Ch.243Signature Move

The audience isn’t stupid.

The approximately 90,000 spectators gathered at Wembley Stadium all love boxing.

That’s why they immediately understood how absurd what just happened in the ring was.

“…What did we just see?”

“Is Kim Donghu even human?”

At first, honestly, they were angry.

Trying to throw punches while mimicking the opponent?

That’s not only disrespectful to boxing,

but also seemed like a dismissal of both the opponent and the audience.

If someone makes such a provocation and then gets easily knocked down…

What becomes of the people who spent hundreds to be here?

But then.

“Looks like Edward is trying to get up around the 9-second mark.”

“He has to, he needs to regain his composure first.”

“What kind of match strategy is that?”

It was Edward who went down.

And with tremendous impact, no less.

“That’s insane, I got goosebumps.”

“Only 25 seconds in, and already the first knockdown…”

The audience went wild.

The VIPs watching from the front row forgot even to breathe as they watched the match.

No cameras were even allowed near them.

The density and heat that could be fully experienced in this moment

was something that could only be received through one’s eyes.

They widened their eyes, their hands trembling as they stared at the ring.

According to Edward’s profile, his height was 193cm.

About 7cm taller than Kim Donghu.

But on the ring, Kim Donghu was standing taller now.

‘Oh, shit…’

The ticket price for a VIP seat was several thousand.

People who could easily afford that much opened their mouths as they watched Kim Donghu.

Destructive strength.

And the final statement that elegantly wrapped it all up: “Get up.”

“Haah…”

It was a moment that would captivate anyone.

+++++

“9!”

“Okay, I can do this.”

Before the final countdown continued,

Edward got up after sufficient rest.

‘This is British soil. Do you think I’d lose on British soil?’

That’s just how the flow of the match was from the beginning.

Unless it was truly the worst situation, the referee would never declare a KO against him,

and he would have the advantage in most judging situations.

This was the advantage of the home ground,

and the power that had kept him in the champion’s seat for a long time.

“Let’s see how long you can keep up that childish play.”

“Are you saying what you’re doing isn’t childish?”

A brief exchange.

Edward, grateful for the extra time he’d gained.

‘I just need to bait him.’

Slowly circled around Kim Donghu.

He pulled out his signature move that had brought him this far.

Like taking a stroll around the ring.

Like a British royal knight, he loosened up his body while watching his opponent.

Waaaaaaaaah!

The audience responded enthusiastically to the champion’s signature move.

And with that, Edward’s body came back to life.

His expression became animated.

The pain etched into his body was erased by the secretion of adrenaline.

“Whew…”

And immediately, Edward shifted gears.

Pabat!

The beauty of boxing wasn’t just about mindlessly fighting at close range.

It was about measuring distance exquisitely while perfectly keeping the opponent in check.

‘I’m taller than you, and my arms are longer too.’

Pressure through physical advantage.

Pak!

The body jab thrown from mid-range was precisely blocked by an under guard.

A guard so fast it was as if he knew it was coming.

But Edward didn’t mind.

‘What’s a blocked punch or two.’

That’s just how boxing is as a sport.

Pak!

Babapak!

From then on, the pressure through distance control continued steadily.

Having found his rhythm, Edward relaxed,

and as soon as he relaxed, his body loosened up and began to rampage in the ring.

Like a fish in water.

He began to showcase the match management that had kept him on the champion’s throne for so long.

Pak, pababapak!

Left to right.

Right to left.

Top to bottom.

Bottom to top.

Relentless combinations.

And when those combinations created an opening,

a stake-like fist would drive right into that gap.

Kung!

About a minute of exchanges, or rather, one-sided attacks.

But Kim Donghu’s guard remained solid.

Though it was unclear why his body had suddenly stiffened,

regardless, his guard had to be acknowledged.

‘Certainly solid.’

Just as he was about to shift gears again.

Hwak!

Suddenly, Kim Donghu clinched him.

In truth, there was no absolute need to implicitly create distance when clinched,

so Edward tried to land strikes while in the clinch, but.

‘This crazy bastard, what kind of strength… is he really a gorilla?’

He couldn’t break Kim Donghu’s clinch.

The clinch itself was extremely cleverly applied.

Extending his arms was awkward, and twisting his body would bend his arms.

He had been bound by a perfect clinch.

“Stop! Break!”

Judging that the clinch couldn’t be broken voluntarily,

the referee ordered the two fighters to separate,

and in that gap, Kim Donghu briefly spoke to Edward.

“Now you’re it.”

“…?”

What was he talking about?

Edward expressed his confusion and took his stance again,

and was shocked just a few seconds later.

“What are you doing!”

Forgetting that this was a match, Edward expressed his anger.

Because Kim Donghu was now precisely mimicking his stance.

And not just clumsily imitating it.

“Did I do it like this?”

As if he had practiced that movement for a long time.

Discarding dozens of gloves soaked with sweat.

Constantly replacing worn-out boxing shoes.

As if he had calluses and blood pooling on his fists,

as if he was catching his breath, as if he had imbued it with countless worries and passion.

Kim Donghu had copied the signature move 100%.

When Edward came to his senses.

‘Why am I standing still here?’

He saw himself standing blankly in the middle of the ring,

and Kim Donghu walking around the ring just as he had done moments ago.

But.

‘That’s impossible.’

Then he inwardly sneered.

The reason he had been able to perfect his signature move

was because he had utilized his arms, which were considered long even among heavyweights.

With completely different physical conditions, what good was just copying the move?

Just because something looks the same doesn’t make it a luxury item.

What matters is the content inside.

Puk!

“?!”

Yes, the content.

A fist connects from a distance where it shouldn’t be able to reach.

The time was just over 2 minutes.

The sense of distance he had grasped until now suddenly became meaningless.

What changed? Why is he suddenly doing this?

As his thoughts multiplied, his legs stiffened.

And not missing that opening,

Kim Donghu began his combinations.

Just as he had learned earlier.

Left to right.

Right to left.

Top to bottom.

Bottom to top.

But it was different from before.

If the previous combinations were about creating gaps to drive in stakes,

Kung!

Kung!

Kung!

Kung!

Now every punch was a stake.

“Kuhurk…!”

Even though he guarded thoroughly to prevent clean hits,

the impact traveled through his muscles, shook his bones, and twisted his organs.

Naturally, his guard began to open, and,

Kwang!

A pile bunker was driven straight into his abdomen.

Pain like his spine was breaking washed over him.

A mark that even adrenaline couldn’t erase was imprinted on his abdomen.

Kek!

His mouthpiece naturally fell out.

A few drops of saliva dripped down.

The same signature move.

Different result.

In that moment, Kim Donghu’s words flashed through Edward’s mind.

‘I told you to be grateful this isn’t inside the ring.’

Is that why he was doing this?

As if to say, taste the consequences of insulting my family?

‘…Heuuh.’

He couldn’t breathe properly.

Thud.

Finally, unable to endure, the strength in his knees slowly began to fade,

and just as he was about to mark his second knockdown,

Ding ding ding!

The bell rang at just the right time, saving Edward.

+++++

The audience could no longer give enthusiastic responses.

What they had just witnessed was that shocking.

Especially for those who normally liked and supported Edward.

For his fans, it was truly unbelievable.

“…He, he seems to be doing it better?”

“Shut up! Say that one more time and I’ll kill you!”

“Ah, b-but still, this…”

“How did he overcome the reach difference?”

No, can someone even copy something after seeing it just once?

And not even studying it thoroughly, but while taking hits in the middle of a match?

“I-it’s a foul!”

Of course, it’s not a foul.

“S-stop him!”

Of course, there’s nothing to stop.

It’s just fan sentiment wishing it would be stopped.

That’s how shocking it was.

And it wasn’t just Edward’s fans who thought this way.

“…Today might change boxing history.”

“I’m truly proud to be a boxing referee right now.”

“But how did he copy it?”

“Watching up close, he extended his body slightly with each strike. In a way, it’s obvious… but still.”

The judges were both astonished and analyzing the match,

and the referee was roughly explaining the match, wondering if this was real.

‘Doing the obvious in an obvious way… does that make sense?’

Imagine teaching someone how to fly a helicopter.

Could that person immediately pilot it with 100% perfection just from listening?

Of course not.

It’s only through various practices and several trials and errors

that one can finally achieve 100% control.

But Kim Donghu had skipped that process.

With just seeing how it’s done right in front of him,

he had perfectly taken someone else’s technique and modified it to his taste.

All in the short span of about 3 minutes.

‘It seems like he’s toying with him… while being able to end it anytime…’

Surely that couldn’t be the case?

While thinking this,

Ding!

The 1-minute rest period passed,

“Box!”

The referee signaled the start again,

and as soon as the 2nd round began, Kim Donghu, as if he had been waiting,

“…What’s he doing?”

Lowered his guard.