Okay, now that Ippo-kun is safely on the road to recovery,
we should also celebrate his win over Sawamura,
so let's all have a great time today!
Yeah!
This is my first time fishing on a charter.
Same here. I'm gonna hook me a tuna!
If I snare a whale, you'd better help me reel it in!
A whale? That'd be awesome!
Talk about impossible dreams.
Let's set up here. This is usually a good spot.
What the hell? We're barely offshore!
Do whales even come this close to land?
If you did hook one, it'd sink the ship.
Aww, you're no fun.
Around here, we'll mostly be seeing
gobies, whitings, flounders, flatheads, and rockfish, I'd say.
You really know your stuff, Yagi-san!
I was thinking it'd be a bit boring to just sit around and fish, though.
Why don't we have a little contest to liven things up?
We'll split into pairs and see who can catch the most.
The losers don't get any dinner!
Good idea!
Sounds fun.
I'm in, I'm in!
Me too!
All right, let's draw straws.
I have to steer the ship, so I'll have to pass.
Same here. I'm officially working.
Then the contest is between these three teams.
A Storm Descends on Makunouchi Fishing Boat!!
First, let the lure sink all the way down.
If nothing bites,
jiggle the rod a couple times, then reel it in and try again.
Wow, you sound like a master.
I've gotten used to this job.
And we'll really catch fish that way?
We'll know soon enough.
Yes!
Wow!
It's a good size, and perfect in shape.
Now we know there are fish here.
Well done!
It's only a matter of time before we start catching some.
Gotcha!
Why aren't we getting any?
Another nice one in both size and shape!
They will. Be patient.
Fishing is a battle of stamina.
Yes!
They're really living it up.
Focus, Takamura!
I got one!
I got two!
Kid!
Yes, sir?
Could we maybe move somewhere else?
The fish don't seem to be biting.
O-Okay, off we go...
This is usually a good spot for big hauls, too.
Definitely a good spot!
I see!
The hell is this thing?!
Quit catching weird ones, you dork!
Double hit!
I had a vague feeling earlier,
Another nice one in both size and shape!
but watching Yagi-chan's and Shinoda-kun's styles...
Well done!
They're obviously experienced!
Those rods aren't rentals, either. They brought their own!
He wanted to have a contest because he knew he'd win!
I thought it was weird that he had those straws...
A double-double hit!
Catch something, you old fart!
We're gonna have to skip dinner!
You'd better step it up yourself!
My, but you're quite the sportsman, old chap!
Nay, nay, Yagi, old bean. I'm but an amateur next to you!
What language was that?!
I've never seen Yagi-chan like this.
Still,
if we're all on the same boat, there shouldn't be this big a difference.
It must be their rods.
Our rods?
What a silly idea.
Come now, they're amateurs. Let's be lenient.
This is easier than I thought it'd be.
We're catching a lot!
Sons of bitches.
Aoki and Kimura are untouchable at every sport except boxing.
Yes, yes, yes!
Atta boy! Go, Takamura!
Watch this, losers!
He got away!
Too bad, Takamura, old boy!
What was that, you idiot?!
Shut up, baldy!
Dive in there and catch them by hand!
B-Baldy, you say?!
He's out for blood now.
If you don't like that, I'll just call you geezer!
I saw this coming, but still...
Fine, then! I'll catch a whopper that'll knock your socks off!
Come on, whale!
Watch it!
Don't rock the boat, dumbass!
Takamura-san, please stop thrashing!
Shut up! Shut up!
That's dangerous!
Everyone, grab onto something!
Please stop, Takamura-san!
Come on! Come on!
What?!
Something really came!
I'm a genius!
It's a big one! Be careful!
This one won't get away.
There it is!
It's a striped fish!
You're coming with me!
Wh-What just happened?
That was Aoki, right?
You knocked him overboard, you big oaf!
Aoki-san!
And that's the story.
That's no laughing matter, huh?
I nearly died out there!
I am ashamed for allowing it to happen in my presence.
You bastard. Quit pretending to be asleep!
I didn't get enough sleep.
A mosquito flew into my room last night.
Then swat the little beast!
Or is your jab getting rusty?
Come again?
Easy, easy. Everyone came home safe.
Coach, I think it's time we moved on to more serious topics.
All right, boys...
Everyone listen up. I've got a little something to share.
A WBC middleweight world title bout.
Takamura's world title, that is.
He's being given a chance to conquer his second weight class.
Finally.
Makunoichi Fishing Boat
Awesome!
"A little something"?!
That's incredible, Coach!
That's huge!
Don't let us down, Takamura-san!
You know it.
Conquering a second weight class will be easier than reeling in Aoki.
Wait, I let myself get excited...
Get your ass kicked!
You want another ride on the fish hook?
Now, now...
Aoki, Kimura, you two need to buckle down, too!
Us?
You two will be in the semi-semifinal on fight night.
Hell yeah!
We'll set the right tone for Takamura-san's title fight!
Semi-semi?
Then what's the semifinal?
An OPBF title match.
We're putting in Miyata Ichirou.
Miyata-kun?!
It's going to be a big venue,
so we wanted as many of our boys in the lineup as possible.
Listen up!
Itagaki, focus on your Rookie King match coming up.
Kid, you focus on getting back to full strength!
Dismissed!
You overpowered bastard!
He's running circles around Ichirou.
Getting Takamura to be his training partner was a huge win for us.
He hasn't worked with someone above his level in quite a while.
This should really wake him up.
Does everyone at the Kamogawa Gym train like this all the time?
I have to take it easy on the guys or I'll kill them,
but at this training camp, I'm going all out!
Come on!
Then take it easy on me, damn it!
Although Ippo's the one guy with the guts to try and keep up!
Don't get smart with me!
This is going well.
Damn, every joint in my body is groaning.
Normally I get used to it after two or three days...
Were you always into fishing?
Don't bug me.
I need to practice while I'm away
so I can take revenge on a certain someone.
You've got one.
Too bad.
There's a lot to this.
Stop swimming away with all my bait, damn it!
You really suck at this.
Here, you try it.
No problem.
I just have to throw a counter as soon as the float bobs.
Looks like boxing's the only thing you're any good at, too!
I won't miss next time!
You've got one!
Now!
How's that?!
Too bad!
You're in no position to laugh!
You got a death wish?!
I thought you'd dodge it!
Don't throw cheap shots out of nowhere!
What's all the hubbub this early in the morning?
Fishing?
You're into fishing?
A certain someone humiliated me, and he's going to pay.
You don't mean... Yagi?
That's right!
Let me give you some advice. Don't challenge Yagi.
What?
The two of us joined Kamogawa Gym around the same time.
He loved boxing,
but sadly, the poor guy had no talent whatsoever.
He was feeling depressed after a string of losses,
so I was trying cheer him up...
Wanna go hang out?
Sounds great.
I'm kind of a boring guy, though...
Don't worry. I'm up for anything.
Then...
I saw Yagi's face warp into a demon's.
I've seen it, too.
To our customers: Snagging prohibited Yagi prohibited Be respectful of other customers
Shinoda-kun later told me
he saw a sign at a fishing spot that said
"snagging prohibited" and "Yagi prohibited."
Yagi prohibited
"Yagi prohibited"?
If he'd gone into fishing professionally,
he'd have become a legendary world champion.
Damn it!
The legend of Yagi will end by my hand!
I challenged him countless times in my youth, but he crushed me...
No, don't say it!
I hit him clean.
He's never been that unguarded before...
I can't believe you run this much.
This is normal for me.
Your counters are weak because you're so out of shape.
Weak?!
Let's go back and spar.
Wait, who's sparring who?!
Who do you think?
You and me!
This is an excellent opportunity.
Study hard.
Headgear?
No need.
Not to underestimate him,
but can a middleweight boxer keep up with a featherweight
moving at top speed?
I'm facing a former world champion. No need to pull punches!
Of course, Ichirou has the speed advantage.
So, what's your move, Takamura?
No way! He's fast!
Wait, he's...
I can't take him on backed into a corner!
Nail him one and escape!
A counter!
You're kidding me! He parried it with one hand!
Weak.
Weak, weak, weak!
What'd you think?
Lousy feeling.
He held back so he wouldn't kill me.
I never expected someone that much heavier than me would be faster.
He's a monster.
No, you definitely win when it comes to speed.
By quite a large margin, in fact.
He's just far better at utilizing the six-meter ring space around him.
Takamura looks faster than he is because he moves deliberately,
traveling the shortest distance necessary.
It's one of the most powerful techniques out there. You should learn from him.
Learn from him, huh...
What's up?
Are my counters really so weak?
They're pathetic.
Don't just assume I knocked it away because of the weight difference.
Anyone who fights at the world level could've done that.
But I put my weight behind it.
You punch out of desperation and open up your stance.
Then your balance goes to hell and it drains all your power.
It's good that you're putting your heart into it, though.
My balance goes to hell?
But I'm punching with all my might.
Fine, then.
Hit me.
I'll reforge that dull sword you call an arm.
C'mon, hit me.
Dull?!
I'm pushing, and he's not even budging!
There it is.
Tuck your arm in!
Now push.
Better.
Feel the difference?
When you throw a left that wide, it pulls your pecs open.
It's an easy punch to throw, but your right arm flies off to the side,
dispersing all of its power.
You need to tighten your back when you gear up to throw a left.
And then...
I see...
You get a punch that drills straight through.
It's a pretty compact stance,
but you can assume this correction will double your control and power.
I've been so focused on countering,
I guess I was straining myself.
One more thing.
Lower body stability is crucial to your stance here.
Your legs were wobbling.
You left Kamogawa Gym to aim for greater heights on your own.
Always alone, even when you trained.
It helped you see some things better,
but there's a lot you can't see that way, too.
Don't be satisfied just training more than the people below you.
Where do you want to go?
What do you want to accomplish?
You won't survive at the world level fighting out of desperation.
So run more!
Even if you do it alone, run!
He knew all my shortcomings.
That's why he's been making me run so much.
Was this training camp really to help me?
Don't read too much into it.
You just sucked so bad,
I couldn't bear to watch anymore.
Plus, even though you struck out on your own,
you're still one of the cute little kids
I took under my wing back in the day.
I was a member of Kamogawa Gym way before him.
It really pisses me off when he acts like a mentor.
Still...
Anyway, thank you.
You have my gratitude.
You knew as well as I did, right?
That he'd have a hard fight ahead at the rate he was going,
and that his counters were dull.
Yeah, I did.
But your words will have a bigger impact on him.
If nothing else, he'll hone that dull counter
into a blade sharper than any katana.
Let me ask you, then. Why'd you tell him?
Counters are the Dempsey Roll's weakness.
Why teach him something that could hurt Makunouchi's chances?
Because it's more fun that way!
Fun?!
If they're gonna fight, might as well make it interesting.
I consider both of them my protégés,
and I'm not one to play favorites.
I don't care who wins.
I just don't want to see two nobodies in a pointless scrap.
I want them to do whatever they can to improve,
so I get the best show possible!
That's your sole reason for helping him?
Yup.
I want the greatest fight, in their best condition,
on the grandest stage of them all.
Doesn't that sound better to you?
I guess so.
Got one.
Damn you!
Kamogawa Boxing Gym
Takamura-san, welcome back!
How was your training camp?
Not even worth asking about.
All we had time for was basic crap.
Yeah, I guess you didn't have time for any dramatic changes.
What?
Something did change.
It must have.
I'll show you the fruits of my quest for strength!
Quest?
Challenge?
What kind of...
A little birdie told me
there's a certain fishing hole where Yagis are prohibited.
I'm gonna mop the floor with you on your home turf!
It's probably been long enough that my ban's been lifted, but...
We've got the fight to prep for...
Go ahead.
But think of it as your last hurrah.
After you're done, you focus entirely on the title.
You get what I'm saying, I see.
And I get how you're feeling.
Get him.
Right.
Yagi-san... umm...
I know. It's a crucial time before an important fight.
We'll be in good shape.
Yeah, he'll be in a good place when the bell rings.
Let's go, Yagi-chan!
Let us, Takamura, old chap!
Old... chap?
Golden Eagle