Nice and quiet, huh?
Mmmhmm.
Neither of us have had a bite yet.
The first one to catch a fish wins!
I've been getting nibbles for a while,
but I can't land the first catch.
I need to let Takamura-kun have this one.
But it's such a perfect day to fish...
I'm really itching to reel one in.
Now that I'm finally back here, I want to catch at least one.
Well, as long as I lose in the end, it's fine.
I'll start hauling them up as soon as he's caught one.
Hurry it up, Takamura-kun! I want to fish!
Got one!
Great job!
Aww, he swam off with the bait!
Yup, that happens sometimes...
Yeah!
Damn, again?
Swallow the hook too, you bastards!
Did you say something just now?
No...
It's nibbling!
Match the bobbing and pull! Now!
Gotcha!
Damn! It got me again!
These fish are master thieves!
No, they're not. You just suck!
Y-You say something?
No, nothing...
Don't rush.
You can't catch any yet. Give Takamura-kun the glory.
Looks like Yagi doesn't have his usual luck today.
Gotta hook one first!
Don't do it. Don't do it!
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon!
Don't, don't!
C'mon, c'mon!
Don't!
C'mon!
Don't!
C'mon!
Don't!
C'mon!
Paradise Fishing Hole
I heard this was the place.
Golden Eagle
No doubt about it. It says "Yagi prohibited" right here.
To our customers Snagging prohibited Yagi prohibited Be respectful of other customers
What the hell did he do?
There's a newer sign over here.
It says...
NO
TAKA
MU
RAS
NO TAKAMURAS
What do you guys think he did?!
Don't say anything!
I don't even wanna imagine!
Kamogawa Boxing Gym
Takamura-san!
Hey, welcome back!
What do you all look so surprised for?
Looks like he's in a good mood.
Don't tell me he won?
It was a draw.
A draw?!
Three for Yagi. Three for Takamura.
Neither managed to get any further.
The match had to be called off due to injury.
Wow, Takamura-san actually held his own.
Must've been the training.
Thank goodness.
But for Yagi-san to only catch three...
That's not like him at all.
The instant Yagi-chan caught three on his line,
Takamura dove in and nabbed three of his own.
Then, he was thrown out.
He noodled them, then.
NO TAKAMURAS
That explains the sign.
Hey, it's all good as long as Takamura-san's happy, right?
That's a load off my shoulders!
You probably shouldn't start feeling relieved just yet.
The rest of the card's been settled.
Aside from Takamura-kun and Miyata-kun,
we've received packages on your opponents, too.
All right!
It's way more exciting when you know who you're fighting!
So are they strong?
Yes.
They're the Indonesian and Filipino national champions.
W-Wow! You're fighting champions?
We ain't scared.
We've been in title matches before.
Kimura-kun, you're fighting the Filipino junior lightweight champion,
Eleki Battery.
What the hell kinda name is that?! Are you fighting an electrician?!
His name's not the problem here!
And Aoki-kun's opponent...
The Indonesian lightweight champion,
Papaya Dachiu.
His name's not the problem here!
Oh, yes, it is!
Wow, Papaya! Sounds tough!
We mustn't laugh, Itagaki-kun.
Yeah, b-but...
Go on, laugh! But you won't be laughing on fight night!
I'll slice that papaya in half!
I wouldn't underestimate him, if I were you.
Technically, he is a national champion.
Just look at this face!
There's no way I'd lose to a goon like this!
You won't lose?
I won't!
Guaranteed?
Guaranteed.
Very well.
If you can't win, you have to cut your hair like his.
I'll show you!
I just have to win, right? That's it?!
All right, it's on!
Watch yourself. He's a hard puncher.
They call his right the "Coconut Punch."
His opponents all say it felt like getting walloped with a coconut.
A... coconut?
Would that hurt?
How would we know?!
Who the hell gets hit by a falling coconut?!
S-Senpai, I can't hold it in!
I think my abs are going to tear!
Should you really be laughing?
If you can't win,
you get this!
Damn it! You're on!
I'm not gonna lose!
But... Takamura-san, you couldn't beat Yagi-san today.
What was that?
You've got no right to be mocking us
after pulling a dirty trick like that on him!
What, you think you could beat him at fishing?!
Oh? What if I could?
If I can beat Yagi-san at fishing, the whole bet's null and void!
No Papaya haircuts!
He's... not sure if he can beat Papaya.
One month 'til the fight...
I'd rather die than end up with hair like that.
Pretty slick of Aoki to hash out those new terms with Takamura-san.
He's been training pretty hard lately.
I'll have to check in on him later.
Paradise Fishing Hole
Oh, no!
Masaru, your hair's perfect just the way it is!
I know, right?
I'll die before I cut it like his!
Well, you'll be fine, with a haul like this.
Yeah, apparently I'm a naturally gifted fisherman!
You're naturally gifted at everything!
You think?
I do!
Tomiko!
Looks like his fishing idea fell flat.
Only one way out now...
Aoki and I both have to win!
I have to wonder, though...
What the hell did he do?
NO AOKIS NO TAKAMURAS
The three of them are doing well.
Especially Takamura.
He's following the program to the letter,
and he's still bursting with energy.
Even though he's moved up a weight class
and is back to fighting as a middleweight,
his weight management hasn't gotten any easier.
Cutting weight is a battle against your own body!
Takamura's fight has already begun.
Back to running!
Right!
Do you think he can really conquer another class?
No way to tell.
No Japanese boxer in history
has won both the junior middleweight and middleweight world titles.
He's about to set foot in parts unknown...
a new world that we Japanese have never explored before.
Kamogawa Boxing Gym
This poster looks so cool!
WBC World Middleweight Champion DAVID EAGLE
WBC #3 Middleweight TAKAMURA MAMORU
Yeah!
"A passing point." In other words, a checkpoint.
WBC World Middleweight Title Match
That's one of Takamura-kun's sayings.
The man considers a second world title just another checkpoint.
WBC World Middleweight Title Match
We're so lucky to have him around.
He might actually make history!
He will, for sure.
Takamura-san will do it.
He'd better!
David Eagle is immensely popular in America.
It cost us a fortune to get him to fight in Japan.
If Takamura-kun doesn't win that title, we'll be buried in debt!
Spoken like a man who never had a dream.
Have no fear!
Guys!
Welcome back!
Conquering a second weight class will be a breeze!
I'll bring in people from
all over the world and rebuild the entire gym!
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
Shut your hole.
Hey, this poster's pretty sweet.
The venue is Yokohama Arena, huh?
We're ready anytime.
Let's get to work!
Yeah!
That's what happens when you fight in summer.
But with him sweating that much,
making weight shouldn't be a problem.
Yeah...
Not even close.
Summer or not, losing weight isn't going to be easy for him.
He's drenched in sweat, but he can't drink water to replace it.
Dehydration will set in quickly,
leaving him sluggish and lethargic all the time.
All that is on top of having to constantly jog under the blazing sun.
Three minutes exactly!
One minute rest!
Want a towel?
No need, huh?
Not one drop of sweat, even here in the hot sun.
Old... Old man...
Don't talk if you don't have to.
Your lips are so dry and cracked, they're bleeding.
You happy?
About what?
You happy... you're gonna win... another belt?
You'd be winning it, not me.
Just enjoy your own success.
It's no reason for me to get excited.
Still...
Yeah, it may be a hell of a sight,
seeing those two belts together.
A sight my old eyes would love to see before they close for good.
If you've got the energy to pose, use it to run! Break's over!
Fujii-san, he's here.
Yup.
The former Olympic gold medalist.
He won the title in his 15th fight after going pro,
and remains undefeated thus far.
The man's road to the championship was nothing short of dazzling.
Golden, indeed.
The WBC World Middleweight Champion...
David "Golden" Eagle.
David, can we get a word?
Question for you!
Certainly.
You enjoy a great deal of popularity in the west.
Why fly across the world to face your opponent on his home turf?
I'd like to know that myself.
Do you remember Bryan Hawk?
Hawk?
Of course.
I considered him the greatest potential threat to my title.
The news of his loss was absolutely sensational.
The fact that such a strong man lived on this tiny island
fascinated me so much that I couldn't sleep at night.
And that's why you're here?
Yes!
I came to Japan because Mamoru Takamura intrigues me.
That's all.
Much too simple.
Is that really the whole reason?
Dinner's waiting for you at the hotel.
No, I want to hit the gym first.
I worry about my rhythm after such a long flight.
I need to get back into fighting mode as quickly as possible.
Resting and sightseeing are the last things on his mind.
Guess Takamura really is the only thing here that interests him.
He really is a completely different type of boxer than Bryan Hawk.
He knows nothing but glory, yet he remains humble.
Instead of wallowing in his talent, he works tirelessly to improve.
A true champion...
has come to Japan!
The public spar starts at two, right?
Yes.
I'm dying to get a look at the champion's condition.
By the way...
Why are you coming, too?
Well, the spar's being held
where Miyata trains, the Kawahara Gym.
What's with this big crowd?
It's David Eagle-san!
Why is he playing with children?
You there, young man!
Come on up. I'll give you an autograph, too.
M-Me?
Oh, no, I'm not... umm...
I'm just, um... s-scouting out the... well, enemy...
Th-Thank you very much!
I got a souvenir!
Don't get excited over getting the enemy's autograph!
Was there an autograph session on the itinerary?
Eagle started that on his own.
Miyata-kun!
He said, "Right now they're just the local kids...
but someday, some of them might want
to compete in the Olympics or become professional athletes.
I hope at least one of them will find courage from meeting me."
Thank you!
He's an exemplary sportsman.
S-So he mistook me for one of the local kids?
Well, we Japanese all look very young to foreigners.
The spar's about to begin.
Next partner.
Yeah!
Everything about him is high level,
but that one-two is especially remarkable!
Even Takamura couldn't shrug that off.
I'm surprised.
Same here.
Rather than hide anything, it's like he's deliberately sharing all his secrets.
He's either supremely confident or issuing a challenge.
Either way, the champion's calling for us to put it all on the line.
Nothing beats seeing that kind of determination.
That's what makes it worthwhile!
H-He's strong...
He fights at full strength even during practice,
and shows kindness to the children of a foreign country.
He's like a superhero.
Exactly the type Takamura-san hates the most.
Yeah, Takamura-san's pretty twisted.
Not the personality. The boxing style.
The best way to combat Takamura-san's unorthodox style
is probably textbook boxing.
He's in for a tough match.
Do you think he can win?
It's hard to predict anything, but I'm sure it'll be a great bout.
S-So how're you doing?
This close to the fight, there's no point in saying if I'm feeling good or bad.
T-True...
Honestly, I don't know.
I'm working on something new.
Something new?
If all goes well...
I'll be able to show you my next evolution, like you did with Sawamura,
and that I haven't been just running in place.
Kid.
As an active boxer, what's your take on David Eagle?
He's like a superhero.
He may be our enemy right now,
but for a world champion,
and as an example for everyone...
I don't think you'd find anyone better.
A superhero, huh?
No argument. It's a splendid fighter who trains that seriously.
In that sense, our Takamura's every bit as good.
Take a hike, you little brats!
Gimme your autograph!
I was gonna cheer for you, too!
Beat it! Beat it!
H-He actually beat them up and kicked them out...
A villain... He's a villain!
I don't care how short-tempered you are from cutting weight!
That behavior is inexcusable!
Must sneak away unnoticed...
What the hell is on your shirt?! You traitor!
You... You... You!
What was that for?!
Why me, too?!
Looks like the Kamogawa camp isn't doing a public spar.
Even after we completely tipped our hand.
Although, they're obviously not lying about him being too tired
from cutting weight to do any sparring.
You ought to rest a little yourself.
You've been putting too much into this fight.
We're all getting worried.
There is no "too much" where Mamoru Takamura is concerned.
I'm more worried that I might've been able to do more.
You saw him...
You saw what happened to Bryan Hawk.
Hawk, I need to know!
I can't believe that you lost.
What the heck happened?!
Get lost. You want me to kill you?
Were you ill?
Or is this man Mamoru Takamura truly that strong?
Shut up!
Don't say that name!
Never speak of that man in front of me again!
Tell me, Hawk!
Stop it!
A man as fierce as Hawk, completely broken.
I must know how strong he really is!
I don't need to see him spar.
I came to box against Mamoru Takamura.
The only thing I care about is seeing his true strength...
in the ring!
Eleki's Shocker and Papaya's Coconut