything he believed in.