blogombal Page 200
Page 200
His disappointment had turned into focus—Ivana hadn't come over, Emily was in New York, and Caroline was nowhere to be found.
Yes, the Channing Group collapsed a month ago. Martin Channing was arrested, all his assets were confiscated, and investigators even went to Chicago to track down the whereabouts of five million dollars in order to trace the funds.
These investigators are probably still in Tulsa taking pictures of the rusty machinery.
Left with no other choice, Victor had to call the beautiful woman who had given him her phone number during the day—she was the owner of an Atlantic City shipping company.
Yes, the female boss.
An hour later, Viktor met the tall female boss—her height of 191 cm surprised Viktor, making him feel that her legs were a meter long.
And it's very powerful.
Viktor was very tired.
Only then did I subdue my inner demons.
Both sides were very happy—both physically and mentally.
The female boss successfully secured an investment worth two million US dollars, and the shipping company was revived.
Victor gained some power over the shipping company, which allowed him to legitimately acquire the company later, thus making it easier to purchase local specialties from his hometown.
The female boss—Nisha—Jinrun.
Viktor's world is now only filled with Vitaly Klitschko and the match on October 20th.
On the morning of the fourth day, Viktor's training camp officially began.
The boxing gym, located in the suburbs of Atlantic City, has been cleared out, with only the core members of the team present.
Sandbags, speedballs, jump ropes, boxing rings—that's Viktor's world for the next five weeks.
Trainer Ethan has already devised a detailed plan.
"In the first phase, we will continue to improve physical fitness and strength."
Ethan's voice was as stern as a military drill instructor's, "Tali is taller than you, we have to make sure you have enough stamina to keep applying pressure. One hour of running in the morning, two hours of strength training in the afternoon."
Viktor nodded and began warming up.
His mind was clear—every step of the training was aimed at defeating that Ukrainian giant.
Jumping rope is no longer just jumping rope, but practicing footwork; hitting the sandbag is no longer just hitting the sandbag, but simulating attacks on Vitaly's body and head.
During the lunch break, Frankie brought new news.
"Klitschko's team made a request."
Frankie said with a somewhat strange expression, "They want the fight to use thicker gloves."
Viktor frowned: "Why? Thicker gloves have better shock absorption, reducing the likelihood of knockdowns. The WBA has already imposed many restrictions on me!"
"That's right, but they still think it's not enough?"
Solomon interjected, "They want to protect their fighters. Vitaly is inexperienced, and thick gloves can reduce the risk of being knocked out in one blow, making technical factors more important."
Ethan interjected, "Why don't we just admit defeat?"
"We cannot agree."
Viktor firmly stated, "My strength advantage needs thin gloves to be maximized."
Frankie shook his head: "The WBA is inclined to agree to their demands. The reason given is 'security concerns.' Viktor, you've already broken the bones of five challengers, and they won't be able to fight again for six months. That's a huge loss for the WBA, especially since Klitschko's team has the support of the WBA vice president."
Victor slammed his fist on the locker: "It's skin color again! White people are all one of us? When will this sport be purely about fists?"
Solomon said calmly, “Boxing has never been just boxing, Viktor. But the good news is, I foresaw this.” He took a document out of his bag. “According to WBA Rule 12C, if the two teams disagree on equipment specifications, the preference of the defending champion—or the higher-ranked champion—should be given priority. You are the champion, and Vitaly is ranked fifteenth. We have the right to decide.”
Frankie looked at the document in surprise: "Lou, where did you find this clause?"
“1982 WBA Rule Amendment, page 42, footnote.”
Solomon smiled. "You think I'm an old fogey, but I still remember how to study the rules."
Victor laughed and patted Solomon on the back: "Lou, you deserve every penny of your salary!"
Viktor was particularly focused during the afternoon strength training session.
With each lift of the barbell, he imagined he was pushing aside the bureaucrats of the WBA;
Each push-up he did felt like crushing those who were trying to stop him.
After training, Viktor spoke with Vitaly on the phone.
The two politely discussed the details of the match, appearing friendly and professional on the surface, but undercurrents were brewing.
"I heard you have objections to the thickness of the boxing gloves."
Vitali Klitschko cut straight to the point.
"Standard thickness is fair to both parties."
Viktor responded, "You want to prove you're a world-class boxer, don't you? World-class boxers don't need extra protection."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Vitali Klitschko laughed: "Alright, standard thickness. But don't regret this decision, Viktor."
“Never regret it.”
After hanging up the phone, Victor felt a strange excitement.
Viktor Klitschko was not a political player like Traudl; he was a true fighter, albeit in a different way.
This match may be more meaningful than originally planned.
Over the weekend, Victor gave an exclusive interview to ESPN.
Lisa, a journalist, is a well-known face in the boxing world, known for her sharp questions.
“Viktor, many people say that accepting the match against Klitschko is a second-best option. Do you agree with that view?”
Viktor maintained his smile: "Vitali Klitschko is an Olympic gold medalist with an undefeated professional record. People who think this is an easy fight simply don't understand boxing."
"But there are rumors that the Traudl team deliberately avoided you and chose to resume the game with Johnson because they thought you were a more dangerous opponent."
Victor shrugged: "Traud has the right to choose how he defends his title. My focus is on October 20th, not what other people think."
Lisa flipped through her notes and changed the subject: "Vitali Klitschko is five inches taller than you. How do you deal with that size difference?"
“I’ve fought Valuyev. Big guys and small guys are the same in the ring.”
Viktor said confidently, "I've faced opponents of all styles, and I've always found a way to win. This time is no exception."
After the interview, Lisa privately told Viktor, "Vitali said in an interview in Ukraine that he thinks your style is outdated. He said modern boxing needs more scientific methods, rather than relying on instinct and power."
Victor raised an eyebrow: "He said all that?"
"It won't appear in the reports, but I think you should know."
Lisa put away the recorder. "Good luck, Viktor. This sport needs boxers like you."
Viktor was intrigued by Lisa and invited her, "May I buy you a drink?"
Lisa was taken aback for a moment, then readily agreed: "I'll come to your room at seven o'clock tonight."
That night, Viktor unusually trained until 6:30, then used unorthodox methods to deplete his cortisol and prepare for sleep.
Sure enough, after Lisa left, Viktor's training results improved.
An extra hour of training was added each day.
Vitaly's assessment stung him—"outdated"?
He will make that Ukrainian understand the true nature of boxing.
In the second week, Viktor doubled the intensity of his training.
The combat partner was changed to a taller and heavier athlete, imitating Vitaly's style.
Solomon constantly adjusted his strategy, designing specific combinations of moves to target Vitaly's habits.
Meanwhile, the media war is also heating up.
Vitaly's team released a training video showcasing his incredible strength—he punched a sandbag so hard it cracked.
Viktor's team responded with a video of Viktor continuously hitting speedballs, his punches so fast they were almost invisible.
Technological displays showcase power, and power displays showcase technology—to the anti-heavenly forces.
The competition's promotional campaign has been fully launched.
Posters were plastered all over Atlantic City, featuring photos of two boxers staring at each other, captioned "Eastern European Giant and Chicago Tiger."
HBO Sports has announced that it will broadcast the match live, and expects to attract over one million viewers.
Viktor tried to block out external noise and focused on training.
But one night, he received an unexpected phone call.
"Victor Lee?"
The voice on the other end of the phone sounded somewhat familiar.
"Yes, that's me. And who are you?"
"Traud".
Viktor sat up straight.
Why would an active IBF heavyweight world champion who avoids fighting call him?
"Mr. Traudl. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Traudl chuckled: "Let's get straight to the point, Victor. I know you're unhappy with the WBA's decision, but I want to assure you personally that this isn't a personal grudge. Johnson has the mandatory challenge right, and I have to play him first."
"I understand the rules."
"I'm being cautious," Viktor said.
"But outside the rules, I want to make you a promise."
Traudl lowered his voice, “No matter who wins between you and Vitaly, my next match will be against the winner. I’ve already talked to the promoters, it’s next March in Las Vegas.”
Viktor remained silent for a moment.
This phone call was unusual; champions rarely contact challengers directly.
"Why are you telling me this?"