Rookie King Tournament - Part 1

Ippo walked to school. Everyone had wanted to go out and celebrate his professional debut victory last night. The first time this had happened, it had ended with Takamura pulling his pants down in front of everyone. Ippo had internally debated declining the invitation for a long time, but in the end he hadn't been able to say no to Yagi-san. The desire to spend time with all his friends was just too strong. So Ippo had agreed to go, but had taken precautions: after the match he made sure to wear a belt that was tightly secured above his hips. The belt had snapped when the celebration had abruptly ended the same way it had previously. Ippo wondered if it was fate, or if Takamura-san was just that strong and dedicated to personally humiliating him.

The fight with Oda Yuusuke had been surprisingly easy. Ippo had been training hard, and he was more use to fighting in the ring, but it had been more than that. When they'd first fought, Oda-san had been relentless. Ippo hadn't learned the peek-a-boo style yet, and so his defense was lacking. Those two things had combined to make it a difficult match. This time he'd planned to avoid getting hit so much, and therefore avoid the cut he'd gotten the first time. Instead it was like Oda-san was a completely different boxer. How could that be? Ippo hadn't done anything that would've changed his opponent so much. Were things changing outside the scope of his actions, or did his actions have a wider scope than he thought?

"Argggghhhh!"

It was too confusing. At least today would be a good day at school. The day after his first match. His popularity had been fleeting, and it wasn't why he was boxing, but it had been nice while it lasted. So at least he'd get half a day of having people be interested in him. Oh! Today was also the start of Umezawa-san being friendly, or at least not beating him up! Today was going to be a great day!

Yesterday had been a disaster. Ippo hadn't gotten punched once in his match, so he hadn't needed bandages. So there had been nothing for his classmates to ask about. Nobody knew he was a boxer, and his fleeting dream of a small amount of popularity had gone un-answered. Worst still was that Umezawa-san had bullied him again. Fortunately the delinquent's attacks were just as slow and clumsy as before, so he'd been able to run away without getting hurt. Things were spiraling out of control. He wanted Umezawa as a friend. He needed him if he was going to box, otherwise his mother would work herself to hard. Ippo needed a plan, but he couldn't think of anything.

He'd thought of asking people for advice, but he couldn't tell his mom - she'd be worried that he was being bullied. He couldn't ask Takamura, Aoki, or Kimura - all of them would just suggest beating up Umezawa. That only left Kamogawa-sensei. Ippo didn't want to bother the coach with trivial things, but what else could he do? If Umezawa didn't believe he was a boxer, the two of them might never become friends. Wait, if that was the case Ippo could give them tickets to his next match. The three of them said they were boxing fans, so they'd probably come. Ippo decided it was a good plan. He'd endured several months of bullying since he came back, he could take one more.

"Uhm...Here!"

"What's this?" Umezawa looked over the slips of paper that Makunochi had just handed to him and his friends.

"W-Well, I thought that Umezawa-kun might enjoy going to a b-boxing match. I-It's in one month. I don't know who my opponent will be but I'll be fighting at Kourakuen Hall. PLEASE COME!" Ippo's last sentence was punctuated by a deep bow that he held for a long time.

Umezawa didn't know what to make of such a request. After the boxing license incident they had been nervous around their favorite victim. Despite the speed and skill he'd demonstrated then, Ippo still had a face and a demeanor that begged to be picked on. Now he was giving the three of them tickets to see him fight? Makunochi must really be a pro-boxer. He'd probably be super weak, but the other matches that night might be entertaining. "Who you talking so casually to? Huh?! As a favor to you we'll come watch, but don't forget you owe us."

"Thank you!" Ippo bowed with a huge grin on his face and quickly turned away.

"So he's inviting us to see him box?"

"You think it's a warning or trap or something?"

"From Ippo? There's no way. He's probably just super nervous and wants us there to cheer for him or some stupid stuff like that!"

"As if cheering could help that loser!"

"Still...he moved really fast that one time, I mean what if he's actually really strong."

The three of them shared a nervous chuckle. There was just no way a punching bag like Ippo could be a strong boxer right?

Kamogawa looked on at his gym's newest professional boxer. Makunochi Ippo was a rare find indeed. If you had only watched his fight, you'd have never expected it was his first time in ring as a pro. The kid picked up on things surprisingly quickly. If Takamura was to be believed then Ippo had adopted his peek-a-boo stance from just watching videos of Mike Tyson. It wasn't a hard stance to use, but maintaining it at all times usually took quite a bit of practice. Even when the brat had been knocking out Oda Yuusuke, he'd only dropped it while throwing a punch, and immediately resumed it after. If Kamogawa had to choose a style for him, he would've picked peek-a-boo himself. It was a natural fit for the kid, and he had stumbled across it on his own. If it wasn't for his personality outside of the ring anyone would call Ippo a genius. A few still might. That reporter had come to talk to Ippo about the rookie tournament. A first round K.O. in under a minute was granting him a lot of attention.

It was easy to look like a genius against someone so obviously out of shape as Oda though. The kid's basics still were rough around the corners. Soon he'd ready for a new punch, but until then they'd work on his jab. The kid had mentioned that he'd bought arm and leg weights and had been using them while working on his family's fishing boat. It wouldn't do to train most punches while wearing such a thing. The extra weight would throw off your timing and give a false sense of power that would only exist while training. For jabs however they'd work perfectly. For the last week Ippo had alternated having one of his arms tied to his chest and jabbing the heavy bag non-stop with the other while wearing the weights. By his next match he should have a jab that was both incredibly quick and was capable of inflicting damage.

"Coach, we've just gotten confirmation about Ippo-san's next match." Yagi had come down to the basement training area.

"Who's his opponent?"

"Maeda Gym's Fujiwara Yoshio."

"Let me see that report...hmmmm...Only two matches, I'd say the kid already has more experience than him. As long as you count that spar against Miyata. Still he's a step above Oda. For an opponent right before the Rookie King Tournament he'll work nicely."

"Check it out, here it is." Umezawa pointed towards the scorecard.

*Fujiwara Yoshio vs. Makunochi Ippo*

"Until I see it with my own eyes I'll never believe he's a boxer."

"I bet he get's K. in the first round."

"Then we can laugh at Ippo with everything we have! Heh heh heh."

"...but what if he's actually really strong?"

"..."

"No way that could ever happen! A-anyways, lets go watch."

The three of them made their way to the seats Ippo had gotten for them. They were at the railing on the 3rd floor. A bit far away, but an un-obstructed view.

"Man, Ippo's match is the 3rd one. We have to sit through two other matches before it starts!"

The first two matches weren't very impressive. The first matches were always warm-ups for the main event. If Ippo was going 3rd that must mean he wasn't very good. The score card listed his record as 1-0, so this must be his second match. The first two matches had both ended with a decision, and now it was time for Ippo's. Their classmate came walking down the aisle wearing trunks and boxing gloves.

"Wow, he really looks like a boxer!"

Ippo proceeded to the middle on the ring, and repeatedly bowed to everyone.

"No matter how you look at it, that's still Ippo."

"That timid posture doesn't go with the situation, what's wrong with him?"

"Umezawa! Check out Ippo's opponent."

"Eh?"

"He looks pissed!"

"He looks like he's a yakuza!"

"Look at the size of that forehead. He doesn't have any eye-brows!"

"Ippo's in trouble."

*nod*

*ding*ding*ding*

The bell rung and the match began. The two boxers approached each other and exchanged jabs. Suddenly Fujiwara let fly a strong left, Ippo ducked underneath it and stepped in. The scary-looking boxer immediately threw a right at Ippo's face, but their classmate blocked it. Now that the distance between the two fighters had been reduced, Makunochi suddenly became a blur of motion. A powerful right hook knocked Fujiwara to the side, then a flurry of jabs followed up. When the other boxer raised his guard to protect his face, Ippo switched to body blows. The hook had been strong, and the jabs had been quick, but Ippo's attack at his opponent's stomach was completely unguarded. From his vantage point, Umezawa could see the look of agony the came across Fujiwara's face. He could also see the look turn to anger, and the head-butt that followed.

*thwack!*

It made a disgusting sound that was heard over the crowd. Ippo didn't even flinch, instead he crouched down underneath his taller opponent. It looked like Makunochi threw some kind of uppercut, but it stopped at Fujiwara's stomach. The older man had used both his hands to block. Ippo's response was to throw another with his other hand.

*Thump!*

Fujiwara's head snapped back, he raised his arms as if to clinch with Ippo. (Something Umezawa had see far too much of in the first two matches.) Out of nowhere Ippo's opponent clutched his stomach and fell over. The referee ran in between the two boxers and raised his hands.

*ding*ding*ding*

They hadn't bothered with a count. Ippo had knocked his opponent out in the first round.

"Did you see his upper?"

"Yeah, but mine's the strongest!"

"No, mine is!"

The three of them bickered for a while.

"With that his record is 2 and 0."

"I heard he knocked his other opponent out in less than a minute just like this one!"

"...he really is strong."

"..."

K.O. Time 1st Round: 55 seconds

Kourakuen Hall

Macunochi Ippo Victory

2-0-0 2 K.O.s

"Hey Ippo, come here!"

Ippo had been leaving school when Umezawa grabbed him when he came outside. The delinquent dragged him around the corner where 11 other boys waited.

"uhm..."

"Here he is! The friend I was talking about. Makunochi Ippo: a pro boxer. He's knocked all his opponent's out in less than a minute.!"

"Really?"

"He doesn't look like much."

"We saw it too! His uppercut was amazing!"

"Yeah!"

Ippo smiled quietly as he stood back. It was nice to be accepted and acknowledged again. After the talking about boxing had died down, Ippo began to walk away. He had to get to the gym and train some more. Umezawa came up behind him and draped his right arm across Ippo's shoulders.

"So you're going to get me tickets for your next fight too right?"

Three months had passed since Ippo's last fight. It was June, and he was now in his final year of high school. For the other students it was a stressful time of cramming for exams to get into college, or preparation to get a job in a year. Ippo however was already employed, both as a helper to the family fishing company and as a boxer. He still was stressed out though. The Rookie Championship Tournament's pairing were going to be announced soon. Would they be the same as before? Or would he be matched up against other people? With no opponent yet, the coach had been drilling the basics into him - especially his jab. He'd been able to keep up with Takamura-san's menu too. His senpai hadn't had any matches lined up for a while now. It made his training schedule easier, but Takamura himself was getting more and more agitated.

One advantage Ippo had over Takamura was the availability of sparing partners. Kimura and Aoki were above his weight class, but only by 1 and 2 levels. There was no-one close to Takamura's weight in the gym. No other gym's middleweights wanted to spar with the #1 ranked boxer either, and Takamura's personality didn't help matters. If Ippo was going to be matched up with Jason Ozuma in the 1st round, that would change. It had been sparring against Takamura's hooks that had prepared Ippo for his match with the foreign boxer the first time. Undoubtedly if he went up against Ozuma again, Kamogawa-sensei would have him experience his senpai's punches again first hand.

"Ippo-kun!" Yagi came bursting through the doors of the gym. "The committee has dispersed. The schedule for the Rookie King Tournament has been posted!"

So soon? Ippo hadn't been expecting to know the pairings until tomorrow. Had he just gotten the date wrong or was this another change from the timeline he remembered? He quickly looked at the seeding order on the chart.

1st seed: Hayami Ryuuichi - A favorite to win: last year's inter high champ.

6th seed: Makunochi Ippo

7th seed: Jason Ozuma - So he and Ozuma-san both had a buy and would fight in the 2nd round, just like before.

11th seed: Mashiba Ryou - In block B.

20th seed: Miyata Ichirou - It was setup the way he remembered. Miyata-kun and Mashiba-san were likely going to meet in the Semi-finals.

"So I'm going to fight with Ozuma-san. Good!" Jason was really strong. His hook was as powerful as a boxer several weight classes higher. If he wanted to challenge Date again, getting experience fighting with strong opponents like Ozuma-san was necessary.

"Is that how you say it? Not Otsuma?"

"He's a foreigner. His name is pronounced 'Jason Ozuma'."

"You're familiar with him Ippo?"

"Yeah! He's an incredibly strong boxer with an insanely powerful hook. He's 3 an 0 right now with 3 K.O.s"

"..."

"Hey Aoki." Takamura motioned for the other boxer to come closer. "I think I know what's up with Ippo."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean how he used to be a complete and utter novice, but picked things up and used techniques that nobody has taught him. How he knows all about no-name boxers, even their records and styles. How he's un-usually nervous right before we do stuff to him. It's like he knows it's coming."

"So you think Ippo's..."

"He's Psychic!"

"Well...I suppose. I mean I'm good with predicting fortunes." This earned a muffled snort from Takamura. "Which is to say something like that isn't impossible."

"Exactly! So I have a plan. Hey! Ippo! Come here!"

"W-what?"

"C'mon I have a place I want to show you."

"B-but my fight... I need to train."

"Just c'mon!" Ippo didn't stand a chance in resisting his senpai's strength. "If it'll make you feel any better, we'll run there."

After half a hour they'd reached their destination. Ippo looked around like he'd never been to such a place before, which was probably true.

"Ok, here we are." Takamura flung open the door of a shady looking place. A cloud of cigarette smoke greeted the two of them. "YO! Ryuuzaki! I'm going to clean you out today!"

"Huh? Is that Takamura? I haven't seen you in years. How's that boxing thing going?"

"Fine, fine. Any majhong games starting soon?"

"We have some people. You want in?"

"You got it."

Takamura sat down at the table and whispered to Ippo. "Now look, don't stand up or do anything that makes it seem like you could be looking at the other player's tiles go it?"

"Uhm...Ok...Why am I here Takamura-san?"

"You just tell me what tiles you think I'm going to draw. It'll be easy money. Gah ha ha ha ha!"

Things deteriorated pretty quickly after that.

Ippo had started dashing between bars at the playground by his house as soon as he'd found out Ozuma-san was his opponent. The horizontal bars were just about the exact height that a hook would come in at. The combination of moving while quickly having to duck was excellent training. The last bar was still giving him problems, but he'd gotten past the first two quicker than he remembered doing previously. If it wasn't for the fact that he could only train with the bars at certain times, Ippo felt he'd have gotten it already. Unfortunately it was just too embarrassing to do with people watching, especially little kids.

At the gym Ippo found Takamura waiting for him in the ring. Sparring with Takamura-san would provide priceless experience, but his senpai had been surly ever since he'd lost at majhong. At least he hadn't pressured Ippo for money. Instead Takamura had taken pleasure in teasing and pranking his kouhai.

"Hey Ippo! We're going to have some fun!"

*Gulp*

Even with his senpai wearing 16 ounce gloves and only throwing hooks, Ippo sincerely doubted that he'd enjoy this. Takamura didn't wait a second before throwing a hook that knocked Ippo off his feet.

"Takamura! Wait for him to take a fighting stance at least!" Somewhere in the distance Ippo could hear Kamogawa-sensei. It was only due to his headgear and the knowledge of what to expect from his senpai's punches that had allowed Ippo to stay conscious. "Ippo! Get up! You'll pass this training when you land a punch on Takamura."

For 8 days Ippo had been sparring with the #1 Middleweight ranked boxer after their road work. It had only taken 5 to master the bars in the park, but unlike his senpai - they didn't hit back. At least Takamura was getting in a better mood - Ippo had quit finding majhong tiles in his shoes, locker, clothes, and gloves. He was also close to dodging Takamura's hook. For the last few days he'd been taking the punch in the back of his head rather than the face. It made him feel dizzy and black out a little, but it meant that the speed of his duck was increasing. Finally after nearly an hour in the ring, Takamura's hook came and Ippo didn't feel any pain. He'd done it! A successful dodge! Just as he looked up to land an attack of his own, everything went black.

When he came to, the coach said that there'd been enough of Ippo's sparing with Takamura.

The next day Ippo tried to get a feel for punching immediately after he dodged. He still wasn't quick enough to catch Ozuma. The American just had too good of reflexes. Ippo thought that if he could only attack and dodge simultaneously then he'd have a critical edge against the black boxer.

"Ippo! The match is tomorrow, so lets go over your strategy." Coach Kamogawa was motioning him to come over. Ippo wondered what more there was to say. His strategy was to duck and counter attack, or failing that to try for a simultaneous exchange.

"Yes coach!"

"Ozuma is taller than you and has a better reach, but he's also an in-boxer so that advantage is negated. That's the assumption Ozuma will enter the match with, and one we'll exploit!"

"Exploit his longer reach?"

"His reach may be longer, but his Sunday Punch is the hook. Hooks have a very short reach, so even with longer arms you'll be able to hit him before his hook hits you!"

"Uhm... so I should...?"

"Jab! Jab! What have we been working on? Your jab! Do NOT try and out-box him! Just stand your ground and jab when he gets into range."

"Won't he jab back?"

"Of course he will, but his jab will lose to yours! If he were an out-boxer, his superior reach would allow him to attack without retaliation. However, Ozuma will want to move to close range. Make him pay for it! The fight will be decided up close, and that's when your duck will come into play. Before then don't throw anything but jabs and one-twos! Understand kid?"

"Yes!"

Jason Ozuma looked across the ring at his opponent. Makunochi Ippo looked different than he had at the weigh in. The quiet and polite boy was gone, and a boxer that positively radiated determination had taken his place. Jason advanced slowly, they were both infighters and he heard about Makunochi's power. The first one to land a clean hit would have a huge advantage. When they got in range Jason threw two quick jabs. The smaller boxer's defense held as he advanced. Ippo began to jab also. Jason felt that he was being pelted with rocks. This kid's power was no joke! The two of them continued to jab at each other. Jason had the longer reach, so at long range the advantage was his.

*pap*pap*pap*

After a minute he wasn't so certain. Ippo's short reach made for surprisingly quick jabs. The Japanese fighter's guard was also effective. Neither of them had scored a hit yet, but Jason's arms were getting numb just from blocking Makunochi's jabs. At this rate Ippo would win. When they got to close range things would change though. Jason had a lot of pride in his hook. When he got to use it the match would be his. In a sudden flash of insight, the other side's strategy became apparent. Ippo was an in-boxer, but they wanted to avoid an in-fight! That was why he was only throwing jabs and not leaving an opening for Jason to close the distance! With the power of Makunochi's jabs it could work too! Ozuma's longer reach should've have given him an advantage, but even if he threw straights they wouldn't be stronger than Ippo's jabs. Trying to out-box him wouldn't work. In a trade off of straights vs. jabs - Makunochi's jabs were shorter, but almost as strong, and significantly faster. It was time to get the match really started!

Jason pressed forward. He was going to force an in-fight. *pap*pap* A quick one-two from Ippo brought him up short. The kid's jab was tough, but his right was insane. Again and again Jason tried to pressed in by weaving to the right or left, and again and again that quick one-two was too much! Staying at range wasn't working, but he couldn't get closer. Even without taking an unblocked hit, he was beginning to feel damage from those jabs accumulating. There was nothing to do, but he couldn't let his gym down. They were too important to him! Jason gritted his teeth and charged in straight forward.

*pap*pap*pap*

The jabs felt like straights, but he'd made it. Twisting his entire body, Jason threw his Sunday Punch. He'd practiced his hook long and hard. By twisting his legs and shifting his weight at the same time that his hook's movement started - all of his body was put behind the punch. It made for an acceleration few could match or withstand.

*FWOOSH*

His hook had missed! How could he have missed? Below him Ippo looked up from his duck. Fast! The Japanese boxer threw a sudden uppercut!

*FWOOSH*

Jason could feel the wind from that punch! It was by the narrowest of margins that he'd been able to dodge, but now Makunochi was open.

*FWOOSH*

Ippo had ducked his left hook also! The crouching boxer straightened up with another powerful uppercut!

*FWOOSH*

*FWOOSH*FWOOSH*

*FWOOSH*

*FWOOSH*

*FWOOSH*

*FWOOSH*

Double hooks failed to connect, and repeat hooks with the same hand faired no better. Each time Ippo had responded with a bone-chilling punch of his own. Just one of those punches would cause enough damage by itself that he might no be able to get back up. This was dangerous!

*ding*ding*ding*

Kamogawa had been on the edge of his seat. What an intense round for one in which a single clean blow hadn't landed. He quickly put out the stool for Ippo and readied some water and an ice bag.

"*hah* *hah* I could *hah* see it this time. *hah* The way he shifts his weight, it's so fast. *hah* *hah* I can't hit him *hah* unless it's at the same time." The kid was breathing heavily, but didn't look worn out.

"Ok then. Aim for a simultaneous exchange!"

"Yes!"

"Ozuma will be rushing in from the start this next round. Don't bother with jabs, get ready for a hitting match!"

"Yes!"

"Seconds out!"

"Go get him kid!"

*nod*

Ippo was already focusing on the other boxer.

"Aiming for a simultaneous hit? Coach are you sure that's a good idea." Yagi looked concerned.

"It's true that the kid hasn't taken a lot of damage before, but he got up from Miyata's counter so I think he has it in him. Of course if he hadn't suggested it, I wouldn't have told him to do something that risky. If Ippo says that's the only way he'll land a hit, then I believe him. The true strength of a boxer is their spirit! I want to see how Ippo performs when things get tough in the ring." Yagi's expression hadn't changed. "We'll be ready with the towel if it goes badly."

*ding*ding*ding*

Just as he thought, Ozuma rushed out at the start of the round. The secondary goal of the jabs had worked. Ozuma had to take them into account, and it limited his options. The two boxers met in the center of the ring and Ozuma started with his powerful right hook. Ippo threw one of his own. The two hooks landed at the same time, and both boxers staggered back.

"You've stopped his rush! Get in there kid!"

Ippo responded to the cheers of the crowd and his coach. His step-in was quick - surprisingly so. The brat threw a body blow with his left, and then a hook with his right. Ozuma blocked the first punch, but Kamogawa could see him grimace. The hook missed completely as the American swayed back. Jason then twisted and returned fire with a right hook. Ippo swung with his left at the same time, the two punches crossed over each other and both connected. A body blow. A straight. More hooks. The fight had become a brawl, but the kid was giving as good as he got. Most of Ozuma's punches were his still highly polished hooks, but every one of them were ducked under or met with a punch in return. Ippo was favoring body blows, obviously trying to get through Jason's guard and stop his feet. If the kid managed it then the black boxer's hooks would be drastically reduced in power. Kamogawa noticed that Ippo's movements were starting to slow down.

The change happened in an instant. Ozuma blocked a body blow and threw a short upper, the unexpected punch hit cleanly. Ippo's head jerked up, and then to both sides as Jason connected with a left-right hook combo. Ippo collapsed like a rag doll. The ref moved over and took a look. Just as he raised his arms to indicate a no-contest, Ippo swayed back up.

"Are you all right?"

"..." Ippo stared at his opponent, there may have been a slight nod of his head.

"Can you take your stance?" The kid raised his arms, but his right fist was under his chin rather than in front and his left was further away from his face than the peek-a-boo style called for. His weight was forward on his left leg, like he was ready to in-box. "Fight!"

"What's with that stance." Yagi didn't recognize it. From Ozuma's reaction he didn't know what to make of it either.

"That's the stance he used for practicing jabs. Why would he be...? He's unconscious! He's just moving on instinct! Quick Yagi! The towel!"

*BAP!*

The sound of a clean punch rang out. In that condition Ippo had no guard! Ozuma had advanced on the brat! One punch could kill him in such a state! Kamogawa spun around. Ippo was still standing. Jason had pressed in, but the kid repelled him with a jab. Ippo's corner was stunned for a second, and in that time Ozuma charged in again.

*BAP!*

Another jab slipped past his guard and scored a clean hit.

"Are you sure?" Kamogawa shook his head. He wasn't certain of anything at the moment. There was still 1:14 to go in the round. There was no way Ippo could Ozuma away for that long right?

*BAP!*BAP!*BAP!*

Over and over Ippo scored clean hits. Jason was damaged. His attempts at slipping past the jab or rushing through it were completely ineffective! Breathing heavy, the American boxer now stood his ground and looked at Ippo. Amazingly, Ippo had held off the taller opponent with just jabs! That stance might not offer any defense, but it provided the ideal platform from which to launch an un-ending series of jabs. If Kamogawa had seen Mashiba's hit-man style's flicker jabs, he would've drawn a parallel between the two. Powerful jabs at an increased "range", that absolutely prevented an opponent from advancing. Jason had stopped trying to slip past or break through Ippo's jabs.

7 seconds...

"That's it, just stand there." Yagi was muttering to himself.

6 seconds...

If Ozuma tried jabs or straights of his own, Kamogawa wasn't sure what would happen.

5 seconds...

4 seconds...

Jason inched forward.

3 seconds...

Ippo took a step forward and threw a quick one-two.

2 seconds...

Ozuma had blocked the attack, but it had brought his offense up short.

1 second...

*ding*ding*ding*

Kamogawa rushed into the ring to get Ippo to his corner. The kid made it back without any help though.

"Ippo! Are you ok?"

"*hah* *hah* I blacked out for a little while. *hah* When I came to I was jabbing Ozuma-san. *hah* I couldn't move my legs, and *hah* it seemed to be working."

"Good job. Can you continue?" Blacking out could be serious, but Ippo didn't seem to be in trouble.

"Yes!"

"Then rest for now. It'll be over next round."

"...*hah*...*hah*..."

*ding*ding*ding*

Ippo advanced on Ozuma. It seemed obvious now that he knew where to look. The other boxer had taken a lot of damage. His punches were still alive though. Ippo knew someone like Ozuma was still a threat, even like this. The round started the same as the first one, with the boxers exchanging jabs. Ozuma was waiting though, he'd undoubtedly recovered between rounds. Ippo didn't think his jabs would be able to hold the other boxer back for long, but that was fine. The coach's strategy had worked, but Ippo felt more at home at close range. The fleeting idea of moving back and forth and alternating jabs and power hits came to him, but it was quickly dismissed. It was better to focus on one thing at a time, anymore and he'd get sloppy.

While Ippo's attention was briefly elsewhere, Jason rushed forward. He blocked Ippo's one-two and unleashed a right hook with everything he could put behind it.

*FWOOSH!*

Ippo's body moved on it's own. Looking up from his duck, Ippo saw his chance. Ozuma had over-extended himself. Before he could recover, Ippo stepped in, swiveled his hips and landed a Liver Blow with his left hand. Ozuma clutched his side and kneeled over. Less than 20 seconds into the round Ippo had scored a down! Jason would get up, Ippo was certain it'd take more than that to keep him down. However rookie matches only had 4 rounds, and were called after 2 knockdowns. There was plenty of time to get the second.

"1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9"

Ozuma staggered to his feet. His legs almost gave out on him, but he took up a fighting stance. Ippo rushed in. Three small, quick body blows were blocked. Jason returned a left to the body and a right at Ippo's head. The left was blocked, but the right connected. It was nothing! Ippo refused to acknowledge the punch. 'No matter how much it hurts, make him think his punch was ineffective. That's the secret to trading blows.' The coaches words from his first fight with Ozuma kept going through Ippo's mind. If he showed pain, he'd lose! Date hadn't showed any weakness! If he wanted surpass the champion, he would have to endure without showing the damage he'd taken.

The two boxers traded blow after blow. It didn't hurt! There was no way he'd let those punches hurt him! There was some truth to the bravado he was projecting. The liver blow had stopped Ozuma's legs. His weight-shifting had ceased. Without that, the black boxer's offense and defense were drastically reduced. Then it came again.

*FWOOSH!*

Ippo ducked the hook and came back with a left long uppercut aimed at Ozuma's stomach. The punch was blocked, but the damage went through Jason's guard. A right straight! A left! A right! Ippo hammered his punches into Ozuma's face repeatedly. After the 4th, Jason fell backwards.

"Stop!" The referee motioned to the score-keeper. It was a T.K.O.

K.O. Time 3rd Round: 1 minute 5 seconds

Eastern Japan Rookie King Tournament - Semi-Quarter-Final

Macunochi Ippo Victory

3-0-0 3 K.O.s