Takara Fansubs Translation: Shippothekit
Takara Fansubs Encoding: Bader
Look up at the stars
An infinite number of scattered lights
Floating above the ring
Today rainbow-coloured sweat will fly
It's not bright tonight! My life
At this moment is only small
Like a lit firework
Our red faces flare up
I don't understand tonight! Now I'm
Suited for this lonely smell
Hit the waves and break them
Things like kindness have no meaning
June 25th, 1950...
My home country was divided in two
at 38 degrees latitude.
The Korean War had just broken out...
I lived through hell.
At the time, I was 5 years old.
Suffering from hunger and thirst,
I wandered around in unfamiliar places.
Then...
For me to eat...
I later learned that
the deserter that I killed
was my own father.
Muddy and starving, he was unrecognizable.
But it was my father.
Since then...
I never eat more than my fill.
In fact, my body refuses to eat its fill.
You're suffering from fasting?
When you have the chance to eat, you don't complain.
Episode 24: The Gong Chimes ...The Ring of the Devil
Eastern Bantamweight Championship
Sumo Stadium
Truthfully, we don't need a strategy to defeat Yabuki.
Of course, Kim's victory is assured without a doubt.
It's true that we came to Japan to confront Yabuki.
But his defeat is already evident.
We can see the World Title, now.
The match this evening
will only add a victory to Kim's career.
Your confidence is legitimate but you under estimate Yabuki.
I'm not under estimating him.
It's a clear-sighted opinion.
Manager Gen, Yabuki has won several matches
that we thought were unwinnable or difficult beforehand.
If you're too optimistic, you risk defeat.
He's nicknamed the Wild Beast, The Miraculous...
We know all that.
But my opinion is based on our information.
And against Kim, surprise is impossible.
I often say
that a eccentric boxer is a boxer without talent.
A talented boxer
predicts every attack and knows how to dodge them.
From the outside, he doesn't seem eccentric.
Like Kim, actually.
You know very well
that Yabuki is eccentric, even with his plans.
My opinion was formed while he was fasting:
Yabuki isn't at Kim's level.
The point of this match is to see if Yabuki can hold out to the end.
He locked himself in a sauna
and had blood taken, it seems...
Yabuki's Dressing Room
I'm surprised...
You looked so pale before,
but now as the match approaches, the better you look.
Thanks, Nishi.
But don't try to comfort me.
I'm hideous.
No, you look fine! Right, Nishi?
Yes... He's right.
You seem a lot better since the sauna.
That's enough. Stop.
What's wrong, Joe?
You're acting strange.
It's alright. It's just that this is the first time that I'm entering the ring
certain of my defeat.
What?
The two boxers will finally appear!
Yabuki, it's time.
Alright. We'll be there right away.
Well, hurry up.
Joe, why are you convinced of your defeat?
Of course, Kim is talented. He's the Block of Ice, The Cyborg...
but we knew that from the start!
You overcame the hell of your fasting! Just be confident!
What makes you such a pessimist now?
This guy's not called the Cyborg for nothing.
This Dragon Kim... is truly a Block of Ice!
Gramps, listen...
This guy survived a hell that's unimaginable for me.
He soul has been as impenetrable as a block of ice since then.
I confronted Rikiishi, Carlos and the others,
all boxers more talented than me.
But since they box with their souls like I do,
I was confident,
even if I had doubts.
They fought with passion.
I was able to win by feeling the incredible force rising within me.
And it gave me the sensation to fight on equal terms.
With him, it's different.
With Dragon Kim there is no feeling.
How do I box with a guy with no feeling?
Here's Dragon Kim!
Anyways... It's too late to turn back.
Let's go, you two.
Let's not wait for the champion.
I don't want words of love
To comfort me
Or illusive dreams
I prefer the sadness of separation
To a treacherous friendship...
In the red corner,
the Eastern Bantamweight Champion,
weighing 53.30 kg,
and originating from Korea: Dragon Kim!
In the blue corner,
The N. 3 Eastern Champion,
weighing 53.52 kg,
and member of the Tange Gym:
Joe Yabuki!
Excuse us!
Joe, the whole neighborhood is with you!
A few words from the President of the Commission...
Just hurry and start the fight!
A few points about Kim...
He apparently belongs to a military unit called: Section 998.
Sotatsu Gen, his manager, directs this unit,
nicknamed the Army of Tigers.
In 1975,
they were sent as scouts
to Vietnam by the Korean government.
The Army of Tigers was sent to the bloodiest districts.
This terrorized the Viet-Cong soldiers.
Their specialty was fighting with knives.
Each soldier
mastered all the techniques of assassination.
He is a ruthless commando.
These two men that you see in the ring
aren't just a manager and his boxer.
They're a commander and a soldier
who have survived many savage fights.
Joe Yabuki
Dragon Kim
I want to tell you, Joe, even if you know...
The fasting has weakened you. Finish the match quickly,
before your strength is exhausted.
I know, I know, I know!
But that won't work...
Joe!
Yabuki's already on the ground?
He slipped!
He can't even stand up because of his fasting.
Joe! Elbow him!
You're tired from hitting like that!
I know!
I know but I'm not doing it on purpose...
What's wrong, Yabuki?
You're staggering...
You haven't even touched Dragon Kim!
Pathetic...
Bastard!
He's counter attacking!
Ground!
In the neutral corner!
No, I just slipped!
3... 4...
5...
6...
7...
There, I'm up.
Stop!
Yabuki, the gong has rung!
You see, Gramps?
The Cyborg is starting his data analysis:
"Yabuki's damage in this round: 8."
"Yabuki's stamina: 2.5." It's tick, tick, tick...
Round 2...
Kim, Yabuki is already weaker than we imagined.
If you want, you could finish it on this round.
Understood.
Gramps, what was Joe whispering?
Nothing important.
He asked me to count the punches given to Kim.
Bastard!
Damn it...
I received a cross-counter, my specialty...
3...
4...
5...
6...
To me...
boxing is nothing but a game...
7...
I killed my father with my own hands
for a handful of biscuits.
9...
Can you continue, Yabuki?
Don't ask me such a stupid question!
Fight!
Your victory is assured. Don't force it. There's still two minutes.
Yes, my colonel!
You bastard!
Yabuki, hold it!
Fight!
You're that desperate?
You won't escape me!
Courage! Courage!
Joe!
Yabuki's on the ground for the 2nd time this round!
What a great combination from Kim:
he gave out a dozen shots to Yabuki in a flash.
His punches to the stomach were very powerful.
After that, Yabuki will struggle to recover...
Joe! Stand up! Stand up!
It hurts... especially on an empty stomach.
6...
8...
He's up!
- Sit down! I can't see a thing. - Stand up...
Joe, can you hear me?
Fight!
There's still 30 seconds. Dodge! Only think about dodging!
Stop you idiot!
Stop!
Oh, watch out!
Your corner is over there.
Joe!
Mr. Tange, this is on you.
He's going to take his punches for nothing.
Don't worry!
Nishi, give him some water.
Okay.
Idiot!
More than that!
You were wonderful.
It was crazy, the way you took his punches.
- Gramps... - What?
How many punches have I thrown at him?
A hundred! And Kim has given you two!
Great!
Like you said.
He is very pale...
Of course, since he's had nothing to eat.
Imagine yourself on a job site on an empty stomach. You'd faint.
That's true...
Joe! I'll give you a grilled eel!
Second class?
Joe!
Kim, we know that Yabuki is at the end of his strength.
The match is going to be short. It's useless to continue.
Yes, I know.
I'll end it in the next round.
You're going to do it?
Of course, with the chom chom.
The chom chom?
Yes, it's a possibility.
It's not worth it, you saw his condition.
I know.
In any case, I'll win, my colonel.
Come on, take it.
Round 3...
Joe! I'm warning you...
And I'm warning you:
No matter what happens, don't throw in the towel.
No matter what happens!
Damn... He beat me to it.
Attack, Lieutenant Kim!
The Army of Tigers...
Now!
Kim, there's 26 seconds left for the 3rd round!
Joe...
Usually,
Yabuki is surprising, even in distress.
Total defeat.
It's obvious that his severe fasting is...
But he still stands up!
5... 6...
7...
8...
He stood up!
Joe!
Blaze on, Joe, you're the star of the neighborhood!
Courage, Joe Yabuki!
Courage! Courage!
Why did I get up?
It's strange...
There's no point for me to get up, I should put myself to the mat immediately.
I box like a thug,
but him, he's lived through terrifying things.
I don't have the slightest doubt about my defeat.
So why...
Why do I get up!?
Sad memories are hidden by your shoulders
You are walking alone in life
Now sweet comfort
Shouldn't hurt your back
Bitter tears overflow
Just pretend you don't notice
Bitter tears overflow
Just pretend you don't notice