Third, it might be certain US consortiums or the government.

Considering that he hasn't yet become a World Boxing Champion and is still a small fry in the boxing industry.

The possibility of the US government or consortiums targeting him is quite low.

As for competitors from top promotion companies, the likelihood is also minimal; mainly because his match earnings are less than 5 million US dollars. Ruining him is less worthwhile compared to ruining Mayweather or Pacquiao.

Moreover, in the boxing industry, nurturing a boxing star and then using that star to make money helps promote the sport.

From a macro perspective, such actions benefit the industry as a whole.

Among the remaining suspects, his next opponent Jermain Taylor and his management company are quite suspicious. Even Bernard Hopkins in the fight after that has some suspicion.

They might aim to disrupt his focus and mentality, preventing him from proper training and preparation, thereby weakening his strength.

Such tactics are common in the boxing ring, considered as off-the-ring competition. As long as handled properly, this won't be a major issue.

Top promotion companies are currently the most influential boxing management and marketing firms in the industry, with connections to numerous media outlets and excellent PR capabilities.

After these rumors emerged, the top promotion company not only filed lawsuits against several rumor-spreading media but also invited authoritative figures from professional boxing organizations to speak out.

They publicly denounced unjust competition in boxing and the unfounded creation of rumors to attack outstanding boxers. Such practices harm not only individual boxers but the entire boxing industry as well.

Because boxing is a sport for the strong.

If a powerful opponent emerges, instead of striving to defeat him in the ring, people resort to other means.

In the long run, the number of exceptional boxers in the industry will dwindle, and the matches will become less exciting.

Top promotion companies even invited several retired veteran boxers, like Joe Frazier, Tommy Morrison, and Riddick Bowe, to comment on Link's boxing techniques.

After watching Link's matches, these boxers all admired Link's superb boxing skills, declaring him the best among the younger generation of boxers.

Link's constant knockout victories in his past 13 matches were mainly attributed to his excellent technique, quick movement, seamless coordination, and exquisite combination punches—precise, stable, and ruthless.

If it weren't for his superior techniques, no matter how heavy his punches are, he wouldn't land them on his opponent or even keep up with their footwork.

So, Link's skill is genuinely outstanding, and his overall strength is undeniably high.

Initially, the top promotion company invited these veterans merely for casually praising Link. Unexpectedly, after watching his matches together, they gave him overwhelming endorsements, practically idolizing him.

So much so that some viewers felt their praise was exaggerated and unbelievable.

The top promotion company also consulted professionals responsible for urine tests in boxing competitions to refute rumors.

The professionals stated that current testing technologies for banned substances in the US are cutting-edge, making it impossible for athletes using illicit drugs to evade detection.

Additionally, they disclosed an insider secret: World Boxing Championship matches, being professional competitions, allow the use of certain stimulant drugs for enhancing the viewing experience.

These stimulants, however, are considered banned substances in Olympic competitions.

The implication was clear—boxing matches differ from the Olympics in how they define prohibited substances. So even if boxers use certain drugs, it isn't a major issue.

After some time, the negative rumors branding Link as a "Biochemical Warrior" faded away thanks to clarifications.

Meanwhile, these controversies brought greater attention to the upcoming Link vs. Jermain Taylor bout among American audiences.

On Saturday, May 7, the challenger qualifications match between Link and Jermain Taylor was held on schedule at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

Before the match, major casinos still leveraged the results for gambling, enticing bettors to place their wagers.

The odds of Link winning were 1 to 1.25, while Jermain Taylor's victory stood at 1 to 1.35. The difference in odds between the two wasn't huge.

Link knockouts the opponent in the first round, yielding returns of 1 to 3.5.

Jermain Taylor knockouts Link in the first round, with payouts of 1 to 15.

From these betting odds, it was evident that the casino believed Link was slightly stronger than Jermain Taylor.

Before the match, Link wagered 1 million US dollars himself, prompting Shawn Gibbons to hesitate momentarily before following with a 100,000-dollar bet.

At 5:30 PM, the match began. After final preparations backstage—urine tests, equipment checks, weigh-ins, and other procedures—Link emerged at the call of the host, draped in his cloak, entering the venue.

Still, the live audience numbered less than ten thousand tonight.

However, ticket prices for the match were higher than the previous one, with the cheapest rear spectator seats priced at 280 dollars and front-row seats over ten thousand.

Due to numerous tickets being given away for free by Las Vegas casinos, hotels, tourism companies, and entertainment firms, very few were actually sold through official counters, causing black-market ticket prices to surge, with ordinary tickets fetching up to 500 dollars.

Upon entering the venue, Link directly stepped onto the boxing ring, met with a barrage of unfriendly remarks from the audience stands.

Some yelled at him to "go back to Huaxia," others called him a "cyborg," demanding his removal from the ring, while some shouted for Jermain to "slaughter him."

Link ignored them; at that moment in the ring, there was no chance for rebuttal.

"Haha, cyborg!"

Opposite him, Jermain Taylor sneered coldly at him.

Link glanced at him and replied with a faint smile.

Jermain Taylor, 27 years old, nicknamed "The Schemer," stands 185 cm tall with a reach of 189 cm.

A 1998 US amateur boxing light middleweight champion, 1999 Golden Gloves light middleweight champion, and a bronze medalist in the 2000 Olympics.

He entered the professional boxing ring in 2001, defeating three former World Champions, including Daniel Edward, William Joppy, and Raul Marquez.

Currently holding an unbeaten professional record of 23 wins.

Jermain possesses notable boxing talent, his punches are heavy and fast, and his fighting style is quite agile, favoring offense.

However, his shortcomings include insufficient stamina, weak endurance, average technical skills, limited combination punches, and fragile willpower—making it difficult for him to bounce back after being KO'd.

He's considered a top-tier boxer, but there's still a significant gap compared to an elite boxer.

"Huaxia man, what are you smiling about?"

Jermain Taylor frowned at him. For some reason, when he saw Link's smile, he felt as uneasy as if spotting a rattlesnake in the grass.

Before Link could respond, the referee arrived to announce the rules of the match. After confirming both sides understood them, he signaled the start.

"Boxing!"

Jermain launched the first attack, leveraging his reach and heavy punches to aim straight at Link's head.

Link agilely shifted his footwork, ducking and shaking to evade each incoming strike one after another.

Frustrated at missing his target, Jermain increased the speed of his punches, throwing over fifty strikes in less than 20 seconds.

Yet, not a single punch landed on any crucial part of Link.

"Jermain, faster!"

"Jermain, kill that Huaxia guy!"

Jermain's fans in the audience roared loudly.

Jermain continued striking, attempting to corner Link into a corner.

Unfortunately, Link's footwork proved even more agile. To him, it seemed like he was chasing Link; in reality, Link was like a kite leading him along.

After throwing over sixty punches unsuccessfully at Link's head, Jermain's punching speed inevitably started to slow as he prepared to catch his breath.

At that moment, Link began his counterattack, swiftly pursuing Jermain Taylor from the front, striking his face with a jab, which Jermain dodged by stepping back.

He quickly followed up with a rapid sequence—left jab + right jab + left jab + right jab.

The attack style was nearly identical to Jermain Taylor's earlier approach.

However, Link's punches were faster, his combination punches more refined, and his accuracy was razor-sharp.

On the eighth punch, Link's jab pierced through Jermain's defense, landing on Jermain's left flank.

Startled, Jermain hastily shifted his guard to protect his liver.

Link continued his assault, adding variety to his attacks, switching from pure jabs to left jab + right straight punch + left jab + right swing punch.

The fifteenth punch, employing a strategy of alternating high and low strikes, delivered a solid straight punch to Jermain's nose bridge.

Jermain staggered back a step before crashing into the ropes.

"Jermain, hang in there!"

Someone from the audience shouted desperately.