NOVEL WEB Chapter 174 Fist Weight Test
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Thump! Thump! Thump!
In the boxing training facility, Link stood in front of the punch power measurement machine and threw ten powerful punches at the target, his expression gradually growing darker.
Even though his new song had reached number one on the Billboard Rap Chart, his mood was not particularly good.
Just now, he had tested his punch power and average punch power for ten punches with the punch power measurement machine.
The maximum for his right punch was 1610 pounds, and for his left punch, it was 1440 pounds.
Before his fight with Tyson last year, he had secluded himself in training for more than two months, raising his right punch power to 1600 pounds and his left punch power to a maximum of 1420 pounds.
But in the past six months or so, his maximum punch power for both fists had only increased by a bit over 10 pounds.
The average punch power for both fists had also only increased by about ten pounds.
The slowdown in increased punch power meant he had become complacent.
In the past half-year, he had been busy recording music, releasing albums, shooting commercials, filming movies, and had spent much less time on training.
Based on the growth rate of punch power from June to December the previous year, if he could have spent more time on training in the first half of the year, his right punch power could have increased to above 1660 pounds.
What a pity!
"What's wrong?"
A face full of horizontal flesh suddenly peeked out from beside the machine, glancing at the screen.
"1580 pounds?!"
"How is that possible?!!"
Mario yelled in shock, "Last year, when you tested in the gym, your maximum punch power was only 1480 pounds. It's only been a year, and your punch power has increased by 100 pounds? How is that possible?"
"Last year I hadn't gone through systematic boxing training and didn't know how to throw a punch properly, now I do, and that's why I'm stronger," Link calmly said.
"But, an increase of 100 pounds in a year, that's 1000 pounds in ten years. In another ten years, won't you become a superman?!" Mario said with envy and jealousy, staring with his small eyes.
Link shook his head, "This year, my punch power has only increased by ten pounds."
At this point, he suddenly thought of a problem. Maybe the slowing down of his punch power increase was not only due to less training time but also related to his natural physique?
Restricted by his own limits, was the improvement becoming slower and slower as he progressed, requiring more time?
After pondering, Link decided to train seriously for a period after the match before making any judgments.
"An increase of ten pounds in half a year? And you're still not satisfied?"
Stay tuned to empire
Mario looked at him frantically, teeth itching with envy.
He trained hard every day, yet his maximum punch power was only 1020 pounds; if he relaxed even slightly, it would slip below 1000 pounds.
For Link, to not only maintain his punch power while engaging in other activities but also to increase it by 10 pounds, was something many boxers dreamt of. Yet, he still seemed unsatisfied, which was infuriating.
"I'm naturally strong, so you don't need to be envious of me," Link said, shaking his head. He put on his boxing gloves and walked to the training area to lift barbells.
Mario waved his fist at Link's departing figure and moved to the punch power measurement machine, pulling out the punching target and taking a deep breath.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
After five consecutive punches, the maximum punch power was 990 pounds!
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"Ah!!"
Mario clenched his fists and bellowed in fury.
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"97... 98... 99... 100! Phew!"
In the weight training area, Link set down the 200-pound barbell and took a long breath.
In two hours, he had completed ten sets of strength training, including clean and jerks, bench presses, and weighted squats. His muscles swelled, his skin was streaked with sweat, and he felt as if his body was filled with immense power.
He liked this feeling of being physically full.
During his training, Franco and Simon came by to inform him that the compensation agreement for the championship fight had been signed. In addition to a basic appearance fee of 2 million, he would also get an additional 15% of the ticket revenue and 10% of the TV broadcast income.
The income from professional boxing matches mainly comes from three parts.
The first is the basic appearance fee, which the event organizers pay, and it varies with the boxer's influence and popularity.
The second part is the pay-per-view (PPV) revenue share from cable television broadcasts.
As per custom, the producers of the broadcast signal, namely HBO and SHOWTIME, both of which broadcast boxing matches, can get between 10-60% of the PPV share for each match.
Satellite broadcasters and signal distributors get 30%.
The participating boxers and their companies can get between 10-60%. The more famous the boxer, the higher the PPV share he can receive.
The third part is the peripheral income, which includes shares from ticket sales, casinos, hotels, airports, rental car companies, and advertising sponsorships, and also varies depending on the boxer's influence, with up to 50% being the highest.
Currently Link's fame in the United States is significant, but his drawing power in the boxing market is still not as strong as that of top boxers like Mayweather and Hoyle; thus, in the championship fight, he got the lowest share percentage.
To get a higher share percentage, he needs to win more fights and secure more Golden Belts.
"Link, the unification bout for the super middleweight title among the four major organizations is also under discussion; it's likely to take place within the year, so be prepared," Franco advised.
"How are the four major organizations planning to hold the fight?" Link asked.
Franco shook his head, smiling, "You disagree with 'Super Six,' and others disagree with 'Super 1+5.' The four organizations have stated that they won't interfere with the fights of the organization champions anymore. The upcoming fights will be negotiated by the various management companies.
We're communicating with WBC champion Carl Froch about a WBC/WBA unification bout. Andre Ward's management company is also talking to IBF champion Arthur Abraham. If the negotiations among the parties go smoothly, it's possible to hold the unification bout for the Golden Belts of the four major organizations within the year."
Link nodded, this arrangement aligned with his expectations; it would shorten the competition schedule and allow him to collect all four organization's Golden Belts sooner.
After seeing off Franco and Simon, he moved to an open area to practice jumping rope.
Jumping rope not only helps relax the muscles, making the legs more nimble but also improves the coordination between hands and feet. In boxing matches, this coordination is very important; when the footwork can keep up with the speed of boxing, punches become faster, more powerful, and the range of attack extends further.
If the footwork isn't nimble enough and lags behind the punching speed, the punches lose a lot of their impact, causing instability, and making it easy for the opponent to knock the boxer down.
After a week of secluded training, the WBA super middleweight title challenge began.
The fight took place at Madison Square Garden, with Link fighting against Andrea Rael.
Andrea Rael, 28 years old, 185 centimeters tall, with a reach of 190 centimeters, black, and physically well-built. He won a bronze medal in the middleweight category at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
After the Olympics, he turned professional. A former WBF super middleweight champion and the current WBA Intercontinental champion, his record is 28 fights, 27 wins, 1 loss, with 21 victories coming by way of knockout.
An explosive puncher.
Link had studied his opponent's fight videos; punch power A+, physical fitness A+, technique A-, speed A-, proficient in upper hook punches. He had knocked out opponents with upper hook punches in 16 matches and had caused jaw injuries leading to bleeding in three matches.
His style is similar to Morales's.