"Champion Joe" 50th Anniversary Project
To be quiet, and do as you're told...
That's the cowardly choice.
To stay down... or fight back...
Which am I doing right now?
To stay down here...
Or fight my way out...
I still haven't done either, yet.
Megalo Box is the combination of athleticism and Gear technology
to create the future of boxing.
The premier form of entertainment,
and the ultimate combat sport.
The perfected display of which was my grandfather,
and the previous head of the Shirato Group's long-held dream...
The Megalo Box tournament, Megalonia!
It will go beyond regions, beyond organizations,
beckoning to any who would claim to be the greatest fighter.
They will be competing all over the world to qualify
with only four making it into the main bracket.
Fighting in Megalonia means you're fighting at the highest level,
where real Megalo Boxing happens.
The tournament will be held in three months.
Who is the true champion?
That will be revealed in the ring at Megalonia.
There.
Now, then...
There's criticism that claims Megalo Box is little more than a violent spectacle...
Abuhachi's Shop
We consider it to be an asset to society
in a way that helps it maintain balance.
The potential of Gear technology is limitless.
Megalonia will be the first step in demonstrating that.
Finished fixing up your Gear.
The motorcycle's gonna take a bit longer, though.
How the hell did you manage to wreck it that badly, anyway?
If I may...
President Shirato, you said earlier
that you'd be accepting competitors from any region and organization?
Megalonia has no restrictions on nationality, age, or qualifications.
It's open to all citizens.
Now, let me introduce the man who could be called the star of the Megalonia tournament,
its first competitor.
His dominating prowess has marked him as the favorite to win,
an undefeated champion...
He's the living embodiment of true Megalo Boxing,
the king of kings...
Yu—
You not gonna enter?
It's open to "all citizens."
Didn't you hear that part?
And since we don't have citizenship IDs, we're not citizens...
Well, that's not so bad.
There's an appeal to being a free inhabitant, not held down by anything...
That's fine with me.
This is your last chance!
Come on! Move, move! Get your ass moving!
You better keep running, or it's into the soup pot for you!
Go! After it!
Damn it...
That's the last time I bet on dog racing.
Here you go.
You sign off yet?
Invoice
The nameless man who only goes by his ring name...
Mr. Junk Dog's repairs are complete.
Y'know, real boxers...
are probably guys like you.
Don't be stupid.
How much is it?
I made out pretty well on that match from the other day.
You should bet on me winning tonight.
You hear about this? Megalonia, they're calling it.
What's that got to do with us?
I tell you, if I was just a bit younger...
Yo, Junk Dog.
We're counting on you to make the loss look convincing tonight.
Sorry, but tonight I'm getting serious.
Didn't Old Man Nanbu tell you?
Son of a bitch...
Hey there, partner.
You came to pick me up!
You're such a sweetheart!
So I'm wondering,
could I borrow some cash—
Start talking right now, Pops.
You promised me there'd be no shady crap tonight.
Look, we help each other out...
So let's drop the pain-in-the-ass pretensions and be real.
It's what you might call a sudden change in circumstance.
When you fight seriously, and win,
it doesn't bring in enough cash. They threatened me over it.
Screw that!
I already told you that I'm sick of throwing fights!
Why don't you tell me something, then?
How's an illegal Megalo Boxer with no fame and no ID
supposed to make money otherwise?
You know I'm right.
You're too strong for underground fights.
No one wants a boxer who makes the odds one-sided.
Look, just suck it up a bit longer.
Next time, I'll try and get you what you're after...
A real opponent, all right?
If you're a cheapskate, you bet on dogs.
But if you've got even a bit of cash to spare... you bet on people.
Hey.
It's time.
Three minute rounds! No round limit!
Who's gonna get hit so hard, he pukes blood?!
Making his first appearance at the Drunk Monk, it's Junk Dog!
And our main eventer, Ghetto Hachiya!
This is tonight's main event!
If you've got any cash left on you, then cough it up!
Ghetto Hachiya
Now Ticketing
Whoa, what's with that Gear?
Looks like he's got scrap strapped on!
Hachiya!
No Violations Found
Smash the kid and his Gear!
You know what to do, right?
Toward the end of the third round, when there's a minute left.
You can take the lead in the early rounds.
Word has it this guy's a slow starter.
You take your time and draw him out. Got it?
What's the point in even wearing such busted-looking Gear,
little junkyard dog?
He must be screwing with me.
You thought I was gonna let you take the lead?
Yes!
Damn, he's really going for it.
So much for being a slow starter.
Listen up partner, change in plans.
Pick up the pace and push him back.
He makes it sound so damn easy.
Damn it, he was just playing quiet!
It's not like I can Megalo Box without Gear, can I?
Junk Dog!
I'm putting my money on the trash heap!
Switch to Junk Dog!
Man... This is why people hate amateurs.
All he's got is garbage for Gear! What's taking you so long?!
Getting fired up over an underground match that's mostly for the gambling.
Show off some of that overwhelming power! That's how you win!
One with a fixed outcome, at that.
It's not like he's gonna lose either way.
A one round KO.
If I had been serious, this fight would be over already.
The bets are starting to favor Junk Dog winning.
The kid's quite the performer.
And when it comes to Megalo Box, you're as knowledgeable as they come.
Just like the boss said.
And he's able to pull it off wearing a piece of junk like that.
If the kid wasn't wasting away in this hole...
He might've even had a shot at the big time.
I'm talking about Megalonia.
Just being able to enter scores you some glory.
Plus, the championship prize is an insane amount of money.
Enough to move to the other side of the tracks and enjoy life for—
Mr. Domoto...
Guys like us are frauds who could never bask in the sunlight like that.
We know our place.
Earning easy money like this is more our speed.
There's less than a minute left.
Get ready to wrap it up.
Now listen, partner...
Losing to third-rate punks like this
doesn't reflect badly on you, got it?
I guarantee that you've got real skill,
or my name isn't Nanbu Gansaku.
Real skill, my ass...
This is so stupid.
Why the hell did I get my hopes up?
Good work, my friend.
I took the interest for your debts out, as usual.
Of course.
I hear your partner was pretty pissed off.
Is that gonna be a problem next time?
He does this every time.
Once he cools off, he'll be back.
It's not like he's got anywhere else to go.
Welcome Road is closed for ongoing construction.
Construction is proceeding on schedule.
It'll definitely be ready for the event in three months.
I understand.
Megalonia Dome Stadium 091 Days Until Completion Shirato Construction
It'll be a stage fitting for the ultimate victor...
To make this project a success,
you'll have to be the last man standing in that arena, Yuri.
Right.
I won't disappoint you, Owner.
For you, as well as for myself...
This will be the starting line for our new dream.
Let's head back.
Stay down.
Ow...
Owner...
I'm fine.
What the hell? Damn it...
Are you all right?
Were you injured?
Were you trying to die?!
I'm so sorry.
This road isn't supposed to be open yet, and is on private property...
If you'll just contact this number, you'll be reimbursed in full.
My name is Shirato Yukiko.
I don't need your charity.
But—
I see.
You call that real Megalo Boxing?!
What a load of jumped-up bullshit.
Whatever you think this Megalonia is supposed to be,
It's really just a brawl!
Take back what you just said.
How about you teach me, then?
Not just two guys beating on each other. Show me...
what real Megalo Boxing is like.
As if a stray dog would ever understand.
Bring it.
I'm in the mood to take on anyone, even you.
Yuri!
She's got you trained pretty well.
Who's the dog now?
Let's go.
Treat the bike a little more carefully. I'm starting to feel sorry for it.
Sorry about how that match turned out...
But today's—
My wife used to tell me...
that I was a good man, but too trusting,
and that I'd always be dirt poor because of it.
Was she some kind of fortune teller?
My ex-wife, actually.
She ran off a long time ago.
But y'know, I can't help but feeling...
that I want the part of me who had faith to be right.
And that living that way wouldn't be so bad.
You really are gonna stay dirt poor...
Hey!
Hey, partner!
Damn it, weren't you listening?
Listen, even if it's just for five rounds, try and drag this out, okay?
No Round Limits
You promised me that today I could get serious...
Keep nagging me, and I'll knock his ass out in the first round.
Fine, fine! Do what you want.
Only this time, though, got it?
How long is this guy gonna keep us waiting, anyway?
Hey! Somebody get his ass out here!
If he's chickened out,
slap a leash on him and drag him to the ring!
Hey, Pops...
If I said I wanted to stop throwing fights, what would you do?
Kid... are you serious?
Hey! We're not done talking about this!
It's him...
What?
Sir, we can't have people just...
Wh-What are you doing here?
Unfinished business with that stray dog over there.
We have an arrangement.
It's Yuri! That's the Yuri!
Holy crap!
That must be Shirato's integrated Gear!
It's like a second skin! That tech's amazing!
It's not just his Gear...
His body looks like it's made of metal, too!
H-Hey, partner, what's going on here?!
Why's the champ here to see you?!
Don't you know?!
This guy's name is Yuri.
He's the Megalo Box champion!
Then... he's gonna be in Megalonia.
Well, now...
H-Hey!
For you to come all the way down to this pit...
I must've seriously pissed you off.
Your owner isn't with you today?
Sorry.
There's no one to stop me tonight.
This is not happening!
H-Hang on a sec!
Whatever the brat did to disrespect you, sir,
fighting a trash underground boxer like this
would just make you look bad, champ!
Give it a rest, Pops.
Come on, kid, apologize to the champion.
Apologies will generally get you out of most trouble.
It's me. I need to talk to the boss.
I told you... to give it a rest!
Yeowch... You little shit!
Sorry about that.
Let's just call it a sudden change in circumstances.
Are you insane, boy?!
That's the actual champion in there with you!
Pops, you said before...
that my skills are the real deal.
I know you didn't believe it...
But... I want to believe.
Believe that my faith in myself is real.
What... are you saying?
Yuri! Yuri! Yuri!
You're pretty popular, champion.
Why don't you tell me your name?
I can't imagine you'd want a ring name on your tombstone.
They don't make tombstones for stray dogs.
Round 1 "Buy or Die?" Don't let the simmering fire die. It'll light the way in the dark.