Tell Makunouchi Ippo...
that I'm serious...
about coming after the belt.
Wanpo! You came to get us?
Soft-hearted, huh?
He sure is, but still...
Everyone noticed that I wasn't doing well hitting the mitt.
To be honest, I'm not happy about this match.
Upper and lower classmen must punch each other in front of 3000 spectators.
But I must do it.
I can't give up the belt.
Can you really do it?
You may not connect with weak punches.
You may not be able to punch at all.
You know what "underdog" means, right?
Underdog?
It's an opponent that's sent in to build up one's confidence;
a boxer who's sent in to be beaten up in public.
Some do it for the love of boxing.
Some do it for money.
They agree to the matches despite knowing they'll lose, and go out to get hurt.
But there are rare ones who bite back and survive the matches.
And that's...
Hammer Nao; Yamada Naomichi.
Yamada-kun... is an underdog...
Do you know Hammer Nao's record?
He has 8 matches, 8 wins, with 5 KOs, right?
It's a good record.
But was the Yamada Naomichi you knew the type who could reach the title match with only 8 matches?
Right, he didn't participate in either the Rookie King Tournament or the A-Class Tournament.
How did he take the shortest route possible?
He's a no-name boxer who let's his opponent hit him,
so all gyms gladly accepted the matches against their hopefuls, thinking they'd be easy wins.
No matter how much stronger the opponent was, Hammer Nao got into the ring without hesitation.
And each time he won while getting badly beaten up.
Perhaps it's more accurate to say that he crawled up this far.
But why?
It's much better to go the normal way, starting with 4-round matches, rather than to take such a risky path!
He hasn't changed inside, despite how different he looks.
He started boxing with Makunouchi Ippo as his goal.
Senpai...
And his goal didn't change, even after he became a boxer.
Senpai!
I don't know why he rushed things so much.
Senpai!
But he must have reached his final goal through extremely hard work.
His final goal...
Yes.
A match against Makunouchi Ippo must be a bigger goal for him than a world title.
I'm sure he will fight you very desperately.
Be prepared.
Setting me as his goal...
beaten up time after time...
badly beaten...
being called an underdog...
and yet, Yamada-kun...
You met Yamada-kun?
He looked mean.
He is not Geromichi.
Don't hold yourself back. Kill him!
Right...
Keep your arms tight!
The old man won't let you hit the mitt yet?
No.
I guess I made him very mad.
Hey, you can't even dodge that?
Have you really turned into a wimp?
Senpai!
Everyone's worried about how you're doing.
I know, sorry.
Itagaki-kun, do you have any goals?
Yes, I want to be a world-class boxer.
The higher the goal is, the more it's worth achieving.
It makes me want to work harder.
Wh-What's the matter?
His goal, huh?
Yeah, it's just like how I had Date-san and Miyata-kun as my goal.
I could come this far because they existed.
A goal must be set high.
I've been chosen as Yamada-kun's goal.
It must be a bigger goal for him than a world title.
I must respond to that...
with my own fist.
Hey, Old Man's finally picking up the mitt.
Remember this.
If you try another wimpy punch...
Coach,
What is it?
Will Yamada-kun be okay with his weight control?
I couldn't see any negative effects.
Rather, I take it that he's at his natural weight after losing all the nonessentials.
I see.
Worry about yourself and not about him!
Come and hit me!
Actually, if he's in good condition,
I can punch my best without worrying!
Yamada-kun,
I will respond to your challenge.
To your challenge, after getting this far, after being beaten up so badly!
Oh man...
What is it?
The sandbag's shaking up and down!
What's going to happen to a man who's hit by him?
Anyone will be knocked out cold with just one shot.
He's finally at his best.
I wonder about that.
Ippo's naiveté is well proven.
I still don't know if he can throw merciless punches after seeing Geromichi.
Right, Aoki?
Why are you so blue?
Will he punch me, and not Geromichi?
Aoki, get in the ring!
Spar with him!
I think he will.
Thought so.
So, Aoki-san is always the lab rat.
Not bad.
Remember, Hammer Nao is an unskilled boxer.
He will most likely take it to kamikaze in-fights.
It'll be at this distance.
You will end up fighting constantly like this.
That's great.
I am normally the one who must close in to the opponent,
but this time, the opponent will come to me.
But your best move, the Dempsey roll...
will be unusable.
He won't use the Dempsey roll?
It's a move that requires some space between boxers.
We have the upper hand on every aspect, including power, speed, and experience.
As a champion, face him head on,
and take him down with power!
Yes!
What great spirit!
I'm sure it'll be incredible if he carries that into the ring!
Yeah, it will.
But that's only if he can keep that spirit up.
Yeah, Ippo has only seen Geromichi on video and in papers.
When he sees him in person...
nostalgic feelings will overtake him.
He can't avoid feeling emotional.
They didn't spend their time together all that much,
but they had a lot in common.
They were more like friends than upper and lower classmen.
And that's why we could cheer both of them on.
But now they're enemies...
We'll find out tomorrow if he really considers Geromichi his enemy,
and if he'll be able to punch him.
They'll have to face each other at the weigh-in tomorrow.
Senpai!
Makunouchi-senpai!
At first, I was glad that he continued boxing in Hachinohe.
But I didn't expect him to be our opponent today.
I still haven't figured out why he wished for a match against you,
and it still doesn't feel real that we're about to see Yamada-kun.
He's not Yamada-kun.
Ippo-kun?
The man we're about to meet is a boxer named Hammer Nao.
Here comes Kamogawa's group.
Ippo-kun, the challenger is already in the room.
I see.
Both boxers are fine on their weights.
Makunouchi, can you tell us how you feel about meeting him again or any comment regarding the match?
It must be difficult talking to him when you'll be fighting tomorrow.
Then would you shake hands?
Shake hands?
Okay.
Then...
Hey, it's rude to not accept a handshake from the champion.
Senpai,
let me call you my senpai for now.
I'm grateful...
that you taught me the ABCs of boxing,
and now you will give me the belt.
Champion, any comment about that?
Well, I don't think he needs to thank me.
What do you mean?
It's true that we practiced together for a period of time,
however...
I never taught him how to get the belt.
Will they fight seriously, then?
Let's head back, kid.
Oh, okay!
I've never heard of Hammer Nao!
He's just an underdog.
Piece of cake!
He'll show us a flashy KO today!
All right, is it my turn now?
Good luck, Aoki-san.
No worries.
My opponent is only a 10th place man from the Philippines.
No prob!
But you can't relax, no matter who you're facing!
I know!
Not to brag, but I'm used to fighting underdogs!
You can't brag at all.
I, the Underdog Hunter Aoki Masaru, will show you how to handle weaklings!
That's bullying the weak!
Off I go!
And get ready quick.
It'll be over in one round, so you'll be up in no time!
Yes!
Good luck!
We'll head up now, too.
Off to cheering.
8 matches, 8 wins, 5 KOs...
His Sunday punch is a hook from each side.
I need to watch out for his left body hooks.
I couldn't believe that was really Yamada-kun when we met yesterday.
He's changed a lot over the past two and a half years.
But he kept me as his goal the whole time.
His goal...
Already?
That's great for Aoki-san.
Don't just lay there!
One!
That's pathetic, Aoki!
What the hell are you doing, idiot?!
Two!
The hell with "Underdog Hunter," you moron!
Three!
Here I go!
Four!
I took a hit at the start.
Stop counting.
I'm ready to go, Ref.
You took some damage, dumbass!
Focus, you airhead!
He's taking it to the finish!
There he goes!
The Frog Punch!
He knocked him down!
I was waiting for this!
Such an idiotic match...
That punch actually connected...
He's getting up!
Not enough frogs yet!
Give him Triple Cross Frog Punch!
Don't make shit up!
The semi-final is getting exciting.
They both went for knock outs from the beginning. Aoki is now pushing the match.
I see.
So the match is going as expected.
Nao...
Underdogs are destined to be like this.
Same goes for me!
Calm down!
Calm down, Nao!
Don't get so agitated!
Everyone from the gym, people from the shopping district...
They're all hoping for the best from you.
Imagine how excited they'll be if we take the belt home!
No, no matter how the match turns out, it's okay as long as you fight well!
So just focus on the match!
M-Makunouchi Ippo said yesterday...
that he didn't teach me how to get the belt.
He was serious.
He will punch me with all his might!
I'm scared.
His punches are out of this world.
Just thinking about how he'll come at me, I got so scared,
I couldn't sleep at all!
That's perfectly normal!
It must have been hard bluffing up to this point.
Every boxer is scared of Makunouchi's punches!
I was wondering what you were thinking not accepting a handshake from Makunouchi.
That made him serious.
No, I'm glad he'll be serious.
It'd be meaningless otherwise.
What?
I wanted to fight against Makunouchi Ippo at his best.
I'm only scared about whether I can stand up to his punches or not.
I started boxing because I admired Makunouchi Ippo,
and I followed him desperately.
I didn't want to lose sight of his back.
I thought I'd be able to meet him again if I continued boxing.
I debuted, and I could feel how strong I was getting.
I wanted to tell Senpai that even I could manage to come this far!
Then you can!
There are plenty of ways to tell him!
I will tell him today.
I will show all of me in the ring.
"I did my best!"
"I became strong!"
I will report to him blow by blow, asking him, "How am I doing?"
My style is to take a lot of beatings.
I was aware that I have a short career as a boxer.
I wanted to show him while I could still maintain my best condition.
That's why you rushed to challenge the Japanese title.
And it will end today.
My goal is not the world.
I will have no regrets after this match, no matter what the outcome is.
I will retire.
Nao...
I see. I see.
I'm sorry, Coach,
but I feel better after telling you everything.
No need to apologize!
Raise your chin up!
Keep your chin up and report to the champion!
Tell Makunouchi Ippo about the two years you've had!
Coach...
Yes, sir!
Winner - Aoki of the red corner!
Stop the mockery!
You couldn't KO him!
You gave us a boring match!
How did Aoki-san do?
He managed to win.
He was far from being a hunter though.
Don't mimic how he handled that match.
O-Okay! I'll give it my best!
To give it my best is my answer to Yamada-kun...
who kept me as his goal!
And now, today's main event...
a 10-round match for the Japan Featherweight Class Title.
What's the matter, Nao?
You see the marks all over the wall?
Do you know what they are?
They are glove marks.
They tell themselves to calm down.
By hitting the wall like this.
Calm down...
Calm down!
I just need to do what I practiced for two years.
Hey...
I'll show my best to Makunouchi-senpai!
My best!
That's enough!
Don't hurt your hands before the match!
I-I'm fine.
I'm fine now.
Listen, I don't want you to retire.
It may be fine to you as long as you make your report to Makunouchi,
but I don't think so!
You've never been better prepared or more spirited than you are now.
You will give your absolute best in today's match!
And I want you to win.
I want you to take the belt!
The challenger, Hammer Nao, arrives from the blue corner.
The match between the two former teammates is about to begin.
With 8 matches, 8 wins, 5 KOs, this is his debut at Korakuen Hall!
Nao! We all came for you!
Tokyo is the champion's home, but we'll cheer for you!
We won't let you feel lonely!
Everyone...
Nao! You can do it!
Nao!
Win the belt!
You'll be the champion at the end of this match!
And now, the Champion, Makunouchi Ippo, makes his entrance!
He carries thirteen KO marks with him.
Will he gain another star?
Will he succeed in defending his title a second time?
It's an extra large cheer!
The champion has a very strong following here at Korakuen!
Makunouchi!
Don't be afraid of the challenger's scary look!
Here comes Champion Makunouchi Ippo.
Boxers,
approach center ring.
Former upper and lower classmen face each other as champion and challenger,
but there is no feeling of nostalgia between them.
They are clearly enemies now!
Yamada-kun!
Will Makunouchi Ippo rule by power?
Or will Hammer Nao overcome his teacher?!
Senpai!
How will the drama of this ironic reunion unfold?