*Chapter 235: The Box Office Battle*

On Monday, The New York Post dedicated its sports section headline to Richard once again, covering the interview and additional information obtained from Starshine Management, filling up half a page.

The headline was "In Pursuit of Defeat," explaining that Starshine Sports had chosen this as the title for Richard's upcoming matches. The purpose, as Richard stated, was to experience a loss during this series of matches, hoping to gain valuable lessons and experience from it.

The article quoted several of Richard’s remarks, such as "I'm not an ordinary boxer; advice for ordinary boxers doesn't apply to me," "I'm looking forward to losing," "Failure often benefits me more than success," and "I'll let my fists do the talking."

After the article was published, many readers couldn’t help but think the same thing: "He's as arrogant as ever." This also reminded people of Richard's early days in the professional boxing world.

Back then, he was also young and reckless, openly challenging Tyson, Roy Jones, and Lennox Lewis in the press.

Since winning the championship belt, Richard had changed a lot, becoming more humble, low-key, and composed. His demeanor in the ring was also more refined, a stark contrast to his previously sharp and brash personality.

Many believed he had matured, but now it seemed that deep down, he was still the same audacious young man, unchanged in his core.

"Mr. Tyson, what do you think about this upcoming match?" A reporter caught up with the former boxing champion, Mike Tyson, after an event in Las Vegas.

"Haha, this is interesting, especially the 'In Pursuit of Defeat' part. Back when I had a 37-fight winning streak, I didn't dare to use such a title, but he does—he’s even bolder than I was," Tyson grinned.

Since being released from prison, Tyson had been mired in debt, owing over $47 million to the banks. He was on the brink of bankruptcy, which had made him more reserved over the past two years.

"Mr. Tyson, a lot of people are speculating how many rounds Richard can last. Do you have a guess?" the reporter asked.

"Richard is pretty strong—he could probably last five or six rounds. Oh, and when you report this, make sure to mention that I'm still waiting for him to challenge me. He said he would years ago, but he hasn’t shown up yet. If he doesn’t hurry, I’ll be retired by the time he does," Tyson replied, clenching his fists.

"Will do!"

In addition to Tyson, reporters also gathered opinions from other boxing legends like George Foreman, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield.

The "Demon" Foreman said, "I’ve watched many of his fights. He’s a cautious fighter who uses his brain in the ring. This move is impulsive, but it fits his age. He’s only 23, already a Grand Slam Super Champion—a feat hard to match, both now and in the future."

Lennox Lewis added, "Sometimes, losing a fight can indeed be beneficial, but what’s more important is being able to rise again afterward."

Evander Holyfield remarked, "Yes, I’ve sparred with him privately. He’s a very brave person—no matter who his opponent is, he never shows fear in his eyes. I’m not sure if he can last this time, but I hope he doesn’t get too discouraged if he loses. The boxing world needs more talented fighters like him."

With so many boxing legends weighing in, the story gained even more traction, not only within the boxing community but internationally as well.

Just as the media was gearing up to learn more from Richard, they suddenly discovered that instead of focusing on his training, he had appeared on a movie talk show.

"Richard, there’s been a lot of news about you lately, particularly about naming your upcoming matches 'In Pursuit of Defeat.' Is that true?" the host of the TNT talk show asked during the recording.

"Yes, that’s right. Many people say it’s inevitable for a boxer to lose at some point, so why can’t I actively seek out a loss?" Richard shrugged.

"Haha, Richard, I hope you get what you’re looking for," Paul Walker joked.

"Should I thank you for that?" Richard replied.

"You're welcome!" Paul laughed.

The host asked a few more off-topic questions before steering the conversation back to the main topic of the day: The Fast and the Furious.

The movie was set to release soon, and the cast was making the rounds to promote it.

"Director Cohen, we know that car racing films are not a new genre. From the early days of the film industry, there have always been elements of racing. So, how does The Fast and the Furious stand out from previous car racing movies?" the host asked.

"There are many innovations. This is a pure racing film, with most of the scenes centered around cars. It tells the story of street racing culture, with cool guys, hot girls, explosive music, sleek cars, and intense action scenes. Secondly, the scale of this film is much larger, with even more spectacular stunts.

During the filming, we used over 1,500 cars and destroyed 120 of them. There are a lot of stunt sequences, so I must thank the stunt team and the actors who put in a lot of effort during the shoot," Director Rob Cohen explained in detail, talking about the film’s highlights for three or four minutes.

The host then turned the focus to the cast.

"Mr. Brad, do you enjoy racing in real life?" the host asked.

"I prefer watching races—it’s a thrilling and exciting spectacle. But I rarely drive fast myself because I have daily training and matches to prepare for. An injury could greatly impact that, and my agent is always reminding me to keep my speed under 100 mph," Richard answered.

"Who’s the best driver on set?" the host asked.

"Paul!" Richard, Michelle Rodriguez, and Katie Holmes all pointed to Paul Walker.

Paul pointed to himself as well. "Yes, I’m an amateur racer. I love racing and that adrenaline rush—it’s extremely exciting."

"Aren’t you afraid of getting hurt?" the host asked.

"There’s always a risk of getting hurt no matter what you do. It’s just a matter of probability. As long as we’re in control of the car, we can minimize that risk. Of course, this also tests one’s courage. Those who are too timid won’t dare to try," Paul Walker said, glancing at Richard with a smile.

Richard shrugged, "This isn't about bravery; it's more about personality. I don't really like taking risks."

"Is that so, Richard? I heard you used to spar with sharks in the ocean, and now you're taking on seven boxing champions. Isn't that risky?"

Katie Holmes laughed.

"Katie, that's a good question," Paul Walker chuckled.

Richard smiled, "That's not taking a risk. Pushing your limits in a field you're good at is training. Seeking thrills in areas you're not good at is what I'd call risky."

Since the show was pre-recorded and would be edited later, they chatted a bit off-topic before returning to the movie.

"Richard, your action scenes are great. Are there any action scenes in this movie?" the host asked.

"Yes, this is a street racing movie, so naturally, it includes those elements—gunfights, boxing, you name it. You'll see when it comes out. No matter where I am, I'm always up for a fight," Richard joked.

"Do you have any interesting stories from the set to share?" the host directed this question to the cast.

Everyone started chiming in with their stories.

The interview lasted over two hours, gathering enough material for the promotion before they left the TV station.

"See you tomorrow, Richard!" Paul Walker waved as he drove off in his roaring sports car.

Richard shook his head, knowing it was hard to dissuade Paul from anything.

"Hey, Richard, can I catch a ride?" Katie Holmes approached.

"Hop in, Katie!" Richard opened the car door.

"Thanks!" Katie Holmes smiled.

Beep, beep~

Richard drove out of the parking lot.

Michelle Rodriguez walked out of the hallway and muttered a curse.

The next day, the crew continued with the promotion.

The first round of promotion lasted seven days. Compared to other movies, The Fast and the Furious had a much smaller promotional campaign.

The reason was simple: Universal Studios didn’t place much importance on this project. Universal had several major projects this year, including Jurassic Park III, The Mummy Returns, Spy Game, Hannibal, Meet the Parents, and A Beautiful Mind.

With a budget of only $40 million, The Fast and the Furious was just a B-grade production.

On May 25th, The Fast and the Furious premiered in Los Angeles, opening in 3,321 theaters across the U.S., which was a moderate release scale.

But the first-week box office results were quite impressive—$45.08 million, coming in second place, just $5 million behind the first place Pearl Harbor, which grossed $50.89 million.

Pearl Harbor had a budget of $135 million and premiered in 4,226 theaters.

This outcome surprised many people.

Richard's movie could actually compete head-to-head with one starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

There had been talk that Richard almost became the lead in Pearl Harbor, but the producers eventually chose Matt and Ben. Now, with both movies releasing simultaneously, the direct competition sparked a lot of speculation.

Some well-informed media also dug up a big scoop about The Bourne Identity, fabricating many rumors.

Meanwhile, the distributors of the two films, Buena Vista and Universal, increased their marketing efforts, each side digging up dirt on the other, setting the stage for a head-to-head showdown.

Media outlets promoting The Fast and the Furious criticized Pearl Harbor for having a shallow plot and a disjointed story, turning a tragic war epic into a silly, superficial, and outdated romance.

In return, Pearl Harbor's PR team criticized The Fast and the Furious for having a thin plot, focusing solely on car racing, and being a low-budget production.

The media feud made a lot of noise, turning it into the hottest topic in the entertainment industry.

In its second week, The Fast and the Furious expanded to 500 more theaters and topped the box office with $44.17 million, while Pearl Harbor saw a steep decline, earning just over $38 million.

Pearl Harbor's reputation worsened because people expected a spectacular epic from a $135 million movie, only to find it was just a melodramatic love triangle with a poor plot and many flaws.

In contrast, The Fast and the Furious received a more forgiving reception from audiences who appreciated the thrills it delivered on a smaller budget.

With The Fast and the Furious overtaking the $100 million blockbuster Pearl Harbor in its second week, the winner of the box office battle was clear.

As the lead actor, Richard gained even more fame, becoming the media's darling with constant coverage.

This was his second film to break the $100 million mark, boosting his status and allowing him to command a $15 million fee per film. However, he had a busy year ahead and wouldn't have time to take on new roles for now.

"Richard, now that the promotion is over, take a few days off and get ready to shoot The Bourne Identity," Old Hall said.

"Got it!" Richard returned home.

(End of Chapter)