Hopkins stood right there, shaking slightly and involuntarily. It was unbelievable that he hadn’t passed out the moment he took the punch. A professional doctor would definitely have suggested that he stay in a hospital for a few day under medical observation. But Hopkins continued to stand in the boxing ring.
Taylor’s situation was better, but not by much. Hopkins’s blow hadn’t knocked him down, but he was hurt. The tinnitus stimulated his nerves and made it hard for him to concentrate.
The referee took a look at the two and then decided to keep the match going. As an experienced referee, he had often seen two boxers return to the ring after hitting each other.
Taylor gave a tentative jab, and Hopkins ducked quickly. Hopkins was still nimble. It didn’t seem like he had just been knocked down.
But many boxing professionals shook their heads around the boxing ring. They knew that Hopkins was not the same as he had been before the fall.
“His dodge just now avoided Taylor’s jab quickly, but he moved far beyond Taylor’s range of attack, which was not necessary. That fall had a big influence on Hopkins.”
“Of course. Hopkins was hit in the jaw. Anyone else that Taylor hit like that would have passed out. But Hopkins stood up again.”
“It’s possible for Hopkins to lose this match now!”
“I think so!”
“This is heavyweight boxing. You will never win after you fall down and get back up. If you keep trying to win, your disadvantages will only increase.”
“Hopkins knows that clearly. I don’t know why he still insists on fighting. If he gets knocked down again, it will lead to a more serious injury. He’d better give up early.”
…
Taylor kept tempting and attacking aggressively in the boxing ring, controlling the match. It seemed that Hopkins was trying hard to keep up, and his second fall was coming soon.
I don’t want to lose! I want to be the greatest heavyweight boxing champion! This idea kept Hopkins standing in the boxing ring.
But his coach, standing beside the boxing ring, could not bear to watch.
In a heavyweight boxing match, falling down once meant falling down a second time later. A boxer could get up, but the match was already lost. Therefore, heavyweight boxing matches often saw one of the boxers falling down and continuing to lie on the ground, waiting for the referee to count to ten. The boxer knew that even if he could stand up, he wouldn’t have any chance to win. Standing up again would just cause more injuries.
“The Iron Professor!” the coach said to himself. That was Hopkins’s nickname.
Everyone knew that nickname, but few knew the true meaning of it. Hopkins was so smart that he was called “professor.” As for the word “iron,” many thought it was to describe his body. Hopkins had the best-proportioned body of all heavyweight boxers, like he was born to be fight in the ring. Long-time exercise had made his body strong like steel.
But the coach knew that “iron” did not describe Hopkins’s body, but his willpower, his perseverance.
You can fall, but your will never falls!
…
“He is still persevering in such a situation. A tough guy!” Ayres sighed suddenly.
Dai Li agreed. “Yes. The media said that he was the future ruler of heavyweight boxing. That was not an overstatement. His technique is already at the top of all heavyweight boxers. And he is also so persistent and dauntless! Hopkins is really a perfect athlete. But he met you and Taylor.”
“Taylor is a boxer whose advantages and shortcomings are equally obvious. But his advantages are so great. Taylor might be the only boxer of his kind in the history of boxing. Therefore, Taylor does not have remind you of anyone. He is the only one,” Ayres said. Then he pointed at Hopkins.
“But Hopkins is different. What he stands for is the future direction of boxing. A comprehensive balance of power, speed, attack, defense, and awareness. I think such a boxer, who once took part in the Olympic Games, will be a star of boxing. He is the future of boxing!”
“I can’t believe you speak so highly of Hopkins!” Dai Li was surprised.
“If I were twenty years younger, I would be eager to teach an athlete like Hopkins. He is really perfect… Um…” Suddenly Ayres stopped and then went on happily, “Even if he’s knocked down by his opponent, it doesn’t lessen his perfection!”
As Ayres spoke, Taylor knocked Hopkins down again. And this time, Hopkins could not get up again.
…
On the screen, the referee grabbed Taylor’s hand and raised it up to announce that Taylor was the winner.
In front of the TV, Highfield pressed the remote control to turn off the TV with a serious face.
“Taylor won!” said the man who was both Highfield’s elder brother and his agent. “Taylor’s physical strength is beyond my expectation. I thought he could only fight five or six rounds, but he finished it in the eighth round.
Highfield shook his head. “The match ended in the sixth round, the moment Taylor hit Hopkins in the jaw. Such a heavy blow from Taylor erased any possibility of continuing the match. Hopkins kept fighting in the next two rounds with nothing but his will.”
“Hopkins deserves his appearance fee. Two more rounds mean more commercial ads. That will make the organizers happy.” His brother picked up a piece of fruit from the table and bit into it, then said, “I think you will be the next in Taylor’s list of opponents. You are the holder of a WBA heavyweight golden belt. And Taylor was the heavyweight champion of the WBA for three years consecutively. And he is still holding a grudge about your last match. You must be careful.”
His brother’s mention of “your last match” made Highfield touch the ear that Taylor had bitten. And then Highfield said, “Taylor is in good condition recently, which can be inferred from his winning streak. And he just defeated Hopkins and took Hopkins’s WBO and IBF golden belts. He is having his day now. It would not be wise for me to fight him now. My match with him must happen in a suitable moment, either when he is not in good condition or when I am fully prepared.”
“So, what do you want?” asked his brother.
“There are 15 WBA golden belt challengers. Why do I have to accept Taylor’s challenge?” Highfield smiled cunningly. “Let’s have a fight with a weaker one first to fulfill this year’s obligation.”