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
Here he comes!
I have to stand my ground! If I don't get near him...
I have no chance of winning!
Go! I don't care if you're too aggressive!
Charge in all the way!
Don't stop! Keep going! Once I get close to him...
he'll throw his infighter-killing left uppercut for sure!
I only have one chance!
I must concentrate on the movement of his left hand!
When is he going to use it?
When?!
He isn't using his left uppercut!
What?!
Huh?!
As you wish, I'll take your challenge! Let's infight!
He isn't using his left uppercut!
Oh, my! Hayami has taken an infighting pose.
Is this some kind of strategy?
Fighting on their own ground to show them just how outclassed they are...
gives the experience meaning.
Why didn't he use his left uppercut?!
Don't let it throw you off, kid!
You'll just have to be defiant and fight him!
He's right! He can't use his shotgun at this range!
I have a chance at close-range fighting!
Why is Hayami infighting?
It's part of his showboating. He likes to show off his superiority...
by beating his opponents with their own techniques.
That bastard. When will the insults stop?!
This can't be happening! He's blocking me easily at this close range!
Damn. Ippo is confused.
His punches are missing their usual rhythm.
Down!
Didn't he just slip?
No. Hayami's right connected dead-on before he fell.
One!
Ippo was out-punched at infighting!
No, he just took a fluke hit right when he slipped.
Three!
Four!
Five!
It's no good.
I thought I had some advantage, but he's a better infighter, too.
It's not that he couldn't use his uppercut...
He didn't need to use it!
How does it feel to be defeated at your own specialty?
I allow the opponent to show his power at 80 to 90 percent...
and then beat him with my own 100% power.
This is what makes me stand out.
Hayami-kun!
Stand up, Ippo!
Are you gonna let it end with your face in the dirt?!
What was that week of intensive training at camp with us for?
That's easy for you to say.
I'm way outclassed!
The fact of the matter is...
I did great to get this far in the Rookie King Tournament.
Please do your best...
Please do your best to become Rookie of the Year.
As long as you keep winning, we can also be proud.
That's right. If I lose like this...
I would make Ozuma-san and Kobashi-san look bad for losing to me!
I'll be waiting at the final as promised.
I can't...
Seven!
... let it... end like this!
Eight!
Right on!
Oh, my! Makunouchi got up!
He stood up at the count of eight!
Oh, OK. Let's do a double demonstration...
so I can show you just how different our boxing levels are...
using your precious infighting.
I'm not gonna back down now!
Box!
Now, they have both paused in the center of the ring.
Will they start duking it out at close range again?
It doesn't hurt! It doesn't hurt!
I won't let it end with him looking down on me!
Why, you!
Why, you...!
Hey, Hayami backed away from him.
Even though none of Makunouchi's punches connected.
He's regained his rhythm.
Hayami pulled back because he got overwhelmed by the kid's drive.
I'm sure he just backed off from a close-range fight.
None of my punches have connected, but I overwhelmed him.
Now I'm gonna get in his face and challenge him!
Don't push your luck. I merely backed off...
because accidents can happen at close range.
Yeah, Hayami! Go for the win with outboxing!
Good work, kid! Your powerful punches made him chicken out!
Keep letting 'em fly!
Me, chicken?!
I just got a little nervous, that's all.
I'm going to be taking a major role in the world of boxing...
so I can't afford stupid mistakes in a place like this.
Whoops! Hayami gives him a clean one-two!
The distance is working to Hayami's advantage!
Get close to him!
He's been out of reach since the moment he used his footwork on me.
You and I are different species!
The bastard is real flamboyant when he sticks to outboxing.
Hayami-kun!
I Love Ryuichi Pulverize that wild boar of a kid!
Did you just call him a boar?!
Is that any way to talk about a guy who's fighting his hardest?!
Now, now. Don't be so excited.
Actually, I wouldn't mind being called a wild boar myself!
Jeez! You're a doting fool when it comes to women.
Hayami-kun!
Go for it! Go for it!
What is hell is that thing?!
Do you want a middle-weight punch in your fat, little head?!
Y-You don't have go that far.
You idiot! Take a good look at that woman's face!
She's hot.
I've gotta get close to him!
I'm gonna run him down, run him down...
and catch him!
Damn, he's persistent.
Good, he doesn't like it.
Hey, Hayami's starting to back into the ropes.
He's using the footwork I trained with him at camp!
He's gradually cornering him using small shifts in weight!
I finally cornered him!
You bastard... Give it your best shot!
I'll give you a taste of this the moment you jump in.
He has no place to go. He'll use it this time for sure.
He'll use his infighter-killing left uppercut!
Got you!
Here it comes!
I have to synchronize my right hook to it!
What?! A counterpunch?
GO!
I'll get you first!
What?! A counterpunch?
GO!
I'll get you first!
My God, it's punch-for-punch!
Hayami's left and Makunouchi's right collide simultaneously!
I felt an impact! How did I do?!
No way! It didn't do anything!
Damn, it was too shallow.
Now he knows what Ippo's aiming for!
Hayami won't throw another uppercut like that again.
But we practiced that counterpunch so hard together!
How could it have had no effect?!
If he can take my right hook, I'm through!
Hey, what are you doing?!
Punch each other!
What's wrong? Are you boys at an arranged marriage or something?!
That's easy for you to say.
Kid! What are you doing?!
Staring won't get you anywhere!
Hayami's back is to the rope! Attack him while you can, you idiot!
Argh! Worrying will get me nowhere!
His lower body took a hit! He took damage!
He's right! My counterpunch did hurt him!
All right!
Oh, no! Hayami, get away from the rope!
The power of Makunouchi's punch is for real!
Whoa, Hayami is dodging! He's dodging!
He's defending as if he never took a blow!
His lower body should be out of commission...
but he's dodging everything!
He's taking advantage of the rope's elasticity.
His amateur boxing experience allows him to cope with any situation.
Oh, no!
The shotgun!
Damn, we're back to square one.
He needed to use this round while Hayami's still reeling...
but it won't be easy to break through those shotgun punches.
How'd you like that? I've still got my trusty shotgun.
As long as I have this, you won't be able to get near me.
Makunouchi has been pushed back by the barrage.
He wants to press on, but the shotgun punches have him blocked!
He's going in again!
Get a new routine!
Hayami-kun, knock him down! Knock him down!
Right on, Hayami! Keep it up!
Makunouchi can't get near him! He keeps getting hit by the shotgun!
I guess you haven't had enough.
He's too fast.
Pull back, Ippo! You're in trouble!
Yes, he's fast! However...
he isn't putting his hip into it!
He's only using his arms!
This is nothing to fear!
If I sway too wide, I can't counterattack!
I need to make tiny dodges!
Makunouchi has started to dodge! Hayami's barrage slices into thin air!
Now it's Makunouchi's turn to show off! What a superb defense!
This isn't happening.
This isn't happening!
Impossible!
He's dodging without a wasted movement. He can see the punches clearly.
Hayami, I hear that your next opponent is the most reputable...
hard puncher in the tournament. Do you have a strategy to deal with him?
If he was anyone worthy of tactics...
I would think of something.
So, do you mean, you don't need a strategy for Makunouchi?
I didn't say that. I mean that I don't cut corners...
no matter who my opponent may be.
Like the lion that uses his full power to catch a rabbit?
I don't know about that.
I have my shotgun.
As long as I have this, no one will ever defeat me.
Or rather, I can't ever let anyone defeat me.
It's a hit! The impact is terrific!
I can't believe it! He beat my shotgun.
My shotgun!
I can't let someone like him beat me!
This is my chance! I have to jump in now!
Punch him!
Don't hesitate, Ippo!
His gut is wide open! Use your upper, your upper!
This is nothing!
You bastard!
Hayami! Push him away with your barrage!
He's hurting from the body blow!
Close in on him and knock him down!
Hayami counterattacks! He can't lose to a barrage!
He desperately punches back!
I won't lose!
Makunouchi follows suit! His will power is also impressive!
A right punch from Makunouchi!
I can't afford to lose on a small stage like this!
A left from Hayami! Was it effective?!
I'm gonna steamroller you!
Whoa, he's down! Hayami is down!
Down! Makunouchi, he's down!
Go back to your neutral corner!
The referee waves his arms! The match will not continue!
The fight is over!
It's an upheaval! Advancing to the final match of the Eastern Japan...
Rookie Championship Tournament, Ippo Makunouchi!
I... I did it.
I won.
All right!
He won! He's going to the final!
Hey, this is great!
Hooray!
Well, I'll be!
You did it! You did it, Ippo-kun!
Yagi-san, Chief, I did it!
Yeah, you did great. That was a spectacular rush.
Ippo!
I won!
Yeah, you pulled it off!
You did an awesome job, you bastard!
Cry me a river!
This is the first time his cheering squad has seen him lose.
I bet it's a real shock for them.
This'll be a serious blow for him, with the publicity he was getting.
He has a tough time ahead of him.
Huh? Well, yeah...
I guess so. It's a little sad when this happens to a genius.
Hayami...
Hayami. Hey, can you hear me?
Hayami.
Why, you! I'm amazed you won!
Don't make us nervous like that, you fool!
You took a clean hit.
But you know what? Your true ability...
is far above his. Let's use this loss to bounce back and...
Loss?
So, I lost.
We're having a tough time believing you lost, too.
I see.
What?
So, I lost.
I'll be all right. Even Ali and Raynard lost once in a while.
In fact, they showed their legendary strength after they lost.
Well, please keep your hopes up. The next time I stand in the ring...
it'll be the beginning of Ryuichi Hayami's legend.
Or something.
Why, you...
Hayami-kun, please try again another time!
Don't be sad!
I love you!
Don't get depressed over this!
If you have another match, I'll be there for you!
I love you, Ryuichi!
Humph! What is that?! He's almost acting like he won.
I was a fool to feel any sympathy for him!
I'm in trouble. I was planning a feature article on Hayami...
for next month's issue.
What a drag. Is this for real?!
Maybe all that publicity went to his head.
Yeah. He fell asleep at the switch.
Yes, Hayami was careless.
But that's only a minor point.
Makunouchi won due to his unbelievable growth as a boxer.
Who is next? Miyata or Mashiba?
Either way, it's too important to miss.
Well, the most important thing was that Ippo won by counterpunch!
Don't forget that he was coached by a genius!
You idiot! He won because of the footwork I taught him at camp.
That's what turned the tide.
No, it was his counterpunch!
Footwork!
Now, now! Does it really matter what did it?
The credit goes to everybody.
Yes. I won today thanks to all of your efforts!
I learned footwork from Kimura-san...
the counterpunch from Aoki-san...
the Chief taught me defense, among other things...
and Takamura-san taught me...
Takamura-san taught me...
Huh?
You ungrateful bastard!
Anyway, thank you, everyone, for all your help!
It's too late to beg for your life now!
My right punch will send you to your doom!
No, thanks!
I don't know how...
but I managed to get to where I promised to...
Miyata-kun!
1 round, 2 minutes 59 seconds. Ippo Makunouchi Advances to the Final Match of the Eastern Japan Rookie King Tournament
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
A solid puncher.
A boxer who knocks out his opponent in a split second...
with sharp, slicing punches.
He attacks without leaving you time to blink...
like a master swordsman.
A high-level offense and defense...
backed up by concentration and technique.
And I realize again, that this is what it takes...
to get to the final match of the Rookie Championship Tournament.
The next round is "The Other Semi-Final"