546-550

*Chapter 546: MPAA*

In the matter of suppressing Lionsgate, it wasn't just the capital groups behind the Big Six studios that took action, but also the involvement of political groups.

To be precise, the suppression of Lionsgate was tied to politics from beginning to end.

Since the 1980s, California and Hollywood have been under the control of the Democratic Party. In February of this year, during the Oscars, Michelle Obama was invited by the Academy to present the Best Picture award alongside Jack Nicholson.

These are all public activities carried out by the Democrats to increase their influence in the entertainment industry.

Harvey was the Democratic Party's representative in Hollywood, helping gather votes during every election and rallying celebrities to donate money.

In return, the Democrats would offer Harvey some conveniences during their administration.

This relationship was established in the 1990s and continued up until now, which was also Harvey's most powerful period in Hollywood.

However, due to the rise of Lionsgate, Harvey and The Weinstein Company's influence in Hollywood has waned, which also affects the Democrats' voice in the entertainment industry—a situation they can't tolerate.

Originally, they could have chosen Link after Harvey's downfall, but Link expressed displeasure towards Washington back when he first entered the industry in 2009. Now, with his father-in-law’s rapid rise after joining the Republican Party, Link is naturally unfit to collaborate with the Democrats.

This is one of the reasons they targeted Lionsgate.

In addition to public pressure, the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) also denied Lionsgate's application to join the organization for the second time.

The MPAA is the body that oversees the film rating system in the U.S.

Its main role is to evaluate films based on themes, language, levels of violence, nudity, sexual content, and drug use, representing most parents' viewpoints on what is appropriate for children of specific age groups to watch.

The goal is to provide parents with information about movies to help them determine what is suitable for their children.

The rating doesn't reflect the quality of the movie.

The current MPAA committee is made up of the chairmen and presidents of the six largest movie and TV media giants in the U.S.

This includes Walt Disney Company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Paramount, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., Fox, and DreamWorks.

The six companies, excluding DreamWorks, are also referred to as the "Big Six."

Originally, MGM was part of the MPAA committee, but after failing to be acquired by Sony in 2005, it left the MPAA.

According to industry rules, powerful film companies have the opportunity to join the MPAA committee and carry out certain duties.

In 2011, Lionsgate ranked seventh in annual box office revenue, third last year, and is expected to be in the top five this year. Based on strength, it fully qualifies to join the MPAA, but its application has been rejected twice.

It seems the Big Six are unwilling to acknowledge Lionsgate's status and don't recognize the media's designation of the "New Big Seven." They prefer Lionsgate to remain an independent film company.

There are both business and political factors behind this.

They attempt to suppress Lionsgate films in various ways. For example, films like American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall Street were rated PG-13 for containing a few curse words, making them unsuitable for children under 13, rather than being rated PG.

The stricter the rating, the smaller the market, and box office revenue is also affected.

This is clearly a form of suppression.

To resolve this unfavorable situation, Lionsgate's PR department continued lobbying shareholders of Paramount, Universal, and 20th Century Fox, trying to win people over in preparation for the next application.

Additionally, after consulting with Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Link suggested applying for MPAA membership under Netflix's name. In recent years, Netflix has also been producing and distributing content and qualifies to join.

Netflix's application is still under review, and the result won't be known until next year.

Although Lionsgate’s films face bias in ratings, the existence of the Production Code, media scrutiny, and judicial oversight prevent the MPAA from going too far, limiting them to only minor roadblocks.

This has some impact on Lionsgate films but not a significant one.

This is also why Lionsgate hasn't fully broken ties with the MPAA yet.

Dallas Buyers Club has been in theaters for four weeks, grossing over $20 million in North America, with a current box office of $20.52 million. The number of theaters showing the film has remained below 1,000, and internationally, it's in limited release with a current overseas box office of approximately $16.5 million.

Due to the film's high quality, Lionsgate saved significantly on promotional costs, spending less than $3 million on marketing.

In early October, Lionsgate released its second fall film, Mama, a story about two young girls and their ghostly mother, starring Alexandra Daddario and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.

With a production budget of $15 million, the film grossed $28.4 million in North America during its opening weekend, shown in 2,647 theaters, recovering its cost in just three days—an undeniable box office hit.

Overseas, the film also performed well, grossing $35.74 million in 33 countries and regions during its opening weekend.

Global box office projections estimate it will gross around $200 million.

This success has left the Big Six studios and their competitors envious.

Lionsgate's films are not only box office hits in the summer but continue to dominate the fall box office as well, giving the impression that they never lose money, which annoys many people.

But there's nothing they can do.

Lionsgate's horror films are like Disney's animated films, a staple in their repertoire. The studio has extensive experience and specialized talent in making such films, making it hard for other companies to imitate.

The box office success of Mama has also significantly boosted Alexandra Daddario's reputation in the horror film genre. Since last year, she has starred in Lionsgate's The Cabin in the Woods, The Conjuring, Texas Chainsaw 3D, and now Mama, all of which have achieved good results.

Daddario has been dubbed the "Queen of Horror" by the media, with rumors circulating online that her eyes can see ghosts and that she is a psychic.

These reports leave Daddario both amused and helpless.

Thanks to these successful horror films, she has become a hot star, earning millions in fees and advertising revenue, and has gained many loyal fans, which is great.

But in private, Daddario says she hopes to become an actress like Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, or Anne Hathaway—one who is both beautiful and talented—not just a "Queen of Horror."

She jokingly complains that when she taps someone on the shoulder, they scream in fright, which is frustrating for a beautiful woman like her.

Link understands her feelings and doesn't pressure her to continue doing horror films. He suggests she consider transitioning next year, taking on more modern urban films or even TV shows.

Next year, Lionsgate and Netflix have plans to produce three series: True Detective, American Crime Story, and The Exorcist, and Daddario could find a suitable role in one of them.

Daddario happily agrees and kisses him.

Link habitually slides his hand under her T-shirt, feeling the size and warmth of what’s known as Hollywood’s most beautiful chest.

In fact, Daddario’s thighs and hips are also perfect. At 5'8", her legs are nearly 39 inches long.

Curvaceous and firm, with smooth skin and a faint scent of milk.

That’s why he hasn’t let go of this girl for over three years.

Having grown accustomed to this dynamic, Daddario accepts the relationship, doesn’t compete with Ivanka or Taylor for his time, and behaves very obediently.

When Link isn't busy, they go on dates three to five times a month, each time leaving her exhausted and fully satisfied.

Through his connections, Daddario’s father also joined his father-in-law’s faction, becoming a senior figure in the NYPD, while her mother's law firm became a partner with Dynasty Sports Company.

The two families have become even closer.

So much so that Daddario has subtly hinted she wants to have children with him.

Link thought about it and gently disagreed.

He’s been busy in recent years, focusing on work and raising several children, with no extra time to devote here. Plus, Daddario is in the midst of a career upswing. After having kids, she couldn’t just leave them at home unattended.

If Daddario wanted to leave the industry now and settle down to raise children, then now would be the right time. But if she still wanted to achieve something in her career, they could wait a few more years.

After considering it, Daddario said she wanted to continue her career for five more years, then retire and have several kids.

Link thought that was a good idea.

Seeing Daddario being so obedient, he playfully carried her off for another round of fun.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 547: Battle Against Old Holyfield

Bang, bang, bang!

With a boxing match coming up in October, Link has been balancing his time between family and training. He’s been training intensely at Muscle Beach Club for five to six hours a day, improving his strength and skills.

After relentless training, his power, speed, endurance, and explosiveness have all significantly improved.

His maximum right punch weight is now 1,720 pounds, with an average punch weight of 1,620 pounds—about 40 pounds heavier than his test at the end of last year.

His left punch maxes out at 1,680 pounds, with an average of 1,500 pounds, an increase of 35 pounds since last year.

In terms of speed, while carrying 50 pounds, he can run 100 meters in 11.6 seconds and 400 meters in 45.1 seconds. His 10-kilometer time has also shown significant improvement.

During reflex testing using a touch cursor, while the average person's reaction time is between 0.2-0.4 seconds, Link's response time is between 0.106 and 0.139 seconds, reaching superhuman levels.

At this current rate of improvement, in two years, his right punch is expected to exceed 1,800 pounds, and his left over 1,700 pounds, with even faster speed and increased endurance.

By the end of October, Link led his team to Las Vegas for a heavyweight boxing match against the veteran Evander Holyfield.

At 51 years old, Holyfield is the oldest boxer in the current boxing scene.

Originally planning to retire this year, he accepted Dynasty Sports' offer to fight, even though his appearance fee was only $1 million for this bout.

Holyfield, standing at 189 cm with a reach of 198 cm, made his debut in 1984 and boasts a professional record of 57 wins, 10 losses, and 2 draws.

In 1988, he defeated Carlos De León to become the world cruiserweight champion of the three major organizations. In October 1990, he beat American boxer James Douglas to become the heavyweight world champion of the three major organizations.

Over the next 20 years, he won the WBA heavyweight title four times and the IBF heavyweight title three times, breaking numerous records.

Throughout his career, Holyfield defeated famous names like George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, and John Ruiz, earning a reputation as one of the most technically skilled heavyweight boxers in the sport.

Since this match was Holyfield’s final fight, and with Link being the dominant force in the boxing world, it drew attention from boxing fans everywhere.

On the day of the fight, the MGM Grand was packed, with around 18,000 spectators, including over 200 boxing and sports stars such as Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Hasim Rahman, Mayweather, Chris Byrd, Hopkins, De La Hoya, Shaquille O'Neal, and Michael Jordan.

As the cameras panned through the audience, it showed row after row of muscular professional boxers.

"Link is too cunning, targeting old guys since moving up to heavyweight," De La Hoya said, folding his arms as he glanced at the ring, where the young, strong Link faced the veteran Holyfield. He felt that even if Link won, it wouldn’t be a fair victory.

"You better watch your mouth. Who are you calling old?" James Toney shot back.

"Evander may be older, but his punches are still strong. It won’t be easy for Link to beat him," Bernard Hopkins remarked.

"How hard could it be? If Link goes for a fast fight, he can finish it in three rounds. If he takes his time, he’ll wear Holyfield out by the tenth round. It's not that difficult," De La Hoya replied.

"Go, Link!" shouted Mario from the front row, waving his fists in excitement.

"Don't yell so loud; Link doesn’t need much cheering for this match," said Dino Duva, with a tattoo reading "Lard Rice" on his arm.

"Link's come a long way. After sweeping through all the top fighters in super middleweight and light heavyweight, now he’s in the heavyweight division. I wish I was that good," Mario said with a look of regret, flexing his muscular arms.

Dino Duva gave him a glance, equally regretful. He had signed Mario as a client, thinking that since he trained at the same gym as Link, the difference between them wouldn’t be too big. But he was wrong. Sometimes the gap between two fighters is as vast as the difference between a kangaroo and a mouse.

Link’s current professional record is 35 fights and 35 wins, making him the grand slam champion of all four major organizations in both the super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.

His achievements in boxing are unparalleled.

Meanwhile, Mario's current record stands at 15 fights, with 7 losses. He dropped from cruiserweight to light heavyweight, only to continue losing.

It wasn't due to a lack of effort in training but rather a lack of natural talent. His physical abilities, reflexes, tactics, and mentality couldn’t match the level of a top-tier boxer. No matter how hard he trained, he just couldn't make it in the boxing world.

After losing so many times, Mario’s fame as Link’s "senior" only lasted for two years before he returned to being just another ordinary boxer, with appearance fees dropping from over $100,000 ten years ago to just a few thousand now.

Meanwhile, Link’s appearance fees skyrocketed from a few million to over a hundred million.

The gap between the two had grown too wide.

"Boxing!"

The match began in the ring. After two rounds of testing each other out, Link initiated the attack. Holyfield raised his fists high, intending to use his defensive skills to drag the fight out and perhaps find an opportunity to defeat Link.

But even as Link began his offensive, he didn’t immediately throw heavy punches. Instead, he attacked Holyfield’s defense with precise combinations, seemingly looking to engage him in a technical showdown.

When Holyfield realized Link’s plan, he gradually eased up on defense and began to spar with his own well-honed skills.

"Evander’s falling into his trap," James Toney slapped his knee. "Link’s really sneaky. He often sets traps for opponents by throwing feints. Once they fall for it, he strikes when they least expect it. Evander’s being too careless—he’s going to pay for it this round."

Toney remembered his own match against Link, where he had been caught off guard by Link’s tactic of feigning an attack on his left side, only to launch a powerful assault from the right.

"I didn’t expect Link to use that trick on me. If I hadn’t fallen for it, I would’ve lasted more than three rounds," Toney recalled.

However, after watching for a while, Toney noticed that Link didn’t seem to be trying to trick Holyfield. Instead, he was seriously engaging in a technical boxing match, even when Holyfield left himself wide open a few times. Link didn’t take advantage of it to land a knockout punch.

"Ha, see? Link’s gotten into the habit of teaching boxing now," De La Hoya laughed. "He said before the fight that he’d beat Evander purely with technique. He wants to show everyone the beauty of boxing and promote the sport."

Toney frowned. "Why didn’t he fight me like that?"

"Because he probably thinks your technique is too rough."

"Bull! I beat Evander back in ’03, and it was all about technique," Toney snapped.

"Yeah, and you still got knocked out by Link in the end," De La Hoya laughed.

"You act like it didn’t happen to you too. I remember you getting knocked down so hard you couldn’t even get back up."

"Shut up!" De La Hoya’s face darkened as he fell silent.

The first round ended, and after a brief break, the second round began.

The technical sparring continued into this round, with punches flying back and forth. Holyfield, despite his age, was still strong, with a long reach and a wealth of experience.

He used tricky combinations to give Link some trouble, throwing 122 punches and landing 9 on Link’s body but none on his head.

Link threw 143 punches, landing 6 on Holyfield’s head and knocking him down once.

By the end of the round, Holyfield was exhausted, sweating profusely as he gasped for breath.

"Evander’s still aging," Tyson sighed.

"He couldn’t have won even in his prime. Link’s technique is incredibly complete. I’ve watched all his fights, and I can’t find a weakness," George Foreman admired.

"Is there anyone who can beat Link in the ring?" Shaquille O'Neal asked the group of black boxers sitting nearby.

After some hesitation, they suggested the Klitschko brothers might have a chance.

O'Neal wasn’t satisfied with that answer because the Klitschko brothers were white.

He wanted to know if any black boxers could beat Link, as black fighters had dominated the heavyweight scene for decades.

The surrounding Black boxers fell silent for a moment, then reluctantly said, "Currently, in the super middleweight, light heavyweight, cruiserweight, and heavyweight divisions, Black boxers don't have much of an advantage. If Link fought in the lightweight division, Mayweather might be able to take him on."

"Why is that? Do Black people not train for boxing anymore?" O'Neal asked.

"Of course, they still train. It's just that Link is too strong. No one can beat him," Hopkins replied, shrugging.

"Is Link really that good? I feel like if I got in the ring, I could definitely knock him out," O'Neal said, clenching his fist, as big as a sandbag.

The match in the ring continued. By the third round, Holyfield was exhausted, his movements slowed, and he started showing more and more openings.

Link didn't plan on continuing the technical back-and-forth. He unleashed a series of heavy punches, knocking Holyfield down twice — once at 27 seconds and again at 54 seconds. After the second knockdown, Holyfield couldn't get back on his feet within the count.

Link easily won the match.

His total earnings for this fight were $85 million, with 2.63 million PPV sales — slightly less than the previous fight.

But this fight had a bigger impact than the last one.

This was Holyfield's farewell fight. The veteran's retirement marked the end of an era, leaving people nostalgic.

Additionally, in this match, both Link and Holyfield showcased exceptional offensive and defensive techniques. "The Ring" magazine even called it a classic, and the match footage has become a resource for many boxers to study and improve their skills.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 548: O'Neal*

"Link, I've been practicing boxing recently. How about we have a match sometime?"

On the night of the fight, during the afterparty at the MGM Grand Hotel, O'Neal invited Link for a friendly challenge.

"No problem. I train at Muscle Beach Club. You can drop by anytime," Link responded.

"Great, I'll remember that, and I'll come find you," O'Neal said, shaking his fist playfully as if he were serious.

Link chuckled and raised his glass before continuing his conversation with other boxers.

"Shaquille, are you really going to fight Link? I bet if you actually do, you won't last 10 seconds," Bernard Hopkins laughed.

"10 seconds?! I've been in WWE and even beat Big Show, and you think I can't last 10 seconds against Link? Come on, now!" O'Neal said, annoyed.

"WWE is nothing. I could knock out one of their wrestlers with a single punch. Beating them isn't a big deal," Hopkins retorted.

"You boxers like to talk big. If you're so great, why can't you beat Link? I think I can take him down," O'Neal said, rolling his eyes.

Oscar De La Hoya chimed in with a laugh, "I think Shaq's got a chance too. Shaq is 7'1" with a wingspan close to 7'2". He's way taller than Link. Link wouldn't even be able to hit him! Shaq, I strongly suggest you fight him—and make sure to invite me when you do."

"Exactly! I'm taller and stronger than Link. If he dares to fight me, I'll definitely win," O'Neal boasted.

"Shaq, be sure to call me too. If I'm not there, record it and send me the video," Mike Tyson, James Toney, and Michael Jordan joked.

Meanwhile, Link ran into Dino Duva and Mario, and the three chatted for a while. Mario mentioned he wanted to move to LA and continue being Link’s sparring partner.

Link agreed. He already had six sparring partners, all recommended by Franco and De La Hoya, hoping one would be the next Morales. Adding another like Mario wouldn’t hurt.

"Link, if I'd been sparring with you since '08, would I have a chance to become a world champion like Morales?" Mario asked.

"Maybe," Link replied.

While they were chatting, O'Neal and about a dozen muscular men, including Tyson, Jordan, Toney, George Foreman, and Hopkins, all dressed in suits, surrounded Link like a scene from a gangster movie. The tension was palpable.

"Link, did you say you’d fight Shaq? How about now? We all want to see it," Hopkins said.

"Link, they say you can knock me out in 10 seconds. I don't believe it. Are you willing to try?" O'Neal said, raising his fists.

"Here? I don’t think that’s a good idea," Link shook his head.

"Come on, Link, show Shaq what you're made of," Tyson egged him on, and the others joined in, urging Link to teach Shaq a lesson.

Since it was party time, everyone was eager for some entertainment.

Link agreed on one condition: Shaq had to wear amateur gear, including head protection, to avoid serious injury. Shaq refused, saying he wasn’t afraid of Link's punches.

But Link insisted. It was boxing protocol—when a professional fights a non-professional, they must follow amateur rules. If Shaq didn’t comply, there’d be no fight.

Reluctantly, under everyone's encouragement, Shaq agreed, though he didn’t look happy about it.

The MGM Grand Hotel, which often hosted boxing matches, had a boxing gym, and soon, gloves, headgear, and mouthguards were brought to the party.

Hopkins and Toney helped Shaq gear up, while De La Hoya and Chris Byrd grabbed cameras to film the event.

"Link, come on! You won’t knock me out!" Shaq shouted, pounding his padded head, which now looked even bigger, like a giant pumpkin.

"I’ll referee. You two, take your positions," Tyson said, standing in the middle.

Link took his spot. As Tyson raised his hand and yelled "Start," Link immediately took a step back. O'Neal roared and charged at Link with swinging fists.

Shaq’s arms were long, and his fists were huge, but they were slow. Link, with his feet planted firmly, effortlessly dodged the first punch, then the second.

Every punch seemed close to hitting him, but just as Shaq’s fists neared Link’s head, he skillfully avoided them by the narrowest margin, making it seem like the punches grazed past him.

O'Neal was stunned. Watching Link fight Holyfield from the sidelines didn’t seem too impressive, but now, facing Link in person, he realized how fast and elusive his opponent was.

"Shaq, watch out!" someone shouted from the sidelines.

Boom! Before Shaq could react, a solid punch landed on his forehead protector.

Thud! O'Neal's head snapped back, like he'd been hit with a sledgehammer. His brain buzzed, and his vision blurred as his eyes crossed.

His massive body wobbled before he fell backward. Tyson and Toney caught him before he hit the ground.

"Ha-ha! 7 seconds, Shaq! Still think you can talk big?"

"Shaq, now do you realize how strong Link is?"

"Shaq, you picked the wrong guy to mess with. If Link hadn’t held back, that punch could have killed you," they all teased the fallen O'Neal.

A doctor, already on standby, quickly checked Shaq’s eyes with a flashlight and declared him fine before leaving.

After lying on the ground for three minutes, Shaq finally got up, holding his forehead and swaying slightly.

"Shaq, how are you feeling? Ready for a nap?" someone joked.

"Only world champions and title challengers get knocked out by Link. Being KO’d by him is an honor," Hopkins quipped as they laughed.

De La Hoya filmed Shaq's dazed expression up close.

"Stop messing with me! My head hurts!" Shaq grumbled, looking at Link. "How can you be so fast? Are you The Flash?"

Everyone burst out laughing.

"You’re just slow. My speed isn’t even the fastest in boxing. You should spar with Mayweather sometime. He’s even quicker in the lighter weight classes," Link replied.

"Link, you're being too modest. Your reflexes are top-tier, even in the flyweight division," someone added.

"Shaq, now do you see the difference between a professional boxer and an ordinary person? You wouldn't stand a chance against any of us," Hopkins said.

"Big deal. How about we take this to the basketball court? I’ll crush you there," Shaq grumbled.

"That's no fun. I never said I wanted to play basketball against you," Hopkins shrugged.

With the fun over, the party continued.

Link suggested to Shaq they play basketball sometime, to which Shaq eagerly agreed. Grinning, he planned to dunk on Link a few times to regain his pride.

"Hey, Shaq, how about I post the video of your fight online?" De La Hoya teased, holding the camera.

"No, I won’t allow that," Shaq protested. Posting the video would make him the butt of every joke.

"Shaq, you should totally agree. You're retired and a comedian now, while Link is a global superstar and billionaire. Think of the views you’d get from his fans," De La Hoya said, trying to convince him.

"Exactly. You said you'd play basketball with Link next time. Let us film that too, and you'll get your revenge!" De La Hoya and the others pushed.

After some thought, Shaq agreed but insisted they tell viewers he planned to get his revenge on the basketball court. De La Hoya grinned and accepted the terms.

---

After the fight, Link returned to Los Angeles, took a day off, and attended the American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre as a presenter.

This year's top nominees included Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with six nominations, Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake with five each, and artists like Ariana Grande, One Direction, Imagine Dragons, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and Charlie Puth all receiving nods.

Taylor Swift's new album Enchanted led in sales with 2.74 million copies, followed by Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience with 2.43 million. Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP 2 sold 2.17 million, and Ariana Grande’s Yours Truly ranked fifth with 1.38 million. Selena Gomez's album ranked ninth with 1.09 million, and Charlie Puth’s Ego sold 1.02 million, landing at twelfth.

However, the highest-selling album this year was Link’s As It Was, which was released last year and sold 5.91 million copies in 2023, more than the top two combined.

Adele’s 21 also sold 1.29 million copies this year.

This year, the total annual sales in the U.S. record market were approximately 289.4 million units, a decline of about 8% compared to last year's 315 million units. Physical record sales continued to decrease, down 14% from last year, and for the first time, digital album sales also saw a slight drop of about 1%.

In terms of hit singles, Link's song "Reality," released in September, sold 8.33 million copies in just two months in the U.S., taking the top spot by a landslide. It was also the only song this year to sell over 8 million copies.

Ranked second and third were Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s hit single "Thrift Shop" and Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive," with sales of 6.15 million and 5.5 million copies, respectively.

Charlie Puth's single "Look At Me Now" ranked eighth with 3.4 million sales, while Ariana Grande’s "Problem" ranked 15th with 2.8 million copies sold.

This year, 106 songs in the U.S. record market sold over 1 million copies, and 38 songs sold over 2 million copies in 2013. The total annual single sales reached about 1.26 billion, a 6% decline from last year.

Looking at these numbers, the U.S. music industry performed slightly worse than last year.

Billboard magazine believes the main reason for the decline is the impact of free music platforms like Spotify. With free music available, fewer people are willing to pay to listen, and more people are taking advantage of it. Additionally, it has a lot to do with Link not releasing a new album.

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 549: Music Awards*

"Bro, you shouldn't have retired. Your fifth album sold over 10 million copies in a year, and your sixth would definitely have sold more. You could have made history and become a legend in the music world, but you were too lazy, so the legend never happened."

In the audience, Selena blinked her big eyes as she spoke.

"You're wrong. I'm already a legend. After all, who else can release five albums in four years, with three going platinum and two diamond, and achieve nearly 200 million global sales? Even MJ took 20 years to hit those numbers. Isn't that legendary enough?"

Link smiled.

"Not really. You could have been even more legendary, becoming the top figure in modern pop music. But because of your laziness, now you're only half a legend."

Selena sniffled dramatically.

"Half is good enough. Don't be too greedy in life."

Link responded calmly.

Selena pouted and playfully punched him before quickly leaning on Taylor for protection.

Link shook his head and continued watching the performance on stage.

On stage, Katy Perry performed her latest single, "Unconditionally," wearing a pink Japanese kimono and holding a traditional bamboo parasol. She had just released her third studio album Prism in early October, which debuted at number one with 280,000 first-week sales.

After Katy Perry's performance, Miley Cyrus took the stage. Miley, now 21, had undergone a transformation since last year, embracing a more provocative and risqué style. Her performances were often bold, sometimes more revealing than a Victoria's Secret show, which had drawn heavy criticism from mainstream media.

However, these daring performances successfully helped Miley transition from a child star to a sultry pop singer.

"Bro, the company is considering a transformation for me too. What do you think of me following Miley's style?"

Selena leaned over and asked.

"In music, it's all about individuality. Miley borrowed from Lady Gaga's style, which got her a lot of attention. But if you imitate Miley, it’ll just look like you lack originality and a unique selling point. Miley couldn't surpass Gaga, and you won't be able to surpass Miley. Do you think that’s a good idea?"

"That doesn’t sound great. Do you have any better suggestions, bro?"

Selena asked in a sweet voice.

Link shook his head. "Lady Gaga, Adele, Taylor, Katy Perry, and Pink each have their own style. Miley borrowed from Lady Gaga. Adele's style is too unique for you to imitate. Taylor and Katy's styles are similar to Britney Spears, who transitioned from a sweet and innocent image. She’s a successful model you can consider following."

Selena nodded thoughtfully. "What about you, bro? No one seems to imitate your style."

"I'm in a class of my own, with unmatched skills. Trying to imitate me would be a dead-end."

Link said with pride.

Selena pouted and whispered to Taylor.

The performances ended, and it was time for the awards to be handed out. First, the Best New Artist award went to Charlie Puth. He had released a trial EP in 2011, but after taking some time to study at Berklee College of Music, he made his official debut this year with the album Ego, which was both a critical and commercial success.

Charlie Puth’s win marked another success for Link Music, which had produced other stars like Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, and Ariana Grande—all of whom had previously won this award, showcasing the label's continued dominance.

Next was the award for Artist of the Year. The nominees included Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Macklemore, and Ariana Grande. The award went to Taylor.

"Taylor, amazing!" Selena cheered excitedly.

This was Taylor's third win in this category. She remained composed, hugging Selena before heading to the stage to give her acceptance speech. Though only 24, she had experienced much in recent years, transitioning from a sweet girl to a more confident and commanding figure.

The award for Single of the Year went to Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly for "Cruise."

As more awards were presented, Justin Timberlake won Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, while Selena Gomez won Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist.

"Bro, if you hadn't retired from these competitions, these awards would have been yours."

Selena muttered next to him.

Link clapped his hands, then paused and looked at her, puzzled. "Go accept your award. What are you mumbling about?"

"My award? What award?"

Selena blinked in confusion.

"Selena, congrats! You won!" Taylor laughed as she hugged Selena.

"Huh??"

Selena looked around, seeing everyone clapping and familiar faces congratulating her.

"I won?"

Still in disbelief, Selena was pushed toward the stage by Taylor, her face blank as she received the trophy from Bruno Mars.

It wasn’t until she held the crystal trophy in her hands that it hit her. Before she could even start her speech, tears started streaming down her face, as if she'd just won an Oscar.

"Such theatrics. It's not the Best Actress Oscar."

Link rubbed his forehead.

Taylor shot him a look and shouted, "Selena, you’re amazing!"

The audience clapped and cheered in agreement.

Calming down, Selena began her emotional acceptance speech, thanking the American Music Awards, her fans, her colleagues at the label, and even someone who had helped her write songs. She also talked about the pressure she felt having such a super-talented brother, constantly living in his shadow, always falling short despite her best efforts. Every time she attended an awards show, her "crazy talented" brother would win a bunch of trophies while she had none.

The crowd erupted in laughter, all eyes turning to Link.

Selena sniffled and continued, saying she had never expected to win this award, so she was overwhelmed with emotion. She thanked the AMA and her fans once again, promising to work harder to surpass Link.

As Selena finished her speech, the crowd applauded and laughed, teasing Link, asking how he felt about it.

Link, his face darkened, stayed silent.

Selena returned to her seat, grinning from ear to ear, still holding her trophy.

"Taylor, Link, look! I’ve got a trophy too!"

Selena beamed.

"You’re amazing, Selena. But be careful—your acceptance speech might have upset a certain someone," Taylor teased.

"Uh, bro, if I say I got too emotional and accidentally spoke my mind—oh wait, I mean I misspoke—would you forgive me?"

Selena smiled sheepishly.

Link pinched her ear gently. "What did you say earlier? That I’m a shadow? Do you even know what you're saying? Every one of your albums has songs I wrote. And you dare call me a shadow? Do you have a conscience?"

"Ah, my bad! I was just too excited and accidentally said the wrong thing. I promise I won’t do it again!"

Selena blinked her wide, innocent eyes, pleading.

Not wanting to be caught on camera looking like he was bullying Selena, Link released her ear and said, "I'll give you a chance to redo your acceptance speech."

"Okay!"

Selena’s eyes lit up as she launched into a string of compliments, calling him the sun, the morning star, the guiding light, and the most important person in her life. She praised him as the coolest, most talented person in the world, showering him with hundreds of flattering words.

"Bro, is that good enough?"

Selena asked sweetly.

"From now on, before bed, repeat those words to yourself three times. Then you won’t mess up next time."

Link replied with a straight face.

"Three times every day? Just kill me now."

Selena’s face fell as she collapsed onto Taylor. "Link’s bullying me."

"Ignore him. He’s a shadow, everyone’s shadow. You shouldn’t have to apologize to him."

Taylor hugged Selena.

"Mm-hmm!"

Selena nodded, glaring at Link. But as soon as he looked back, she quickly smiled, her survival instincts kicking in.

The awards ceremony continued. The award for Favorite Pop/Rock Group and Favorite Pop/Rock Album went to One Direction for Take Me Home. The British boy band had risen to fame after competing on The X Factor in 2010 and quickly became a sensation. Their popularity skyrocketed, and after performing at the London Olympics closing ceremony, they signed a U.S. management deal with Link Music. Both albums they released in the past year sold over a million copies in the U.S., solidifying them as one of the hottest acts in the music world.

In the country music category, Taylor won Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Country Album.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis took home Favorite Rap Artist and Favorite Rap Album.

Justin Timberlake and Rihanna won Favorite R&B Male and Female Artists, respectively.

Taylor also won the ‘Pop Icon Award,’ making her the biggest winner of the night with four trophies.

"Bro, Taylor’s now surpassed you in AMA wins. She might even break some of the records you set. Are you nervous?" Selena asked.

"Not at all. All those records were set before I turned 24. No one can break them. You can ask Taylor if she’s confident."

Link smiled.

Taylor wrinkled her nose. "How's that instrumental track coming along?"

"Almost done. It'll be out next month. I guarantee it'll be another number-one hit."

Link said confidently.

"You really think an instrumental track can hit number one?"

Taylor looked at him doubtfully.

"Just get ready for that date," Link teased with a grin.

Taylor rolled her eyes and left the awards show, arm in arm with Selena.

——

After the American Music Awards, Link returned to the training ground to continue practicing boxing in preparation for next year's heavyweight title challenge across the four major organizations.

At that time, he will face several top fighters in the heavyweight division: Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder, Tony "The Tiger" Thompson, Kubrat "The Cobra" Pulev, and British champion Tyson Fury.

He will also compete against WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin, WBC world champion Vitali Klitschko, and WBO-IBF world champion Wladimir Klitschko.

These fighters are younger than James Toney and Evander Holyfield and represent the core strength of the heavyweight division.

If Link wants to claim the four championship belts from them, he will have to fight hard.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 550: Playing Basketball*

"Link, have I gained weight?"

"No, your figure is just perfect."

In the locker room of the Muscle Beach Training Gym, Link wiped the water from his body. In the mirror, Emma Roberts stood with her hair down, her petite frame wet and her fair, soft skin contrasting sharply with his muscular build.

"You seem to be getting stronger."

"Of course, I work out every day."

Link glanced at the mirror, where his eight-pack abs were clearly defined without effort, more muscular and aesthetically pleasing than many bodybuilders.

Emma stared at him for a moment, blushing as she knelt down in front of him. Link, enjoying her obedience, gently patted her head.

---

After leaving the locker room, Link was about to head home but noticed Shaquille O'Neal holding a basketball on the court. Dressed in a red jersey and white sneakers, he looked like a giant, with Oscar De La Hoya, Hopkins, Morales, and Mario standing nearby. De La Hoya even had a camera in hand.

"What are you guys doing?" Link asked.

"Link, Shaq's challenging you to a basketball game. Come on over!" De La Hoya replied.

Shaq grinned, "Hey Link, we promised to play basketball last time. How about today?"

"In such a hurry? I was planning to take you to the Staples Center this weekend for a Clippers game," Link laughed, carrying his gym bag.

"Let's practice today. I want to see how good you are, and we can hit the arena this weekend," Shaq said, spinning the basketball on his finger.

"Alright, let’s play a game."

"Haha, awesome!" Shaq shouted excitedly, telling De La Hoya to get the camera ready and make sure to capture everything so they could post it on YouTube. De La Hoya agreed with a chuckle.

Link and Shaq headed to the indoor court next door, one of the club's training and recreational areas. Sometimes, after his training, Link would team up with Hopkins, Morales, and others to play basketball.

At first, Link thought they would play in teams, but Shaq insisted on a one-on-one to test his skills. Link didn’t mind.

Before they started, Shaq put his arm around De La Hoya, telling him to follow closely and capture the moment he blocked Link’s shot—especially in HD. De La Hoya gave him an "OK" gesture, joking that Shaq should be careful not to get crushed by Link. Shaq laughed heartily, saying that was impossible.

Hopkins and Morales exchanged knowing glances.

The game began, and Shaq decided to give Link the ball first as a courtesy. Link took the ball, stood outside the three-point line, and jumped for a shot. Swish! The ball slid smoothly through the net.

Shaq's eye twitched as he tossed the ball back to Link, raising his arms to play tight defense.

Link made another move, a quick step back, and shot again from the three-point line. Swish! The ball went in effortlessly.

Shaq stared at the hoop, grumbling, "Two-man basketball is about physical confrontation. Shots from beyond the three-point line don't count."

Link went along with Shaq's rule and started dribbling closer. As Shaq moved in to defend, Link suddenly accelerated past him, driving to the basket for an easy dunk.

"Great move!"

"Nicely done, Link."

"Haha, Shaq, is that all you've got? Former NBA top center, huh?" Morales and Hopkins teased.

"Shut up! I was just warming up. Now I'll take it seriously," Shaq shouted, heading to the basket, arms raised. He dared Link to come at him, promising not to let him score this time.

Link approached slowly, then burst forward, leaping up and slamming the ball with one hand over Shaq's head.

"Wow! That was insane! Definitely top 10 for the month."

"Shaq, how about that?" Morales and the others shouted.

"Shut up!" Shaq barked, glaring at Link. "Again!"

Link dunked over Shaq five more times before missing a sixth shot, giving Shaq possession of the ball.

Dripping with sweat, Shaq roared as he charged to the hoop, slamming the ball into the net with a force that made the backboard shake.

"Again!" Shaq pounded his chest and yelled.

Link smiled and passed him the ball, watching as Shaq roared and dunked again.

After the second dunk, Shaq pounded his chest for the camera, shouting to release his frustration. By the third dunk, he was getting excited, flashing a grin at Link.

But on his fourth attempt, as he prepared for a flashy dunk, Link leapt from behind and smacked the ball out of his hands, sending it bouncing across the court.

"Nice one!" Morales and the others cheered.

Shaq landed, staring at his empty hands, his face twitching in frustration.

When Link got ready to inbound the ball, Shaq complained about a foul, claiming Link had hit his hand. Without a referee or high-definition cameras to settle the matter, there was no way to know.

Link didn’t argue and handed the ball back to Shaq.

As Shaq drove to the hoop again, Link swiftly stole the ball, spun past Shaq, and finished with a reverse dunk.

Swish! Another basket. The score was now 6-3 in Link's favor.

With his speed, agility, and leaping ability, Link continued to score despite Shaq's attempts to block him, leaving Shaq fuming.

The final score was 10-3, or 12-3 if you counted the two three-pointers. Link won the game easily.

"Haha, Link won!"

"Shaq, how are you feeling?"

"Shaq, is it frustrating? Don’t worry, everyone who plays against Link feels that way," De La Hoya said, pointing the camera at the sweaty, panting Shaq sitting on the floor.

Shaq wiped the sweat from his face and turned to Link, saying, "Man, you're so good at basketball. You could easily be an NBA All-Star."

"I just play for fun. Never thought about the NBA," Link replied, bouncing the ball.

"Link makes over a hundred million from one boxing match. No way he'd switch to basketball," De La Hoya joked.

Shaq grunted and pointed to De La Hoya's camera, saying, "Stop filming. Don't post this."

The last time he fought Link in Las Vegas, a video of him getting knocked out by a single punch went viral, hitting the top of trending lists in just three hours and amassing over 55 million views on YouTube in a day.

Viewers laughed at Shaq, seeing him get knocked down, even while wearing protective gear. Friends called to ask if he was okay and if he’d been hit too hard.

Those days were tough for Shaq.

Trying to regain some dignity, Shaq had come to the gym to challenge Link in basketball, hoping to beat him at his own game. But now, he’d only lost more face.

He couldn’t believe that Link, a boxer, was also so skilled at basketball—fast, agile, with great hops and a killer three-point shot. He was just as good as any NBA player.

He'd tried his best to defend, but it wasn’t enough. He wasn’t letting De La Hoya post that video this time.

"Too late! Look over there," De La Hoya said, pointing to the crowd. At least a dozen spectators had been recording on their phones. Someone had probably already uploaded a video online. Both Shaq and Link were public figures, and sharing photos or videos of them didn’t violate privacy laws.

"Shit!" Shaq cursed, glaring at the crowd. He was going to be a laughingstock again.

"Don’t worry about it. Everyone knows how good Link is. Losing to him is no big deal," De La Hoya reassured him with a laugh.

Shaq frowned. He could accept being knocked out in a boxing match, but being dominated by Link in basketball—his own sport—was embarrassing. Word would spread, and people would definitely laugh.

He regretted ever challenging Link.

---

The video of Shaq and Link's one-on-one basketball game was posted to YouTube by De La Hoya and hit 68 million views within a day, surpassing 200 million within three days. It topped trending charts on Twitter, Yahoo, and Facebook, even surpassing the hype from their boxing match.

Fans were amazed by Link's precise three-point shots and his powerful, elegant dunks—especially the one where he dunked over Shaq, the former NBA top center. They were in awe.

Link’s athletic prowess was world-renowned, and fans joked that he should join the NBA, win a championship ring, and become the first athlete in history to hold both a world boxing title and an NBA championship ring.

However, Link was too busy and had no interest in playing professional basketball.

As for Shaq, fans responded with light-hearted laughter. After all, he was a retired player, and being outmatched by the younger and more agile Link was understandable.

Fans even encouraged Shaq to challenge Link again and keep providing fresh, entertaining content.

(End of Chapter)