boyutpedia Page 208
Page 208
He leaned closer to the camera, his wide eyes filled with a terrifying murderous intent, and said, word by word:
"I will kill you in that ring. I swear! I will make you pay the heaviest price for your arrogance and contempt today! December 8th, Atlantic City, either you successfully defend your title, or I'll carry you out! Remember my words!"
This bloody threat spread rapidly through the media, newspapers, and the internet, immediately adding fuel to the already volatile December battle.
Viktor's actions not only failed to quell the situation, but also thoroughly enraged a powerful champion, instantly escalating what might have been a more commercial competition into a life-or-death personal feud.
As a senior reporter for Ring Illustrated, Mark Sloan is at the center of this storm.
His notebook was filled with detailed notes of every aspect of the press conference, every expression, and every fiery remark.
In his column, he wrote:
"Tonight, at the Plaza Hotel in Atlantic City, we are witnessing not only a declaration of victory, but also a meticulously planned yet unexpected drama."
“Victor Lee, the new king, displayed his ambition from the very beginning of his coronation, continuing his madness and belligerence. Perhaps it is the dangerous tendency of overconfidence.”
"His signing of Libarta should have been a rational move to consolidate his throne. Libarta has a tough style and good market appeal. It was a safe and interesting title defense. Even now, people would be willing to pay real money to watch the game."
"However, the appearance of Klitschko, like a comet hurtling in, disrupted all plans and also illuminated Viktor's deepest desire for a greater adventure."
"But the danger is that Victor seems to have completely underestimated José Libarta's pride and the extent to which he was provoked. By casually (at least in Libarta's eyes) putting another potential match in the spotlight, he was tantamount to showing off the pelt of another prey in front of the den of a beast."
"Libarta's angry declaration was not just empty talk during the pre-match hype; the humiliation and murderous intent it contained were real and dangerous."
"Now, all the pressure is on Viktor. He not only has to face a thoroughly enraged Libarta on December 8th, who is determined to 'kill,' but he also has to deal with the psychological shadow of his upcoming duel with the formidable future opponent, Klitschko."
"His team is probably in a real bind right now, having to appease the furious Libarta camp (to ensure the match goes smoothly), make initial contact with Klitschko's team, and deal with the swarm of media questioning Viktor's focus."
"On the other hand, by doing this, Klitschko successfully 'jumped the queue' for his potential match against Viktor to the forefront of the world, greatly increasing his fame and bargaining power."
"Regardless of the outcome on December 8, he has already become one of the biggest winners - if Victor wins, he will face a champion who may be tired or damaged; if Libarta wins an upset, he will also have the opportunity to face a highly anticipated match against the new champion."
"And poor Libarta, who went from being the protagonist of a glorious boxing championship challenger, instantly became the background and stepping stone of someone else's story."
"This kind of humiliation is a fatal catalyst for a fighter of his caliber. Now, for Libarta, the match on December 8th is no longer just about the gold belt, but also about dignity and revenge."
“Victor Ry has set himself up in an extremely dangerous game. One wrong move and he loses everything. His throne has never looked so dazzling, yet so precarious.”
·······
In the press conference room at Madison Square Garden in New York, flashes of light, like lightning in a storm, illuminated the entire venue wave after wave.
WBO heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has just completed his first title defense that shocked the world – knocking out his challenger in just one minute and easily pocketing $40 million.
"Forty million per minute—that breaks the record for boxing revenue per unit of time. What are your thoughts on that?"
Tyson leaned back lazily in his leather chair, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips: "Time is money, my friends. I've shown the world the ultimate efficiency."
Laughter and applause erupted from the audience.
Tyson certainly possessed captivating qualities—strength and courage, a polite face, and an confidence that seemed born to be in the spotlight.
The media loves him because he always makes headlines;
Boxing fans love him because he never makes their matches boring.
"There are rumors that you are in talks for a unification bout with WBA champion Victor Lee. Is that true?"
Tyson's smile became even more meaningful: "Victor? That businessman who's busy running restaurants? I heard he fights six title defenses a year, what a hardworking little bee."
He paused deliberately, waiting for the laughter to erupt again from the audience. "Honestly, I respect Viktor, but he seems better at counting dollars than throwing punches. If I need an accountant, I'll go to him; if it's boxing, I think the audience knows who to watch."
Another burst of laughter and the sound of camera shutters filled the venue.
Tang Jin nodded in satisfaction; everything was going according to their plan.
······
Victor was discussing with Ivana how to acquire TLP's assets when the reporters rushed up to him.
“Victor, Tyson said yesterday that you’re more like an accountant than a boxer. What’s your response to that?”
One reporter asked impatiently.
Just as Lowell was about to interrupt the question, Victor gently raised his hand to stop him.
The audience fell silent instantly, everyone eagerly awaiting his answer.
"Tyson made forty million in one minute, that's amazing."
Viktor said calmly, without any emotional fluctuation in his voice, "I spent thirty-six minutes, six fights, and earned 180 million. Mathematics has never been the focus of boxing, but if you ask me, I would rather provide the audience with thirty-six minutes of exciting fights than a minute of fireworks."
A few chuckles rang out from the audience, but there was more applause expressing respect.
Victor continued, "Boxing is not a circus; it is a culmination of skill, endurance, and intelligence. I respect Tyson's talent, but if he wants a unification fight, my ring is always open."
After the press conference, Lowell told Victor backstage, "You shouldn't have responded to him; that gave them the attention they wanted."
Viktor casually unbuttoned his suit sleeve, revealing his muscular arms: "Silence can sometimes be mistaken for weakness, Hadda. Tyson and his team are trying to build a narrative—he's the star, and I'm just a supporting character. It's time to remind everyone why I'm the WBA champion."
Inside the editorial office of "The Ring" magazine, editor-in-chief Robert clapped his hands, signaling the busy editors to temporarily stop working.
"Alright everyone, what's the hottest topic in the boxing world right now?"
Robert asked the question he already knew the answer to.
"The rivalry between Tyson and Viktor Aguilera,"
Veteran reporter Sarah answered without looking up, "Tyson earns 40 million a minute, while Viktor raked in 180 million in six title defenses in a year. The media is comparing these two extremes."
Robert nodded: "I want an in-depth report, not just a comparison of numbers. I want to explore who is driving this 'twin stars' narrative, why now, and what it means for boxing. Sarah, you're in charge of this one."
Sarah finally looked up: "Are you going to add fuel to the fire?"
"Come on,"
Robert laughed, "Tyson's team doesn't provoke without reason. I've heard that King of the Arena Promotions is behind this unification fight, which could be the biggest boxing event in recent years."
"So all of this was just to create hype?"
The young editor, Mike, asked.
"It always has been,"
Robert replied, “Boxing is not just a sport, it’s business. Two champions with very different styles, two extreme contrasts—efficiency vs. endurance, flashiness vs. pragmatism, West Coast vs. Great Lakes. This is the promoter’s dream narrative.”
Sarah has already started packing her bag: "I'm going to spend a week each in New York and Chicago to observe these two 'twin stars' up close."
"Be careful, Chicago is dangerous."
Chapter 175 Taking advantage of a crisis is an American freedom
Just as this grand drama was unfolding in the boxing world, another world was shrouded in gloom and despair.
On October 23, 1987, the shockwaves of the global stock market crash known as "Black Monday" were far from subsiding.
Even at various boxing-related parties, when business tycoons, boxing promoters, and sponsors in suits get together, the conversation, aside from the dramatic scene just now, always unconsciously veers towards that depressing topic.
"My God, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 22% in one day, and my assets shrank by two-thirds!"
"Global markets are plummeting, with London, Hong Kong, Sydney... none spared."
"One country remains safe and sound."
"Sorry, we can't defeat their army."
"I've heard that many people who over-leveraged have gone completely bankrupt, and some have even jumped off buildings."
"At this time, can ticket sales and pay-per-view still be as good as expected for such an expensive boxing match?"
"There's no doubt that the poorer people are, the more prosperous gambling and boxing become. Bloodshed and fighting, sudden wealth and luck will drive them even crazier!"
Anxiety was spreading.
Originally, the Viktor vs. Libarta championship fight was highly anticipated, with expectations that it would generate huge amounts of pay-TV and ticket revenue.
However, after "Black Monday," the willingness and ability of ordinary people to consume will undoubtedly be severely impacted.
Would people still be willing to spend tens of dollars to watch a boxing match?
Can those expensive stadium seats and VIP boxes still be easily bought by corporations and bigwigs?
Promoter Frankie privately complained to his assistant, "That Viktor kid always knows how to pick his moments to cause trouble! He promised Klitschko, which sounded pretty impressive..."
But if the December games suffer from poor ticket sales due to the bad economy, all of our incomes will be drastically reduced! Where will we get the money to organize even bigger games next year then?
Some people even started muttering to themselves:
Is Viktor's eagerness to agree to another major battle also related to the economic environment?
Perhaps he and his team have also sensed the crisis and are hoping to secure more and more lucrative competition contracts as soon as possible to prevent the market from shrinking further in the future?
Boxing has never been just a sport, but also a business, heavily influenced by the ups and downs of the macroeconomy.
The economic downturn has cast an uncertain shadow over the upcoming heated boxing match.
Can the flames of glory, dignity, and revenge dispel the chill brought by the economic recession?
All of this has become an unknown.
These parties are actually a result of many people deliberately flattering others, hoping to bring in those who control cash and assets so that they can make up for their losses.
But in the days that followed, some good news drove the boxing media into a frenzy.
Every statement made by Viktor, Libarta, and Klitschko, and every public training clip, has been amplified and interpreted by the media.
Viktor attempted to clarify, stating that he had great respect for Libarta, accepted Klitschko's challenge out of admiration for the challenger's courage, and emphasized that he was 12% focused on the December match.
But these words sounded weak and powerless to Libarta and his supporters.
Libarta has almost universally refused rational interviews, and every time he speaks, it's with harsh words:
"I just want the fight day to come quickly! I can't wait to step into the ring!"
His training videos became more ferocious, and the muffled thuds of hitting the sandbags seemed to carry a real killing intent.
This fits the stereotype of Cubans, who have always fought their way to power.
Klitschko, meanwhile, kept making pronouncements from afar, both provoking Viktor and occasionally mocking Libarta, ensuring he remained in the headlines.
The promotion company was extremely busy. On the one hand, it had to do its best to promote the December competition and take advantage of the sudden surge in attention. On the other hand, it had to carefully balance the relationship between the three parties to prevent any party from being too impulsive and making a foolish mistake like breaking the contract.
Economic pressures have also made them more careful with their marketing investments.
The night of December 8, 1987, at the Atlantic City Plaza Hotel was destined to be a focal point.