WBC World Middleweight Title Match David Eagle (C) (USA) vs. Takamura Mamoru (#3) (Kamogawa)
Mamoru Takamura is a Japanese hero and a world-class athlete.
I must devote all my energy to this fight.
I'll say it again: I will give it my best.
That's all.
You hear that, Takamura?
What a corny line.
Let's make it a good fight.
Put that hand away before I catch cornball from you.
You won't even shake his hand?
Shut up! Let's go!
That's just uncalled for.
At least take your hands out of your pockets...
The champ came all the way from America. Talk about rude...
He's exactly what I expected.
Damn rude Jap...
No.
His eyes have already switched to fight mode.
He can't even shake hands in that state.
I guarantee his fists are clenched tight in his pockets,
ready to punch me.
As they should be.
Eleki's Shocker and Papaya's Coconut
Kimura Tatsuya Aoki Masaru
Dressing Room
Looks like things are moving right along out there.
The crowd's hot tonight, too.
Stop fidgeting. You're making me nervous!
I'm nervous because of you!
This is no time to be arguing.
Yeah, let's focus on our matches.
Aoki-san, Kimura-san!
How're you guys feeling?!
Don't scare us like that!
We're trying to focus! Don't just barge in here!
You aren't... scared, are you?
Sorry we disturbed you. Good luck out there!
Don't talk like that, Manabu-kun.
Say, Ippo...
You were in the semifinal for a world title match, right?
Yes, I was...
We've never fought in a venue this big before.
How'd you feel? Did your balls jump back up in you?
I was nervous, sure, but I just had to do it, you know?
No matter how big the arena, once I step into the ring,
I can't see anything beyond the ropes.
For me, it was the same as always.
Whatever happens, happens!
He just shrugs it off?
He's a heck of a guy.
I'd want to enjoy everything, including the crowd.
In a venue this size, the audience is gonna be huge.
It's exciting to think of all those eyes on me, even if I'm not the main event!
He's a hell of a guy!
Well said.
We're finally getting to join the party.
Let's go out there and enjoy it!
Y-Yeah!
I feel better now.
We can always rely on you two!
Let's go wish our old reliable senpai well.
Gotta get him to share some of that big attitude with us!
WBC Middleweight World Title Match Challenger Takamura Mamoru Dressing Room
What's up?
We're about to head out.
We'll get the crowd pumped for your second world title conquest!
I dunno anything about your opponents,
but stick to your usual boxing.
Right!
He's got the biggest load on his shoulders,
and he's still thinking of them...
And they both look much more confident now.
There you are. You guys are next!
Okay!
I'm first!
Go get 'em!
We'll be cheering!
Good luck.
Yeah!
But if you don't win...
Remember, this is the fate that awaits you!
I'm not mentally prepared for this. You go first.
We can't change the order now! Get going!
I need to mentally prepare myself. Try to drag it out!
I'll slaughter him straight off so you'll get your turn sooner!
He just added to the pressure, huh?
I thought he'd forgotten about that ridiculous bet.
Listen up, Kimura.
Don't get overwhelmed by the mood in the venue.
Keep your wits about you!
Okay!
You had to remind me of that damn bet right before the fight, you jackass.
I'll just have to win, then!
Let's go, Kimura!
Yeah!
Y-You gotta be kidding...
WBC World Middleweight Title Match David Eagle (C) (USA) vs. Takamura Mamoru (#3) (Kamogawa)
The capacity crowd of 15,000 is fired up for this showcase fight!
Next is Filipino Jr. Lightweight champion Eleki Battery
versus Kimura Tatsuya!
Are all these people looking at me?
How the hell could anyone enjoy this?
Kimura.
Raise your arm. They're cheering for you.
Right...
I have to cut my hair like him if I can't win?
No, no, no!
He's freaking out.
D-Don't worry. Once the bell rings...
Do your best, Kimura-san!
Should I wait him out, or try to strike first?
What should I do... what should I do...
Damn it!
Don't ring the bell yet!
Hold on!
Lemme think here!
Kimura-san, back up!
Make some space and find your rhythm!
I need speed!
Switch to high gear and get away!
He's fast!
He kept right up with Kimura-san!
Crap, in all this commotion I forgot...
He's the Filipino champion!
A counter connects! That had to hurt!
I still can't get my head together!
What should I do?
Sensei, Kimura-san is—
Is what? What happened?
He's managed to survive so far...
But he's just clinching and using his feet,
running away with no clear plan!
Running probably is his plan...
If Kimura's having trouble, that must mean Eleki's tough.
I'd better not underestimate Papaya.
Don't worry, Sensei.
We brought the boss lady down.
Tomiko!
Masaru!
You guys knew just what I needed!
This just doubled my power!
We want you calm and collected so you can use your trademark moves!
Especially in this fight.
Even if he loses...
It'll be delicious!
A desperate Kimura continues to clinch!
This ain't sumo!
Throw a damn punch!
Stop running!
Damn, it's already round seven.
He's been silently racking up points...
At this point, I have to be prepared to go down!
Eleki unleashes a shocking barrage!
Kimura's getting pounded!
H-He's strong.
Aoki, I think I'm finished.
But...
You have to win...
for Takamura-san.
It's... up to you...
What? He's about to lose?!
He's finished!
He's all beat up!
So Kimura's losing...
Oh, well.
I feel better knowing, if I lose, we'll both have ridiculous haircuts.
Even more delicious!
Oh, he's down!
Kimura unleashes a body blow for a miraculous comeback!
He got him!
Wait, what? I barely touched him and he collapsed.
That's it!
His body's his weak point!
And it's really, really weak, at that!
He's getting up.
But now that the pressure's finally off Kimura-san,
this is his chance to come back!
You bastard... All that punching power tricked me.
Now that you're exposed, I'm gonna concentrate all my fire on your body!
How'd the fight go? Did he lose?
Actually...
Kimura-san seems to have turned it around!
Kimura goes all out in the last round!
But there are only minutes left, and the score could go either way!
What will the final result of this fight be?!
Damn it. I just needed a few more seconds!
That's quite a claim...
for someone who barely squeaked by with a draw.
Man, if I'd known his body was so weak...
But he's still worthy of being a national champion, so be careful.
I guarantee your guy has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.
No one can out-trick me.
Just watch.
I'll score a showy win and get the crowd on their feet!
Prepare to die, Papaya!
Stare...
Well, this is unexpected. He's not freaking out at all.
What a relief. Aoki-san's gonna be fine.
Looks like you're good and calm now.
Since Kimura took his sweet time slugging it out,
I had time to get my head together.
I see. If you've got a plan, that's good enough for me.
Just make sure you keep your eyes on the enemy.
Yes, sir!
I've looked at him plenty.
I stared a hole through that picture.
That dumbass.
The chin's one of the body's weakest spots,
and his has a huge mole right in the center!
With a target like that, I can't miss!
I'll drive a Frog Punch straight through it!
Go!
Gotcha!
This is it!
The Frog Punch stance! He's going for it right off the bat?!
Papaya must be confused. He's going to get nailed!
The target on your chin is clear as day from down here!
What?!
Why is the mole gone?
Aoki leaps away!
A perfect opportunity to land the Frog, and he skips out!
What just happened?!
That was his chance! Why'd he...
What the hell?
His mole moved up there?!
A trap?! This guy's as tricky as they come!
Now Aoki-san's confused...
What's happening in that ring?
He smells...
He really smells...
What?
That man Papaya...
...smells just like Aoki-sensei.
He smells like Masaru?
What's happened up there?
Aoki's got his guard up and is keeping his distance!
What now?
He might have more traps...
Nah, a guy who fights with cheap bluffs like that
can't be anything special.
I'll attack head on!
Aoki makes his move!
I hit him...
I can do it!
The double punch!
And...
A huge right!
He's tired!
You're mine!
No way! He was playing dead?!
A hard right to Aoki's jaw!
He's down!
What a punch!
I've never seen anything like it! He actually spun in the air!
That's it, he's dead.
That hit way too hard.
Masaru!
Wh-What incredible destructive power...
So that's the Coconut Punch?!
Kimura-san?
I thought Yagi-san was joking, but this ain't funny.
One!
Two!
Aoki-san, stand up!
Three!
I don't know if he can...
Four!
He's getting up!
Five!
Atta boy!
Six!
Keep fighting!
He's up!
Let him continue, ref!
Oh, but he's taken heavy damage.
It's only the first round! Keep it going!
Can the fight even continue?
C-Can you fight?
Box!
The fight continues!
Aoki can do nothing to stop Papaya's relentless assault!
He's little more than a sandbag!
He's strong...
His punching power's on a different level.
If he keeps taking hits, he's really going to be in trouble!
I feel pretty good now.
What am I doing, again?
Wh-Who's that?
What's with that hairstyle?
If you can't win, you have to cut your hair like his.
Oh, yeah.
I'm gonna have hair like him, huh?
Masaru!
I wonder if I'll look good?
I'm sure I will...
...not!
He dodges by a hair's breadth!
Slip!
He falls to the mat. His legs can no longer hold him upright!
He's really hurting.
True, but at least now Aoki's got his head back on straight.
Look, he's barely trying to get up.
Get up!
He's stalling so he can recover as much as possible.
Bastard...
How could I go out in public with Tomiko
with my hair looking like that?!
But what do I do?
His destructive power's out of this world.
I've gotta find Papaya's weakness, quick.
Box!
Papaya falters! Did that one hurt him?
Playing dead again?!
What a right. It really is like getting hit by a coconut!
There's the bell.
Aoki managed to survive Papaya's overwhelming attacks
and finish the first round!
You okay, Aoki? Deep breaths!
My legs are still shaking...
If I take another Coconut Punch, I'll get knocked out.
I can't figure out his weakness!
My only chance is to take a big risk,
and put my faith in my best moves!
That's...
That's the Look-Away!
You morons! What're you both doing looking away?!
Are you nuts?!
This ain't a comedy show!
He can use the Look-Away, too?!
What a high level...
...trickster battle!
If we hadn't done it at the same time,
I totally would've fallen for it.
What a dangerous move.
No time for that! I gotta find his weakness!
Another clinching match?!
I didn't come here for sumo, damn it!
That's two fights in a row!
Aoki, throw some punches!
Just running won't accomplish anything!
Easy for them to say.
You're telling me to
trade punches with him?!
Doesn't he have a weakness? Any weakness?!
Wh-What's the deal?
Why's he sweating so much?
It's round four. That's only about ten minutes.
What's with him?
Could it be...
Let's hold our breaths and duke it out!
Papaya keeps getting weaker... Why?
Of course! That's it!
The reason he plays dead and uses the Look-Away
so he can land those Coconut Punches
is because he's desperate to end it quickly!
I was right! His weakness...
is a lack of stamina!
Now I've got you!
Aoki's got a second wind!
Is Papaya out of energy? He can barely stand!
Masaru!
Beat him down!
Go, Aoki-san!
With just moments left in the final round,
Aoki attacks the weakened Papaya!
But he's exhausted, too!
What's the hold-up, Aoki?!
Another mudslinging fight?
He's out on his feet!
Quit slinging mud already!
I can't even tell if they're punching or hugging!
Aww, it ended in the mud!
Another typical Aoki fight!
They both lose!
I want a refund!
It's over.
Another draw.
Two in a row has the crowd pretty bored.
See if you can get them fired up again before Takamura's match.
I'm afraid I don't have time to be concerned about the crowd.
The only thing on my mind...
is winning.
Nothing more!
The Unfinished New Counter