r18novel Page 199
Page 199
Mike nodded, packed his things, and left the suite.
The moment the door closed, Victor walked to the punching bag in the corner of the room and began to strike it, each punch imbued with rage.
Boxing has never been just boxing; it's a political game, and now he has to abide by the rules set by those old guys in suits.
Shortly after, Victor made a phone call.
"I called for only one purpose: I need to know if my $150,000 has made a difference."
“We are following up, but the person’s disappearance is too bizarre, and we have no clue.”
“You said in the newspapers that anything can be done with money, but now I’ve paid $150,000 in cash with random numbers, and you’ve wasted three months of my life.”
"We should be able to find it within three months at most."
"Don't break your promise."
Viktor hung up the phone, finally allowing himself to show his disappointment.
After pouring himself a glass of red wine, Victor dialed another phone number:
"Frankie, what do I do if someone takes my money but is just slacking off?"
“Victor, don’t worry, I will give them a reason they can’t refuse.”
"Then I'll leave it to you."
"Don't worry, if it's confirmed that they really swallowed your money, I'll give them a one-way ticket to the bottom of Lake Michigan and then hire the most professional people to do it."
·······
At 2:50 p.m., the conference hall of the Atlantic City Plaza Hotel was already packed with reporters.
The flashbulbs kept going off, and the air was filled with anticipation and curiosity.
The news that the WBA had suddenly rejected the match between Viktor and Traudl had already spread, and the media were eager to know what would happen next.
Viktor, dressed in a custom-made dark gray suit, entered the conference room with a professional smile on his face.
He appeared calm and composed, as if the morning's setbacks had never occurred.
Frankie followed closely behind, occasionally nodding to familiar reporters.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming."
Frankie stepped to the microphone, his voice booming, "As you all know, today's schedule has been adjusted. But we are pleased to announce that Victor Lee's next opponent will be—"
The meeting room door suddenly opened, and a group of tall men walked in.
Leading the group was Vitaly Klitschko, who was nearly two meters tall, blond, blue-eyed, and had shoulders so broad that he could barely fit into a standard-sized suit.
Standing beside him was his younger brother, Vladimir Klitschko, who was equally tall and handsome.
The appearance of the Klitschko brothers caused a stir, with camera shutters clicking incessantly.
Viktor noticed that Vitaly's steps were steady and his eyes were calm, showing no signs of the nervousness of a newly promoted professional player.
This Ukrainian was born for the spotlight.
"—Vitali Klitschko!"
Frankie finished the introductions, and Victor shook hands with Vitaly as he approached.
Little Klitschko also went up to greet Viktor.
When the two stood together, the height difference was obvious—Victor was 186 cm tall, which was considered below average among heavyweight fighters, but Vitaly was a full five inches taller than him, yet weighed 160 pounds less.
"Looking forward to the match against you."
Viktor spoke in a professional tone, subtly increasing the pressure when shaking hands with Vitaly.
Vitali Klitschko's grip was equally strong, but he wore a genuine smile: "It's my honor. I've always admired your style, Viktor."
The signing ceremony officially began.
The WBA representative spoke first, explaining the decision to play Traudl and emphasizing that the alternative match was equally exciting.
Then the two boxers each gave a speech.
Viktor's statement was brief and powerful: "The match date has changed, the opponent has changed, but the goal remains the same—victory. On October 20th, I will face the challenge of Vitali Klitschko."
Vitaly's English had a heavy accent, but it was fluent and confident; he was indeed an educated PhD.
“Thank you for this opportunity. Viktor Lee is one of the best heavyweight boxers in the world, but I will show the world the power of Ukrainian boxing.”
Finally, both teams signed the contract.
The flash captured the moment when Victor and Vitaly shook hands—the first official clash between the current king and the future legend.
After the ceremony, the two boxers posed for photos side by side with the media.
During a brief pause in the camera work, Vitaly leaned to Viktor and whispered:
"I know this isn't the game you wanted."
Victor raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"
"IBF champion Traudl has opted out of the fight."
Vitaly's voice was only audible to the two of them: "His team pressured the WBA to force a rematch with Johnson because Johnson's style suits him better. They're afraid of you."
Viktor remained silent for a moment.
This explains many things.
Traud is known for his strength and is good at dealing with skillful opponents, but he struggles against Viktor's much stronger strength.
Choosing to resume the season against his old rival Johnson is clearly a safer option.
Why are you telling me this?
Vitali Klitschko smiled: "Because I want to beat the best of you, not a disappointed and frustrated you. On October 20th, we will both prove something."
Oh, Vitali Klitschko seems very confident.
After the photo session, the two shook hands again, this time with a lighter grip from Viktor.
See you in October.
“Look forward to that day.”
That evening, Victor met with legendary boxing analyst Lou Solomon in the hotel's private restaurant.
The 55-year-old man had a full head of silver hair, but his eyes were still as sharp as ever.
He was Viktor's personal consultant and one of the most respected strategists in the boxing world.
"Vitali Klitschko."
Solomon took a sip of red wine, put down his glass, and said, "An interesting choice."
Have you seen his video?
Victor used chopsticks to put the steak into his mouth.
“I’ve watched them all. The ones from the Olympics, the sixteen matches he played after turning professional, and even some amateur matches. His style is very aggressive.”
Solomon took a notebook out of his briefcase. “First of all, his physical attributes are amazing. He’s six feet seven inches tall, has an eighty-inch wingspan, and usually weighs around 245 pounds. But what’s most impressive is his athleticism—for someone of that size, his footwork is remarkably agile.”
Victor nodded: "I noticed that. His defense is also very solid, always maintaining a high guard position."
"That's right. This shows that his ability to withstand blows must be excellent, as Eastern European boxers generally emphasize traditional training."
Solomon turned the page. "But he lacks professional experience. His sixteen professional fights have all been against second-rate opponents. He has never encountered a heavy hitter of your caliber, let alone an intercontinental champion. His ability to withstand blows has not yet been truly tested."
"He was rarely knocked down at the Olympics."
“Amateur boxing and professional boxing are two different things, and wearing protective gear and not wearing protective gear are also two different things.”
Solomon shook his head. “Smaller gloves, longer rounds, and heavier punches. And I’ve noticed a habit of his – when his opponent attacks his body, he’ll lean back slightly, exposing his chin.”
Victor put down his knife and fork and leaned forward: "Tell me more about it."
Solomon took a videotape out of his bag and played a video in the room: "Look here, third round, the opponent feinted a body attack and then went straight for the head. Vitaly's upper body leaned back about fifteen degrees. Although he quickly returned to his position, it was enough to leave a momentary opening."
Viktor watched the video repeatedly.
Solomon pointed out such subtle details that they would be impossible to notice without a keen eye.
"We need to develop targeted physical attack strategies."
"Body first, then head," Viktor said.
Solomon nodded in satisfaction: “That’s right. But remember, Vitaly isn’t the only one studying the opponent. Klitschko’s team is known for its meticulous tactics, and they’re definitely looking for your weaknesses as well.”
"My left hook defense."
Viktor said without hesitation, "I've taken a lot of left hooks in previous fights, and I'll be at a disadvantage if I face a left-handed opponent."
"Furthermore, you sometimes rely too much on your right punch and don't use continuous combinations of punches enough."
Solomon added, "These all need to be reinforced in training. We have five weeks, which should be enough."
······
That night, Victor entered the Atlantic City president's office, where he listened to Ivana and her team's arrangements and plans for the Windy City Plaza Hotel.
Victor then left and went to another hotel.
Then Ivana accurately located Viktor and spent the night replenishing his supplies and reporting back.
Chapter 168 Training - Nisha Lisa
Ivana had already left early the next morning.
After all, we need to be mindful of the potential impact.
The second day consisted of uninteresting endorsement activities and various autograph sessions.
After dinner, Victor returned to his suite and began watching video recordings of Vitaly's matches.
He saw everything Solomon had pointed out—those subtle habits, the untested resilience, and the offensive desire hidden beneath a calm exterior.
Viktor is very energetic and has difficulty falling asleep; he needs assistance.
At 2 a.m., Viktor was still sitting in front of the television, pausing, rewinding, and taking notes.