Seek... without asking for the answer
I want to discover in the match on the edge
GET LIFE... not much time is left
That is the beginning
I WANT THIS ONLY
I will continue to seek
In the midst of that silver light
I may hurt others
As others may hurt me
But it doesn't end there
Keep seeking single-mindedly
I still don't see anything... WHY?
But I still keep seeking
NO PAIN TRANCE CONTINUE
How's your right fist, Makunouchi-kun?
You're the hopeful who's been blowing away the competition.
Of course I know about you.
This is the Featherweight Champion of Japan...
Eiji Date-san!
Oops, I forgot you can't use your right hand.
Uh...
Th-Thanks.
E-Excuse me?
Don't be so stiff, boy!
Uh, I...
Hey! It's you, old guy.
Hey, Takamura! Don't call me old! I'm only 28.
Don't act like a big shot after teasing one of our boxers.
Well, I didn't mean to...
but he got so nervous, I couldn't help myself.
This little guy sure is cute.
Anyway, what brings you here today?
Oh, I was called in as a guest commentator.
Guest?! Like you're such a hot commodity.
I don't think I fit the role, either.
That explains the disgusting tie.
Don't mock my wife's fashion sense!
More importantly, they say your opponent is tough stuff.
Yeah. Don't say that.
I'm nervous to a degree.
You idiot! Would a nervous guy be loitering around in a place like this?
I haven't decided how to slaughter him yet, that's all!
Um, I didn't know you were acquainted.
Yeah. I bumped into him at last year's commissioner sponsor party.
I wanted to know who the old guy with the evil eyes was.
Stop calling me old!
In the first place, your glare is worse than mine!
Oh?!
Yeah!
Now, now. Champion, we should be going.
Oops, it's that time already.
Make any sloppy moves, I'll give a commentary you'll never live down.
Oh, yeah. Old guy!
A little while ago, you called this guy cute, didn't you?
The punches he throws aren't so cute.
Don't say stuff like that, Takamura-san.
Being Rookie of the Year puts you in 10th place ranking.
If you rise in the ranks without a hitch, it's possible we could fight.
However, I know I put up a front...
but a 28-year-old boxer is way past his peak.
I don't know if I can wait that long for you.
I know! I wanted to do my fine-tuning with someone...
who would test my mettle before my next title match!
Y-Yes?
Once your right fist heals, drop by my gym to see me.
Later!
Humph. That was a good sob story.
It means that old guy isn't the type to give up the belt easily.
Is that true?
He's one of the few boxers in Japan capable of tackling the world title.
The world...
Fight against the champion? Me?
Hey, you're in the way!
Make way for the No. 1 batter of Kamogawa Gym!
Don't disgrace yourself in there.
You got it.
- Do your best!
- Right!
Aw, no way! It's the last round, Kimura-san.
It connected! Hey...
This is no time to get sick! We have to cheer for him!
R-Right.
Oh, it's come down to judge's decision.
He did it!
I won! Keep it up.
Leave it to me!
Can you go on?
I can.
Hit... him... you!
Hey, it hit him.
He did it! Now we have two wins in a row!
Yes.
Now it's up to Takamura-san.
Yeah!
All right! That's Takamura-san for you!
I'm really glad all three of them won.
Yeah.
Congratulations, everyone!
Did you see my KO reversal?!
That was obviously a lucky punch.
I won, so lay off.
You saw my spectacular form, too, didn't you, Geromichi?
Yeah.
Huh? What's the matter?
I think the match was too much for him.
I see. I guess he's not used to seeing our faces like this.
How can I describe it? Lumps are like medals to a boxer.
If you continue boxing, you'll learn that for yourself.
Congratulations.
You were really cool.
Yeah!
Thanks for the support.
I don't think having a swelled face is anything to be proud of.
Since we won today, that means our ranking will get higher, too.
If I'm now ranked 5th...
Hey! All we have to do is beat 4 more, and we'll be champions, too!
Yeah! The belt is finally coming into view!
Right?
Oh, yeah. They're all fighting with their eyes on the belt.
You take up our momentum and follow, Ippo!
Uh, no. There are still nine boxers ahead of me.
Fool!
You ONLY have nine boxers ahead of you!
You could have a title match on your hands within the year!
Have a little ambition, would you?!
Yes, sir.
Fishing Boat Rental MAKUNOUCHI
Title match?
It still sounds unreal.
Date-san...
He has a presence and really looks like a champion.
He totally outranks me after how I struggled...
in the Rookie of the Year fight.
Sendo-san's punches were intense.
And to be honest, I couldn't see Mashiba-san's flicker punches.
And Miyata-kun's speed is something to be reckoned with.
But a champion probably has to rise above all those things.
Rise above? Surely there aren't many featherweight boxers...
who can punch like Sendo-san.
And as for speed, I know that I'm totally outranked...
but I wonder just how much of a gap in skill...
lies between me and this man?
KAMOGAWA Boxing Gym
The most important thing in jumping rope is a sense of rhythm.
You can't just hop without thinking.
- Right. - Watch me.
Give it a try.
Faster.
Yeah, that's the way!
Are you all right?!
I... I'm all right!
I'm sorry. I made trouble for you.
It's no trouble.
Sempai, please do your own training.
Don't waste your time on me.
Don't worry about it.
I can't put on a glove because of my fist injury.
It's a good opportunity for me to work on lots of basics with you.
But I... I think I really can't...
Can't? You really can't what?
You've gotten a lot better. Keep trying!
What do you mean, keep trying? Like you're so big.
Well, I can't say anything bad.
You were just as bad when you first joined the gym.
That's not the problem here!
What are you doing, laughing at him when he's doing his best?!
Whoa, he defended him!
I knew it, they're gay!
You and your nonsense!
He got mad, boss!
See? Just like I said, right?
That's suspicious.
They're just horsing around. It'll slow us down, so ignore them.
Uh, what was it again?
Uh, Yamada-kun?
I see. He was clumsy in the beginning, too.
YAMAGUCHI Chiropractic Clinic
You were very patient.
It's all right now. Your fist is 100% fully healed.
R-Really?
It's okay now.
I can spar, too?
I told you, it's okay!
I see.
I see!
All right!
- What the...?
- Hey, Ippo?
Way to go, Ippo! You're back in the saddle!
Yeah!
Kid!
One, two!
Yes, sir!
- Right punch!
- Right!
Left!
Left-right barrage!
Yes. Those were pretty solid impacts for such a long absence.
Thank you, sir!
I just got through with the bad boys' matches...
but it's gonna get busy again.
Kid!
Yes, sir!
You just got a sparring offer from Nakadai Gym.
It was a direct request from Eiji Date to borrow Ippo Makunouchi.
Direct request...
Your sparring session is in three days.
Go use his services to your heart's content!
I spar with Date-san in three days.
Don't be so nervous.
R-Right.
The old geezer had sudden business to attend...
but with me as your escort, you have nothing to fear.
Yes, it's very encouraging.
All right, let's go show him who's boss!
What day is today?
The 30th.
Oh, no!
What's wrong?
- I have a date today.
- Huh?
- I mustn't dawdle.
- Huh?!
Do your best!
Wait a minute!
Uh, Takamura-san!
What'll I do? What'll I do?
Yamada-kun!
NAKADAI Boxing Gym
Thank you for coming. I'm the chief, Nakadai.
Pleased to meet you. I'm looking forward to sparring.
Couldn't Kamogawa-san come as your escort?
He always did have a hands-off policy.
Yeah.
Well, why don't you start getting ready?
Sure.
I'm so nervous.
You're getting a lot of attention, sempai.
Please don't tell me things like that.
I'm sorry.
I need to concentrate.
I see why Date would personally request him.
Hey, you're here!
Y-Yes, pleased to be of service to you, sir.
Well, let's get to it, then.
That's unusual shadow boxing. He's using his elbows an awful lot.
Sempai?
Good.
He only moved them lightly, but his shoulders...
elbows, and even his wrists are perfectly fluid.
Date-san is master of the corkscrew blow.
Corkscrew blow?
You spar for three rounds.
For Date, this will be his final adjustment before the match.
I want you to take him full-on for the full nine minutes.
Yes, sir. Um, what about head-gear?
Oh, that. Don't worry. I prefer not to wear it.
Didn't I mention it before? I'm growing old. I have no more time.
If I let myself act the slightest bit weak, I can't maintain my tension.
Come on, don't be so standoffish.
Hit me without holding back.
Right.
How should I go about fighting him?
I could really use Takamura-san's help right now.
Strategy or not, there is no variation to the way I fight.
I'll stick close to him and exchange punches as usual!
Okay, ring the bell!
Right!
All right.
I've never felt this kind of pressure before.
It's different from Mashiba-san or Sendo-san.
The pressure is heavier.
What the heck was I just standing there for?!
He's fast! I can't miss his movement even for a second!
Left!
I got it backwards! A right is coming!
I controlled it! Return a left!
He shook it off by force!
I thought that the boxing...
of a champion...
would be smarter!
I never expected it to be this rough!
Date-san set a trap for him. He's completely leading the match.
He never gives up the pace, even in a sparring match.
That's where the gap in careers shows through.
I have to lash out! He's within striking distance!
I have to lash out!
His engine finally turned over.
I see. That's a good punch.
Even when he's hit, he punches right back.
He's got a good heart, too.
Whoa, Date lost his balance!
He had his guard up just now.
Oh, no! He won't be able to dodge that!
Whoa there, break time.
The bell already? I was so absorbed, I couldn't tell.
Damn, it's hell taking on a young guy!
But I wouldn't have it any other way.
What's wrong? Sure he didn't get the upper hand?
Nah, he's just so spunky. I'm jealous of the young.
He probably has power to spare.
Yeah, it's really something.
His speed isn't average, either.
With some experience, he would make a fine boxer.
That's true. If I'm not careful, he'll knock me off my feet.
For sure.
Want to test it out?
He has punches, he has speed. He never runs out of energy.
He's a type very similar to my next opponent.
He's the perfect test candidate. Yeah.
He's holding back something, I know it.
That was so close.
You're probably going to KO him at this rate.
What are you talking about?!
In the first place, Date-san isn't seriously fighting yet.
He hasn't used his corkscrew.
What? Really?
Yeah. And that smile he made...
Didn't he get the upper hand on Date-san?
Yeah. Makunouchi isn't someone to be trifled with.
Hey, where are your eyes?
Date-san lets his opponents attack to observe their moves.
It's his usual trick.
Yeah.
Okita's really uptight.
He's in the same weight class as Date-san...
waiting for his shot at the title.
If the guy he's trying to beat has a hard time fighting a rookie...
Interesting. The side-to-side move he used in the Mashiba fight.
Good weaving. The corkscrew doesn't work for barrages.
If he moves around that fast, he'll be a hard target.
Corkscrew?!
He's exercising an abnormal amount of caution!
I shouldn't have let him see me shadowbox.
Still, it wouldn't be much of a test if I didn't use it!
For all that movement, he still cornered me easily!
See that? This is the difference in your careers.
He's taking aim. I have to get out of the corner.
I don't think so!
Oh, no!
Got you!
It's the corkscrew!
Block...
I got hit!
His left follow-up is coming! I have to raise my guard!
I must raise my guard!
What am I doing? I have to raise my guard!
Sempai.
What? What happened?
It's almost like I...
... like I'm frozen in time.
What happened?
No matter what I do, it's the same
I keep making mistakes
What is truly important?
Weary about what's under my feet
I can't stop looking down
When that happens
Just look up
Look far into the distance
Find a new perspective from a different angle
When walking down a narrow path, look up
You'll find the world has a 360-degree view
The corkscrew blow.
By striking out while twisting your fist...
this punch produces definitive destructive and piercing power.
However, it takes a high degree of technical skill and training to do this.
Incredible.
No matter how many times I fall, I don't want it to end.
I want to know more of the strengths the champion has in his arsenal!
The next episode is, "A Thing to Strive For."