Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

A week had passed since Alex Makunouchi secured the Japan Lightweight Championship, and life had begun to settle into a rhythm again. His championship belt now rested in a glass display case in the Makunouchi household, gleaming under the light—a constant reminder of his hard-fought victory.

This morning, Alex was at the Kamogawa Gym, seated across from Coach Kamogawa in the small office that smelled faintly of sweat and old leather. The conversation between them had taken a serious turn.

"I sent out the challenge letters," Kamogawa said, adjusting his glasses. "One to the WBC Lightweight Champion, Marcus Rosario, and another to the WBA Lightweight Champion, Juan Nazario."

Alex leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Any news from their teams, Coach?"

Kamogawa let out a sigh. "Not from Nazario's camp yet. But as for Rosario, his team responded—they won't entertain the challenge for now. He's already scheduled to defend his title."

"Against who?" Alex asked, his voice tinged with disappointment but still curious.

"The number one contender," Kamogawa replied. "Freddie Pendleton."

Alex sighed, leaning back in his chair. "So Marcus Rosario is defending his title against Pendleton…" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"It's set for March 17," Kamogawa added.

There was a brief pause before Alex looked up, determination in his eyes. "Coach," he said firmly, "can I be the backup fighter for that bout? Can you arrange it?"

Kamogawa's brow furrowed. "Backup fighter?" he repeated. "Alex, that's a huge risk, especially on short notice. If either fighter pulls out, you'd have to step in with almost no preparation. And we're talking about the WBC champion here—not just any opponent. You might want to think carefully about this."

Alex appeared to be lost in thought, his gaze distant. Kamogawa assumed he was weighing the pros and cons of such a decision.

But in reality, Alex was consulting his system. His mental display flickered into view,

showcasing his progress and stats:

Name: Alex Makunouchi

Age: 18

Height: 5'9"

Weight:

In-Ring: 61 kgOff-Ring: ~70 kgWingspan: 74 inches

Template: Gaolang Wongsawat

Template Progress: 58%

Skills Unlocked:Philly Shell: ✔

SuperfastJab:✔

Stats

:Strength: 70/100

Speed: 72/100

Agility: 74/100

Durability: 78/100

Stamina: 70/100

Crazy Mode: Not Unlocked (Requires 60% Template Progress)

Rankings: Japan Lightweight Champion

Alex studied the data, noting the incremental improvements:

Wingspan: Increased by 2 inches.

Strength: Improved by 10%.

Speed: Gained 5%.

Agility: Up by 7%.

Durability: Boosted by 8%.

Stamina: Increased by 5%

.He frowned slightly. The progress was slower now, each percentage point harder to gain than the last. "The higher the number," he muttered under his breath, "the slower it gets…"

Shaking the thought away, he returned his attention to the present.

"I'm ready," Alex said with a steady gaze. "I want to become the backup fighter for that bout."

Kamogawa stared at him for a long moment, searching for any sign of doubt in his young protégé. But all he saw was determination.

Finally, the coach sighed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "It seems like you've made up your mind," he said. "If that's the case, I'll do what I can to secure the backup position for you."

Alex smiled, a confident glint in his eye. "Thanks, Coach. I won't let you down."

Kamogawa gave a gruff chuckle. "Don't thank me yet. You're stepping into a whole new level, kid. If this happens, you'll need to be ready for the fight of your life."

"I'm always ready," Alex said with conviction.

As Kamogawa began making phone calls to arrange Alex's potential role as a backup fighter, the young champion sat back, already visualizing what it would be like to face Marcus Rosario. This was his chance to prove he wasn't just a national champion—he was ready to take on the world.

To be continued…

Note: don't worry about the backup fighter think, i wknt rushed it.