KAMOGAWA Boxing Gym
All right, that's the distance! Give me one more!
Okay, strike!
A-Are you all right, sir?
You needn't worry about that. That's all for today.
But we've only just started...
You fool!
The match is tomorrow. Don't start out with fatigue!
Now get the heck home and prep for tomorrow!
Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.
Hey, you're working hard.
Good afternoon, Ippo-kun!
- Aren't you that nurse?
- The name's Tomiko.
You see, she said she wanted to see my gym, so...
Oh, you! You're the one who said I should see it, Masaru.
- Really? - That's right.
You think so?
Oh...
Well, I have to go shower.
Hold up a bit, Ippo.
When you're done changing, stop by the storage room.
Huh? Why?
There's something cool I wanna show you.
Storage Room
What's this? It's just your usual fortune-telling.
Storage Room Don't get my hopes up.
So, you tell fortunes?
This is lame. Is she actually accurate?
Don't underestimate her. Tomiko's predictions...
are nothing like your ordinary fortuneteller's.
Do you mean you want to tell my fortune?
Bingo! That goes without saying!
What?!
No thanks, Aoki-san!
Don't sweat it. She's real accurate.
If she's accurate, then I REALLY would rather not.
I don't want anything I'm told before the match to jinx me.
So, if it's all the same to you...
This sounds interesting!
Sorry to keep you waiting. Okay, let's get this party started!
What are you doing to me?!
- I will begin. - Let me go!
Whoa, tarot cards! That looks really authentic!
There's a lot of mood to this.
Tomiko's fortune-telling uses her sixth sense...
so she needs to concentrate. Be quiet while she's working.
Sixth sense, huh?
I don't care if she's inaccurate, as long as I can laugh at the result.
I have it.
Tomorrow's fortune...
for Ippo-kun is...
What are you thugs doing?
That is an extremely imprudent thing to do...
on the eve of a title match, you lot of fools!
- I'm sorry! - I'm sorry!
See you later.
Yeah, do your best tomorrow.
We'll be there to cheer you on.
Thanks.
He's more relaxed than I thought he'd be.
They are the only fools I know who are stupid enough...
to tell fortunes before a match.
It's better than being so jittery he can't fight his fullest.
The ability to enjoy boxing cheerfully...
is the strong point of those kids.
It's enough to make me lose tension as well.
It's already unreal enough with the kid facing a Japan title match.
That's true. Ippo-kun still gives the same impression.
Ever since he first joined the gym as a timid young boy.
But he really has gotten stronger.
Every time he gets a match, my stomach hurts.
It's hard on the heart to be his cornerman.
I can't think of a boxer that needs more looking after.
My lifespan is going to be shortened again tomorrow.
For all that, he's always responded to your expectations.
Let's believe in him again this time, that he will win...
and that Ippo-kun will become Japan champion.
For some reason, I was able to relax thanks to that kerfuffle.
I think I sparred with Date-san...
the same day I had burgers with Yamada-kun.
I got knocked down six times in our first sparring session.
I was hopeless against him.
I'm sure that by now he's much stronger than he was then.
But I'm also different from how I was then!
We'll see how far my current power takes me!
I'm going to crash into you with everything I've got!
What do you think, Doctor?
Have my scores dropped?
No, it's superb. Your scores are almost completely unchanged...
since before your World title match six years ago.
I'm amazed you can maintain this much physical strength.
Your muscular strength has actually increased...
and your eyesight is fine.
The speed of your optical nerve reflexes deserve special mention.
That's absolutely indispensable to a boxer.
Undoubtedly you are in your best condition.
I almost pity tomorrow's opponent.
Pity?!
That's not funny. HE'S still young.
He still has time to recover from a couple of setbacks.
But I can't take the long way around.
There's no sense continuing if I can't make it to the World title fight!
If I lose, I retire. I resigned myself to that a long time ago.
I'm afraid I'm gonna have to pulverize you!
Makunouchi!
Fishing Boat Rental MAKUNOUCHI
I'm home!
I passed the weigh-in the first time. Huh?
Did she already go out for work?
Fried pork chops and red snapper with the head attached.
The same thing she made me for my debut match!
Thank you for the food!
It's already been two years since then.
I have trouble believing it myself that I got this far.
I was always being bullied...
and Takamura-san saved me.
It all began with ten leaves.
All right, time to go!
It's time for my match with the strongest man in Japan!
So, this is Makunouchi's place of work.
Teacher, stop posturing and get into line over here!
Still, look at all of us. It's like a class reunion.
This is quite an turnout of people!
Are they all here to see Makunouchi?
This has turned into something big.
Yeah, our Ippo.
You idiots! What's the good of us getting nervous?!
Ippo's going in there to fight for the title of best in Japan!
Everyone in former class Third Year Division B!
Today's match is special! Make sure to cheer hard!
Yeah!
Room A
Maybe it's the colder weather. My old wound is really stinging.
Once the match is over, you'll also know.
Makunouchi, we're ready.
Kid.
Right.
Ippo!
From the Blue Corner, the challenger enters!
Ooh, it's Ippo! Ippo!
There is a great burst of cheering for Makunouchi...
the moment he comes into sight!
He slowly makes his way towards the ring!
And from the Red Corner, the champion enters!
He also receives a great cheer!
He strides in almost like a great general!
Eiji Date makes a dignified entrance!
The Champion Carnival Japan Featherweight Class...
title match of 10 rounds will begin momentarily!
In the Red Corner...
from Nakadai Gym...
weighing 125 and 1/4 pounds...
the Japan Featherweight champion...
Eiji Date!
In the Blue Corner...
from Kamogawa Gym...
weighing 124 and 1/2 pounds...
ranked first in the Japan Featherweight class...
Ippo Makunouchi!
Now, it's finally time for the hottest match...
in the Champion Carnival!
The Featherweight Japan title match begins!
Will the strongest man be Date?
Or will it be Makunouchi?!
The all-important bell is now...
...rung!
Now, Makunouchi weaves and approaches his opponent.
Meanwhile, the champ quietly waits to intercept an attack.
Both boxers are now within reach!
He came hammering at me when we sparred.
How will he move in a real fight?
His left is folded up close to him.
Perhaps to prevent a corkscrew.
Well, let's have a look at his progress.
I'll have to feel it with my flesh for starters.
He's fast! There's almost no wasted movement!
And by stepping in...
he's telling me to exchange blows with him!
He's fast. He's already stepping in.
That's a flawless shift of weight.
His dodging movement is directly connected to his attack!
That right punch was clearly a warning shot.
As if to say "I'm different now."
The kid got clever and spoke with his fists.
Have you finished saying hello?
Then go! The challenger will go forward first!
All right. Here goes!
Poke him left and go around! Don't take him up on it!
The challenger is coming for an exchange!
No champion would back off from that!
Guess it takes more than a scrape to stop him!
Ippo's come out well.
The old guy's gonna have trouble taking him.
In a high speed close-quarters fight...
he won't be able to use good punches like the corkscrew.
He can't use the corkscrew at this range!
Left-right barrage!
He upped his revolutions!
What a guy! Date can't evade them all by swaying anymore.
Don't aim at me from below, you cheeky bastard!
Show your face!
An uppercut! Miss!
This is bad! I left my liver open!
My guard!
I won't make it in time! Oh, screw it!
I'll take one punch!
You finally showed your face!
He waited for me to finish hitting!
Can't dodge! Brace for impact!
I didn't take that hit for nothing, you know.
Makunouchi doesn't flinch! He keeps forging forward!
This is a feel-good fight worthy of a challenger!
Go, Ippo! Sock it to him!
U-Umezawa, Umezawa!
What do you want now?!
That champion is powerful, isn't he?
Of course he is! He's the champion!
You can do it, Ippo!
I can't believe how boldly he's fighting.
My only impression of him was of a timid student.
Do your best, Makunouchi!
What impressive fighting spirit!
It's impossible to deal with the kind of youth with no fear.
However, I bet you still can't do something like this!
A right hook! Block it!
The challenger has stopped moving!
What the? He kept it from hitting his temple.
Under-the-Ear.
It's a punch that rocks the semicircular canals under the ear!
Date one-twos!
G-Gotta guard!
You rushed it. That's a tulip guard.
Offense and defense switch! Date takes the offensive!
Makunouchi stands stock-still!
Ippo!
I have to force back the tide!
Oh! A left from the champion! Makunouchi falters!
Guess I'll take it all the way!
No! A big one is coming!
The corkscrew!
Damn.
That was close. I can't let him distance himself after all.
I gotta stick close to him, even if it means getting pushy!
Makunouchi throws himself in to prevent further attack!
It was too soon for the corkscrew.
Looks like I'll have to weaken him more before he'll let me score.
Hey, are you gonna punch at this range?
You won't be able to hit effectively.
What?!
Makunouchi scores a super-close range shot!
Date's back gives!
All right!
Don't end it in one shot!
I felt an impact! I'm gonna use it to get back my stride!
I'm surprised. Punches are normally smothered at that range.
Offense and defense switch again!
The challenger delivers a barrage so fast it could ignite!
That's the way, Ippo!
I can't use clinches if he's got stuff like that! In that case...
We'll duke it out!
It's a rope-side exchange of blows!
The champion counters the challenger with numbers.
Is it a champion's tenacity?! It's a full frontal challenge!
The challenger also forges on!
He can't be stopped! He's unstoppable!
And there's the bell!
The first round where neither fighter seemed...
to pay any attention to points, is now over!
The point total from the media seats is 10 to 10!
The fighters are totally matched!
Your performance wasn't bad. You're boldly going forward!
You are an ideal challenger!
What's wrong? Have you taken damage?
I'm okay.
But I'm having difficulty grasping his pace.
Yes. He's doing his best not to let you get your best punch in.
And he's taking you up on exchanges...
with superior strength head-on.
He's very proud, gutsy, and clever. Impressive.
He's strong.
I can't even guess what he'll use in the next instant.
Every time I attack with something powerful...
he ruins it with a well-placed punch.
It's finally starting to feel real to me...
that I'm actually fighting the champion.
Those body blows really hurt.
The stuff I had for lunch tried to go into reverse.
He didn't have any 10-cm punches when I fought him.
It means that he's improved again since the Volg fight.
My expectations were definitely insufficient.
I forgot to shake off the "green-and-fresh" image...
from when we sparred.
I'll re-grade him from scratch.
Without a doubt, the guy in the Blue Corner...
is my most powerful challenger ever.
Seconds out!
Look at that. That's the face of a guy who's ready to rumble.
The best thing to do with opponents like this...
is to hit 'em with left hooks and spin 'em around.
Box!
But they'd laugh at me!
They'd say that if I wasn't able to out-punch this guy...
I have no business taking on the world!
Early in Round Two, they plant their feet and exchange blows!
The champ widens his stance and intercepts the challenger!
Makunouchi returns the favor! It's a heated punching battle!
They're really taking it up a notch.
Of course they are. It's such a harsh exchange...
either one could fall at any time.
However, that's Ippo's range.
If they keep duking it out like this, the tide will turn in Ippo's favor.
I understand how you feel, old guy.
You want to force back the challenger...
to get the title of strongest in Japan, don't ya?
However, too much greed will make you see stars.
Has the balance started to shift?!
Power Makunouchi really is the king of close-range combat!
I'm starting to get sluggish at putting up my guard!
This'll work! I'll make my chance and cut deep in one swoop!
The liver blow?!
A feint! I look like a fool for falling for it!
This will work! A right from below!
A right!
Date's head spins on his shoulders!
Huh?
Makunouchi charges in! He's poised to rush!
Three blows get in clean!
Another shot scores!
And... there's the bell.
It was a fast three minutes of offense and defense.
The one with the most hits in Round Two is Makunouchi!
The scores from the media seat are 10 to 9!
The challenger takes this round!
That was close! If only we'd had another 10 seconds...
But I'm sure it's having an effect! The next round will be good.
What?
What's wrong?
It's having no effect.
What did you say?!
Date-san has no damage.
I hit him with a full swing...
But my fist...
felt no impact whatsoever.
I get up again
With my wounded body
Tomorrow's the only way to go
If that's the fate of the human race
I will grab tomorrow with my only hands
Even if I can't deal
With my long, long life
I don't want to mistake the place to live
With the place to die
I can't help myself
Dreaming the same dream
Career.
The accumulated experience gained from repeated matches.
Cunning direction of a match and excellent technique...
easily suppress power and speed.
They are connecting, but none of them are decisive blows.
I still have to go forward! I can't beat him technically...
so I have to get in the most punches!
I'm sure that if I keep hitting, a chance will come my way!
The next episode is, "The Power That Stands In the Way."