Tomorrow's hope

Joe's next opponent was Javier "El Toro" Vargas, a Mexican boxer. Vargas was known for his aggressive style and hard punches. He kept his opponents under constant pressure, making them let their guard down. This fight was the perfect opportunity to test Joe's new skills.

When the fight started, Vargas immediately went on the attack. The crowd thought Joe would be on the back foot from the first round. But Joe coolly parried Vargas' attacks, watching his every move carefully. Gus shouted from the corner: "Patience, Joe! He'll be beaten at his own game."

In the second round Vargas became more aggressive, but Joe's defence was almost flawless. He blocked every punch with his guard, letting his opponent drain his energy. By the end of the third round, Vargas was beginning to tire. Joe had been waiting for this moment.

In the fourth round, Joe dropped Vargas' guard with a quick combination and then landed a hard right hook. Vargas staggered, but remained standing. This time, however, Joe turned up the pressure. He dominated the ring and had his opponent cornered. He was countering Vargas' every move, keeping him on the defensive.

By the sixth round, Joe's combinations had completely broken Vargas' endurance. The referee saw that Vargas could no longer defend himself and stopped the fight. Joe won by technical knockout.

After the Vargas victory, Joe's name was no longer just talked about in Boston, but across the country. But instead of getting lost in the fame and glory, Joe focused on improving himself. He was no longer just a tough fighter, but an intelligent and strategic boxer.

Gus said to Joe one day: "You're not just a puncher in the ring anymore. You're an artist, Joe. You win by reading your opponents' moves, their fears and weaknesses. But it's gonna get harder and harder. The closer you get to the top, the more people will try to pull you down."

With Gus' words in mind, Joe continued to train. But big changes were also taking place in his life outside the ring. Sponsorship deals, media attention, and curiosity about his personal life began to strain Joe mentally.

A big decision was in front of Joe: To face one of his toughest opponents on his way to becoming world champion. But this fight would not just be a physical contest. Joe had to prove himself without being overwhelmed by fame and pressure.

Joe's boxing career was taking off, but with each victory he faced tougher opponents. Now he was winning not only with power, but also with strategy. But there was something missing: Joe wanted him to fight with more intelligence. Gus taught him one of the most recognisable moves in boxing history: The Dempsey Turn,

a strategy used by boxers to penetrate their opponents' defences. The Dempsey Turn was especially effective against opponents who had strengthened their defence. The move required a sudden counter-attack as the opponent turned to the right or left while throwing a punch. With this move, Joe was able to quickly find the weak points in his opponent's defence and gain a huge advantage over him.

Sam Riley, while having Joe practise this move, said: "Speed and timing are very important, Joe. If you get it right, you can beat your opponent. But remember, it's always risky. You have to defend and attack at the same time."

Joe began to learn the Dempsey Turn and adapt it to his own style. During training sessions, he worked day and night to perfect the technique. Gus and Sam watched his every move, correcting his mistakes and teaching him how to attack and defend with this new technique.