IPPO : The Ultimate Counter

The sunlight was already filtering through the windows of the Regional gymnasium, the matches had followed one another with each time an easy victory for the fighters of Kamogawa and it was already the semi-final in the lightweight category.

Ryuu was already there, relaxed, warming up alone in a corner of the room. He seemed to be in his own world, his gloves striking with an almost supernatural precision. He was calm, too calm, a kind of dangerous serenity surrounded him. Takamura looked at him, with his usual mocking smile, tapped on the shoulders of Ippo and Miyagi, who were watching Ryuu and said with a worried look.

Takamura: "This kid, he's showing himself. Did you see how he finished his fights? You better follow, or he'll eclipse you."

Ippo: "That's... impressive, but I feel like he always underestimates the others a little..."

Takamura (laughing): "Underestimate? No. He's just above and can't find anyone capable of pushing him a little for now. But today his opponent seems different, maybe we'll have a surprise"

----

The regional gymnasium was still crowded, noisy, the excitement was palpable, especially knowing Ryuu's opponent today. They were waiting for one thing: to see another show.

Ryuu entered the ring, his piercing gaze and smirk leaving no doubt. He walked with total confidence. The audience whispered. A murmur went through the room, and a spectator commented:

Spectator 1: "Is he going to finish this easily again?"

Spectator 2: "Who knows? He's a phenomenon after all"

Spectator 3: "I don't think his opponent is Takeda Kenji even if Ryuu is talented it's going to be complicated"

Ryuu's opponent, Takeda Kenji, was a boxer of the same age known for his work and his fighting spirit, he was ranked 5th at the National level and had won his 15 fights by KO. He stood there with a hard and determined look. He stared at Ryuu, visibly annoyed by his air of superiority. When he got into the ring, he winked at the referee, ready to prove that he wasn't just a warm-up.

Takeda: "You minimize boxing too much and don't respect it."

Ryuu looked at him amused but interested by the glint of determination in his eyes.

Ryuu: "National number 5 huh! I hope you give me a good match"

Takeda: "More than that I will defeat you."

[ The gong rang. ]

It was time. From the first exchanges, Ryuu let Takeda take the initiative. Takeda tried to attack him with a series of quick jabs and powerful hooks, but Ryuu dodged each blow with difficulty but his movements remained fluid, almost like a dance. He smiled.

Ryuu (laughing slightly): "Is that all you have? I was hoping for more this time."

Takeda not paying attention to Ryuu's comments continued to attack more aggressively, but each time, Ryuu dodged with surgical precision or deflected the blows. In an instant, he caught a hook from Takeda and deflected it with a subtle dodge before quickly striking with a counter. Takeda anticipated and blocked.

Takamura (thinking): "This kid... is interesting"

Coach Kamogawa: "He's ranked 5th Nationally, it's not for nothing"

In the ring, despite Ryuu's blows and well-placed counters, Takeda always stood up, not wanting to let go or dodged and continued to advance, always trying to hit Ryuu with an iron will. In particular, on a chain he managed to land a right strike that made Ryuu retreat despite his guard.

Ryuu: "You hit hard... it makes things more interesting"

Ryuu wanted to speed up but the gong sounded and it was the end of the first round.

Spectator 1: "Wow, he managed to hold out for the first round, he's the first to do it..."

Ippo: "incredible he has great tenacity... the match will maybe be closer than expected?"

Miyata: "It's true that he has incredible tenacity, but Ryuu is only playing for now once he goes all out that's when the real match will begin"

----

Takeda's Coach: "Are you okay?"

Takeda: "He's strong... so strong that I can't even touch him properly... but I'm not going to give up that easily"

Takeda's Coach: "That's the right attitude, take advantage of his relaxation and arrogance and land a good hit"

On the other side of the ring.

Kamogawa (smiling): "It seems like you've found a worthy opponent, you'd better really go for it or accidents could happen"

Ryuu (still relaxed): "You're worrying a lot old man. The only one who can beat me is myself, this round will be the last"

The two boxers returned to the ring and the 2nd round begin.

Takeda noticed that Ryuu's gaze had changed and that his guard was more serious but did not let himself be intimidated and attacked with even more energy and motivation, but his blows only touched the air and after a missed left hook Ryuu accelerated and sent an uppercut in the chin that sent Takeda to the ground in an instant. The crowd burst into delirium.

Spectator 1: "This is what we wanted to see ... who said that Takeda had a chance already? "

The referee began to count automatically:

1,2,3 ... 5

And Takeda began to get up with difficulty his feet trembling. He held the ropes and managed to get up.

Kimura: "He has courage, he reminds me of someone" he said while staring at Ippo

Takeda got back on his feet and raised his guard showing the referee that he was ready. The fight resumed and Takeda began his assault again while gritting his teeth and thinking....

----

[ Flashback ]

Takeda's Dad: "Why do you want to stop boxing? It was your dream, right?"

Takeda: "I'm sorry Dad, they are too strong no matter how hard I try and train, I can't match them, this wall seems so big this time..."

Takeda's Dad: "HAHAHA! It seems impossible, huh?.... I understand you.... But.... Know that no matter the situation or the problem, as long as you get up and don't give up, you always have a chance. The most important thing is to keep hope"

Takeda: "Hope?..."

Takeda's Dad : "Yes, hope! It's hope that allowed me to win against stronger boxers. Do you know why?"

Takeda stared at his father expectantly.

Takeda's Dad: "BECAUSE HOPE GIVES WINGS TO THOSE WHO WANT TO REACH THE HEIGHTS, never lose that"

----

[Back to the present]

Takeda (thoughts): "Yes! I keep hope.... all this training, all this effort, all that I had to endure, I can't lose here..."

Takeda: "I'll show you that effort can equal talent"

Something seemed to awaken in him and his gaze shone. Blow after blow Takeda's sequences changed, becoming more precise, faster, with more fluidity.

Ippo: "He's getting faster, and his punches seem more fluid, what's going on?"

Takamura: "It seems like...."

Takeda's coach was shocked:

Takeda's coach (Thoughts): "Since the beginning Takeda had started boxing without much talent and thanks to his efforts he became a dangerous boxer capable of competing with the best in the country, over the course of victories his confidence had increased.

But to go further he was always missing one thing, his punches and his combinations lacked fluidity, originality, this thing that geniuses have naturally and which is exclusive to them, he was facing a wall and I felt bad for not being able to help him. I thought it was his limit, due to his talent... but today... today it seems that this limit... is he finally entering this domain reserved for geniuses?!"

"Hope... yes a hope was born, a hope capable of creating a miracle"

Commentator: "The fight is getting interesting... it looks like Takeda has reached a new level...."

Takeda's Coach: "We have a chance. Come on Takeda you can do it"

the coach said excitedly.

Takeda himself was focused and chained the blows with a new ease, filled with determination and even if Ryuu continued to block the blows he was pushed back little by little towards the ropes when suddenly...

"BAM" a left straight to the face

"BAM" a right hook

"BOOM!!!"

An uppercut of incredible power hit Takeda who fell directly to the ground without moving. The chain had been done with incredible speed and power. we could see Ryuu who was standing there and for the first time with a serious attitude.

Miyata (shocked): "I... i couldn't even see his blows completely..."

The referee didn't need to count. He raised his hands and ended the fight.

The gong rings. Takeda K.O.