Kamogawa Boxing Gym
Thinking about it is making me depressed.
That wasn't boxing!
I won't call it that!
Looks like your resolve is firm.
Yes.
Good, then I'll get right to the point.
Your opponent in your next title defense
will be Sawamura Ryuuhei!
The Mad Dog and The Red Wolf
Oh, Ryuuhei, it's you!
Kawabe-sensei.
I'm going to fight for the Japanese title.
Th-The Japanese title?
Really? You're finally...
It was you who first took me to a boxing gym.
Thanks to that, I'll be the best in Japan soon.
Wow, good for you. I'm so happy.
I've kept up with your career. They say you throw lightning bolts.
Lightning?
Oh, my counter punches?
I could win without them, but see...
Counters use the opponent's strength against him.
You know what that means?
It produces twice the force.
One punch does double the damage!
That's a real math teacher's answer.
They've got a different feeling to them compared to normal punches...
The feel of the opponent's pulverized flesh comes through twice as clear.
You really get the sense that you're beating up a human being.
Boxers are a stupid breed, huh?
They come themselves looking to fight...
and let me feast on their flesh to my heart's content.
I really fit in their world.
It's fantastic.
I beat people into the ground and get praised for it.
N-No, they praise you for training hard and earning those victories.
To win in boxing is to leave your opponent crawling at your feet.
To drown them in blood.
I wonder how the Japanese champ's flesh will taste...
Tough and chewy?
Tender?
I knew his mind was warped by loneliness after his parents abandoned him,
but I thought being surrounded by strong people
and learning the value of hard work
would put him back on the straight and narrow.
That's why I brought him to my friend's boxing gym.
Instead, his talent has only isolated him further.
I may have actually given that mad dog...
...the feast that he craved.
You're really fighting him?
It's already arranged.
What's your strategy, though?
I know you know the Dempsey Roll's weakness.
Weakness?
Indeed. It's weak to counters.
Though the left-right swinging motion gives you the recoil to hit harder,
that swinging maintains a consistent rhythm.
If one figured out the rhythm and timed their punches to it,
you'd get crunched.
All that power would get turned right back on the user.
Modern boxing is all about rhythm, speed, and counters...
It just won't work.
That being said,
you need both fortitude
and superior technique to stand up to the Dempsey Roll.
Until now, I figured the only guy in Japan who had both was Miyata.
Sawamura-san called the Dempsey a clumsy move.
He must be confident that he can counter it.
But it's my only move...
I want to beat him with the Dempsey Roll!
Look who's pumped up for once!
The odds are against you there.
If he's got a counter-strategy,
I just need to train until I improve enough to negate it.
I'm going to evolve the Dempsey Roll!
Evolve it!
Awesome!
How're you gonna evolve it?
I wasn't expecting you to ask me how...
You've got no idea!
You just pulled that evolution spiel out of your ass!
I-I'll be fine.
I'll just keep practicing.
Our gym has two accomplished outboxers who're good at counter-punches.
Us?
Okay, we'll destroy the Dempsey before Sawamura even has a chance!
Gear up. Time to spar!
I'll be throwing my best shots.
Same here.
I'm gunning for you. Don't get too upset when I shoot you down!
Fight!
He's leading off with it!
I see...
He's a pendulum moving at a constant speed.
Tick, tock, tick, tock...
There, gotcha!
Why'd you back up? You totally had him!
Get lost, you wuss!
Itagaki, you're up.
N-No chance.
I figured out the timing while I watched,
but when the time came to punch, I froze, too.
Don't tell me you're chicken, too.
Easy for you to say.
If it's so damn simple, then you get in here.
It's like reaching out to grab a live grenade.
Say what?
You get it, Ippo?
The idea's to throw punches that match your rhythm.
It seems simple enough, but you need the skills and the balls.
Without both, it's not gonna happen.
Evolving the Dempsey Roll is the only way you'll beat Sawamura.
But the fatal flaw is that you've got no way to practice it.
Doesn't matter how many different variations you think up.
Nothing's gonna work if you don't iron out the kinks in real life.
Like how Takamura-san's Look-Away failed—
Anyway, if you don't do something drastic,
you're gonna lose.
Balls, huh...
But what if you didn't have to be brave?
What if that was an option?
Kimura-san knew counters were the weakness, but he couldn't punch.
You don't realize how much pressure it is until you face it.
If you could recognize it for what it is, and overcome the fear,
you could definitely land a counter.
You're not putting your hips into it!
You're distracted.
I-I'm sorry.
I understand why you're worried, but evolution takes time.
Still, I realize telling you not to think about it won't do any good.
So go on, fret as much as you like.
But do it while you run around dragging that.
The constant twisting the Dempsey Roll demands
puts a lot of strain on your legs and back.
Whatever theory of evolution you come up with
won't be worth squat if your body can't handle it.
Now run, run, run!
Finishing Move Theory
Finishing Moves & their Weaknesses
Oh no, our precious notes!
Those are top secret! Pick them up!
Hold it.
Buh-whu?
Finishing Move Theory
What are these?
Umm... just reports of some research we did on our own...
Back off!
I-If you'd like our help...
Y-You could at least say "please."
Put a sock in it.
I'll take any help I can get right now.
The Frog Punch
It's all Aoki-san's moves broken down in ridiculous detail.
In a way, this is pretty impressive.
Anything on the Dempsey Roll?
T-Towards the back.
There.
The Dempsey Roll is, well...
"The Dempsey Roll is, well..."
Where's the rest?
Why's it blank?
It's boring.
What do you mean, boring?!
Finish the report!
I-If you're gonna be mean about it, give us back the books.
D-Don't reach out at me from the side like that.
Team Aoki actually scared me for a second.
That's it!
Give it back!
You two actually come in handy sometimes!
You solved the mystery of the Dempsey Roll?
Yeah, I realized why you feel so much pressure
and came up with a way to overcome the fear.
You did?!
The key word is...
Blind.
You mean like a blind angle, or a blind spot?
Precisely.
As he builds up momentum for the Dempsey Roll,
from your point of view, he's constantly disappearing to the left or right.
He moves from blind spot to blind spot
at top speed before throwing a punch.
Add in the way he twists his body,
and the punches are even harder to track.
So you've got Senpai putting all his power
into punches coming at you from who-knows-where.
All that intimidation dulls our senses to the point that
we can't punch, no matter how obvious the timing is.
The solution is to take blind spots out of the equation!
How the hell do you do that?
It's actually simple.
You just need to back up a little,
even half a step, and get Senpai's whole body in your cone of vision.
Then he can't punch from a blind spot.
And when it's an ordinary hook, you can deal with it...
You think Sawamura...
I'm sure he's aware.
I doubt he'd have the gall to call it a clumsy move if he wasn't.
Just hooks...
...that are really easy to counter, huh?
We need to help Senpai.
We might fail at first,
but eventually we'll be able to land counters on him.
You're out, though. You're in the middle of the Rookie King tournament.
Screwing up in a spar could cost you the win.
It's on me, isn't it? I don't wanna...
Please, Kimura-san!
Die with honor, Kimura!
I'm doomed...
I'm still too worked up.
I know building up stamina is important, but the stress is winning out!
I want to do more in-ring training!
No way.
It can't be...
V—
Take these.
I doubt I'll have a need for them back home.
Makunouchi...
Sayonara.
I finally found you.
Vorg-san!
What are you doing here?!
I have no idea what's going on, but it's great to see you again!
What're you doing back in Japan? You're really Vorg-san, right?!
D-Don't talk so fast. My Japanese isn't that good.
Well, it's just great to see you!
You're not here to sightsee, right?
Are you...
I'm planning a comeback.
He's still intimidating.
His eyes look every bit as sharp as before.
I'm planning to go to America,
but first, I came to pick up the things I left with you.
Your gloves!
Can do! I took very good care of them!
Thank you.
You're covered in dirt. What happened?
I arrived in Japan two days ago, but your house is so hard to find.
But Japan's so nice and warm, I can sleep anywhere.
You slept outside?!
Stay at my house. You can stay as long as you want!
Makunouchi Fishing Boat
Dinner's ready!
Thank you so much. Sorry for the trouble.
This is delicious! I love it!
You're serving natto?
Nat-to?
I'm sorry! Drink some tea!
I-It's okay...
What the heck, Mom?
I thought it must be hard to find in Russia...
Jeez...
Guess it was too much.
You know it's an acquired taste.
Sorry...
Mom, when you passed, it left a big hole in my heart.
Now I'm off to find something to fill it with.
I'm returning to the ring.
There aren't many rings that'll accept you.
Your amateur championship credentials don't mean much anymore.
It'll be a harsh battle.
I know.
But I'm going to pin my hopes
on my fists again, in a new world.
The land of the free...
America?
But first I need to pick something up from a friend.
I think seeing him will reignite that old fire.
I'm not scared.
I'm only looking forward.
There's nothing left for me to look back on, or even leave behind.
Vorg-san?
What's wrong? Are you all right?
Uh, nothing... Oh, right, Makunouchi!
I need a favor.
Sure.
The truth is, I don't know a single person in America.
I don't know where I should go first.
You're going overseas with no destination?!
Can you introduce me to anyone?
I'll talk to my coach.
It'll all work out!
You can stay here until you've made proper arrangements.
Many, many thanks!
That's incredible. You beat Sendou Takeshi in an infight!
Well, here's one of my recent defenses.
That fight ended up turning into a test of endurance...
Sorry, I got a little too into it.
I must say, this Dempsey Roll especially impresses me.
I'm already trying to figure out how I'd deal with it.
Well, how would you?
Unreal.
You do this every night before bed?
Yes.
Someone once taught me how to properly chop wood.
I do this as a substitute. It builds arm strength and core stability.
One hundred reps per arm, then another hundred with both, for 300 total.
Three hundred?! No wonder you're so strong.
So, um...
I have a favor to ask, too.
Will you spar with me?
Recently, I realized the Dempsey Roll's weak point.
It's vulnerable to counters,
and my next opponent's a counter specialist.
I can't find a sparring partner who'll...
I'm sorry, Makunouchi.
I'm not the same man I was back when they called me the White Fang.
It's been a long time since I did any boxing.
I'd be of no use to you.
N-No!
I can't imagine ring rust would affect someone like you.
You've gotten strong...
really strong.
Me, I'm just a wolf with no fangs now.
Rebuilding my body
and regaining my instincts... it's going to take time.
More time than you have to spare. I'm sorry.
N-No, it's...
I apologize.
Forget I said anything.
But, Vorg-san, saying you have no fangs is going too far.
They're as sharp and healthy as ever. They're just hidden right now!
Thank you.
Nagoya Karil Boxing Gym
You've gotta be kidding me, Coach Karil!
I brought you a heavy hitter to help prepare for Makunouchi.
Sawamura's attitude is inexcusable!
The bell rang. Now fight me.
You're not even looking at me...
He said he wants to fight. Knock him out!
Who does he think he is?!
If he's looking that way, he can't see my punches!
Not enough.
You're too slow.
Makunouchi steps in at least 30 percent faster.
You kicked him, you bastard!
Damn you. We're never coming back here!
Good. Your guys aren't even useful to train on.
I should be reprimanding him, but that was unbelievable.
He knew the punch would come from a blind angle, like the Dempsey Roll,
but he countered it flawlessly without the slightest hint of fear!
As a human being, he's pure scum,
but as a boxer he's impeccable!
Coach.
Y-Yeah?
I'm still hungry.
I need more meat.
Bring me some higher quality cuts tomorrow, please.
Meat with speed, meat that has some fight in it...
All right, leave it to me.
I doubt it'll satisfy you, though.
Sawamura's hunger won't be satiated, no matter
how many sparring partners he beats up.
That hunger does nothing but sharpen his senses.
On the day of the title match, that mad dog will bare his fangs!
A Savage Scenario