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
Whoa! The champion's spectacular counterpunch!
The invincible challenger's knee has finally touched the floor!
In the 9th pro match, it's the first, humiliating down!
I can't believe Takamura-san allowed a down.
One! Two!
Usually a feint'll never trick you! You ARE under a lot of pressure!
Damn it!
Yajima! Yajima!
No! I don't want you to lose!
Yajima! Yajima! Yajima!
Stand up, Takamura-san!
I don't want you to lose!
Lose? Did you say I lose...?!
Please stand up, Takamura-san!
If you don't become a champion...
we're not gonna have any dreams or hopes!
Hooray! Hooray! Takamura!
Don't lose, don't lose, Takamura!
Takamura! Takamura!
Hey, what's that frantic cheering for?
Seven!
Do you guys even think I might lose?
You idiots!
He stood up!
Takamura-san!
All right!
Whoa! He stood up! He did stand up!
The challenger, Takamura! Barely though, he stood up on count EIGHT!
However, he still seems to be suffering from the damage.
Will Yajima finish him off now?
Box!
Don't step backward! The champion is a straight puncher!
As soon as the match resumed, the champion's barrage started!
Yajima's punches are going toward Takamura's face...
because he's so focused on scoring a KO.
Is Takamura provoking him?
It's MINE!
It connected!
I'm not gonna let you get away!
The challenger is already fully recovered from the down earlier.
Takamura's continuous punches are pushing the champion against the rope!
Left and right! Left!
Amazing power!
With each punch, the rope bites into the champion's back!
But the champion's guard is solid, too!
Damn it!
I'll pry open it!
Eat this!
You idiot! Did you forget that you received a counterpunch to THAT?
Ahhhh! It's dangerous!
I don't receive the same punch repeatedly!
Such a stupid down.
You humiliated me in public!
Never dream of getting away without consequences!
Stop! Stop, Takamura!
Down! Down!
The challenger Takamura's deadly punches exploded!
Will the champion be able to stand up?
Huh? He is not counting.
Ah! He stopped the match! The match is over!
The new champion is born!
Great! Takamura!
All right! Way to go!
Takamura!
Chief, he did it! He's the champion!
Right!
Way to go!
Mamoru Takamura... once again, he scored a KO in the first round!
In a mere 90 seconds, he successfully took the champion title!
And NOW the champion belt is placed...
around the new champion's body!
Awesome! Takamura!
- Great job, Takamura! - You're the best!
You're way too strong!
Number One!
Awesome!
He's way too cool.
Ahh, the celebration party was really successful, too.
I've never seen Chief so happy!
Celebration Mamoru TAKAMURA Japan Middleweight Title
With just a Japanese title he was so excited.
When I get the world champion title, he might have a heart attack.
The world, huh?
He really talks big.
Then see ya later!
Yes! Good night!
Are you all right?
Don't make a noise. It's not a big deal.
It's a minor case of what they call "Punch-Drunk Syndrome" after a match.
Because I received a clean hit today after all.
Humph! You need to hurry home, too.
Then go to bed and recover from the damage, all right?
That's right.
Since it was such a spectacular KO, I almost forgot.
Takamura-san didn't win the champion belt easily.
Now I think about it, it was the first time...
I felt the damage in my legs.
I got headstrong and got up, but what motivated me was...
Stand up! Takamura-san!
I don't want you to lose!
Hey, Ippo!
Yes!
Thank you.
Huh? What did you say?
Ugh! Well... um...
Huh?
I won't forgive you if you lose in the next match!
Uh... yes!
But the next opponent is Hayami-kun, so it's gonna be tough.
You dummy! I don't know if he's a prodigy or what!
But it's my order. You have to win no matter what!
You understand?!
Yes, sir! I'll do my best!
Make sure you'll win the Rookie of the Year championship!
Yes, sir! I'll do my best!
Hey, Ippo!
I saw your match the other day.
You made us really nervous.
You had only 2 seconds left. 2 seconds!
So, when is your next match?
The next match is a semi-final of the Rookie Tournament.
So, in a month or so.
Who's the opponent?
It's not decided yet...
but it's most likely that Hayami-san from the first seed...
should be making it to the semi-final.
Let's see. Ha... ya... mi.
Uh... Umezawa-san. You spelled it wrong.
It says "seed brother one."
Here's Umezawa punch!
By the way, you have a conference with your teacher today, don't you?
What are you gonna do after graduation?
Um, I'm not sure.
You should think about it seriously, because you're smart...
unlike Umezawa-san.
Another Umezawa punch!
Guidance Counseling Room
What? Boxing?
Uh... yes...
while helping my family business, fishing boat rental, though.
Hmm... Makunouchi, that's disappointing.
What?
With your grades, you're well qualified to go to college.
It's not too late.
Don't you want to apply for a couple of them?
But...
Listen, Makunouchi.
Have more confidence in yourself.
Going to college will certainly benefit you in the future.
I... I am taking boxing very seriously!
I am in the middle of the rookie championship right now...
and my next opponent is going to be extremely strong!
But...
I can't afford to lose!
No matter what...
no matter what... I can't just drop out halfway through!
Hmm.
All right, Makunouchi.
I won't say anything more because you seem to be firm in your determination.
So, do your best!
But, Makunouchi, if you ever change your mind...
come talk to me anytime.
I'll be happy to do whatever I can to help you out.
Yes, sir! Thank you so much!
Now, excuse me!
That quiet and shy Makunouchi...
I guess how they appear is different from how they really are.
Hmm...
Ah! I forgot my bag!
Excuse me! I left my bag.
Sorry to have interrupted.
I'm convinced that my next opponent will be Hayami-san.
He is far from easy to defeat. He is the strongest so far.
Kobashi-san!
Hi, there.
I saw you from up there.
You looked like you were worrying about something.
What?
I totally understand, because the next one is Hayami-san.
I'm embarrassed to say this, but I was planning on defeating you...
so I also studied Hayami-san.
Of course, in order to defeat him as well.
But...
He has absolutely no blind spots.
He is extremely strong... amazingly.
Even YOU can't come up with tactics, Kobashi-san?
But...
YOU might have a chance to win.
With your persistent style of boxing, the fact that you never give up until the end...
you will definitely find a breakthrough.
Above all, you have a fatal punch that could knock anyone out!
My nose knows that.
What?
Well, it broke.
I thought I put up a good guard...
but still your punch was awesome.
You mean, at that time?!
I am terribly sorry!
Please don't apologize for it.
When you keep winning, we can be proud as well.
And the wounds will become our medal.
No one is happy to lose.
That's all the more reason I want YOU to win next.
Your fists will be carrying our hearts.
Give all you've got.
Promise me! You'll become the Rookie Champion!
Please do your best to become Rookie of the Year.
Kobashi-san... Ozuma-san...
I have to give all I've got for THEIR sake, too.
KAMOGAWA Boxing Gym
I gathered all of Hayami's match videos after he turned pro.
He fought an in-fighter just once...
an onrush-style bull fighter just like you.
Watch it pretending that YOU are the one fighting him!
As expected, his guard is solid. He has the basics down to the teeth.
After this, Hayami's gonna shoot one-two.
What would YOU do?
If it was me...
I'll block the jab on One, and weave under the straight punch...
on Two and try to go deep inside.
Right on! Use a hook there!
So, would you say it was an easy victory today?
Well, I should say that I was lucky to have an in-fighter as my opponent.
Which means?
I've never failed to bring down an in-fighter.
What he's saying is not a bluff.
Ever since his amateur days, Hayami KO'ed in-fighters...
with a 100% success rate.
He has an incredible barrage of middle-range punches called "shotgun."
Then when you try to go deep inside...
he'll greet you with that sharp "short uppercut."
That's why he makes a sucker of in-fighters so easily.
Then, my current tactics won't be effective.
Right, as you just witnessed.
So, we'll improve your defense.
Move your body with the image of Hayami in your mind constantly.
You're gonna have to make every single shot of his shotgun...
a swish in the air!
If you do succeed...
he will have exhausted a considerable amount of stamina...
and you'll be able to use that moment to your advantage.
How come you're not dodging them, you idiot?!
That's absurd!
Hayami's punches will outnumber these rocks!
I'm not gonna tell you to dodge all of them!
But develop a good command of parrying, blocking and other skills...
to avoid fatal blows.
THAT'S why you're wearing those gloves!
Thank you for your instructions!
All right! Let's get started!
Yes, sir!
Keep bobbing your head constantly!
If your head stops even for a second, it'll become a perfect target!
Yes, sir!
Chinese Noodle Restaurant IWATA What a ridiculously tough training you've started.
Your face is covered with bumps.
Well, someone like me can't even be on equal footing...
with Hayami-san if I stick to an ordinary type of training.
You're working hard until late at night.
You have your semi-final match tomorrow.
No problem. No problem.
Even if I hurry home, I won't be able to sleep anyway.
He's always like that before a match.
He gets more nervous than necessary...
and that's how he lost some of the matches that he should have won.
Shut up. An insensitive bozo like you wouldn't understand.
Why do you need to be nervous?
You have absolutely no reason to be under pressure.
You make such good ramen noodles.
You don't need to worry about your career after you retire.
Uh... Aoki-san. Please don't pay attention to that.
I'll definitely come tomorrow to cheer you on!
Don't butter him up. The truth is...
you're more concerned about Hayami in the curtain-raiser match.
Well, of course, that's the truth.
I bet he's extraordinary.
Hey, Ippo. Everything is relative, you know.
No matter how awesome Hayami may be...
he's just a curtain-raiser for Aoki after all.
You're right. Aoki-san's curtain-raiser.
That's right! Aoki-san's curtain-raiser, after all!
Uh-huh!
You're right!
If I look at it that way, I feel more relaxed!
Right. Right.
You are absolutely right!
I'm just a no-good-for-anything boxer who can only make ramen noodles!
I'm so sorry, Aoki-san. I got carried away a little.
You have no idea.
I'm so sorry. Sorry!
Come on, Takamura-san, please say something!
If you're done eating, just go home!
Come on, Aoki. Can't you relax a little more?
It’ll be a while before your turn.
I am fine. I am calm.
The third round of the Eastern Japan Rookie Championship...
is about to begin!
The Red Corner...
125 pounds and 3/4...
from Otowa Gym.
Ryuichi HAYAMI!
Hayami-kun! We're here for you!
Let us take a look at what he's made of...
to see if he really deserves all this cheering!
I don't care if the entire audience becomes my enemy!
I'm gonna cheer for his opponent, YASUKAWA!
OK.
I get to see him in a match before I fight him.
I want to study him as much as I can.
Round One!
Amazing! He is weaving through the barrage of punches!
What do you think you're doing to MY Hayami?!
Please don't hit his face! He's too handsome!
Not bad! The timing to dive in is just perfect!
Yasukawa has an excellent knack for offense...
but he's not punching much.
He must be going for endurance tactics!
It's the same tactics as Chief came up with.
I should be able to learn a lot from this!
Hayami is being aggressive, too.
He must have realized what Yasukawa's tactics were...
but he doesn't seem to care.
Hey, hey. He's letting him sink in punches way too much.
Come on! Dive in like earlier!
Well, he can't! Hayami's speed is going up!
From the way he's going, it's gonna get faster and faster!
You've gotta be kidding! He keeps punching for so long!
Damn it!
You dummy! You shouldn't lose your temper!
Oh, man!
Tsk! How annoying.
What incredible strength!
He's not a half-baked prodigy.
He has already overcome the issues of stamina.
With the way I'm training now...
I'll never be able to defeat Hayami-san.
Some sort of...
I need to find some sort of breakthrough.
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 uppercut.
A compact upward motion to aim at the opponent's chin...
who has stepped forward to come deep inside you.
It's hard to see it coming, and it's hard to dodge it...
even for a boxer with brilliant footwork.
It's the type of punch, specifically aimed for in-fighters.
But I won't give up! I want to win no matter what!
I'll win to get in the ring for the final match!
I'll have to win to keep my promise from that day!
The next round is "The Way to Capture a Prodigy."