DING!
The second round began with an electric atmosphere that seemed to crackle through Kōrakuen Hall. The crowd was on its feet, sensing they were about to witness the climactic moments of what had already become an unforgettable fight.
Ozuma came out of his corner with desperate aggression, throwing everything he had left in a last-ditch effort to turn the tide. But the moment he stepped within range, it became clear that the fight was already over.
WHOOSH!
His opening right hook, the same punch that had dropped Ippo in the first round, now missed by nearly a foot. Ippo's head movement was so clean it looked effortless, as if he were dancing around the punch rather than desperately avoiding it.
"Impossible," Ozuma thought, his eyes widening in disbelief. "That's the exact same hook that put him down! How is he making it look so easy to avoid?"
Ippo's response was immediate and devastating. The moment Ozuma's hook missed, Ippo stepped inside the arc of the punch and drove a short, brutal uppercut into the American's solar plexus.
THUD!
The sound of the impact echoed through the arena as Ozuma's body folded around the punch.
But as the pain radiated through his midsection, something unexpected happened to Jason Ozuma. The agony triggered a flood of memories—faces of the people who had believed in him, who had supported his journey to Japan.
Flash.
Coach Martinez at the base gym, working with him after hours: "You've got real talent, Ozuma. Don't waste it."
Flash.
His fellow soldiers, pooling their money to help pay for his tournament entry fees: "Bring home a medal, Jason. Make us proud."
Flash.
The letter from his younger sister back home: "I tell everyone at school that my big brother is going to be a champion boxer. Don't make me a liar!"
Flash.
The old Japanese man at the Nerima Boxing Club who had bowed respectfully after their first training session: "You have good spirit, Ozuma-kun. Boxing needs fighters with honor."
All these faces, all these people who believed in him, who had invested their hopes and dreams in his success. The weight of their expectations had driven him through every training session, every sparring match, every moment of doubt.
"I can't let them down," Ozuma thought desperately, the images of his supporters giving him strength even as his body screamed in pain. "They're all counting on me!"
But even as his mind filled with determination, his body was betraying him. The accumulated damage from Ippo's body attack had taken its toll, and he could feel his strength ebbing away like water from a broken dam.
His mouth flew open, a strangled gasp escaping as the air rushed from his lungs.
"BODY SHOT!" Takamura roared from the audience. "That's it! He's done!"
But Ozuma, drawing on the heart that had carried him through three previous knockout victories, somehow managed to stay on his feet. He staggered backward, his guard instinctively dropping to protect his midsection.
That was exactly what Ippo had been waiting for.
"Guard down. Chin exposed. Target acquired," Ippo thought
He feinted another body shot, causing Ozuma to drop his hands even lower, then exploded upward with his signature uppercut.
CRACK!
The punch caught Ozuma flush under the chin with the force of a sledgehammer. His head snapped back violently, his eyes rolling back as consciousness fled his body like air from a punctured balloon.
Ozuma's legs went completely limp, and he crashed to the canvas like a felled tree, his body hitting the mat with a sickening thud that silenced the entire arena.
THUD!
The referee immediately stepped in, but one look at Ozuma's unconscious form told him everything he needed to know. There was no point in counting—the American fighter was completely out.
"It's over!" the referee announced, waving his arms frantically. "Knockout! Winner by knockout... IPPO 'THE HERO' MAKUNOUCHI!"
The arena erupted in deafening cheers as Ippo stood over his fallen opponent, his chest rising and falling with controlled breathing. For a moment, he simply stood there, processing what had just happened.
Then, slowly, deliberately, Ippo raised his right hand into the air—not a dramatic celebration, but a simple, quiet acknowledgment of victory. The single raised fist was understated yet powerful, perfectly embodying the humble hero who had just announced himself to the boxing world.
The crowd's roar grew even louder at the gesture, understanding instinctively that they had witnessed the birth of something special.
-----
In the immediate aftermath, medical personnel rushed into the ring to attend to Ozuma, who was slowly regaining consciousness but remained dazed and confused. The doctor checked his pupils, tested his reflexes, and spoke to him in low, reassuring tones.
"Can you tell me your name?" the doctor asked.
"Jason... Jason Ozuma," came the groggy reply.
"Do you know where you are?"
"Kōrakuen Hall... fighting... the tournament..." Ozuma's voice was thick, but his answers were coherent.
As the medical team helped him to his feet, Ozuma's eyes found Ippo across the ring. Despite the devastating loss, there was no anger or resentment in his gaze—only respect.
"That was incredible," Ozuma said, his voice still slightly slurred but sincere. "I've never been outclassed like that. You're the real deal, Makunouchi."
Ippo bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the fight, Ozuma-san. You pushed me to become better."
The American fighter managed a weak smile. "Good luck in the next round. Win this whole thing, okay?"
The sportsmanship between the two fighters drew appreciative applause from the crowd, but the real celebrations were just beginning.
----
In the Kamogawa corner, the atmosphere was electric. Yagi was practically bouncing with excitement, while Kamogawa allowed himself a rare smile of satisfaction.
"How do you feel?" the coach asked as he checked Ippo for any signs of damage.
"Good, Coach. Really good," Ippo replied, the analytical coldness from between rounds replaced by his usual humble demeanor. "Though I think I need to work on that Frazier Torque. The windup was too obvious."
"We'll refine it," Kamogawa assured him. "But for now, you've proven something important—you can adapt and overcome even when things go wrong."
Takamura vaulted into the ring, his face beaming with pride. "Kid, that was beautiful! You turned getting knocked down into a complete dismantling of your opponent!"
"The way you figured out his patterns," Aoki added, climbing through the ropes, "it was like watching a chess master at work!"
Kimura nodded approvingly. "And that final combination—body shot to set up the uppercut. Textbook finishing."
From his position at ringside, reporter Fujii was scribbling notes for what he already knew would be a feature article.
"Incredible," he muttered to his photographer. "I've covered boxing for fifteen years, and I've never seen a rookie show that kind of adaptability. The way he analyzed his opponent mid-fight, then executed a perfect game plan... that's amazing."
"You think he can win the whole tournament?" the photographer asked.
"After what I just witnessed? I think this kid might be something special. Very special."
Throughout the arena, other fighters and trainers were having similar conversations. Word would spread quickly through the boxing community about the rookie who had shown the ability to evolve during a fight.
---
In the crowd, Umezawa and his friends were practically hysterical with excitement.
"Did you see that?!" Umezawa shouted, his voice hoarse from screaming. "Ippo just destroyed that guy! One minute he was getting knocked down, the next minute he was picking the American apart like he'd been studying him for months!"
"That uppercut at the end," Takemura added, shaking his head in amazement. "I felt that from here. That guy's not waking up anytime soon."
"I can't believe we used to pick on him," Matsuda said quietly. "Look at him now. He's like a completely different person."
The three former bullies watched as Ippo was interviewed by several reporters, his humble responses a stark contrast to the devastating fighter they'd just witnessed in the ring.
As the post-fight interviews concluded and the ring was cleared for the next bout, Ippo made his way toward the locker room. The adrenaline was finally wearing off, replaced by a quiet satisfaction at having overcome such a dangerous opponent.
---
In the crowd, fans were already talking about what they'd witnessed, and several amateur boxers from other gyms were looking at Ippo with new respect. Word would spread quickly through the boxing community about the rookie who had shown the ability to evolve during a fight.
Later that evening, back at the Kamogawa Gym, the celebration was in full swing. Despite the late hour, the entire gym family had gathered to toast Ippo's victory.
"To our tournament fighter!" Yagi announced, raising his beer. "May this be the first of many victories!"
"To Ippo the Hero!" the group responded in unison.
As the night wore on, stories were shared, techniques analyzed, and plans made for the next round. But through it all, Ippo remained thoughtful, his mind already turning toward future challenges.
"What are you thinking about?" Kamogawa asked, noticing his fighter's contemplative mood.
"Just wondering what comes next," Ippo replied. "This tournament... it feels like the beginning of something bigger."
"It is," the coach said seriously. "You've shown tonight that you have the ability to evolve during a fight. That's a rare gift, and it's going to take you far. But remember—every opponent from here on out will be studying your victory tonight. They'll be preparing specifically for you."
Ippo nodded. "I understand, Coach. I'll keep getting stronger."
As the celebration continued around him, Ippo reflected on how far he'd come. From the bullied fish boy under the bridge to "Ippo the Hero," knockout artist and tournament contender.
Through Yuto's template, he could feel the proud spirit of another fighter who had used his strength to protect others. But the victories, the growth, the determination—those were all his own.
The Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tournament was just beginning, and Ippo Makunouchi was ready for whatever came next.
[TEMPLATE STATUS UPDATE]Name: Ippo Makunouchi
Age: 16
Height: 164 cm
Weight: 55 kg
Template: Takeda Yuto "THE HERO"
Unlock Percentage: 52%
Recent Growth: Combat adaptation, analytical fighting development, execution under pressure