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
Monthly Boxing Fan
Once again, it is time for this year's Rookie King Championship Tournament.
Monthly Boxing Fan This tournament has produced many promising boxers...
and it is said that any boxer who wins this title...
will most likely go on to become a world champion.
The level of competition in Eastern Japan is extremely high this year.
Featherweight Class Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tournament Chart The level of competition in Eastern Japan is extremely high this year.
Featherweight Class Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tournament Chart There's Hayami, champ of the Interscholastic Athletic Meet...
Featherweight Class Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tournament Chart Yoshida, the runner-up...
Featherweight Class Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tournament Chart Mashiba, who fights with a high-level of perfection...
Featherweight Class Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tournament Chart and Miyata, who is widely viewed as a boxing prodigy.
Featherweight Class Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tournament Chart No matter who wins...
Featherweight Class Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tournament Chart he will surely make the future world of boxing his stage.
Featherweight Class Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tournament Chart
My own attention is on Makunouchi of the Kamogawa Boxing Gym.
He has 2 wins out of 2 with 2 KOs.
His dynamic punching style fills this reporter with big dreams.
Block A His first match opponent is Jason Ozuma.
I look forward to the exciting clash of sharp hooks and punches.
These are battles of rookies striving to reach the top.
Jason Ozuma (Hachinohe Boxing Group) Ippo Makunouchi (Kamogawa Gym) There may be a future boxing champion among them.
Fierce battles! Eastern Japan Rookie King Championship Tournament 1st Draft We can't use this, Fujii. Write about Hayami or Miyata.
Fierce battles! Eastern Japan Rookie King Championship Tournament 1st Draft Who's Makunouchi?! This is why I can't leave the opening article to you.
I knew he'd say that.
Makunouchi, you are within the featherweight class weight limit.
Next, Ozuma. Step up.
He has wiry physique.
His muscles look like springs.
Ozuma has passed the weight limit.
Well, Kamogawa-san, I'm looking forward to the match.
Same here.
I'm not comfortable having my weight checked.
Everybody glares at me.
Hi, Makunouchi-san!
Uh... What?
I hear that you are a strong fighter.
I will give our match my very best. Let's have a good fight!
Huh?
Yes, yes! My name is Ippo!
You know, as in first step, second step. "Ippo."
Is this embarrassing or what?
I agree.
You idiot.
What do you mean, "Yes, yes!"
I'm sorry.
It's just that all my opponents so far tried to intimidate me...
so I was surprised by his friendliness.
Yeah, but don't you think Ozuma-san is a gentleman?
All right, I'll give it my best, too!
He's as cheerful as ever.
But don't you think he's at his most relaxed yet?
Yes. He's at his best condition.
The question is, how far will he show the result of his intensive training?
Thank you for the meal!
Hey, Mom?
Can you make it to watch me tomorrow?
I don't want to go out only to see you get hit.
I can't bring myself to go.
I'll come see you when you can promise me you won't get hit.
That's impossible.
Whether you win or lose, don't get hurt, okay?
Here you go.
Okay!
Sakura Park
I'll dodge his hook...
and deliver a short uppercut to his unguarded chest!
That will trigger a barrage of punches.
That's what I'm aiming for!
Room D
Listen, apparently Makunouchi is a typical in-fighter.
The match will probably turn into a close proximity free-for-all.
The ability to focus is the key to victory.
Okay.
Good.
Room B
Makunouchi, please get ready.
Right!
Excellent.
Let's go, Kid!
Right!
Finally, it's Ozuma's turn.
You idiot! What's the point of you getting nervous?!
I know, but his opponent, Makunouchi, won both of his matches with KOs.
I'm thinking he's pretty strong.
What are you talking about?! No rookie is stronger than Ozuma!
Next is the much talked-of Ozuma, isn't it?
Yeah. I heard he incapacitated a Nerima Boxing Group boxer...
to the extent he can't participate in this tournament.
Really?
Makunouchi's punches are also quite something...
but it seems he had bad luck in the draw.
Hey, the guys talking down in front of us...
are affiliates from some boxing gym.
That Ozuma guy sounds really strong.
Heh, why don't we wait and see how tough he really is?
Tournament Ring
Ozuma!
We came to support you like we promised!
We're behind you all the way! Give it your best!
They're here.
It's okay. I will win.
Is this for real? Ippo's gonna fight that guy!
I... Ippo actually came out!
You idiot! Of course he came out!
We're counting on you, Ippo!
Don't lose your first match!
Wow. He's in the fighting spirit.
In the Red Corner, from the Hachinohe Boxing Group...
three of three with 3 KOs...
weighing at 125 and three-quarter pounds...
Jason Ozuma!
In the Blue Corner, from the Kamogawa Boxing Gym...
two of two with 2 KOs...
weighing in at exactly 124 pounds...
Ippo Makunouchi!
Round One!
Box!
Ozuma, go for it!
We're here for you!
Go for it, Ippo!
Lose, and you'll pay!
I can't let him control the pace. The first to make a move wins.
He was thinking the same thing!
I'll keep attacking until I create a window!
His jabs are so heavy!
Right on! The kid forced it to go at his own pace!
Give him a barrage of punches! Don't give him a chance to counter!
Damn, he got control of the pace.
Ozuma, get away from Makunouchi! Regain your balance!
Got him!
It-It's working?!
The idiot got hasty and took a big swing.
Oh, no!
Damn! It's a right hook!
Got him!
He dodged!
The intensive training has achieved fruition!
Now it's my turn!
What the...?!
He dodged me!
Unbelievable!
Who could dodge from that position?
What an amazing hook! In terms of sharpness...
he's definitely in the same class as Takamura-san!
That air slicing sound is not normal.
If I took an uppercut like that, there would be hell to pay!
He dodged my left hook, too!
This time, to the body!
What an incredible sound. That's no Japanese uppercut!
Yeah! And if you took a hook like that to the body, you'll be done for!
Wow! This is exciting!
They're fighting at such a close range, but nothing connects!
This is an unbelievable series of killer blows!
What an incredible sound. That's no Japanese uppercut!
Yeah! And if you took a hook like that to the body, you'll be done for!
Wow! This is exciting!
They're fighting at such a close range, but nothing connects!
This is an unbelievable series of killer blows!
He's fast!
A double right hook. That was a perfect swing.
Another left!
He's getting faster! I don't have a chance to hit back!
He can't dodge them continuously. Unless he cuts his way out of there...
he has no chance to win!
Speed, technique... Ozuma is one notch above in everything.
Another double right hook!
No, a triple!
That was close!
Left?! No! I don't have time!
Down!
He's strong.
One!
He did it!
- Two! - Ippo!
Three!
Don't be hasty, kid! Rest until he counts eight!
Five!
He's right. C-Calm down.
Calm down. I need to rest as long as possible.
He's gonna get to his feet. He ducked slightly before contact...
lessening the damage.
Six!
Seven!
Eight!
Are you all right? Can you continue?
Yes.
That hit hard.
That's more than enough time. I won't let you get away!
Damn, that bastard is nerve-wracking!
But it left a lot of damage. This is bad.
Ozuma will probably try to finish him.
He's getting into position to rush.
A four-round match only allows two knockdowns.
I have to avoid being knocked down again for the remaining time!
Box!
I'll finish him in one blow!
What incredible mental strength!
But my punches have to be working!
This will finish you!
Oh, no! Oh, no!
At any rate, I have to stop him!
Whoa! In his desperation, he threw a counterpunch!
But it was mutual.
No, they were both shallow, ineffective blows.
However, it struck a mental blow.
I know they weren't perfect...
but he still took my three best shots!
I felt that.
If he closes in on me now, it'll definitely be the end of me.
He still has life in his eyes.
If I jump in without thinking, who knows what he'll do.
Stay back... Stay back!
He got through the first round!
I thought it was totally hopeless halfway through!
You've got guts, little guy!
That was a long first round!
It was so unbearable to watch that it was hard to breathe!
They make me feel tired.
Damn, he couldn't finish him all the way.
I was so sure he'd finish him, too.
That Makunouchi guy is pretty tough!
I'm saved!
I'm sorry, sir.
We did all that practicing...
and I took a hook anyway!
Actually, you faced off equally. You're doing a good job.
N-No, I'm not.
I fell down, too.
Ozuma's hook just happened to hit you first, that's all.
If your uppercut had landed first...
the flow of the match would have been the reverse.
The difference was paper-thin.
Go into the second round using the same strategy.
Exchange blows!
But his barrage of hooks is so fast.
With the way I duck, I'll be caught eventually.
To exchange blows, I have to stop his barrage.
Idiot! You just did that in the last round!
Oh, we hit at the same time!
Did you see how petrified Ozuma looked when you did that?
That's how extraordinary your punches are.
Have confidence, and challenge him fair and square!
If you take Ozuma's hook when you connect with him...
without a doubt, you will also be hurt severely.
But you can't be a boxer if you're afraid of the risk.
Yes, sir!
Makunouchi has a punch up his sleeve. If you let it drag on...
you'll never know when he'll use his lucky punch again!
Fortunately, he hasn't been able to fully respond to your rapid hooks.
The next round is key. Catch him in a barrage and finish him fast!
All right.
Now go, Ozuma!
Seconds out!
Kid!
Even if you get punched, don't let it show on your face.
No matter how bad it hurts, keep telling yourself you didn't feel a thing!
That's the secret to survival in a smack-up rally!
Yes, sir!
You're finished!
The guy is trying to knock him down from the get-go.
Right there!
Argh! This is the same as before!
The barrage will start!
This is it! This is the hook!
I can't dodge it! I've got to stop it before the barrage starts!
All right! He stopped Ozuma!
My God! He stopped the barrage with a counterpunch!
You idiot. That's the worst counterpunch I've ever seen!
He took the full damage!
They hit each other again!
I didn't feel a thing!
His strategy was to hit simultaneously!
They did it again!
No number of bodies is enough for that strategy!
Still, the same can be said for Ozuma.
Counting on your own guts may be a primitive strategy...
but to combat Ozuma's superior speed and technique...
this might be the best strategy for Ippo to put his power in play.
What a punch!
This match won't be decided by points, no matter how it ends.
Which fighter will survive?
This is definitely worth watching!
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
Short range. The distance in which both boxers can reach each other.
The distance in which mutual damage will be done if the punches hit.
That's right, the damage is mutual. That's why I won't give up!
It didn't hurt, it didn't hurt!
I have to stop his barrage! I have to make a stand and fight back!
This is the only place I can fight!
This is my distance!
The next round is "Test of Endurance."