Boxing God-Chapter 232: The Feigned Injury Ploy

Luo City—this was Jason Luo’s second time visiting the city, and he had a soft spot for it. A place that even shared his name felt oddly fated.
The last time he fought here, his opponent was Laurent. It had just been an exhibition bout meant to pad his record, but Laurent had stubbornly dragged it into the fourth round with every dirty trick imaginable, leaving quite an impression on Jason.
Later, after learning about the hardships lower-tier fighters faced, Jason began to understand why Laurent had fought that way. Still, this match was going to be an entirely different story.
After settling into the pre-booked hotel, Jason went out for a light jog with Mr. Rod. It was an essential pre-fight warm-up. Coach Brown was older now, carrying a bit of extra weight, so Rod tagged along to keep Jason company—and to make sure he didn’t get lost in unfamiliar streets...
For a boxer, running wasn’t about speed. It was about controlling breathing rhythm and breaking a sweat. Only once the body was properly warmed up could more intense training continue safely without risking strain.
Rod kept pace easily, and the two chatted as they ran.
“Jason, your media buzz just keeps climbing. That means your commercial value’s shooting up, too. The company’s decided to bump your appearance fee another level. Ha! How’s that for good news?”
Jason slowed his stride slightly. “That’s great to hear. I appreciate the company’s support—and yours, of course.”
Rod grinned. “Naturally. Our interests are one and the same. You can count on it—once you take down Morell and step into...”
He stopped mid-sentence, eyes fixed on the hotel across the street. A white man in black clothing emerged from the entrance, flanked by two heavyset bodyguards. The face was unmistakable.
Jason and Rod recognized him instantly—it was David Morell, the reigning WBA Champion. His appearance at this moment could only mean one thing: he’d come to watch Jason’s upcoming fight.
Jason didn’t think much of it. It made perfect sense. If he beat Tomio, Morell would no longer be able to avoid a title challenge. Checking in on a potential opponent was normal.
Rod, however, frowned slightly. “Jason, yes—it’s normal for him to pay attention. But he could easily study the footage later. The fact that he’s here in person makes a big difference.”
“I think he already knows your fight with him is inevitable, and he’s preparing early.”
Jason nodded. “That’s possible. Or maybe he’s just here to study both me and Tomio in person—so no matter who wins, he’ll be ready.”
“You’re not wrong,” Rod said thoughtfully. “But I think there’s something we can use here. Let’s head back to the hotel—I’ve just had an idea.”
A new idea? Jason was puzzled but followed Rod back.
...
Once they gathered Raul and Coach Brown, Rod explained the situation. Everyone thought he was overreacting. After all, it wasn’t unusual for a champion to scout potential challengers.
Rod, however, remained serious. “No, listen. Morell isn’t some unbeatable monster. He only became champion because he filled the vacancy Canelo Álvarez left behind. That’s why he’s been avoiding Siham’s challenge ever since. And when Jason knocked Siham out in four rounds, it hit Morell hard—psychologically.”
“Right now, we’re applying pressure through the WBA, but bureaucracy takes time. If he refuses the challenge within two months, even after arbitration, he still gets an appeal period. That back-and-forth could drag for months. Normally, that’s fine—we could wait it out.”
“But Jason, don’t forget—in about three or four months, your scheduled fight with Carl is coming up. If Carl takes the WBO belt by then while you’re still tangled in negotiations with Morell, the situation turns ugly.”
Coach Brown’s eyes widened in realization. “Right! If Morell stands in the way, that unification bout becomes just a personal fight. Win or lose, it won’t mean anything in terms of titles!”
Rod clapped his hands. “Exactly! What should have been a WBA-WBO unification showdown would vanish because of Morell’s delay. That’s a massive loss.”
Raul chimed in, following Rod’s logic. “And long-term, it gets worse. If Jason and Carl fight again without belts at stake, it’s a low-reward rematch. No matter who wins, a trilogy would be impossible anytime soon—and another shot at full super middleweight unification would be almost out of reach.”
Jason could only stare at the group as they spiraled deeper into their what-if scenarios. Tomio was still waiting for his shot, yet no one even mentioned him.
Finally, Coach Brown brought the discussion back. “All right, but what’s the plan?”
Rod leaned back in his chair, thinking aloud. “Seeing Morell come here himself tells me he’s torn. He wants to see firsthand what kind of fighter the winner really is—whether he’s a real threat to him.”
“If the winner looks too strong, he’ll stall for as long as possible—maybe even push for a rematch with Plant. The WBA won’t be able to force him. But if the winner looks beatable, he might decide to take the gamble. After all, a rematch with Plant isn’t likely anytime soon.”
The room fell silent. Everyone knew Rod was probably right—but making Morell feel confident enough to fight was no easy task.
Coach Brown muttered, “Morell and Tomio have similar styles—both rely on movement and control. If Jason beats Tomio too decisively, Morell will be even more afraid to fight. It’s a deadlock! We can’t just throw the match, so what do we do?”
Rod finally revealed his plan. “I’ve thought of something. If we want to keep our challenge rights but still make Morell feel he has a chance, there’s only one way—put on a show for him in the ring.”
“Jason should act like he’s struggling with Tomio’s jab control, maybe even look like he’s about to lose. Then, at the last moment, pull off a narrow comeback victory. That way, Morell will see it as a lucky break, not a real threat.”
When he finished, the room went quiet again. The three others just stared at him.
“What?” Rod asked. “You see a problem with my plan?”
Jason gave a helpless grin. “Mr. Rod, the plan’s clever—but you’re giving me too much credit. Pulling that off convincingly would take an Oscar-winning actor. Morell’s not stupid. If he spots even a hint of an act, he’ll see right through it.”
Rod spread his hands. “I know it won’t be easy. But it’s the only way to ease his doubts and push the fight forward—unless someone here has a better idea.”
Everyone exchanged looks and shook their heads.
After thinking it over, Coach Brown nodded firmly. “We’ll go with it. It’s worth the risk. If it doesn’t work, we’re no worse off—but if it does, it’ll save us a lot of time and energy. The odds are worth it.”
He added, “Still, we’ll need to handle the details carefully. If we’re going to sell this, it has to look real. Otherwise, it’ll backfire. Jason, I’m afraid you might have to take a few hits for this one…”
Under the others’ steady gaze, Jason could only nod quietly. A wry thought crossed his mind—this plan would put him through the wringer. They were really asking him to stage a painful act just to sell the illusion.
...
(The entire series is already available on P@treon)
/GhostParser