It's the middle of round seven of tonight's
WBC World Middleweight title match.
Both fighters are injured
and are slugging out in a brutal, bloody display.
This fight has begun to look like a death match!
Don't back up.
If you lose ground, you're done!
You still haven't lost speed...
Damn it. How long are you gonna drag this out?!
I'll keep it up as long as it takes!
I won't quit until you're on the mat.
Victory...
...will be mine!
The End of the Death Match
Neither man gives an inch! Their fists keep flying!
They've both exhausted their repertoires. Now it's down to spirit.
Whose body and fists are stronger?
It's boxing at its most basic level!
This is truly a match for the ages, but...
I can't believe Eagle's struggling so much.
Yet, somehow, this is the best bout he's ever fought.
I'm honestly moved.
I just hope it's their fists that determine the winner...
Oh, no! What happened?
Doctor!
The ref calls for a doctor!
Aww, no way!
It was getting so good!
That's a lot of blood. What a shame.
Will the doctor stop them?
Takamura-san...
If the doctor stops the fight,
the winner will be determined by point totals up to the previous round.
Will this white-hot battle
be ended by injury, and decided by the judges?
The doctor shakes his head!
So that's it...
Too bad, but no way around it.
Don't blow it out of proportion.
Look again. It's just a scratch.
That's ridiculous! Any deeper and it'll be down to the muscle!
Don't give me that bull.
I'm fine with giving up an eye if I have to.
It's the belt, and our lives, that are on the line out here!
But...
Nobody wants it to end like this.
I'm gonna fight.
I'm gonna fight!
Referee! Continue the fight!
They're both keen to finish it!
Let 'em do it!
Continue the fight!
Continue! Continue!
Both fighters pump their fists to rile up the crowd!
They're chanting for the fight to continue!
You don't want it to end this way either, right?
The only thing that can stop this fight...
...is my...
Box!
...fists!
And there's the bell to end round seven.
Both teams of cornermen are moving frantically!
I won't allow a doctor stop. Do something about this.
I know.
I'll need to cut you.
If I cut towards the corner of the eye,
it'll make most of the blood run in that direction.
I'll stop the bleeding from there.
It might open up again,
but at least you can fight with both eyes for a while.
Thank you...
The cut's deep.
Even covering it with a styptic isn't stopping the blood.
If he takes any more punches,
it could tear the muscle and leave him unable to open the eyelid!
Old man...
I don't want anyone stopping the fight.
I want to finish it with this.
I know.
But...
What? You can't stop the bleeding?
Don't make that face!
I'll close that damn thing if it costs me my life!
Shinoda-kun, more styptic!
Yagi-chan, wipe the blood off!
Right!
If it costs you your life, huh?
You've only got a few years left as it is. You shouldn't waste them.
Treat them well, and there's still plenty of good to come.
The bleeding stopped...
Just wait. I'll be right back with the belt.
I've heard that, in emotional extremes,
adrenaline can ramp up to the point
that it can close severed blood vessels.
Determination to claim the belt?
No, it would've happened earlier in that case...
What is Takamura-kun's system reacting to?
Takamura.
I can't wait much longer. I'm getting on in years.
There's the bell for round eight!
Hold on, old man!
A clean one-two!
And a left! The champ punches with unparalleled accuracy!
The old man said he can't wait much longer.
Gimme the damn belt already!
Excellent. He's going back to the basics.
Damn. Now his right eye's swelling up.
If his left eye gets opened up again...
A right catches him square in the jaw!
An uppercut grazes the champ's cheek!
He's losing his footing. Did that one hurt?!
It wasn't that punch. It was cumulative damage!
Go! This is your chance!
The challenger isn't missing his chance! He zeros right in!
The champ does his best to block!
So it's not that he went back to the basics...
He's clinging desperately to his best punches.
That's how hurt he is!
The challenger's starting to dominate!
You don't know when to quit, do you?
Give up!
Now it's the challenger who's knocked off balance!
Don't give him time to recover!
A dual exchange!
Fresh blood begins pouring from both men's wounds!
Still not done, even after taking so many shots from me?
Damn. Blood's getting in my eye again.
Can't see him...
Wait... Both eyes?!
The challenger is knocked back to the ropes!
Strong...
He's really strong!
I can just barely see the glint in his eyes...
Those are eyes I need to be wary of.
Eyes that never give up are eyes that make miracles happen.
He's pushing me to the brink now...
Takamura!
All I can see is the mat...
Son of a bitch. Can't hold myself up...
Feet...
He's right in front of me?
You're coming with me!
B-Both men fall! A double knockdown!
One!
Two!
He caught Eagle with
a clothesline hook and dragged him down as he was falling!
Three!
Four!
Wow... I've never seen a double knockdown before.
Five!
Six!
Seven!
Get up, Takamura!
You'll win if you get up!
On your feet, Takamura!
Stand up, Eagle!
Who will get to his feet first? Or will we see a double knockout?!
Takamura-san, stand up!
Stand up!
They rise simultaneously!
Box!
But they're both at death's door!
The champ is dragging himself across the ring!
Something's wrong with Takamura-san.
His eye's so swollen, he can't see what's in front of him.
He's trying to find Eagle.
Here I am, Takamura! Right here!
A one-two forces Takamura to the ropes!
Th-There?
He strikes! Eagle is knocked back!
Now the champion!
And the challenger again!
They continue to exchange blows!
Will one of them end it in the blink of an eye?
Or will this fight go on forever?!
He's getting weaker.
Eagle?
No!
Takamura's punches are losing steam.
There's no power or sharpness to them anymore.
If the fight continues like this, we'll win!
The champion's legs buckle!
What?!
How? How could Eagle lose?!
Takamura...
I see. I see now...
why Bryan Hawk came to fear this man so.
Takamura's fists aim only for a man's vital points.
Even blind, they hit their mark every time!
He could only achieve that through insane amounts of training!
Damn it... You're damn strong.
I wish I could've seen your face 'til the end of our fight, but...
All I can see is your feet. All I know is where you are.
The only thing I can do now is my job.
Do exactly...
what I've always done!
He's practically fighting blind at this point.
How can he still strike so accurately?
I understand...
It's what we practiced hundreds, thousands, millions of times over.
We could hit them blindfolded if we had to.
Our muscles know where they are, even if we can't see them!
Even blind, we know they're there...
He's much more than guts and instinct.
He's built on a solid foundation of endless training.
That's what makes him truly strong... truly terrifying!
Now I really can't lose!
No one trains harder than me!
Takamura!
You were an incredible opponent.
You've made me give my all.
I'm satisfied. Immensely satisfied!
All I can do is my job.
Do exactly what I've always done.
Just aim for the old man's mitts...
and punch!
Where?! Where is he?!
There?!
Punch, punch, punch!
Excellent punch!
Precise and penetrating.
Old man...
Turn around, and take a good look through those squinting eyes.
We have a new champion!
Takamura! Takamura!
Takamura Mamoru has conquered a second weight class!
Takamura! Takamura!
He won with a left counter straight to the temple.
And in the shape he's in. He's really something else.
Yeah!
Takamura! Takamura!
I was satisfied too soon in the end.
But he never gave up.
That's why I lost...
No, that's just an excuse.
He was the better boxer, pure and simple.
You win, Mamoru Takamura.
Awesome fight!
Come back to Japan anytime!
Next time, we'll cheer for you!
This was a great experience.
Yeah.
Takamura-kun!
Up you go!
Yeah!
Go on.
Congratulate him for me, too.
Right!
Guess I was worried over nothing.
Even fighting blind, Takamura-san never lost sight of his target!
He aimed for the coach's mitts,
like we do in practice, and punched without hesitation!
Takamura-san!
It was his immense faith in the coach,
and his countless hours of practice that won this match!
Hooray for Takamura-san!
WBC World Middleweight Title Match Challenger Takamura Mamoru's Waiting Room
The reporters have left.
I don't mind all the activity,
but today, I'm not in the mood.
He was very strong.
I'm heading home. Need sleep.
Takamura-kun, your belt!
You're forgetting the most important thing!
Don't need it.
As promised, the belt's yours.
Put it under your pillow or something.
What? I kinda worked hard for that thing.
Aren't you happy?!
I'll snuggle up with it real good tonight.
Later!
Great job!
Hooray!
Hooray for Takamura-san!
You did it!
Best in the world!
Two weight classes conquered!
Shut up!
Can't you guys give me some peace and quiet?!
Sorry, we're just so excited!
The coach asked us to see you home.
It was a hell of a war, after all!
We don't want anything to happen to you. We'll see you home.
Fine.
That fool.
How could I not be happy?
You're really blessed as a trainer, huh?
You got to see your pupil become best in the world.
As a trainer? No, we're far past that stage.
To me, that boy...
is like the best son in the world.
All finished!
What the hell is this?
Just like the picture.
It is not, you idiot!
Shaddap!
Okay, you're next.
H-Hell, no! We didn't lose!
The bet was if you didn't win! They were ties!
That hurt, you old bastard!
Why can't you...
act like a champion for once in your life?!
You damn son of mine!
That hurts! What the hell?!
Why us?!
Stay away!
Someone get that cane!
Ouch!
Flower of Hope