A desperate defense! The belt is safe!
An Explosive New Dempsey Roll!
Time for me to step into my own ring!
Yamaguchi Orthopedics
Empowering Words
The MRI of your brain came back clean, huh?
Yes!
Well, that's one relief.
Be thankful your parents gave you such a sturdy body!
I-I certainly am.
However...
Ow!
Your lower body wasn't so lucky.
Yamaguchi Orthopedics
Change the wrappings on your back and left knee frequently.
And absolutely no training for the time being!
Y-You can't be serious! Not even light exercise?
Right. I'll be good.
You can have this, too. Make sure you use it.
Isn't that a little much?
I can walk just fine.
I-I'll use it.
Listen, Ippo-kun.
I'm going to give you a clear warning.
Stop relying on the Dempsey Roll.
It causes enough stress to the body as it is,
but the increased tempo of the new version
will do nothing but shorten your career.
The more you use it, the sooner you'll end up retiring.
Retiring...
Yamaguchi Orthopedics
You've still got goals to reach, haven't you?
You don't want them to end here, do you?
If you want to achieve them,
refrain from using that move.
I believe you're strong enough to win without the Dempsey Roll.
Win without the Dempsey Roll.
But could I have knocked out Sawamura-san without using it?
If my next opponent is on the same level,
how am I supposed to win?
You've still got goals to reach, haven't you?
You don't want them to end here, do you?
If you want to achieve them...
That day can't be far off.
I can't just stand in one place.
No matter what happens to me once I get there...
If I don't make it at all, it'll all be for naught!
Makounochi Fishing Boat
Umezawa-kun!
Say, Ippo,
you remember the pact we made when I first started working at the Fishing Boat?
Pact?
Oh, yes, of course!
L-Look at this.
They're good!
You drew these?!
I never knew you were such a good artist!
Wait, so is your dream...
Yeah, I want to be a manga artist.
I'll show my manga to you first when it's done.
I guarantee you'll like it.
So, you finished it?!
Yeah. I'm thinking of entering it in a contest for new authors.
I want to read it!
I want you to. I'm really proud of it.
I can't wait!
Also, Ippo...
I talked to the boss already,
but I'm going to quit working at the Fishing Boat.
Watching you fight Sawamura helped me finalize my decision.
I'm going to pursue my dream to be a manga artist.
I'm a man, too. I want to be a winner, too.
I don't know if I'll make it, but I've got my dream.
I'll live or die by my manga. This is my debut fight!
Then you should do it, Umezawa-kun.
Ippo...
Makunouchi Fishing Boat
Wow, you drew all this?!
Now I'm all nervous...
Well, go ahead and read it.
By Umezawa Masahiro
A fishing manga!
Maa-bou'll GET YOU!
I wanted to do one about boxing,
but I'll save that for when I'm better, so I can get it serialized.
Plus, I had plenty of material for this one, after working here.
Right!
Hello, Senpai!
Oh, Itagaki-kun.
I'm not much of a critic,
so I figured it'd be better to have multiple opinions.
Oh, I see...
Twice the readers makes me twice as nervous.
Well, enjoy—
Wassup?!
What?! Y-You guys, too?!
By Umezawa Masahiro
Maa-bou'll GET YOU!
We get to read a good manga, right?
I'm very particular when it comes to manga.
The "M" of manga is also the "M" of Masaru, after all, right?
N-No way! You're all going to read it?!
Why did you bring them?
The more opinions the better, right?
Hand it over.
Okay...
If I don't laugh, I'll snap your neck.
Are there comedy scenes?
It's not a gag manga! Save me!
Pass it on a page at a time.
Hang on a second!
Oh, it's about fishing.
He's not even catching any.
Where's the fun if he's successful from page one?
What'd you say?!
I feel like I'm already dead...
Oh, he's got a big one on the line!
Hurry up and give me another page!
I said, "Wait." This is the good part!
Seems like they like it.
Yeah...
I can't keep waiting! Hand it over!
I wanna take my time reading it!
Let go!
Give me the next page, you jackass!
What have you done?!
Umezawa-kun worked so hard to fulfill his dream in that manuscript!
How the hell are you going to make up for this?!
They ran away!
Fix this before you go!
Why did you even come here?!
You're all horrible!
Umezawa-kun!
I'm so sorry!
It's all because I invited Itagaki-kun!
This is my fault! I'll help you fix it!
S-Stay with me, Umezawa-kun...
Did you hear them, Ippo?
"Give me the next page."
"I wanna take my time reading it."
Did you see that? They fought over it!
Yeah, they sure did.
Okay, I'm gonna fix the manuscript and send it in!
I can do this!
Umezawa-kun...
Honestly, I had no faith in myself.
I've been stressing over what I'd do if it bombed...
Everyone gets that way sometimes!
Now let's get moving, Umezawa-kun!
Yeah! My mind's made up now!
Oops, I went outside the lines!
It'll be fine with some white-out.
They only tore three pages. It won't take more than a night to finish.
Sorry to make the Japanese Champion help me with this.
A night?
Three pages takes a whole night?
Has he been drawing all night and still
waking up early to come to work all this time?
He's been working here since Mom collapsed,
and he really lightened the load on her.
Plus, he's always there to encourage me before fights.
How much has he helped Mom?
How much has he supported me?
I hope your manga sells well.
Aww, c'mon. You're jumping the gun here.
I'm only just now entering a contest.
This is only the beginning.
Thank you, Umezawa-kun.
Dig in, boys!
I put my cooking skills to the test here!
Don't hesitate to drop by sometimes.
Sure.
I've gotten so used to the warm atmosphere
and relaxed pace of life here.
Ippo, I'm sorry. Aren't you and the boss gonna be overloaded?
I've been worried about that...
Don't worry about us!
You've got your path toward being a manga artist to focus on!
What's wrong?
There's one last thing I need to get off my chest before I leave.
Is it that serious?
It's my way of getting closure, or whatever.
Back when we were in school,
I know there were many days when Ippo came home all beat up.
I'm sure you knew, Boss,
but there were bullies who picked on him, saying he stank like bait...
Well, the truth is, their leader was—
That's enough, Umezawa-kun!
Look up here, Umezawa-kun.
The moment before you leap into a new world
is no time to be looking at the floor.
Keep your head up, your eyes forward,
and work hard.
Thank you. Thank you!
I can't do it. I can't lift my head.
Umezawa-kun!
Ippo?
Your manga was awesome!
What? I can't hear you!
Umezawa-kun, your manga was awesome!
You can count me as your first fan,
just like you were my first fan!
And remember, we'll always be best friends!
Ippo!
Kamogawa Boxing Gym
Hello!
Great job the other day!
Are you healed up?
Your match was incredible. I actually cried!
Oh... thanks...
You sure you're okay, Ippo?
Must be serious, if he's on a crutch.
Just retire already, you cripple.
Don't you call me a cripple!
It was hell fixing that manga after you took off!
Uh-oh, he's mad!
He's not the least bit sorry.
He's full of hot air. Forget about him.
We both feel really bad about that.
If Umezawa-kun succeeds, I'll send him a big bouquet.
I'll invite him to the shop
and give him all the ramen he can eat.
Kimura-san, Aoki-san...
I hope he's successful.
Me, too.
Get your heads out of the clouds.
I made something for little Ume, too.
I was up all night writing this.
Manga Script The Story of Takamura Mamoru The Road to the World Title Chapter 1 100 pages
My memoirs! "The Road to the World Title!"
Just stay out of it from now on!
What's wrong with you?!
Tear it up!
What are you bastards doing?!
Coach's Office
Sorry I took so long to come by.
Thank you for everything.
Let's get to it and talk about your next fight.
My next fight?
Oh... Dr. Yamaguchi insisted I use this.
I think she's being overly cautious, though.
I'm sure I can do light exercise.
I'll start training right away...
You imbecile!
Listen to your doctor.
I order you to rest!
But you said something about my next fight...
Remember these?
The other challenges that came with Sawamura-san's before the fight...
I don't know what they're all scared of,
but they've all been rescinded.
Without opponents, you can't defend squat.
Rescinded?
Before you fought Sawamura, I called you a cheese champion.
But during that bout, you filled in those holes and then some.
Don't get full of yourself! You've still got plenty left to work on!
Yes, sir!
Your next fight is still up in the air,
but I need you rested and recovered when the time comes.
That's part of a pro's job!
Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.
His next fight, huh?
If there are no more opponents left for him in Japan, the only option...
is to aim higher.
Rest, huh?
I guess they're right.
My back is still...
Actually, I've been stressing myself
since I started preparing to fight Sawamura-san.
Maybe I need to take some time to unwind, physically and mentally.
Welcome home, Senpai.
Itagaki-kun? And Nanako-chan?
What are you doing here?
Reinforcements!
We've filled Umezawa-san's position already!
Huh? You're going to work for us?
They showed up out of nowhere, but I couldn't be happier!
But we didn't so much as put up a sign...
Umezawa-san called me and said,
"Take care of the Fishing Boat for me."
Umezawa-kun?
Umezawa-kun... He planned ahead for after he quit.
Ask and ye shall receive!
I couldn't ask for a better work environment to learn more about boxing!
And our family's poor. We could use the money!
Thanks a bunch, Itagaki-kun!
Likewise, I'll be following your example!
Oh, but paying two workers might be tight...
Don't worry about me. I'll just come by for fun!
So, starting today, we're both...
Ita-going to do our best!
Itagaki-kun, throw out the bait!
Okay!
The ship's so unstable...
But it's a perfect chance to focus on balance.
Perhaps this is Senpai's secret to throwing power punches
even when he's knocked back.
I see.
These are way heavier when they're filled with fish!
And Senpai's been doing this for more than a decade...
This must be how he got those muscles
even though he never played sports.
I see.
I see!
Oh, Senpai.
Are you sure you can do that?
Thanks to you, I've gotten plenty of rest.
I'm back to work as of today.
He's carrying twice as many as me... effortlessly.
I thought I could catch up by living the same lifestyle.
He's still so far ahead.
But I'll get there someday!
Itagaki Manabu was on fire in the first round!
What will he show us in round two?
And it's all over!
From such an awkward position, he cuts him down
with a tremendous uppercut!
Hasn't he bulked up since he started working at Ippo's?
Spill it, Ippo. What's your secret?
Let us work for you, too!
Umm...
Yes!
A Storm Descends on Makunouchi Fishing Boat!