In the ring, the two fighters finally faced off. Zack didn't rush into an all-out attack right away. Boxing, in a way, was a bit like dating—when two people first meet, they need a moment to get to know each other...
Damn it, wrong metaphor... ahem. Zack began with probing attacks, while Jason Luo watched his opponent's hooks closely, waiting for the right chance to counter.
That feeling-out phase didn't last long. Zack quickly realized Jason Luo's defense was disciplined and tight, leaving few gaps to exploit. The "The Mustang" soon dropped his polite act and switched to full aggression, stepping in with a sharp lead hook to launch his offense.
Jason had expected Zack to go all-in during the first two rounds and was mentally prepared. Still, the sheer weight behind Zack's punches caught him off guard. What heavy blows!
Zack didn't throw many punches, but each one came fast, hard, and with purpose. His jabs drove through the smallest gaps in Jason's guard, and when he swung a hook, if Jason dodged backward, it was fine—but if he blocked, Zack would immediately follow with a rear hook, forming a deadly left-right combination.
His sense of distance was excellent, too. Every time Jason countered, Zack would subtly pull back—close enough for Jason's punches to nearly touch him, yet just out of reach...
A true master!
You can tell an expert from a single move.
Zack's reputation was no exaggeration. Under pressure, Jason began to move more, using his footwork to absorb the attack and ease the tension.
Seeing Jason give up his static guard, Zack smiled faintly and followed him, steady and patient.
This time, Jason switched to a technical style while retreating, throwing quick jabs to control distance. But Zack handled it smoothly. Each time Jason threw a punch, Zack halted his advance, leaning forward to feint and bait Jason into striking.
Jason didn't fall for it. He ignored Zack's upper-body movements and focused on his legs.
Sure enough, Zack's playful grin hid real danger. In an instant, his expression hardened—he feinted twice, then darted forward, exploding with a powerful rear punch aimed at Jason's ribs.
Luckily, Jason's focus paid off. The moment Zack stepped in, Jason dodged sideways. But though the first punch missed, Zack unleashed a storm of follow-up strikes, clearly determined to overwhelm him.
Seeing Zack ramp up the pressure, Jason knew he couldn't just turtle up and defend. He quickly changed tactics, circling to the side and striking back, trying to disrupt Zack's rhythm and regain control of the tempo...
At ringside, Raul grew tense. It had been a while since he last saw Jason fight, and he was nervous. "How's it looking?" he asked Coach Brown anxiously.
Coach Brown kept his eyes on the ring. "Hard to say. Zack's no pushover—strong offense, solid defense, and sharp instincts. But Jason's hanging in there. If he can weather the first two rounds, things will get much easier."
In the ring, Zack's offense was slowed by Jason's constant lateral movement. Frustrated, Zack began cutting off the ring with alternating hooks, closing the distance to force Jason into close combat.
It was the right call. Up close, Jason couldn't sidestep as freely. But engaging in close-range brawling this early went against his original strategy.
So as soon as Zack pressed in, Jason burst out with a powerful flurry, then quickly pulled back to reset the distance.
After weeks of special training, Jason's explosiveness had improved drastically—his punches now came faster and heavier. That sharp counter made Zack take him seriously, forcing the veteran to slow his attacks and look for new openings.
By now, both fighters had traded multiple shifts in rhythm and positioning. Jason seemed slightly on the defensive overall, but he hadn't fallen far behind on points—his defense was holding up well.
Still, neither man was satisfied. Zack hadn't expected a newcomer like Jason to adapt so quickly or to be this strong. That last counter had real bite to it. Finishing this kid in two rounds wasn't going to be easy after all.
Jason, on the other hand, felt the mounting strain. Zack's methodical approach was suffocating—steady, patient, and dangerous with every punch. Worse, he was crafty, and Jason couldn't read his next move. Even though he was still holding firm, he knew this kind of opponent could turn things around at any moment...
Realizing Jason's heightened awareness made it hard to close the gap, Zack slowed the tempo again, switching to a positional battle with probing jabs.
But in this setup, Jason had a slight reach advantage. As both traded jabs, Jason managed to edge out a few more points. Still, both knew those jabs meant little for two offensive fighters like them—they were just setups, waiting for a real opening.
Then Zack moved again. He stepped in with a lead hook, his rear hand ready to follow. Jason ducked low and lunged forward, aiming a diagonal hook toward Zack's midsection...
Zack's lead hook missed—but his rear punch fired instantly. Their heavy hooks collided in midair!
Both men had thrown with full power!
A loud "BOOM!" echoed through the arena.
Both stumbled back—Zack regained his stance after two steps, Jason after three or four. They froze for a moment, surprised.
The impact had been stronger than either expected. Zack's face darkened—Jason's rear punch carried serious power, enough to threaten him. He immediately tightened his guard and became more cautious.
Jason, meanwhile, had known Zack was a heavy hitter—but not this heavy. A trace of worry flashed through his mind. The last thing he wanted was to be knocked down too early. If the Unyielding Body activated now, he'd have no retreat left—only the option to fight recklessly.
The crowd erupted at the sight of their punches colliding—a rare moment even among seasoned boxing fans. And since both fighters seemed evenly matched in power, anticipation filled the air.
"Whoa! That kid's got real skill! His offense and defense are solid—he's holding his own!"
"Yeah, Zack's got a slight edge, but not by much. This is getting interesting."
The local fans were even more excited. "Not bad! Pretty evenly matched, huh? Haha, let's go, Jason Luo!"
"Go, Jason! Knock him down! Make San Francisco your ring tonight!"
The cheers from below only infuriated Zack in the ring. How dare they!
So what if the kid's got some skill? Did they think the name "The Mustang" meant nothing?
This time, Zack decided to go all out. But just as he lunged forward, the bell rang, signaling the end of the first round.