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Maku... nouchi...
My... hand...
Baton...
pass.
It's... yours now.
I see.
So the old man said something like that.
Yes.
Date-san's really going to retire.
Now we have no one to lead the world of Japanese Boxing.
Well we've got somebody.
The guy who had the baton officially passed on to him.
M-Me?
T-There's no way I could do that.
You got that right.
You're not dignified enough.
I wouldn't want you to lead.
Then don't say anything in the first place.
You should just focus on your own business for now.
You've got your second title defense coming up right?
Uh...
what was his name again?
It's "Hammer Nao!"
The guy who got ranked 7th in the featherweights practically overnight?
Never heard of him.
I might not have much information to go off of but I'll still do my best!
I'll just take each title defense one step at a time.
That's all there is for me to do right now!
Whew he's really going at it today!
He's really into it.
Take a break!
You're relying too much on power!
You've got to choose your shots more carefully!
Right!
Well it's good that you're putting some spirit into it.
R-Right...
I guess it's because I saw Date-san trying so hard.
He showed incredible fighting spirit.
It's a shame that he's retiring.
Those of you who succeed him have a lot to live up to.
If you want to follow Date then you need to focus on not botching these title defenses.
Don't underestimate Hammer Nao.
I understand!
There's nothing scarier than not knowing about your opponent.
What?
I thought so.
I was wondering who was making those sweet sounds.
I should have known it was Makunouchi-senpai.
Hey hey! How long are you gonna stand there? Close the door already!
If you're here to check the place out then go take a seat.
Check it out huh?
Well I planned to join but...
Um...
Who're you guys?
You mean to tell me that you're joining this gym and you don't know who we are!?
You're starting to get on my nerves.
Really?
What are they doing?
Looks like they're arguing about something.
Now now... don't get so upset...
W-Why you...
Ah there you are!
Yagi-san!
Yagi-san you know this guy?
Allow me to introduce you!
This is last year's inter-high national runner-up.
He's the rookie our gym has high hopes for Itagaki Manabu-kun!
Nice to meet you.
Huh?
They don't look happy to see me do they?
One of the boxing amateur elites huh?
So you scouted this guy Yagi-san?
Well actually he had already entered college and joined the boxing club there but...
...something about hitting people through their headgear didn't suit me.
He contacted me when I started thinking about becoming a pro.
Besides this gym has a boxer that I idolize
so I thought I'd come see what I could learn!
Idolize?
Boxer?
You're accepted!
It's Takamura!
That's right!
It is I your idol Takamura Mamoru!
Watch me closely every day and learn how it's done.
Actually Takamura-kun that's not it.
Itagaki-kun is a featherweight so he looks up to...
What!?
He looks up to Ippo!?
M-Me?
What about his boneheaded boxing is appealing to you!?
If I was a featherweight I'd look up to Sendo...
or maybe Saeki he was an amateur boxer as well.
Sanada's good too!
You guys do realize that...
all those guys have lost to Ippo right?
And so...
I'll be counting on your help
Makunouchi-senpai!
O-Oh...
the pleasure's all mine.
Well in that case...
How about our traditional roadwork welcoming for newbies?
Roadwork?
It's the fastest way to show him how tough being a pro is isn't it?
Oh yeah.
S-Senpai
you're going too fast!
Do you always run at this pace!?
S-Sorry!
Should I slow down?
He's giving up just like we figured.
This is what being a pro is like he'll be puking from the pain in no time.
***!
You're the ones about to puke!
They're way ahead of you!
Inter-high national runner-up ain't a name that's just for show.
It means he's got his basic conditioning down.
You think he's any good?
Based on his background he'd probably hold his own pretty well if he went pro right now.
But you know... Hearing you guys talking about puking...
It's kind of a nostalgic thought isn't it?
Oh yeah!
There was another guy who used to cling to Ippo like that too.
Senpai!
I wonder what he's up to now.
It's been about two years since then you think he's still boxing?
Maybe we beat him up too badly at the send off party?
You were the only one who went overboard!
There's something about Ippo's boxing that seems to attract people to him.
He's going to draw in more and more young guys like Itagaki.
Before you know it he might actually be able to fill in for Date-san.
Yeah!
I doubt that.
We're back!
You're here.
Kid follow me.
We've got a video of Hammer Nao.
We've got a video?
Let's watch it!
Although I thought you would have found out by now...
"Hammer Nao."
He's from the Hachinohe Boxing Club.
8 matches 8 wins 5 KO's.
He specializes in body hooks.
That was bad enough to make him keel over.
It looks pretty heavy.
It should be considering that he debuted as a junior welterweight.
A junior welterweight!?
That's four weight classes up!
He fought two fights there
went down to lightweight for three matches
and then had three matches as a junior lightweight.
It seems he dropped down to featherweight because he wanted a match against Ippo-kun.
With me?
Have you figured it out yet Kid?
He may have shaved his head and eyebrows...
His face may be a bit swollen now...
And he might have lost so much weight that you can see his ribs and he barely resembles his former self...
but he's someone you know very well.
He was formerly a member of this gym.
No way.
His real name is...
Yamada Naomichi.
That's Gero-michi!?
No way in hell!
That can't be Gero-michi!
I mean he's so scary looking!
If I saw him in the street I'd get out of the way!
B-But still if you look closely...
His nose...
and his mouth...
He's got Yamada-kun's features!
True.
He did carry a lot of water weight.
I guess after going through all that weight loss that's what he looks like.
No way!
There's no way human beings can transform like this!
I don't buy it!
Shut it!
Whether you believe it or not
that is the one and only Yamada Naomichi.
It really is him.
It doesn't even feel nostalgic.
He's like a totally different guy.
It really is him.
It doesn't even feel nostalgic.
He's like a totally different guy.
Uh excuse me but...
what's a "Gero-michi?"
That's right Itagaki-kun wouldn't know.
A full explanation would take a while but...
When we first met him he puked.
When he left he puked.
Naomichi led a life covered in puke.
Note: "gero" means "puke."
That sure is a gross nickname.
Who gave it to him?
Who can say?
He was Gero-michi long before we met him.
It remains a wonder who said it first.
It was you.
Well regardless of his nickname...
he gets hit too much.
If he takes that many hits from Makunouchi-senpai he won't just be KO'd
he'll end up in the hospital.
Seems like an easy win.
I'll be borrowing the video.
To think that Gero-michi would...
After the way he used to cling to Ippo as his goal.
Maybe he thinks he caught up and that's why he's challenging him?
So he's confident that he'll win?
That can't be it.
Ippo's grown in the last two years too.
I can't believe that he's made up for that difference.
Maybe not in terms of strength...
What do you mean?
Exactly what I said.
You guys were talking about whether Ippo could follow in the old man's footsteps right?
Yeah...
Before Ippo can take the old man's place he has to correct something he's lacking in.
You could even call it a weakness.
Weakness!?
But Ippo has the power to end things with a single punch...
and enough stamina to last into the later rounds.
It'd be hard to find someone at the national level who could stand up to him.
He lacks stability.
He's never able to fully capitalize on his strengths unless he's in trouble.
That mental naiveté keeps him from fighting ruthlessly from the start.
I guess he does let the other guy set the pace and get away with a lot.
Yeah for a boxer he's too soft and emotional.
That might be part of why he's so unstable.
In this world it's kill or be killed.
It shouldn't matter who your opponent is you have to beat them once you set foot in the ring.
Unless you can throw a punch in cold blood you'll never get the respect that it takes to be seen as the leader.
In this next match...
After succeeding in his first title defense how will the champion win this time?
How will he deal with this fight that he will obviously win?
In many ways this battle will answer a lot of things.
What's wrong Aoki?
I just realized something terrible.
In Ippo's next title match I'm fighting in the match right before his.
S-So?
It means that...
It's not just for Ippo I'm the opening act for Gero-michi too!
O-Opening for two of your kouhai...
That's gotta be rough.
Yeah.
Don't rush it.
That left is bait.
Keep your guard up.
That's it! Bit by bit down below...
Yeah that's right!
Yes!
That shot to the body had a good angle!
He's gotten a lot tougher.
A flat-footed fighter like Yamada-kun isn't good at chasing someone down.
That's why he lets people punch him to lure them in so he can hammer on them!
It's a strategy that takes a lot of courage.
Senpai...
I get picked on a lot.
How was it?
I tried my very best.
Yamada-kun...
The first kouhai I had at the gym.
He was clumsy and awkward but tried so hard.
But his family had to move away because of work.
Yamada-kun!
You're going to keep boxing right!?
Let's both do our best!
Right!
Thank you so much!
He's good at close range.
It suits how powerful he looks.
But...
He always ducks to the left when there's a right...
to aim for his specialty a body blow.
So I'd aim for that.
A left to his open temple and while he's off balance a double...
left... then what would I do with it?
Senpai!
Would I hit Yamada-kun?
He kept boxing...
and got stronger.
Yamada-kun!
Why did you challenge me?
You okay Coach!?
Dang you got a lot of power Nao.
Looks like you're in good shape... so we can get our hopes up.
You're our first main eventer!
Good luck Nao!
Right.
I'll be heading home.
The sign huh?
Guess we oughta look into getting a new one.
I-If I win the title
I'll be sure to start bringing the money in.
I don't want you fighting the title match thinking like that.
You've done really well in a small town gym like this where we've had trouble finding you sparring partners.
I would have liked for you to go at an easier pace.
Build up your experience carefully raise you up
and then challenge for the title.
Coach...
Why's it gotta be Makunouchi Ippo!?
There was a fighter at this gym named Jason Ozuma!
He was talented worked hard and I was sure he could take the title.
But Makunouchi overpowered him.
He's strong... too strong.
That fight ended 2 minutes and 54 seconds into the second round right?
I know how strong Makunouchi Ippo is better than anyone else.
Then why!?
Why would you take him on knowing how dangerous he is!?
Have you ever thought about it like this...
that because I know him I'm able to overcome him?
When you came to this gym you said you were boxing because you looked up to Makunouchi Ippo!
Even if you know how to
are you really gonna be able to beat up the same person you looked up to using those hands!?
I can.
I can and I will beat him down.
He's as impressive as ever!
Really?
Right here!
Hammer Nao leaves this spot open when he finishes a punch!
Get it!
That's it!
There's no point in holding up these mitts when you're so out of it!
Get your head back together by tomorrow!
Got it!?
He must've seen Gero-michi's face.
At this rate he won't be able to punch ruthlessly.
But Gero-michi was pretty emotional too.
Imagine if he couldn't fight properly either.
It doesn't look that way.
Hey Mari-san!
He really seemed to be in the swing of things.
You went all the way to Aomori?
Gero-michi is in Tokyo!?
Yamada-kun is in town!?
A training trip to the Nerima Boxing Club.
Man that's so cold! He could at least come by and say hello.
Why would he?
Right now this is enemy territory for him.
Oh that's got nothing to do with us.
The one picking on Gero-michi is this guy.
I don't like how they're making that sound.
Have a good night!
Ippo-kun!
I've been gathering information on Hammer Nao.
Would you like to hear it?
Yes please.
Why are we sneaking around?
Well he is the enemy you know.
We're just coming to check out how our old kouhai is doing.
Now where is Gero-michi-kun?
Next! Get into the ring!
G-Gero-michi...
...just made someone puke!
In the end he ended up knocking down three guys in a row...
...and all three of them puked.
Anybody would puke after being nailed with body blows like that.
He sure picked up a hell of a weapon.
I'm going to run for a bit.
Be careful.
Yo long time no see Gero-michi!
We saw you at work there you've gotten a lot better!
Are you spying on me?
Come on don't be like that.
We came to see you because we heard you were in town.
To see me?
I didn't ask you to.
I've got running to do so...
H-Hey!
What?
Could you not glare at us with that face?
You've changed a lot and we're having some trouble dealing with it.
We can't really cheer for you in this match
but we still wanted to wish you good luck!
Aoki-san
just make sure you don't cool off the audience too much when you open for us.
What was that crap!?
Don't think you can get carried away just because you're so ugly now got it!?
I'd appreciate it if you stopped acting like my senpai.
I'm not a member of the Kamogawa Gym anymore.
Why you little...
Aoki!
Look Gero-michi
stop acting like an ***.
I understand what you're going through because I fought that monster Mashiba.
I know you have to psyche yourself up because you're scared.
From your point of view Ippo's a real monster.
We get it.
When you're around us you can just be honest.
So you were scared?
No wonder you lost.
What was that!?
Tell Makunouchi Ippo this...
I'm coming
for his belt.
Some night
I can't remember why
We stayed up 'til 4 AM ('til 4 AM)
We talked about nothing important and then made love
The person can't be close her eyes
The person can't be close your eyes
And now while she calls my name inside her dream
Kisses me so I'll fall asleep
Don't I wish that we could stay right there?
Yeah yeah yeah...
You shut the alarm to work to sleep that day
I'd do anything if I could make this time rewind forever
'til 7:59