"Ding! Congratulations on defeating another formidable opponent in an official match. The Greedy Wolf Talent has automatically extracted attributes from your opponent: Strength +2, Stamina +2, Footwork +1, Recovery +2, Toughness +3, Jab Power +2, Cross Power +3, Willpower +1, Vitality +1. Keep up the good work and check your stats promptly!"
"Ding! Congratulations on earning the Intercontinental Champion title. The Honor System has been activated, awarding three Free Attribute Points. Keep striving forward."
The system's back-to-back notifications, the roaring cheers from the audience, and the wild celebration from his coach and Raul—this was the true taste of victory...
Like a hardworking farmer basking in the joy of harvest, Jason Luo's happiness washed away all the exhaustion of past struggles. Running his hand over the Gold Belt, he felt a surge of emotion!
The host allowed the shocking underdog a brief moment for reporters to take photos, but since this wasn't the main event, the staff soon began clearing the ring for the next match...
Back in the locker room, his phone was buzzing nonstop!
All congratulatory calls—news really did travel fast these days. His father, Dr. Miao, Tony, Kamman, Han Libo, Editor Meng... everyone was calling to celebrate.
After thanking them one by one, Jason immediately called Coach Pedro. The old coach told him that Sonny had watched the entire fight on his laptop—without missing a single second.
Over the phone, Sonny joked, "You scared us half to death! When you went down, I thought the Old Devil's heart wouldn't take it. But he just said he believed you'd get back up—and he was right. Guess he really knows you best."
Jason Luo's eyes grew moist. "Coach, I keep my word. I'll fight with everything I have to win that world championship for you. It's close now—so close. I'll visit in a few days, but please, stop worrying about me. Your health matters more than anything."
"Son, that doesn't matter anymore! To have trained a boxer like you in my later years—I already have no regrets! World Champion, Super Champion—those titles don't mean much to me. Remember this, Jason: boxing is a spirit. You're only at the beginning of your journey. Don't waste your talent. The road ahead will be tougher, but you must keep going."
"I know, Coach, I know. I won't get arrogant. I'm still fighting undercards right now, remember? I'll come visit soon and we'll talk properly."
"Ahem, that's good. And you might want to cheer up your girlfriend—I think she's been in a bad mood lately..."
"Oh... right... I'll give her a call."
He nearly forgot! After hanging up, Jason scratched his head. That lady was definitely waiting for him. But calling her now wasn't convenient—better to do it tonight...
A big victory called for celebration. Rod, on behalf of the company, hosted a lavish banquet at New York's most prestigious European restaurant, The Plaza Hotel.
"Jason, after tonight, you've officially stepped onto the world boxing stage. I've already spoken with The Ring magazine backstage. You'll likely appear on their upcoming power rankings—this will massively boost your commercial influence."
Jason had been wondering about something. "Mr. Rod, why does The Ring magazine have its own Gold Belt outside the four major organizations? I've never seen them host any matches."
Rod laughed. "Good question! That Gold Belt represents the true core of the sport. Now that you've secured the Intercontinental Championship and challenger's qualification, once you win the world title, you'll have two choices."
"One, enjoy your status—defend your title twice a year against lower-ranked challengers and live comfortably as champion."
"Two, go to war across the four major organizations, unify the Super Middleweight division, and become the Super Champion. Along the way, you'll grow your influence and market value. Once The Ring magazine acknowledges your dominance in this division, you'll qualify to challenge for their Gold Belt."
Jason finally understood. "So that Gold Belt carries that much weight!"
"Of course! The Ring magazine is the bible of the sport. Their rankings are the most authoritative."
Brown cut in. "Let me add something—there's actually a third path: moving up a weight class."
Rod slapped his forehead. "Right, right! I skipped that because I don't think Jason should be considering it just yet."
Jason was a Super Middleweight—moving up would mean entering the Light Heavyweight division, a land of pure power punchers. The thought alone was intimidating.
Brown smiled. "That's the situation, kid. So, what's your plan?"
Jason hesitated. "Coach, I'm not sure yet. Let's get the world title first."
"Fair enough. Now it's up to Mr. Rod's influence. Beating Siham in three rounds puts real pressure on David Morrell. I just hope he doesn't try to stall."
Rod remained confident. "Don't worry. The company's already spoken with the WBA. If he keeps refusing to fight, they may strip his title within two months."
"That's great news..."
After the big event, Coach Brown granted him a five-day break to recover—and to get his missing tooth replaced.
Back home, his father, Grace, and Tony threw another small celebration. Late that night, Jason finally had time to check his system. He seemed to hear it say the Honor System had been activated. What was that about?
System Binder: Jason Luo
Age: 19
Height: 184 cm
Reach: 187 cm
Weight: 79.6 kg
Occupation: Level 2 Professional Boxer
Honor: North American Intercontinental Champion (Basic Champion Intimidation Effect: +2% to all Attributes when facing lower-tier challengers)
Reputation: Widely Renowned
System Talents: (Greedy Wolf Power – Intermediate)
Absolute Evasion (Intermediate Rare Talent – Beginner)
Agile Physique (Intermediate Minor Talent)
Victory in Adversity (Intermediate Rare Talent – Intermediate)
Boxing Core Attributes:
Strength: 23
Stamina: 26
Boxing Technique: 22
Footwork: 23
Reaction: 20
Punch Speed: 24
Coordination: 22
Explosiveness: 18
Recovery: 20
Dodge & Anticipation: 18
Toughness: 32
Front-hand Punch Power: 23
Cross Power: 28
Willpower: 17
Vitality: 23
Free Attribute Points: 3
Professional Boxing Rating: A-Class
Huh? The Honor System even comes with this kind of bonus? That'll give me an edge in title defenses—I need to make good use of this.
Finally reaching A-Class meant he had officially entered the ranks of elite fighters. But even with his Toughness at 32, it still wasn't maxed out. What was the upper limit, anyway?
He'd gained 17 Attribute Points from Siham—an incredible reward. The only downside was the slower pace of fights. The next world title challenge could be nearly two months away. After getting used to a packed fight schedule, this break felt strange.
Oh well, better call Catherine before she hears the news from Coach Pedro—that would definitely cause trouble...
When Catherine heard about his victory, she was thrilled. "Finally showing some decency! So? Now that you're a big-time champion, are you ready to talk about our relationship?"
Jason quickly replied, "It's just the Intercontinental title—doesn't count yet. Don't worry, I promised Coach I'd visit you all in a few days."
"Fine. We'll talk then. I've been training hard in judo lately. Hmph, when you come, we'll see who's tougher."
"Alright, your turf, your rules. Fair enough?"
"Now that's better..."
After settling that fiery lady, Jason exhaled deeply. His next priority was fixing his tooth—no way could a young man like him walk around missing one.
Luckily, Dr. Miao had a skilled dentist friend and had already made an appointment. The only problem? The price was outrageous—one tooth cost more than a car! It made no sense at all...