01x18 - The Unfinished New Counter

[bunniefuu]

We will now begin tonight's semifinal, the OPBF Featherweight Title Match!

In the red corner,

the OPBF Featherweight Champion, Miyata Ichirou!

In the blue corner, the third-ranked featherweight boxer, Medgoen Dutchboy!

Miyata, win it for us!

And make it quick!

Ichirou-kun, good luck!

k*ll him with your counter!

We've got no info on this guy.

Use the first round to feel him out.

What is it?

You'll know him when you see him.

Mr. Sakaguchi?

Mr. Sakaguchi.

Former manager for the previous OPBF Featherweight Champion, Arnie Gregory.

But we were the ones who robbed them of that belt.

I see. So he's back for revenge, is he?

In that case, you better treat his fighter like he's your assassin.

Watch yourself out there!

Okay, Dad.

I won't relinquish my belt,

no matter who I fight!

There goes the opening bell!

This is Miyata Ichirou's fourth OPBF title defense!

The champion possesses a world-class counter!

When will we see him unsheathe his father's weapon?

Also, how good is the opponent he's facing?

Will Medgoen Dutchboy make a good run for the belt?

Or will the champion, Miyata Ichirou, cut him down?

How will the two fighters kick off this match?

He's close enough to punch!

Will the challenger go in?

Do it! You'll just get his counter!

I don't sense him coming after me at all.

Is he that wary of my counter?

This is a long stare-down.

Quiet.

He's keeping himself in check along with Miyata,
who definitely knows when he's in punching distance.

That challenger is something else!

The challenger is obviously waiting for the first move.

I myself wouldn't go in, but I'm sure Miyata-kun will.

That's just how he is!

An anti-counter strategy?

Let me see how well you've worked it out!

What lightning speed!

The champion's left shatters the ambient silence!

Those flashes of light blasts the challenger backwards!

The challenger is dumbfounded!

He loses sight of the champion for a second!

That's what world-class speed looks like!

Wow! That jab must be his meal ticket!

His hand speed isn't the only thing to watch for.

There are only a few boxers who can literally disappear right before your eyes!

He never ceases to amaze me.

That man...

will go even faster just when you think he's going at top speed.

The entire arena is mesmerized.

Even I can't take my eyes away!

Miyata-kun's a better boxer each time he fights.

But... I never imagined he'd box this well!

Those bolts of lightning don't let up!

Will it be a matter of time before he breaks through the guard?

Ow! Ow! That hurts, Tomiko!

Your face is all swollen! My poor Macharu!

Sensei!

Huh? What gives? Is Miyata done with his match?

Yes, Miyata-kun, you blow my mind.

But he's nothing compared to you.

Got that right!

Actually...

...he's not getting anywhere.

What?!

Tired?

Not yet.

He's certainly gotten into his rhythm, and is fighting on his own terms.

I can see him lasting till the final round.

He doesn't hit. His guard is as tight as a turtle's.

The challenger isn't taking any clean hits.

What's the meaning behind that overly restrained strategy?

Remember all that money I gave you?

Now work it off like your life depends on it!

Box!

Body blows won't get him to let up his guard?

He only wants to protect his face?

Let him hit as many body blows as he wants.

But if he gets your face and you black out, it'll be all for nothing.

It's pretty solid.

But I'll show you how much power a bunch of skinny arrows bunched together can pack!

A triple left jab!

He blasted through that tight guard!

He hit the same exact spot several times!

Don't get hit, Medgoen!

The challenger responds in kind for the first time!

And what a solid hit that was!

That short hook was tight and to the point.

That's a nice weapon you have.

That hook looked more like a hatchet. And compact to boot.

It'll make it very difficult to use any counters.

I was wondering what he had up his sleeve.

It turned out to be that punch.

The challenger was using the first few rounds to size him up.

Now he'll be going on the offensive!

Whoa! Instead of attacking, the challenger steps back and turtles up again!

Yes, that's all you have to do.

Okay, what should I do with this?

It's one thing if you don't think you can win.

But if you're not willing to fight,
it only pisses me off even if I win!

The champion closes in!

He puts himself within sh**ting range of the challenger's deadly punch!

Now he's infighting!

The champion's slugging him from all directions!

That is simply unbearable!

But the challenger isn't putting down his guard!

No, you can die right here for all I care.

Just make sure you work off your debt till the final round!

Daddy...

Daddy... Daddy...

Maria!

Dammit!

What a pity!

Your daughter will die if she doesn't get help.

Mr. Sakaguchi!

But you can't afford to take her to a doctor?

P-Put me in a match!

I don't care who I fight!

I will fight whoever I face heroically and brilliantly!

Heroically? Brilliantly?

No need for that.

What are you saying?

I want to find out more about this man.

And you're going to show me everything.

You're known for your toughness in the Muay Thai circuit and I've come to purchase it.

All you have to do is remain upright for the full 12 rounds, so that I can know everything about him.

Are you telling me...

to become a human sandbag?

I won't give you time to think it over. You will decide here and now.

Will you sacrifice your own life or
watch your precious daughter die?

Make your choice.

A body shot! That had to leave a mark!

I thought I was able to tough it out against any opponent!

But this is too much!

He's too strong!

The champion won't let him escape!

He's deliberately putting himself in the danger zone!

I know what that fist is saying!

“Let's slug it out and settle this fight!”

A right! The challenger's body twists around!

What an outstanding champion.

This man is a real boxer.

But as for me... as for me...

Make your choice.

I'm actually proud that I'm making money for my daughter.

But pulling punches in the ring is the most shameful thing imaginable!

Impossible! What is he trying to do?!

I choose to fight this strong champion,

and die like a true boxer!

Hey! Is he bleeding from his mouth?! Is he having that much trouble?!

You saw him take that punch? Ain't he in trouble?

He did put up a guard,

but the challenger still drew blood when he hit him.

And that was with the guard up?

You're telling me the challenger is that powerful?

No wonder you can cut the tension in the arena with a knife.

No.

The challenger has now switched into fighting mode.

Miyata-kun saw that and is now on very high alert.

That's what is making everybody so tense.

If his opponent attacks,

Miyata-kun can end this match in an instant...

with his counter.

The challenger breaks the ice!

Is he getting impatient? This is a full-frontal as*ault!

Are you stupid?

Any headlong attack against Miyata is suicidal!

It's coming!

Wow, he's quick!

The high-speed short hooks are raining from both sides!

That guy is definitely...

...a tough nut to crack.

Yeah.

Miyata may be able to pull off a counter,

but the speed of that back and forth means a slugfest is just as likely.

It's like sticking your hand inside a cyclone.

It looks just like Ippo's Dempsey Roll.

Medgoen, you're throwing more
punches than I gave you credit for.

In that case, make one of them count.

Now hit him!

Despite all those blows, he made a clean counter against one of them!

There's our counter!

The challenger's knees are buckling!

But he regains his footing!

Was it too light?

He's making another headlong attack!

The champion counters every one of those strikes!

Medgoen's movements are not that slow.

You're telling me that Miyata still sees them in slow motion?

He's strong.

I knew that all along. But...

I will be heroic and brilliant to the end!

This guy is unusually tough.

In both body and mind.

But... I will cut off your final lifeline with this next blow!

He's changed it up to a straight!

Miyata-kun is too used to seeing side punches!

Yes, we've got him!

At least one strike!

My god... he dodged that?!

He can't even touch him anymore?

Wow...

Don't give up until the end!

He's cut him down!

With his secret weapon, the Cross Counter!

Down!

One!

Two!

Three!

How pathetic.

Four!

I shouldn't have given him half the fight money upfront.

Five!

Six!

Now it's down the toilet!

Oh my gosh! He's up! What a tough fighter!

I can tell that something is keeping him in the fight.

That challenger will not bow down, not while he's still conscious.

If he saw that, he'd never let me live it down.

Weak! Weak! Weak! Weak!

But what did you expect?

It's still not perfect.

I'm thankful that you're still standing.

I'm starting to get a feel for it now.

Guess we're going to dance some more.

What a cool stare he has.

But I could tell from trading punches with him...

that his fury is raging deep within him.

You never know what will happen in a boxing match.

But nothing is happening for me.

I know all that, and recognize that death may very well await me,

but his fury is still stirring me up!

I just hope I can return to my own country and tell my daughter...

that I...

But if you tuck in your left arm,

it stretches your back muscles.

...fought heroically against a powerful champion!

Maria!

Shouldn't you be asleep?

Thanks for worrying about me, Chana.

But I'm fine.

Really?

Is... his match over?

My daddy was so excited about his first title match.

He said he'll come back as the champion.

Say, Chana...

Is the champion Ichirou Miyata strong?

You know about him, don't you?

Yeah, Ichirou is really strong.

Even now I look up to him.

I've never seen any boxer throw that kind of counter.

Sorry, Maria!

Uh-

I don't want a belt!

I just want him to come home safe.

I want him to play with me again, now that I'm healthy.

A Cross Counter! And the ref calls the match!

The challenger hits the mat after
receiving that secret weapon again!

So he walks away without taking a clean hit?

This wasn't close at all! It's like he's wolfing down another cream puff!

Wow! You can always count on Ichirou's counters!

That was certainly a Miyata-kun win,
but something was off.

Was it his timing? His punching?

I can't put my finger on it, but there's
something different about his counter.

That was terrible.

You think so?

It was too blunt, because I was thinking about it too much.

Don't sweat it.

Just take the win and go home.

Uh-oh! The challenger isn't moving at all!

There has been a massive loss of blood!

Out of the way! Let us through!

He was a stupid man all right, but at least he was useful in one way.

I discovered a flaw in Miyata's boxing.

All in all, I'd say I got a good return.

He's awake!

Put him carefully on the stretcher!

Don't talk, Medgoen!

Don't move your head!

Nothing to say to the loser?

He's a boxer to the core.

Miyata!

Xya bhae.

I heard him say something.

You know Thai, don't you?

Enough to get by.

Xya bhae.

“Don't lose.”

I have no intention of ever losing.

No matter who I fight!

Dammit! You're so awesome, Miyata!

Look at me!

You're invincible in the Oriental-Pacific!

Drop the title and take on the world!

Your next fight better be a world title match!

Yes! Go for a world title, Miyata-

Dumbass!

That'll make your chances of fighting him even slimmer!

Or don't you care about fighting him anymore?

You're right! He can't take on the world yet.

I wonder if I can go after Miyata-kun's title?

He can't take on the world?

He wants to go after Miyata?

Who's the bozo with the big mouth?

Ooh! It's Makunouchi!

That's right, there's still Makunouchi!

I wanna see a Miyata-Makunouchi fight!

We got our next matchup right here!

Makunouchi!

Makunouchi! Makunouchi! Makunouchi!

Miyata!

Miyata! Miyata! Miyata!

Of course, you must be watching somewhere out there.

Listen to those cheers.

Of course, it's the fight everybody's dreaming about.

I'm glad you're all hoping for that fight.

But I'm not the one who decides who fights.

In any case, I look forward to having that fight the most.

I'm counting on you, Dad.

Those two men have really won the hearts of this huge crowd.

They came a long way from being nameless trainees who sparred in the dark basement of that gym.

Those two will surely trade punches under the bright spotlight someday.

It will be the biggest match in the East.

And the one who survives that fight will earn the ticket.

One of them will earn the ticket to take on the world.

We will take a ten minute intermission before we start the main event,

the WBC World Middleweight Championship match!

It looks like my time has finally come.