However, Ippo throws in a few punches that Miyata has a hard time dodging until he uses his special move: “The Counter”. Of course, Ippo loses by KO, as Miyata is far more skilled and experienced. He chooses the most formidable opponent for him, Miyata, the same age as Ippo but a boxing prodigy and Kamogawa’s star pupil. Takamura challenges him by having Ippo spar with one of the gym members. However, this isn’t the last of Ippo’s hurdles as the gym coach, Genji Kamogawa, feels a lack of fighting spirit. Takamura invites our MC back to the boxing gym. An impressed Takamura informs Ippo that the action used in catching all the 10 leaves is called a “Jab” in boxing.

He waits for a jogging Takamura and performs the method. He trains for a whole week, even at night, and finally manages to pull off the technique.

After giving such a hard challenge, fully convinced that Ippo would fail, Takamura jogs away as he continues his roadwork. He challenges Ippo to catch 10 leaves before they fall from the tree simultaneously after only a week of training. Instead of refusing him outright, Takamura decides to give him a challenge. However, Takamura thinks that he’s taking professional boxing too lightly and hasn’t thought it through. Ippo expresses his desire to become a boxer. Takamura encourages Ippo to vent his frustration through boxing and subsequently realizes that he has a natural talent for boxing. While in the middle of a severe beating, Mamoru Takamura, a professional middleweight boxer, rescues him and takes the injured Ippo to the Kamogawa Gym. He’s constantly bullied by a group of boys led by Umezawa. Mostly because he spends most of his time helping his mother run their family chartering business. Ippo Makunouchi, a timid high school student, has a hard time making friends.

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