Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion

But because Link had no weak points regarding punch weight, speed, stamina, skill, reactive capability, tactics, and so on.

Everyone discussed many times, and the ultimate conclusion was to engage in close-quarters combat.

Because Link had not encountered tough opponents nor undergone the trial of underground boxing competitions, his style was relatively gentle and refined, lacking a sense of ruthlessness and the flavor of iron-blooded combat.

So the best method was to use the most ferocious and barbaric fighting style to disrupt Link's rhythm, affecting his mental state during the match.

In the fight, there was no need to abide by the rules, nor worry about making mistakes; as long as it led to defeating him, all means were permissible.

"Very tough!"

Hoyle shook his head and said, "In boxing matches, the tactic of close combat is mainly used against boxers of equal strength, to secure some chance for victory, but for this match, Beirut, though exceptional in punch weight and resistance to hits, is clearly inferior to Link in other aspects. Engaging in close-quarters combat with Link, he is simply not qualified."

"Don't believe me? Just wait and see, Beirut will not lose the match easily."

Eddie Hearn declared, waving his fist.

Bang!

While they spoke, Beirut on the stage, while using a clinch to restrain Link, suddenly head-butted Link's nose bridge against the rules. Link, unprepared, was hit on the chin while trying to dodge and a noticeable cut appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Link, in return, threw a sneaky punch at Beirut's left rib, and Beirut groaned, clutching his arms tightly around him.

"Wow!"

A surge of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

The audience cheered loudly, even though the exchanges of punches between the two had been lively thus far.

But for an audience from Hong Kong Island accustomed to action movies, they preferred a more thrilling hand-to-hand combat.

Seeing Beirut employ foul tactics in the match, even managing to cut Link's mouth - a sight seldom seen as Link was known for being hard to injure, nicknamed "Impenetrable Gold Link" - was too exciting.

Link's detractors in the crowd began to shout, "Go, Beirut, our divine sister is with us," "Down with Link, long live the Girl Generation," suddenly heating up the atmosphere at the venue.

"Break!"

The ring referee intervened to separate the two, issuing a severe warning to Beirut.

In boxing, using illegal tactics is a taboo, punishable according to the severity of the foul action and the opponent's injury.

Like Tyson biting Holyfield's ear in '95, even drawing blood, was a major offense, resulting directly in a loss.

Holyfield also employed illegal tactics multiple times in matches, like the commonly seen headbutt, using his head to keep hitting Tyson's eyebrow during clinches, or grazing Tyson's face with his head during subsequent clinches to enlarge the cuts.

Since Holyfield's moves were more covert, the referee didn't stop the fight, forcing Tyson into an act of desperation, biting outright.

Holyfield wasn't new to using headbutts in boxing; in his '02 fight against "Rock" Hashim Rahman, he even caused a swelling the size of an apple on Hashim's forehead, ultimately winning the match.

Because Holyfield is bald and frequently used headbutts in matches, boxing fans jokingly claimed he practiced "Iron Head Skill" and called him "Shaolin Monk."

This time, Beirut too used foul tactics against him in the match. His moves being more obvious, the referee issued him a severe warning.

A severe warning is equivalent to one knockdown. Two to three more such warnings, and the referee has the right to declare a loss.

A headbutt woke Link up. In previous matches, he had behaved more civilly with his opponents, at most resorting to verbal attacks and rarely using illegal tactics.

Over time, this led to a serious drop in his vigilance, almost forgetting the blood and violence he had experienced in the underground boxing scene.

With the headbutt as a reminder, he remembered he was now the most popular and influential person in the boxing world, many aiming to climb the ranks by defeating him, making him the target of many adversaries in the ring.

If he became too relaxed and forgot the darker aspects of boxing, he might inadvertently become a stepping-stone for others.

So, to advance further in boxing, he would have to remain fully alert in future matches, never letting his guard down and not giving opponents the chance to exploit any weakness.

Link clenched his fists, quietly watching Beirut on the opposite side.

When Beirut looked up and met his deep eyes, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

"Boxing!"

The referee moved to the center and waved his hand, announcing the start of the match once again.