(Sorry, I made some changes to the previous chapter)
Roy Jones Jr. lost, which meant Richard's fight schedule had to be adjusted. Originally, he planned to wait for Roy Jones Jr. to win the IBF-WBO title and then have a unification bout to settle everything in one go. But plans couldn't keep up with changes, and Roy Jones Jr. lost again.
Now, Richard would have to step into the ring himself and fight the other two titleholders.
"Richard, this fight isn't without benefits for us," Andy said, putting down the newspaper with a smile. "Antonio Tarver's win has increased his fame in the boxing world, which means your fight with him will draw even more attention."
"The benefits are minimal," Richard replied. "A fight with Roy Jones Jr. would have brought in at least $10 million, maybe even $20 million. Can a fight with Antonio Tarver bring in $10 million?"
Roy Jones Jr. had been in the spotlight for over a decade. He was the undisputed champion in the super middleweight division and, after moving up to light heavyweight, he dominated that division for four years. During those years, he amassed a large, loyal fan base. In this regard, Antonio couldn't compare, and even Richard fell slightly short.
"I spoke with Don King," Andy continued. "If we want to secure a bigger purse, we'll need to delay your fight. Think about Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield—they both had been in the sport for nearly a decade before they finally faced each other this year. Before their fight, fans from both sides constantly speculated about who was better, which created an obsession. That's why their fight was so popular.
Now, you and Antonio have both defeated Roy Jones Jr. twice, and fans are starting to wonder who is better between the two of you. As long as Antonio keeps winning and you keep winning, that question will grow louder and louder."
"It's not the same," Richard interrupted. "I've fought Antonio before—he's no match for me. Plus, Antonio isn't that strong; he's barely better than Glen Johnson, the challenger. This time, he won against a mentally broken Roy Jones Jr., but can he keep winning in the next match? I don't have time to wait for him to catch up."
Andy nodded. "So, you want to stick to the plan?"
"Yes, after fighting Clinton Woods, I'll go up against Richard Hall and then Antonio Tarver. I'll get those belts first," Richard said, tapping his fingers on the table.
"Understood," Andy nodded slightly, then paused in thought. "Richard, if you're really aiming for a $20 million purse in the light heavyweight division, there might be another way."
"You have an idea?" Richard asked, intrigued.
"Yes, but you might not like it," Andy said with a sly smile, rubbing his large nose.
Richard thought for a moment. "Are you suggesting a fixed fight?"
"Haha, yes. If you don't have a worthy opponent, we can create one. Take Roy Jones Jr., for example. You've beaten him twice and shattered his confidence. But if you were to lose to him once…"
Andy grinned.
Richard shook his head. "You know my principles. I box for two reasons: to become stronger and then to make money. If I start throwing fights just for money, I might end up doing more things that go against my beliefs. So let's not go down that path."
"Alright, alright. It was just a suggestion. If you don't want to break your principles, we'll stick to the original plan. We'll build your popularity, and once you move up to heavyweight, that $20 million purse shouldn't be hard to achieve," Andy said, shrugging.
"Fine," Richard agreed.
After discussing the fight details, Richard left the bar. Just as he was about to head back for more training, he got a call from Anthony, asking him to come by the office.
When he arrived at the BAA company, he saw Naomi in the middle of a script reading class, so he stayed to listen for a bit.
There weren't many people in the class today. Jessica, Franco, and Lisa were all on set, leaving just two actors in the room, making the class feel a bit empty.
"Are you free today? How come you have time to drop by?" Naomi asked with a smile, holding her script as the class ended.
"I saw you had a class, so I made a special trip to listen in. You're quite suited to being a teacher—you look great," Richard said with a smile, giving her an appreciative look. Naomi always wore formal attire when teaching. Today, she was dressed in a light yellow blazer paired with a white long skirt, looking both elegant and radiant.
Naomi brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and laughed softly. "This is a professional setting, Richard. You should be more mindful."
"Alright, Ms. Watts," Richard replied with a chuckle. They walked together for a while, agreeing on a time to make up a class before Richard headed to Anthony's office.
"What's up?" he asked as he walked in. Richard sat down and asked, "What's the matter?"
"The Land Rover commercial is ready to be shot. Here's the script, take a look," Anthony said as he handed over a folder.
"Where's the shoot going to take place?" Richard asked.
"The locations are listed in the script," Anthony replied.
"So many places…" Richard sighed. It seemed like he was going to be busy for the next few days.
For the next week, Richard followed the ad crew around various iconic locations in the U.S., including the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Yellowstone National Park, and New York's Fifth Avenue. After wrapping up the commercial, he returned to Los Angeles to resume his boxing training and weight management, preparing for the upcoming match.
His next opponent was WBA British light heavyweight champion Clinton Woods, a technical boxer standing at 188 cm with a 193 cm reach, and weighing 174.5 pounds. At 28 years old, with 7 years of professional experience and a record of 28 wins and 1 loss, Woods had previously lost to former IBF champion Reggie Johnson in a title challenge.
"Hey, Richard, I heard you're coming to the UK for a fight?" Jude Law called one day.
"Yeah, have you returned to the UK?" Richard asked.
"Haha, yes! When you get here, I'll buy you a drink."
"OK!"
At the end of October, Richard arrived in London, where the media eagerly followed his every move. As both a world champion and a popular movie star, Richard was a magnet for coverage.
Before the match, Richard held a press conference, as was customary.
"Mr. Brad, you've defeated Roy Jones Jr., Antonio Tarver, Glen Johnson, and Derwin Valdez, among others. You've taken down almost all the top contenders in the light heavyweight division. What's your next goal?" asked a reporter from the Daily Mail.
Richard smiled slightly at the countless cameras. "There are still many strong opponents in the light heavyweight division, like Richard Hall, Clinton Woods, Antonio Tarver, and the Polish Tiger. My journey in this division is only halfway done. My next goal is to defeat them all."
"Mr. Brad, you just mentioned Mr. Clinton Woods. How do you assess his abilities? Are you confident in your ability to defend your title successfully?" asked a reporter from the Daily Telegraph.
"Yes, I'm confident. Mr. Woods is a highly skilled boxer with a wealth of experience. He's a formidable opponent, but I'm just a bit stronger," Richard said humbly, smiling.
"Mr. Brad, I remember last year in Atlantic City, during your fight with Vasily, you said that no one could beat you—not Roy Jones Jr., and not WBC-WBO-IBF champion Mr. Lewis. Now that you've beaten Roy Jones Jr., will your next move be to step up to heavyweight and challenge Mr. Lewis?" asked a reporter from the Independent.
Richard curled his lips slightly. Lennox Lewis was Britain's top boxer and an idol to countless British fans. The reporter's question was clearly a trap. Richard smiled lightly. "As a boxer, the greatest joy is in challenging and defeating someone better than yourself. Mr. Lewis is a top-tier boxer; he's both my idol and my target. If the opportunity arises, I think I would challenge Mr. Lewis."
"Are you confident you could defeat Mr. Lewis?"
"Of course. We boxers are fearless," Richard said, clenching his fist.
——
"Richard, you handled that perfectly!" Andy praised as they drove away after the interview.
"Thanks. Those reporters are tough to deal with," Richard replied, wiping the sweat from his palms with a handkerchief.
"Haha, they make a living out of it. If they couldn't ask tough questions, they'd starve," Andy chuckled. He then instructed the driver to head slowly towards Wembley Arena.
It was a beautiful day in London, with bright sunshine. Wembley Arena was packed with spectators, eager to watch the fight. According to the arena staff, over 36,000 people had filled the stands, making the atmosphere even more lively than Madison Square Garden.
"England is the second most popular place for boxing after the U.S. Legends like Ali, Tyson, and Foreman have all fought here. If you can make a name for yourself here, you won't lack opportunities to make money in the future," Andy said as he looked around the arena.
"I understand. I'll win them over with my strength," Richard said, clenching his fist as he walked out of the tunnel.
Thanks to his good looks, many in the crowd were cheering for him. Among the spectators were familiar faces like Jude Law and his wife, Sandy.
"Hey, Richard, go get 'em!" Jude called out.
Richard waved his fist and strode up to the ring.
Once the match began, Richard stayed composed, focusing on technique rather than aggression. His style was balanced, both in offense and defense, and he fought with restraint.
In the fourth round, when Woods accidentally got caught on the ropes, Richard had an opportunity to press his advantage, but he chose to step back, waiting for Woods to recover before continuing. This gesture earned him a lot of goodwill from the audience, who responded with a round of applause. The next day, British media hailed him as a gentlemanly boxer with exceptional skill.
The match lasted ten rounds. In the end, Clinton Woods was knocked down again and, after getting up the second time, conceded defeat. Richard won the match with ease.
On the day of the fight, there were 380,000 pay-per-view purchases in the UK and 480,000 in the U.S. Richard earned a $3.2 million purse for the fight.
After the match, Richard returned to New York to rest and recover.
"I won't have to run around for the rest of the year, right?" Ms. Bündchen asked, sitting beside him with a tray of fruit in their Tribeca apartment.
"Haha, are you upset?" Richard asked, wrapping his arm around her with a smile.
"I wouldn't dare. I'm afraid you'll hit me," Ms. Bündchen replied, her lips curling into a playful smile.
"What do you mean, I'll hit you? Have I ever hit you?"
"Yes, you often bully me."
"Alright, if you say so," Richard laughed, taking a piece of pineapple. "No more fights this year. There's one in January, but The Talented Mr. Ripley is about to be released, so I'll be busy for a few more days."
"You're really a busy man," Ms. Bündchen said, popping a strawberry into his mouth.
"Yeah, flying around is tiring. Let me hold you for a bit."
"Haha, okay!" Ms. Bündchen put down the tray and snuggled into his arms.
They lay on the couch, whispering to each other as an animated film played on the TV. Before long, they both fell asleep.
——
(End of the Chapter)