You sure this is a good idea, Pops?
Yeah. It's the only way.
We will now begin tonight's opening bout.
In the east corner, the 185th ranked IMA fighter...
Shark Samejima!
Samejima!
And in the west corner, making his debut tonight,
the 257th ranked IMA fighter...
"Gearless" Joe!
It's time. Let's do this, Joe.
Yeah.
This is nuts, isn't it?
You think anybody sane would try something like this?
Are you serious?!
This makes all those fixed fights look like a cakewalk.
The biggest gamble of Nanbu Gansaku's life...
But if he fights without any Gear...!
Think about it, though.
We're after the top of the rankings.
But who the hell wants to fight an unknown prospect from the bottom of the rankings?
Nobody's gonna want to bother.
So we need to create something...
Give them a taste of the gearless fights that only you can offer them.
I'm only gonna be able to put together five matches
in the three months leading into Megalonia.
The first three will be to build your rep.
You'll be fighting without any Gear.
We're gonna sell the world on "Gearless" Joe.
"Gearless" Joe...?
Yeah.
Anyone who wants to make a name for themselves is gonna be champing at the bit.
They'll know a match with our boy will get them attention.
The real fights will be the last two.
We'll use those to break into the top of the ranks.
A fake ID, five straight wins, and fighting without Gear...
That's my plan.
Joe, this is gonna be one rough bluff.
But if you wanna get into the real ring, then you're gonna have to take the bet.
And really stake something on this.
It doesn't seem right to me.
We're not just trying to get into Megalonia...
We're trying to win it.
A small stake won't cut it.
If I'm gonna gamble, then I'm all in.
Gearless...?
What the hell? Is he nuts?
Hey, you forgot something!
You need a loan to buy some Gear?
Quit bluffing!
You're gonna die, man!
Are you screwing with me, asshole?!
How's he gonna survive the match?
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to explain.
Prior to the fight, Joe's team requested
that he be allowed to fight this match without Gear.
Seriously?!
That's insane!
What the hell?! Is he screwing around?
The IMA Megalo Box regulations do not prohibit fighting without any Gear.
Thus, the match will proceed according to the standard rules.
Samejima, this guy thinks Megalo Boxing is a joke! Kill him!
Three minute rounds, no round limit!
Winner will be decided by KO or TKO!
Three intentional fouls will lead to disqualification!
Understood?
You're dead!
Give it your best shot.
Put him in the ground!
Don't screw around!
This guy is all brute force.
You use your feet like we practiced, and you'll have a chance.
But watch out for fouls.
There's no telling what this bastard might pull when he's pissed.
Right.
Don't worry about him.
He's just trying to provoke you!
Keep your cool in there, you hear me?!
Joe... are you...
If you wanna run, this is your last chance.
What, are you kidding?
I've never felt like this before.
I'm shaking with excitement.
There you go! You're in total control!
You little shit!
He's down!
Pops!
I-It's fine!
He didn't take the hit full-on!
Joe!
Get up!
Joe! Joe?!
You gotta get up, Joe!
Two...
Come on Joe!
Joe!
Five...
See how easy that was?!
Don't just lay there, Joe!
Joe?!
Joe—!
You can do it, Joe!
Joe!
Seven...
Attaboy, Samejima!
Joe!
Eight...
Nine...
Let's keep going.
Joe!
Keep at it, Samejima! Take him out!
Finish him off!
Damn it...
Looking good, Samejima!
Keep it up!
Come on, Joe! Get back here!
That was a close one, man!
Just shows that a single mistake can cost you everything!
Don't let it happen again!
I know. I'll take him down next time.
And don't even consider slugging it out with this guy.
You were standing still out there toward the end!
You gotta use your footwork in the next round and keep him off balance!
Sooner or later, you'll get an opening. Don't miss it when it happens.
Joe?
You listening?
Joe?
Damn it, are you listening to me?!
Aw, man!
Damn it boy, what are you doing?
Sorry!
Quit letting the pressure get to you!
Keep cool, Samejima!
You nail him once, and this is over!
Trap him in the corner so he can't get away this time!
Whoa, hang on!
Are you okay, kid?!
I'm counting on you, Joe!
Damn it...
What the hell is this?
Get a move on, Samejima!
Quit running around!
Joe!
What are you doing?!
Damn it...
Finish him off!
Foul!
Get off him, Samejima!
You want this to be your last fight?!
They said you'd be banned permanently next time!
He's not your enemy today! It's that temper of yours!
Joe!
What are you doing?! Are you trying to become shark food?!
He coulda killed you!
Why aren't you fighting back?! And you were wide open!
Stop screwing around, and nail the guy already!
I know, damn it.
Bring him down!
Stop running!
What are you doing?! Fight back!
Pops, something's wrong with Joe today!
Shut up! Get outta the way!
Fight him, damn it!
Get yourself some Gear and try again!
Samejima!
I don't care if you have to cheat, kill this little bastard!
Joe!
Do you have some kind of beef with me?!
We're both screwed if you can't win this!
Can it, Pops!
Just shut up for a sec.
No chance in hell!
What were you doing in there?!
Pops, give it a rest!
This is no time to argue!
Shut it!
Don't butt in, brat!
You know if you don't hit the other guy,
you can't win, no matter how many rounds you fight, don't you?!
And if he can't hit me, I won't lose, no matter how many rounds we fight.
I'm doing this my way.
Your way is a load of crap!
If you've got energy to mouth off at me,
maybe you should be using it to feed that bastard your fist!
Hey, what're you—
Enough—stop—give it a rest!
This is the biggest gamble of your life?!
You're never gonna make it into Megalonia at this rate, you phony!
You're just like them!
Joe's risking his life out there, but all you do is complain!
And you're no better, Joe!
You think you can do this on your own?!
On your own...
And I'm not crying!
Joe...
I know.
I just hadn't warmed up yet.
In the next round—
Joe.
What do you want, Pops?
Listen to me. Fear is a human instinct.
It's there to keep you safe.
But boxers have to take that fear and master it.
What're you talking about?
Your body is telling you that it's afraid.
You can't move the way you usually do, can you?
Feels like you're tied up, right?
Some second I am.
I didn't notice that you were acting totally different than usual...
Guess I was the one the pressure was getting to.
Sachio's right. If you wanna go to Megalonia,
fighting on your own isn't gonna cut it.
But there's three of us!
Tell me what to do.
There you go. Remember what you practiced under the bridge.
Bastard!
That rhythm that we drilled into you.
You...!
Don't let him lead.
Make him dance with you!
We're not in the underground anymore.
Joe! Get him!
You're the only one who can control this ring.
You're not getting away!
Now!
He's down!
One...
Two...
Three...
No way...
Four...
Well, hell...
Five...
Six...
Seven...
1:17 in the 3rd round!
The winner is "Gearless" Joe!
Nice work!
You proved me wrong, kid!
This is unbelievable!
He did it! He did it!
Pops, he really did it!
You're damn right. He pulled it off, the little bastard.
That's one hurdle cleared...
Just like I planned.
Like you planned, huh?
Who was the guy sulking, going "Some second I am!" again?
You get awful damn cocksure the second someone tries to be nice!
Yeah? You want a piece of me, Pops?
You're never gonna make it into Megalonia at this rate, you phony!
I'd say the kid probably made the biggest contribution today.
Yeah.
All right!
Ranked 102nd | The Mysterious Rookie Boxer "Gearless" Joe's unstoppable momentum!!
Who will he face in his fourth battle?
Team Nowhere, huh?
Team Nowhere
I guess it's not too bad.
Not bad?
It's a hell of a lot better than your idea.
The Nanbu Gansaku Gym
Sh-Shut up!
But y'know, I think it's perfect for us.
We're setting out from a place like this, with nothing,
Team Nowhere
and trying to get into Megalonia.
We're just getting started.
So, Pops, did you set up the match yet?
This is the big fourth fight, right?
I've got it all covered.
I paid a hefty fee to get a professional in the biz to help out.
Asked him to get us the toughest opponent he could manage.
Hey, speak of the devil.
Someone's already accepted.
Ranked 102nd | The Mysterious Rookie Boxer "Gearless" Joe's unstoppable momentum!!
Who will he face in his fourth battle?
Well, if it isn't Nanbu.
Don't give me that, Mr. Yabunuma.
You're the one who called me here.
I found what you were asking for.
You couldn't ask for a better fighter than this guy.
Remember, I'm not interested in anyone ranked 50th or lower.
Try not to look too shocked. This guy is 17th.
Seventeenth?! Damn, Mr. Yabunuma!
I didn't think it'd be anyone higher up than 30th,
but I made the right choice coming to you!
You sure did.
Except the thing is,
this was actually a request on the other party's behalf.
A sudden rise from the bottom of the ranks!
He wants to fight your up-and-comer, "Gearless" Joe, really bad.
Sounds exactly like what we need.
Doesn't matter who it is. The higher the rank, the better.
So, who is this guy?
Oh, there he is.
He said he wanted to give you his regards.
So I was waiting for him to show up.
It's you...?!
Good to see you again, Coach Nanbu.
Round 4 "Let's Dance With Death" I'd rather boogie with that babe than dance with the Reaper.