Makunouchi,
your hand...
Passing the torch.
It's now your turn.
I see.
He said that...
Yes.
Date-san will retire for good this time.
We lost the charismatic leader of the Light to Middleweight classes in Japan.
There's still one.
Huh?
The direct successor to the torch.
Huh?
M-M-Me?!
I-I can't do that.
Probably not.
You don't look dignified enough.
I don't want you to lead me.
Then they shouldn't have mentioned me in the first place.
But you do what you can.
Your second title-defense match has been decided, right?
I think his name was...
It's against Hammer Nao.
He's the one who came out of nowhere to a 7th place ranking, right?
I'm not familiar with that name.
There's not much info on him, but I'll give it my best shot.
I'll clear the defense matches one-by-one.
That's all I can do for now.
That's fierce.
He's full of spirit.
Take a break.
You're letting your power control you and you're swinging too much.
Hit while checking the angle of each shot!
Yes!
But I like how you're focused.
Right.
It's because I saw how well Date-san fought.
Yes, he fought with great spirit.
He will be missed,
but he left a lot that the younger generation can learn from.
Don't lose your defending matches if you want to follow Date's path!
You can't underestimate Hammer Nao either!
I know!
There's nothing scarier than knowing nothing about an opponent.
What?
I knew it.
I was just thinking someone was making good noise.
It's Makunouchi-senpai, just as I predicted.
Hey man, don't just stand there. Close the door.
Go sit in the back if you wanna watch.
Watch?
I came here to join the gym.
Um...
Who are you?
You came to join this gym without knowing who we are?!
I don't like you, boy.
Is it that bad?
I don't like your attitude!
What's up with them?
Something's going on over there.
Don't get so excited.
Hey, here you are!
Yagi-san!
He's an acquaintance of yours?
Let me introduce...
the runner-up in the national inter-high school tournament last year,
the new rising star of our gym, Itagaki Manabu-kun.
Hello.
Oh?
I guess I'm not very welcome.
An ex-amateur elite?
Did you recruit him, Yagi-san?
He joined the boxing team when he entered college.
But I didn't like how we kept punching each other over headgear.
I was just thinking about switching to pro when we met.
You have the boxer I admire, so I came here to learn.
The boxer...
that you admire?
You pass!
Hey! You're Takamura-senshu!
Yes, I'm Takamura Mamoru, your idol!
Study everyday by watching me.
Oh Takamura-kun, you got it wrong.
Itagaki-kun is a Featherweight, so...
What?!
You admire Ippo?!
M-Me?
What part of this amateurish boxing do you like?!
I'd pick Sendo if the choice is Featherweight.
There's Saeki too if you want someone who switched from amateur.
Sanada is good too.
Don't you realize...
they were all beaten by Ippo.
So, I'll be in your care, Makunouchi-senpai.
O-Oh, same to you!
Now then,
how about some road work to welcome him?
Road work?
We can show him quickly how harsh the pro world is.
You got a point.
S-Senpai!
You're going too fast!
Do you run at this pace every day?
S-Sorry!
Want me to slow down?
He's already out of steam.
This is how harsh it is to be a pro.
Go puke in agony!
Idiots!
Who's about to puke?!
He's ahead of you!
I see how he got the runner-up spot in the inter-high.
He's already got the stamina.
You think he's strong?
If what Yagi-san said is true, he should be good enough to be a pro already.
That talk about puke and this setting reminds me of something.
Yeah.
There was someone who followed Ippo around like that before.
Senpai!
I wonder what he's up to.
It's already been two years since then, huh?
I wonder if he's still boxing?
Maybe he quit since he got beaten up so much at the farewell party.
You're the one who beat him up so badly.
Ippo's boxing has some sort of power that attracts people.
Maybe youngsters like Itagaki will start following him,
and he'll take Date-san's place before we know it.
Yeah.
I wonder about that.
Huh?
We're back.
There you are.
Come with us, Kid.
We have Hammer Nao's video.
You got one? Let me see it!
I thought you knew about him.
Hammer Nao, a member of Hachinohe Boxing Club.
His record is 8 matches, 8 wins, including 5 KOs.
His best blows are body hooks.
That's an agonizing body blow.
It looks heavy.
It is.
He debuted in the Super Lightweight class.
Super Light?!
That's three weight classes above mine!
He fought twice in that class,
then three times in Light class,
then three times in Super Feather.
He switched to Featherweight, eager to challenge you, Ippo-kun.
Me?
Do you see it now?
He shaved his head and eyebrows.
His face is deformed from all the beatings.
And look how his ribs are showing.
He lost most of the resemblance to his former self,
but he is a man you once knew well.
He once belonged to this gym too.
Could he be...
His real name is Yamada Naomichi.
This is Geromichi?!
No way!
There's no way this is Geromichi!
He looks scary now!
I'd avoid him if I saw him on the street!
B-But still,
the nose and mouth are like Yamada-kun's!
True...
He was chubby to start with, so maybe this is possible with some dieting.
No way!
There's no way a man can change that much!
I don't believe this!
Shut up!
Whether you believe it or not, this is indeed Yamada Naomichi.
Is it really him?
He's got no resemblance to him.
It's like seeing a stranger.
Is it really him?
He's got no resemblance to him.
It's like seeing a stranger.
Um, what's with this name "Geromichi"?
Oh right, you don't know about him.
To make a long story short,
he puked on his first day,
and he puked on his last day.
He is puke-covered Naomichi.
Therefore, he's Geromichi.
That's a yucky nickname.
Who came up with it?
Who knows?
He was Geromichi already when we met him.
Who knows who gave him that name.
It was you!
But the nickname aside, this boxer lets the opponent hit him too much.
If he lets Makunouchi-senpai hit him this much,
he'll not only get knocked out, but he'll be sent to a hospital.
It'll be an easy win.
I'll borrow the video.
But that's Geromichi, huh?
He was so attached to Ippo before.
Since he's challenging Ippo, does he think he's caught up?
Is he confident that he can win?
No way.
Ippo's also grown over the past two years.
I don't think that gap will be closed.
Skillwise, yes.
What do you mean?
Exactly what I said.
You were talking about whether or not he could take Old Man's place earlier.
Well, yeah.
There's one thing Ippo's missing to take Old Man's place.
It's almost his weak point.
His weak point?
But Ippo's got powerful blows and the stamina to last to the later rounds.
It's really tough to win against him at the domestic level.
He lacks stability.
He can't bring out his true power unless he's cornered.
He can't be merciless because his naive mind gets in his way.
Well yeah, he often drags the matches out after losing his pace.
For a boxer, he's too kind and sympathetic.
Maybe those are what's leading to the lack of stability.
This is a sport where you get beaten if you don't beat the opponent.
You've got to beat the opponent no matter who you face.
Unless you can be merciless, you can't be a true, charismatic leader.
How will he fight after having defended his title for the first time?
How will he handle this match in which he will clearly be the favorite?
This will be a meaningful match in many senses.
What's wrong, Aoki?
I just realized something real bad.
I'm in the semifinal spot for Ippo's match.
A-And?
That means...
I'm the opening act not only for Ippo, but also Geromichi!
Th-The opening act for two of your juniors...
That's tough.
Don't rush it.
Those lefts are bait.
Keep the guard up!
Yes, hit small from underneath!
Good! That's it!
Yes!
A body hit from a nice angle!
He's grown strong.
Being a flat-footed fighter, he doesn't have the speed to chase boxers around.
So he lures the opponent to close range, then BAM.
He needs to be really brave to carry that out.
Senpai, I get bullied a lot.
How was it?
I gave the best I got.
Yamada-kun...
My first junior at the gym.
He was clumsy,
and shy.
But he was a very hard worker.
But we had to part ways because his parents had to move away.
Yamada-kun, you'll continue boxing, won't you?
Let's give our best!
Yes!
Thank you so much!
He's good with in-fights.
And he's probably good with scuffling.
But...
He always ducks to his left after dodging the opponent's left.
He's going for the body.
I would seize that chance.
Place a left blow to his wide-open temple.
Let him step back, then hit him with a double left...
What's with my left fist?
Senpai!
Am I going to punch Yamada-kun with my fists?
So, you continued boxing.
And you grew strong.
Yamada-kun, why are you challenging me?
You okay, coach?!
Man, Nao is so powerful.
Looks like we can expect a good result, seeing how well it's going.
You're the first fighter from this gym to make it to the main event.
Do your best, Nao!
Yes.
Excuse me.
Yeah.
That sign is about to give.
W-We'll get extra money once I get the title.
Don't fight for that reason.
You've done well in this remote region, where it's hard to even find any sparring partners.
I wanted to give you an easier time.
I wanted to raise you with care and give you plenty of experience.
I wanted to let you challenge for the title after all that.
Coach...
Why Makunouchi Ippo?!
There once was a boxer named Jason Ozma in this gym.
He was talented and a hard worker.
I was confident that he'd win the title!
But Makunouchi took him down with power.
He's strong.
Too strong!
It was 2:52 into the second round, right?
I know best how strong Makunouchi Ippo is.
Then why do you pick this dangerous path?!
But don't you think I can do it because I know him?
When you first arrived, I asked you the reason why you box, and you told me...
because you admire Makunouchi Ippo.
Even if you have a way to beat him,
can you really punch Makunouchi Ippo, the man you admire, with your own fists?!
I will.
I will beat him down.
He looks impressive as usual.
Does he?
Now! Hammer Nao leaves this spot open after his blows!
Punch!
I quit!
I refuse to coach a wimp!
Pull yourself together before tomorrow!
Got that?!
He must've thought about Geromichi's face.
He can't throw merciless punches like that.
But Geromichi is soft-hearted too.
Maybe he can't punch either.
That won't happen.
Hey, Mari-san.
He looked like he was in good spirits.
Did you go all the way to Aomori?
Geromichi's in Tokyo?!
Yamada-kun is around?!
He's training at Nerima Boxing Club.
What's up with him? He shoulda come to see us.
He can't possibly!
This is his enemy's stronghold.
But we're not involved.
He's the one who'll be bullying Geromichi.
That's a nasty way to put it.
See you tomorrow.
Ippo-kun.
I gathered information about Hammer Nao.
Interested?
Let me hear it.
Why do we have to sneak around?
But he's our enemy.
We're just here to see our old gymmate.
Now, where's Geromichi-kun...
Next! Someone get in the ring!
G-Geromichi...
made him puke...
In the end, he knocked out three opponents.
Three pukes in a row too.
Anyone would throw up after those body punches.
He's got a good punch.
I'll be out running.
Have a safe one.
Hey, long time no see, Geromichi.
We were watching you.
You've gotten strong.
Spying on me?
Don't put it that way!
We came all the way here to see you.
You did me a favor?
I didn't ask for it.
Anyway, I need to go run.
H-Hey!
Yes?
C-Can you stop staring like that?
We're a bit confused because you look so different.
Even though we can't cheer for you because of the situation,
I still wanted to wish you good luck.
And you too.
Don't disappoint the fans in the match leading up to ours.
You messing with me?!
Don't get cocky just 'cause you got a scary face!
Stop acting like my senior.
I don't belong to Kamogawa Gym anymore.
You bastard!
Aoki!
Hey Geromichi, stop bluffing.
Since I've fought against Mashiba, I know how scared you are
and how you feel the need to act strong like that.
I'm sure Ippo looks like a monster to you too.
I know it all, so you can act a little more...
You were scared?
No wonder you lost.
What?!
Tell Makunouchi Ippo...
that I'm serious...
about coming after the belt.