We came because this is the champion's public spar, but...
Owie, I got hit.
This partner is too strong.
He doesn't hold back even against the world champion.
Hey, he's not doing well.
Is it because of poor conditioning?
Or maybe he's hiding his ability before the match?
Coach...
This is no use.
This is not poor conditioning or acting.
He's simply not trying.
We're leaving, Yagi-chan.
I can't stand to watch this nonsense.
Wh-What is it?
What took you so long?
I was getting worried.
I'm done, so let's go out to Roppongi.
After we have some more fun in my room.
It happened so fast after the women arrived.
It took him maybe ten seconds to complete the massacre.
He was waiting for women to arrive?
He's screwing with all of us.
Takamura-kun's public spar is in an hour, right?
How is he?
Couldn't be worse.
He's about to collapse.
It's obvious that he's weak from weight loss.
And he hasn't reached the weight limit yet.
Can he really fight in the title match?
This is worrying.
He's only suffering from weight loss for now.
By the day of the match, he'll be fine.
I think so, too.
Yeah.
We've gotta believe in him.
I believe in you, Takamura-san.
Public sparring matches proved their differences...
The odds are 7:3 against him...
This is still written in favor of us.
We're already at the period where we should stop training and let him recover from his exhaustion.
But he still can't lose the last two kilos.
What's wrong?
I know it's hard to talk when your mouth is so dry,
but do you have any idea how hard it is to decode those signs?
Do you think you can meet the weight limit?
I've never seen such a cocky champion before.
He makes provocative comments,
and he's still playing around with women despite the match being so close.
He's not thinking about the importance of the title match whatsoever.
Don't worry.
I know.
But this is mortifying!
I'm so annoyed!
Meanwhile, an arrogant and uncontrollable man such as yourself is suffering like this,
that bastard...
Leave it to me.
To be comforted by the boxer...
I'm not thinking straight, facing the world title match for the first time.
I'm not feeling wimpy either!
We'll go win this match!
That's fine, but isn't that more exhausting?
154 pounds.
Exactly at the limit.
Takamura, you pass.
Good job!
Congratulations, Takamura-kun!
Judging from their reactions, this weight loss must have been really hard.
Oh, only a handshake?
How rude.
You're like a mummy.
Can you really fight with such a shabby body?
H-He's poking fun at the body that Takamura-kun conditioned by going through a hell!
Takamura!
I know, Old Man.
I heard he passed the weight check!
Yes!
This is the press conference site!
Hey! Hurry in!
Fujii-san!
What's up?
Please help if something happens.
"Something?"
I thought we got to the title match without trouble,
but I don't think this press conference will be trouble-free.
Now, we'll take questions.
Damn, what rude manners...
It's so upsetting!
Anyone would be pissed at that!
Challenger, how do you think the match will go?
I know that the match won't end with the judges' call.
The match will end with a KO, and the belt will change owners.
That's all.
That's a textbook answer.
I thought he might provoke him back, but this is a good sign.
Sounds like he can speak fine.
He lost all the wrinkles on his face too.
He must have rehydrated after the weight check.
He was like a human dried-mushroom, so he was able to recover quickly.
He's not taking this seriously!
Is he not going to take part in this conference?
Champion, your first title defense match is taking place in your enemy's territory of Japan.
Is there a reason why you keep provoking the challenger so much?
Like, you're anxious?
Are you afraid of him?
I'll answer that.
Hawk is not tense about his first title defense.
All the provocation is because of his rough temper.
I guarantee that we'll be taking the belt back to America.
Does that answer your question?
Answer it yourself.
Does the champion really think that way?
You should know that, since his debut, the challenger has won sixteen times by KO.
He is no less powerful than you,
and you're defending the title away from home.
We can expect that you are at least somewhat anxious.
Y-Yeah, tell them, Iimura!
No, you're lying.
That's not what you really want to know, is it?
Room 1003 in this hotel.
Knock on my door any time.
I'll show you everything about me in there.
What a rude comment!
He's still fine.
Takamura-san's still holding back.
That concludes the press conference.
To commemorate tomorrow's match,
we'll have a photo shoot now.
Please take a fighting stance!
Get closer to each other.
Finally ended.
We didn't have to go out.
Everything went off without a hitch.
Please get closer.
Place your fists under each other's chins.
Y-You...
goddamn brat!
T-Takamura-san!
H-Hold back!
Idiots!
Stop him now!
Mocking my boxer so much!
Unforgivable!
Coach!
O-Old Man!
Coach!
How could he?!
God damn!
If only I were sixty years younger!
You stay out of this, old coot.
Takamura-san!
Hold Takamura-san back!
I'm too scared.
No...
A brawl is...
Takamura-san...
What's wrong? Aren't you coming, chicken?!
Scared? Of this chicken?
What a joke!
Why do I provoke him?
Because I can't wait for the match!
I want to kill him right now!
Every time I get a match, it makes my blood boil.
I'm allowed to beat a man to death in public!
I get such a big hard-on that I can't cool myself! That's why I play with chicks!
I can't sleep with a hard-on!
Besides, no wimpy Japanese can't win against me.
It doesn't matter how much you try!
You want to win against me, huh?!
Then give me all the women in this country!
I'll give out my DNA!
I'll spread my seed in this country!
Japan will be full of world champions in twenty years!
Isn't that great!
You'll want my DNA by the end of the match tomorrow.
Wh-What a snot!
I've never seen such a man!
I don't care about the conference anymore!
I only want to see him get beaten!
Takamura!
Damn it!
Takamura! Beat the crap out of him!
All of Japan will be cheering for you!
Please beat him!
I'm sorry. I ended up...
I don't have to hold back, right...
I don't have to wait anymore, once I get in the ring, right?
Don't send him home alive!
Show no mercy!
Please win for the sake of Japan!
A riot could erupt any minute in this atmosphere.
This is eerie.
It's no wonder people are pissed.
He wants all the women in this country?
I'll protect Tomiko even if it costs me my life!
We don't need to worry about Tomiko-san.
She'd be returned even if we offered her.
Why?
Why?!
B-But, it's nerve-wracking to think that I'll be fighting here too.
Don't sweat it.
You have no impact today.
The only thing people are thinking about is the world title match.
So what if I have no impact!
I must defend my own Japanese title.
Hey, Ippo!
Umezawa-kun!
Oh, you're helping out at the concession stand?
It's going so awesome.
We're almost sold out.
Takamura T-shirt,
sweat shirt, towel, and baseball hat.
Did you design this, Umezawa-kun?
This is really good!
Atta boy, future manga artist!
All the channels showed the press conference from yesterday,
so everyone's supporting Takamura-kun.
Even the sale of goods is making this a success!
We don't care about the sales.
It's only a success if he wins.
Yes.
I'm going to the locker room.
Okay!
G'luck!
People are going crazy about Takamura-san's world title match,
but I will do my own thing!
Focus! Focus!
So damn noisy.
I can't even sleep with that.
Takamura-san! You were here?
I got restless staying at home.
This is the day I become the world champion, after all.
So I got here first.
So, how do you feel?
Not bad.
You don't need to worry about me, so you—
Idiot.
I'm not worried about myself at all.
Even on the day of the world title match...
What a great guy.
Hey, Ippo...
Who do you think will win?
O-Of course—
I was pissed about Hawk for a long time.
Then there was that press conference yesterday.
It's okay that he spouted out all that nonsense and punched me in the jaw.
But he even attacked Old Man.
I thought I was going mad from rage.
I-I was impressed that you held back.
I watched his videos after going home.
Not to study him,
but to memorize the face of the man I'm about to kill.
But...
it made me calm instead.
He's strong.
No wonder he's got the belt.
Takamura-san must not have slept last night.
That's why he got here first.
I thought he'd be heading to the ring, ready to brawl...
This is the first time he's looked like this in the locker room.
His first world title match...
A strong champion...
All the provocations...
And... expectations of all of Japan...
The pressure must be immense.
Takamura-san!
What?
I-I promise this, so you promise me too!
I will win with a KO in the first round!
So...
So you win too.
Please become the world champion!
I'll really do it!
You sure?
I heard from a reporter earlier, but isn't your opponent strong?
First round, huh?
If that's the case, I'll take KO in any round.
Actually, with judges' call too, as long as I win...
But you said the first round.
B-But, uh—
Stop mumbling!
Go win big!
I'll kill you if you bore people before my match!
Warm everyone up for me!
Yes!
H-Huh?
I got cheered up instead.
Now, the first match, at ten rounds:
He's the underclassman of Takamura Mamoru, who will be fighting in the world title match later.
Here comes Makunouchi Ippo.
He's facing a veteran fighter from Korea, I Yon Su.
This is his third Japanese title defense.
Can he win and give his upperclassman a good atmosphere for his fight?
Makunouchi!
Beat him up for us!
Get fired up for your upperclassman!
Go, dumbass!
Th-The tension's insane...
And...
He looks strong.
We don't know much about him, but he has a good reputation.
But you're not the type who matches his opponent's style.
Keep your own style!
Yes.
My body's getting stiff.
This tension is different from usual.
But...
I'll just give it my best shot!
I will make my best move right at the beginning!
Kid! Don't just stand there!
I jumps out at the sound of the gong!
This is a fast start.
How good is the highly-rumored I Yon Su?
Incoming!
A left!
It's like a kendo thrust!
His fist is hard!
It'll be bad if I get hit directly!
It feels like he's fighting with a club!
He has a strong left.
He is a very straight fighter.
He must be very confident with his punches.
He's putting up a hard fight; the first one to hit will win.
But a fist fight is our specialty!
Kid! Keep your own style!
My own style...
My best move.
My best!
He starts in a low stance, and begins weaving in an infinity shape...
This is...
the Dempsey roll!
The Dempsey roll from the beginning?!
No! Kid! Compact and fast!
A left blow, sucking up from low!
It glazes I's chin!
And with a bounce, he's back!
No! I is waiting with his right arm up!
Crap!
If he takes a counter when he's rebounding...
Crap!
Stick with my own style!
He was after this!
A chopping right!
Makunouchi's right connected!
A left!
And a right!
Another left!
He's unstoppable!
I's face is blown off to the side!
A nasty sound is repeated at a regular rhythm.
Every punch is at full power!
Any retaliation from I Yon Su?
Any at all?
No!
He collapses like a lifeless rag doll!
It all happened so fast!
A very quick horror!
What a scary Dempsey roll!