Love of Shooting Star is sending you
A flash of light... Yeah!
With eternal dreams
Let's roll and go
Without thinking anything
I'm just living in the Now
What keeps me going is
A street song
I want to dive lost mind, I want to dive lost mind (I want to immerse myself in my dream till I can't think of anything else)
I want feeling, I want feeling, always (That's how I want to feel all the time)
I want to dive lost mind, I want to dive lost mind (I want to immerse myself in my dream till I can't think of anything else)
Why, why, why, why? I want to dive feeling over (I don't know why, but I want to keep feeling passionate)
Love of Shooting Star is sending you
A flash of light... Yeah!
With eternal dreams
Let's roll and go
Shoin High School
Hey, it's Ippo! Let's catch him!
What's with you guys?!
It's too hard! He runs too fast!
We're sick of running after him.
You lazy wimps!
I finally get to spar with Miyata-kun today!
Fishing Boat Rental MAKUNOUCHI
I'm home! Where's today's luggage? Hurry, hurry!
How come you're in such a big hurry? Okay, load up those small shrimp.
Sure!
Wait, wait! I said shrimp!
Huh?
Oops! I'm sorry! You wanted shrimp!
Shrimp, shrimp! Shrimp are over here!
It's heavier than it looks.
Ippo, don't worry about me. You can go.
Huh?
Don't you have something important to do at the gym today?
I'm sorry.
You silly boy. Go get ready and get going!
Hey, Mom?
What is it?
Have I changed at all compared to how I was three months ago?
What?
Uh, no! It's nothing!
Ippo?
I'll give you a little tip. It's a trick that I learned from your father.
A trick?
Your father was always ready for a fight.
When he fought someone stronger than himself...
he would stare at his opponent's face to see if he resembled a kind of fish.
"He's a tuna! How can a man of the sea be afraid of a tuna?" he would say.
Apparently, that helped to ease the tension in his shoulders...
and calmed him down tremendously.
That's so like Dad!
Isn't it?
Thanks, Mom.
See you later!
She's cute!
She sure smells good!
Boy, was she cute!
Maybe something good will happen today!
KAMOGAWA Boxing Gym That was the message from the confident champion...
who is ready to defend the championship for a third time.
World Title Match who is ready to defend the championship for a third time.
Now let's turn to the challenger for his comment.
Hello!
I'm Fujii with Monthly Boxing Fan Magazine.
Hi, I haven't seen you in a while.
Hey, isn't there supposed to be a press conference today...
for the challenger of the World Title Match? Shouldn't you be there?
I sent my lackey to cover it.
I don't think the guy stands a chance of getting the title...
and I prefer to use my time more efficiently.
That's harsh.
Anyway, getting down to business...
we're currently planning a new article series called "Meeting New Faces."
We'd be getting close-up interviews with the hopefuls of various gyms.
I'm sorry to just barge in, but can I get some comments from Miyata?
Uh, actually...
Interviewing Kimura is more important to you than the World Title Match?
I see you've kept your wayward ways!
I merely want to interview boxers who I believe have potential.
Never mind Miyata... Couldn't you cover me once in a while?
Why would he want to cover the king of mud wrestling?
What did you say?!
Do you have a problem with that?
None whatsoever.
Hi, Takamura. What's with the bowtie?
We're about to have a sparring session in the ring downstairs.
I'm gonna be the acting referee.
It's gonna be a pretty serious match, so I need to look decent.
Oh, yeah? Who's fighting?
Your beloved Miyata.
Ooh, what luck!
Yagi-san, if I promise to take good photos, I can cover it, right?
It's a sparring match between two new pre-debutants...
so I didn't want outsiders in on it, but I suppose so.
Wow. You have a new guy who can compete with Miyata?
I'd call it "When Two Golden Eggs Collide."
Well, you could say that.
- Huh?! - What?!
Well, sure, Ippo is doing his best, but...
I understand why you'd call Miyata a golden egg.
He's my equal, and I'm two rounds up and 6-round class.
You're not his equal, and you know it.
- Shut up! - You shut up.
I'll devote myself to playing referee this time...
because I think this could be a turning point for them.
Gimme a break!
I have a feeling this will turn out to be very interesting.
Calm down. Calm down!
Ippo! Miyata!
Are you ready? We're gonna get started!
I can start at any time.
Uh, please wait a second!
Don't get nervous. Don't get nervous. Don't get nervous!
Two, three, four.
Two, two, three, four.
Oh, come on. That kid is Kamogawa Gym's secret fireball?
He looks like a wimp to me.
Ordinarily, I'd agree with you.
Well, it doesn't really matter, because I'm after Miyata-kun.
For now, I guess I'll see what he's got.
The rules are the same as last time. 4 rounds and 3 knock-downs.
No head gear and the gloves are the regulation match 8 ounces.
Don't treat this like a practice match. Fight as though this is the real thing.
- Yes, sir! - Good, back to your corners!
It's no good! My heart feels like it's gonna leap out of my mouth!
I can barely stand!
Oh, yeah! A fish! Think he's a fish!
It's impossible!
No fish is that good-looking! I can't think of anything!
Listen, there's no reason to hesitate. Just do what you've been doing.
Y-Yes, sir!
- What's so funny? - Nothing, sir.
Huh! You're more relaxed than I thought.
Thanks to you, Chief!
Oh, really. Okay, show me everything you've learned in the last three months.
Right!
He's right. I just need to do what I've learned.
Don't hesitate. Don't hesitate!
His punches have real power.
Don't worry.
No matter how powerful they are, they're pointless if they don't connect.
Seconds out!
I practiced every single day until I felt like a rag doll...
until I finally achieved it.
My counter punch.
No matter who my opponent is, I'll face him fair and square...
and I will rise to the top!
Ippo took the initiative!
I can't let Miyata-kun keep a distance. I need to catch him within my range!
Hmph! Catch me if you can!
Wow!
Ippo's learned to make good jabs.
He's definitely impressive for a non-licensed newbie.
However, Miyata-kun's footwork is even more impressive.
Amazing.
He's far better than when I last saw him.
I thought I captured him perfectly in shadow boxing...
but his image is nothing like the real thing!
Remain calm! You must remain calm!
Remember everything you've learned so far!
It's this way!
Oops! I got it backwards!
His left foot is in front! I'll get him this time!
Miyata's footwork is brilliant, huh?
I never saw him use those moves in a regular sparring.
The bastard was holding out on us!
Yeah, he's no newbie.
Wait a minute! If he's doing something he ordinarily wouldn't...
that means he's been forced into it!
- What? - By our little Ippo?
You're pushing your luck!
Your face is wide open!
What?!
It connected! My punch connected for the first time!
You caught him flawlessly.
Down! Back to your neutral corner!
One!
Two!
- Holy cow! - Three!
He suddenly scored a knockdown on Miyata!
I've never seen Miyata go down before!
The chief's training really shows.
Eight!
Nine!
I... I can do it. I can continue!
Looks like I underestimated him.
So, he's not the same guy I fought three months ago.
Thanks to that, I'm awake now!
Fight!
Kid, go without hesitation!
Right!
I'm not dumb enough...
to fall for the same punch twice!
Whoa! This time Ippo's down!
Don't fall for that counterpunch! This is just like three months ago!
Kid, go without hesitation!
Right!
I'm not dumb enough...
to fall for the same punch twice!
Whoa! This time Ippo's down!
Don't fall for that counterpunch! This is just like three months ago!
The edge of the family heirloom counterpunch is sharp as ever.
One! Two!
- Too shallow? - Three! Four!
Five! Six!
Seven! Eight!
I can continue! I'm fine!
- Tell me I'm dreaming!
- How can he get up?!
Good job! He's maximizing what he learned in the past three months!
It was shallow! The timing was bang-on...
but the pressure just wasn't solid.
Did I not step in deep enough? Or did I not lure him in far enough?
Either way, I'll nail him at my next chance!
The last time hurt so bad I could pass out...
but this time, it wasn't so bad!
Those three months were not in vain!
The Chief's special anti-Miyata-kun counterpunch training is clearly working!
Fight!
Is he coming on forceful?!
If I allow him to keep a distance...
I'll fall victim to his outboxing!
Forward!
Ippo is stepping in so aggressively, Miyata can't box like he usually does!
Still, it's amazing Ippo can go forward against that powerful counterpunch.
You said it. If his dart and dash slows down even slightly...
a counterpunch will come fly at him like an arrow. That tactic takes courage.
It's gonna hit! It's gonna hit you!
Miyata-kun flinched!
My timing is right on! My pull-in is perfect!
Good!
You're mine!
Down! Back to your neutral corner!
Did you see that?!
Yeah, it was amazing! He scored another knock-down!
No, I meant right before the counter connected!
Before?
He went forward on purpose to shift the point of impact!
If you step forward right before the counterpunch...
the opponent's arm will still be bent during impact...
reducing the power of the punch by half.
Oh, so Ippo stepped into it!
He must really have worked on his dart and dash.
That was an incredible counterpunch block!
So his dart and dash was not just for offense...
but also for defense against counterpunches!
I can't believe the way he blocked Ichiro's counterpunch.
It's not like the previous knock-down where timing was the deciding factor.
This knock-down really hit hard.
Did he win?
Three! Four!
Five! Six!
Seven! Eight!
- Can you go on?
- Yes.
Hey, Miyata's feet are wobbly. He can hardly stay up!
Hey, if Ippo lands one more knock-down, he'll win!
He'll have KO'd Miyata?
This is getting exciting!
I... I could win?
When he's at full-power, my punches are too broad to hit Miyata-kun...
but now, I just might be able to hit him now while he's exhausted!
I'm gonna use an uppercut!
This is not good. I already have two strikes.
Calm down. Calm down!
He'll definitely try to finish me. What will he use?
Think. Think!
Fight!
Go, kid!
Right!
Come on, go for it!
Great job! Hang in there!
What's he gonna use? What's he gonna use?!
Okay!
Damn it!
I lean my upper body forward, and keep my knuckles facing up!
Extend my knees at full force, and use the momentum...
to thrust my fist upward!
An uppercut! Should I block?!
No, intercept!
Whoa, the tables are turned again!
All right!
Miyata showed his pride! Damn, he's good!
What a guy! How could he counter a punch like that?!
He got us! I never dreamed he'd counterpunch an uppercut!
It's impossible to block a counterpunch from a mid-uppercut position!
He took the brunt of it.
Can he get up?
One...
Two...
- Kid! - Three...
Four...
Five...
Six...
Seven...
Kid!
Eight...
- Amazing! - Unbelievable!
- How could he recover from that?! - You've gotta be kidding!
All right! Good boy!
Now where's the gong?!
Ippo, can you go on?
Y-Yes!
Miyata!
Fight!
Stop! The first round is over!
Awesome, you guys!
Kid!
Ooh, I'm getting goosebumps. Damn!
Miyata is living up to his reputation, but Ippo's doing a great job, too!
What Takamura-san said earlier may not be far from the truth after all!
A fighter boxer with the dash power to block a counterpunch.
An outboxer who intercepts an uppercut even after his counterpunch is blocked.
Is this really a match between two non-licensed boxers?
Especially that kid. He might turn out to be an incredible find.
Kid! Hey, kid! Come on!
Snap out of it, kid!
Ch-Chief.
Are you awake now?
Reflecting on Today
That's coming to an end
I try to search for what I can do
I might have thought too hard
If I can tell myself "I'll be fine,"
That would be the first step
A paper plane is flying away
Hopefully it will make it to Tomorrow
Forever, forever, forever, forever
I'll keep believing
That's why... forever, forever, forever, forever
It will keep flying
The uppercut. It makes an attack three-dimensional.
It is an attack from below that can threaten a skilled defense.
I don't want to fall down! I want to continue the match!
Miyata-kun is incredible, but I don't want it to end yet!
My most powerful weapon that I acquired in the past three months...
still might work against him!
The next episode is "The Destructive Force of 1 Cm"