Ippo : The Fists of Renewal

Before the two boxers met in the ring, the Kamogawa boxing gym was buzzing with excitement. Everyone had high expectations for the upcoming fight, but the discussions were anything but serious.

Takamura, in a teasing mood, approached Aoki and Kimura, who were sitting aside, watching the two young boxers warm up.

"So, who are you betting on?" Takamura asked with a mischievous spark in his eyes.

Aoki rubbed his chin, looking thoughtful.

"Miyata, of course. His technique is too refined. The guy is a machine."

Kimura nodded in agreement and added,

"Yeah, no doubt. The guy is lightning-fast. I can see him dominating Ryoji in the ring."

Takamura, knowing that the two were a bit too confident, smirked.

"Hah, are you sure? You haven't seen how much Ryoji has improved. He's almost as fast as Miyata but with more power!"

Aoki rolled his eyes, an amused smile on his face.

"Come on, Takamura, you're talking like it's already decided."

Kimura, clearly teasing, added,

"Yeah, it's like you're betting on him just to mess with us."

Takamura shrugged, looking confident.

"I know what I see, guys. Ryoji might just surprise you."

The three of them burst into laughter, but the excitement in the air was undeniable. The tension was building, and everyone knew this fight would be more than just a display of strength.

[ The Beginning of the Fight ]

The gym's bells rang, and Ryoji and Miyata found themselves face-to-face in the ring.

Miyata, with a determined look, got into position, ready to exploit every mistake his opponent made. On the other side, Ryoji, more focused than ever, observed Miyata carefully, waiting for the perfect moment to act.

The first round began under immense tension, and the two boxers launched into a fierce exchange. Ryoji and Miyata struck with impressive precision. Each punch echoed in the air, and the gym was filled with the sound of gloves hitting flesh.

Ryoji went on the offensive, his punches packed with power, while Miyata dodged and counterattacked with flawless footwork. It was a clash of styles: raw power versus pure technique.

But as the round progressed, Takamura noticed something strange. Despite his strength, Ryoji seemed to be holding back. He wasn't unleashing his punches as he usually did. There was something in him, something restraining his full potential.

The round continued, with both fighters exchanging blow for blow, but Takamura knew that Ryoji had more to offer. He could feel it.

Then, in the final seconds of the round, a decisive moment occurred. Ryoji perfectly dodged a punch from Miyata and was about to counter, but just as he moved, a sudden image flashed through his mind. It was a familiar face—the face of an opponent he had beaten back in high school, someone who had pushed him to his limits and made him lose control.

Ryoji hesitated. That hesitation, brief as it was, gave Miyata the opportunity he had been waiting for. He delivered a precise punch that sent Ryoji to the canvas.

The referee began the countdown:

"One… two… three…"

Gritting his teeth, Ryoji slowly pushed himself up. He had been knocked down, but he wasn't going to stay down. He got back on his feet before the count reached ten, just as the bell signaled the end of the first round.

Takamura watched from his corner, his brows furrowed. He knew there was more to Ryoji.

----

During the break, Takamura walked over to Ryoji, who was in his corner, out of breath but determined.

"What the hell was that? Why are you holding back?!" Takamura asked, frustrated.

Ryoji, sweating, looked down, hesitating.

"I… I don't want to go back to my old ways. I… I've worked hard to change."

Seeing the depth behind Ryoji's words, Takamura's expression became more serious.

"You're wrong. Holding back is disrespecting Miyata, but more importantly, disrespecting boxing itself. Boxing is what helped you change, what made you who you are now."

He took a deep breath before continuing, his tone lighter.

"You're overthinking it… and anyway, if you lose control, I'll be there to kick your ass back in line. But don't hold back, got it? Give it everything you've got. Otherwise, all of this will mean nothing."

Ryoji nodded, his gaze now sharper. He was ready to change his approach.

"Ring!"

The bell rang, signaling the start of the second round. Ryoji stood up with renewed determination. On the other side, Miyata watched him carefully, already sensing the change in the air. He immediately noticed Ryoji's eyes. They weren't the same anymore. His stance was different, more confident.

Takamura grinned as he watched. He knew the real fight was about to begin.

The two boxers met again at the center of the ring. This time, Ryoji wasn't going to hold back.

The real fight had just begun…

---

The tension has reached its peak. Which boxer will take the advantage? The next stage of the fight promises to be epic.