Chapter 7 Joining a Boxing Gym

"Mario, haven't you had breakfast? Use some strength and strike decisively. If you box like this, you won't be able to catch Link's punch even if you practice for ten years."

"West, forget about that bastard Link. Yesterday I underestimated my opponent and was not prepared. If you let me fight again, I will never lose."

"Stop talking and just concentrate on practicing."

On the boxing ring in the training area on the second floor of the West Boxing Club, Mario and a boxer in a black vest were sparring. Coach West, wearing a white baseball jersey and holding a notebook, was guiding the training under the boxing ring.

Link walked around the boxing gym, looking at the environment and training equipment.

Yesterday, coach West came after him to persuade him to join. He thought that West was a coach in a small boxing gym, but in fact this place was more formal than expected.

There are three floors, steel frame structure and glass curtain wall, with good lighting. The first floor is the office area and canteen, the second floor is the training area, and the third floor is the dormitory and office. There is an elevator up and down the stairs.

The training area is next to the boxing ring. It has rubber boxing targets, pear-shaped balls, tensioners, boxing bags, barbell racks, etc. All the necessary equipment is available. There are more than a dozen young people doing strength training, and the atmosphere in the boxing gym is very lively.

"Link, this is a picture of Coach West when he was a boxer."

The staff of the boxing gym followed Link and introduced that this person took the initiative to follow Link when he entered the door. He was Robinson, the manager of the boxing gym, and said that he wanted to show him around, especially the wall of honor.

On the walls of the training gym hang photos of West Corian competing in boxing matches as a youngster.

West was a middleweight boxer in his youth and trained at the same gym as Roy Jones Jr.'s father.

When he debuted in the early 1970s, 1 Ray Leonard competed for the WBO middleweight gold belt, but lost. Sugar became the first boxer in boxing history to accumulate a prize money of 100 million US dollars, and he was very powerful.

Manager Robinson also said that Coach West retired in the early 1980s and began to be a boxing coach. He has been a coach for nearly 30 years and is very experienced.

"Very good, has there ever been a more successful boxer from the boxing gym?"

Link asked.

"Yes! Of course!"

Manager Robinson then named several boxers that Link had never heard of in his life.

Only one boxer named Robert Allen is more famous. He once competed for the IBF middleweight gold belt in 1 Hopkins, but failed. He later became a second-rate boxer and has now retired.

Seeing the regret on Manager Robinson's face, Link smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, I'm here, and there will be a boxing champion here."

Manager Robinson gave him a look, unsure if he was serious or joking, and chimed in saying that was great.

"Haha, Link, you're here."

Coach West came over laughing, as if he had just seen Link. In fact, he received the news when Link entered the door, but it was more appropriate to leave the introduction of the honor of the boxing gym to Robinson.

"Link, what do you think of this place?"

Coach West asked, pointing to the clean and tidy boxing gym. Originally, the boxing gym was quite messy. Last night, he asked everyone in the boxing gym plus four hourly workers to stay up late and clean it up, so that the boxing gym didn't look so bad.

"Very nice, very formal."

Link nodded in affirmation.

Coach West laughed and said, "Link, as long as you like it here, practicing boxing at home is not as good as practicing in a boxing gym. There are training equipment and sparring partners here. Join the West Boxing Gym and I will do my best." How about we cooperate with you and provide you with the best training venue and environment, as well as logistical services?”

Seeing his hesitation, West added, "Before you have a professional boxing match, all boxing gym services are free. After you have a professional boxing match, the coaching team only charges 5% of your bonus."

Link thought for a moment.

The conditions provided by Coach West are also considered excellent.

According to the rules of the boxing world, after a boxer enters the professional boxing ring, the coaching team can receive 1%-15% of the boxer's match bonus. The greater the contribution of the coaching team, the more it will receive.

And coaches also play a vital role in a boxer's development.

In addition to training boxers on a daily basis, coaches develop training plans for boxers, find ways to make up for the boxers' shortcomings, and improve the boxers' boxing skills.

In a boxing match, the coaching team also needs to develop a suitable game plan for the boxer. At critical moments, the coach can also help the boxer throw a white towel to save the boxer's life.

A good boxing coach can make a boxer.

For example, Tyson's coach Cus D'Amato, many people believe that Cus trained Tyson. If Cus had not died in 1985, Tyson's peak period would have been extended beyond 2000.

And Holyfield’s coach Lou Dewar.

Lou Duva is one of the founders of the Boxing Hall of Fame and the boss of the major event promotion company. He has brought out 19 boxing champions including Evander Holyfield and Whittaker.

Compared to these famous coaches, West Korian's performance was much inferior, but Link didn't care.

His strength and speed are steadily improving in training and will become stronger in the future. He doesn't need to worry too much about the competition. What he needs now is a skilled logistics team and a guide to guide him into the boxing ring.

West Corian has been in the boxing ring for more than 30 years, and he should be relatively proficient in his business. Even if he is a little worse, it doesn't matter. There will be time for replacement in the future.

"Coach West, it's a pleasure to work with you."

Link said as he stretched out his hand.

"Haha, Link, happy cooperation."

Coach West shook his hand vigorously and shouted at the boxing ring and training area, "Everyone stop, let me introduce you, this is Mr. Link Baker, a new member of our boxing gym, his boxing skills are very good, last night at the Red Glove Bar, he KO Mario with one punch."

"Wow!"

"Really?"

There was a cry of surprise at the scene, everyone looked at Link in surprise, and then looked at Mario with strange eyes, asking him if it was true? Really can't even take a punch, so weak?

Mario's face turned red with embarrassment, he wanted to hide the news, but he didn't expect West to reveal it in public, not leaving him any face, too embarrassing.

He glared at West in shame and anger, then looked at Link, and shouted with a turn of his eyes: "Don't laugh at me, Link is very powerful, a heavy hitter. West said that none of us can take Link's punch, and that Link will become a boxing champion in the future. Do you know that Link doesn't have to pay a cent for food and clothing for training here, and West is going to pay for his training."

Everyone looked at Link with displeasure, and no one liked an outlier in their group.

"Mario, don't talk nonsense here."

Coach West scolded.

"No, I'm not talking nonsense, West, that's what you said to me."

Mario crossed his arms and turned his face away with disdain.

Link smiled lightly, picked up a pair of boxing gloves and said, "Mario, we are boxers. It's useless to talk loudly. The real skill is to be able to fight. Otherwise, let's have another match. I hope you don't fall down so quickly this time."

"Okay, Link, today I will let you see what absolute defense is."

Mario waved his thick arms and roared excitedly.

Bang!

Thirty seconds later, Mario's face hit the boxing ring heavily.

This time he fought very carefully. From the beginning of the game, he used his arms to protect his head and stared at Link's fists. As long as Link's shoulders moved, he would concentrate on defense.

But unfortunately, his defense was still not rigorous enough. Link only threw a set of combination punches, first hitting Mario's ribs, Mario was forced to move his center of gravity downward, the second punch hit the left side of his jaw, Mario's center of gravity shifted, and the third punch knocked him to the ground directly.

Mario lay on the boxing ring, rolling his eyes. Less than 12 hours later, he enjoyed the feeling of dizziness again.

It felt terrible.

Fortunately, Link saved his strength this time and didn't hurt him too much. He lay on the ground for a few seconds, glared at Link, and walked off the ring in a huff.

West laughed and said to the four adult boxers around him: "You should also go up and practice with Link to see how powerful high-level boxers are."

The four adult boxers lined up to practice with Link. Because it was a confrontational practice, he didn't use heavy hands. He practiced with each person for five or six rounds. With his skilled techniques and physical strength, he shook the four people so hard that they were out of breath and had to admit defeat.

"Link, you bastard, why do you have to fight them for four or five rounds, but only one round with me? Are you worried that if you fight for too long, you will not have enough physical strength and I will defeat you?"

Mario sat in the audience and shouted with a water bottle.

Link was a little helpless. This guy had been KO'd twice, so why did he still want to get back at him verbally? He could only perfunctorily say, "Yes, you have great endurance, and I need to fight you quickly to defeat you."

"Haha, I knew it, Link, next time I will fight you for twelve rounds."

Mario waved his fist and shouted excitedly.

Link smiled. Although this guy looked fierce, he was still quite cute in his bones.