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
My word! He carried over the Gazelle Punch into a body blow!
The first to connect with the big gun is Makunouchi!
He widened his stance and forced it into a low altitude punch.
It's the worst punch to take without stamina!
The darned kid pulled a neat trick!
Chief, he did it!
Yeah!
Makunouchi whales into him! It's his usual reversal pattern!
Also, this rush is Makunouchi's pattern of certain victory!
Ah, Volg goes under!
- He's down! - To your neutral corner!
Makunouchi has finally turned the match on its ear!
- He did it! - Ippo!
Chief!
He did it! He really did it!
I had full faith in my boxer and my boxer responded to it 100%.
Nothing is more gratifying than this.
Ramuda, Volg is a superb boxer.
However, dazzling talent can sometimes...
blind the eyes of an excellent trainer.
It wasn't arrogance that blinded you to the status of his stamina.
In the light, anyone can lose sight of the shadow.
The boxer's ability was far superior.
It was the trainer's mistake.
My arrogance gave rise to this accident.
I haven't taught him what to do after this.
Volg doesn't know how to regain his footing in such a predicament.
Will he lose? Will my boxer lose?
This is a rare exchange of knockdowns! The count is five so far!
Will this become the decisive knockdown?!
Volg-san's movements suddenly became heavy.
The Chief knew it would come to this.
This is what he was aiming for.
Well done, Kid! That's a flawless barrage!
He connected a beautiful combination from body to face...
when his opponent was physically exhausted.
That was a finishing blow with change to spare!
He won't rise again. We won!
Hold on! Volg has raised his chest off the mat!
Will he get up?! Can he get up?!
It's no good! He collapses!
Don't get up! Don't get up!
Th-That hurt. My field of vision...
It's no good. I don't think I can stand.
Mom...
Mom, what's wrong? Are you coughing again?
Wait here. I'll go get a doctor!
Wait for me, Mom. Wait for me.
I feel so heavy I can't move.
I can't believe how powerless I am!
I wish I were as strong as that wolf.
Then I would be able to protect Mom.
I wish I were as strong as a wolf...
I was so impressed by the wolf howling nobly with a high-pitched cry...
in the wasteland of snow that day...
that's why I grasped the boxing gloves.
If I allow myself to be buried...
if I don't get up on my feet...
I'll still be the same as that day when I was so powerless!
Strong like a wolf!
I started boxing because I wanted to be strong...
Six!
I have to stand up.
I'm not weak like I was back then!
No matter how much snow buries me...
I can get to my feet and fight!
Mom...
Mom, I'm...
I'm strong now, aren't I?
Volg is on his feet!
My word...
Volg!
Can you go on?
Box!
Now, this time Volg's in trouble!
He has incredible fighting spirit.
I guess the dark horse won't come out on top so easily.
Settle it! Whale into him and knock him down!
I have to go. This chance finally came my way.
- Go, go, Makunouchi! - You can get him!
Knock him down! Knock him down!
Volg doesn't punch back!
It may be only a matter of time before he collapses!
Makunouchi's power blows are effective through his guard!
He looks like he would fall if it weren't for the rope!
A clinch! Makunouchi also staggers!
The attacker is also exhausted!
Break! Step back! Break it up! Volg!
It's a hold!
You're the amateur champ of the world, aren't you?!
They've finally broken it up!
The pride of the Amateur World Champ means nothing now!
He's nothing but desperate!
Don't leave an interval! You can't let him rest! Lash out!
I have to keep going. I have to keep going!
The kid's stamina is also approaching rock bottom.
He has to knock him down somehow in this round.
Volg makes the first move!
However, his lightning-fast jabs now appear slow.
Volg, your tenacity is incredible!
Keep fighting, Volg!
That's good. That's the way.
I pray that you can last this round and come back to me.
There's something I must convey to you!
Punch him, Makunouchi! It'll all be for nothing!
Lash out!
A right! It bounces off his guard!
There! Go for it!
Volg!
Stop!
He was beginning to go through the motions of the White Fang.
Good. Good job recovering!
If he's that tired, he can't shoot his big gun.
There's nothing to fear.
Go knock him down in the next round!
Yes, sir.
But his wolf fangs are still very much alive.
I'm positive he'll try to use the White Fang again.
What a sorry sight he is.
I can't believe I overlooked this possibility...
and made him proceed into a dangerous fight with Makunouchi.
Coach...
please instruct me.
Instruct me how to fight the next round.
Volg...
there was something I had to convey to you.
But after looking into your eyes, I realize that isn't necessary.
That's good willpower!
Seconds out!
Go, Volg! Put your strength of spirit into your fists...
and throw them against Makunouchi!
Get in there, Kid!
I won't feed you any more nitpicking theories.
This round is it!
Now, this may be the important round.
Will Makunouchi overcome the opposition?
But there's still room for another reversal!
You impress me, Chief!
You predicted it would develop into this.
You were right on target!
- I missed. - What?
According to my prediction, it should have ended in Round Four.
Not for a second did I believe Volg would get up from that knockdown.
It was a major miscalculation.
Hand me the towel.
The kid's at his limit of strength and damage.
Any more could be life threatening.
Keep going, Kid. This decrepit old man is watching over you!
I never imagined myself vocalizing anything to do with spirituality.
I intended to have taught him everything in that ten years...
but in retrospect I should have conveyed that to him first.
Volg! When you are suffering, your opponent is also suffering!
Use every bit of your strength of mind! You can do it, Volg!
Whoa, both contenders widen their stance...
and plant their feet in the middle of the ring!
I don't think that's a stance for attacking. That's to brace the legs.
In other words, a stance to prevent them from falling over.
Like Eolas. It'll be settled this round.
They intend to duke it out until one of them falls.
This is going to be a mind-boggling test of endurance.
We're thinking the same thing. "I won't let you beat me!"
I will be the winner. I challenge you, Makunouchi!
They stick their heads together and exchange blows!
Both use their specialty, in-fighting, believing it's the only thing to do!
How much time has elapsed?
It feels like I've been punching for hours!
I'm starting to feel faint.
I no longer know what I'm hitting or what's hitting me.
Have two minutes gone by?
Or has it only been a few seconds?!
I'm not finished yet! Volg-san's drive hasn't changed.
I'm positive he'll bare his fangs and come at me!
He's starting to run out of oxygen. Persevere, Kid!
The win will be determined by...
who has the superior cardiopulmonary functions.
Keep going, Volg!
I can't breathe!
I'm suffocating.
A right! It's a hit to Makunouchi's face!
And he goes into the motions of the White Fang!
This is the last of my strength!
The lightning-fast combination is a mere shadow of its former glory!
It's no good.
I can't hold my breath any longer.
Gazelle Punch!
H-He's down!
The Gazelle Punch explodes! Volg is down!
One!
Now, the countdown begins! Will this decide the match?!
Two!
Three!
- Volg sits motionless on one knee! - Four!
Five!
I can barely keep myself propped up.
I can't fight any more.
Will he get up?! Will he still fight?!
- He's up! Volg is back on his feet! - Seven!
Now, the question is will he pose to fight?
Eight!
If I raise my hands, I can still fight the match.
I couldn't possibly have any strength left...
but I don't want it to end.
Oh, I see.
It just came to me.
Mom, I think...
I like boxing!
Ten!
Ten count! The match is over!
The fight to the death has come to an end!
Volg finally exhausts all his strength!
It's a miraculous colossal reversal KO!
The victor of the A-Class Boxer Prize Tournament is...
Ippo Makunouchi!
I did it!
Kid!
Chief, I did it! I did it!
Yeah, way to go! You did good!
Chief Kamogawa proudly lifts up his prized pupil!
This is a commotion worthy of a world title match!
That's how joyous this win is!
Good job.
Volg, don't move! A stretcher is on its way.
I'm okay.
I can walk.
Good job. Good job!
Volg-san.
You're strong. You got me.
Volg-san.
That's the way, Volg!
I wish you could both win!
It feels as though you and I...
have exchanged thousands of words in this one day.
And I learned a lesson from every one of them.
Results are the luck of the time. It was a good match.
Volg-kun is a good fighter.
- Kid! - Ippo-kun!
Oh, my! Makunouchi ends up being the one to keel over!
The victor leaves the ring on a stretcher, of all things.
That's how fierce a fight it was.
Enormous applause rains down on these two brilliant fighters!
Here we go, here we go! My dark horse!
Old geezer! I win the bet! Now pay up in full!
Huh?
Where'd you go, old man?!
He's finally come to take my belt away from me...
as my most powerful challenger ever.
I won't let you have it. You ain't getting the belt.
That belt is mine.
KO Time 5 Rounds 1 Minute 21 Seconds Ippo Makunouchi Wins the A-Class Prize Tournament!! Receiver of the MVP Award!!
Three Days Later
Thank goodness. His fever seems to be gone.
It was an incredible fight!
Right now, Ippo's a bit of a hero among boxing fans.
So, you're a hero, huh?
It would make your mother happier...
if you came home looking a little more human.
Hello?
G... Good afternoon.
Um, I came to visit Makunouchi.
I heard he was in the hospital.
Are you Makunouchi's mother?
Uh... I'm sorry.
I'm the one who did this. I'm sorry!
Oh, my. Don't worry about it. It was a fight, after all.
And look at you, all banged up.
You're Volg-san, aren't you?
Please have a seat. He's sleeping, but...
Uh, no...
I'll peel you a fruit. Sorry it's a leftover from a gift.
Oh.
Is an apple okay?
Sure!
He looks like a child when he sleeps, don't you think?
He hasn't changed one bit.
Here you go.
Oh, thank you.
This is good!
My, you're a smooth one!
Smooth? The way I eat?
No, not that.
It tastes like something I remember.
You worry about him, don't you?
Well, yes.
I'd love to tell him that he has a lot of nerve to worry me.
But to see the child who always used to come home bullied...
find something he likes and become serious about it...
When I see how happy he looks, I can't complain anymore.
I think that the sight of a son working his hardest...
is good for a mother.
I'm going now. Please give Makunouchi my regards.
Oh. Ippo? Volg-san is leaving. Ippo!
No, it's okay. Let him sleep.
I'm so sorry.
If you like, take this with you.
Thank you, ma'am.
All this time I worried...
how I would report this to my mom.
When I tell her I lost, what will be the look on her face?
How much will she worry?
I'll write her a letter. I have a lot to write about.
I had many experiences. I met many people.
I have so much to say, I don't know where to begin.
But I know what to write at the end.
Mom, your son...
is working hard!
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
Low blow. An illegal move targeted below the boxing trunk belt line.
That's right. Boxers are strictly prohibited from lower body attacks.
So how could you monkey around with MY lower body while I'm asleep?!
I can't be used by these people, and then let them put me through hell!
Even if it's my first time bowling, I cannot miss this shot!
I'm going to grasp heaven with my own two hands!
The next episode is, "The Group Date."