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In this battle of man ursus beast, Takamura proves he's a master of bear-knuckle boxing.

  • Most of the boxing matches have at least one of these. Ippo and Takamura could each fill a library all by themselves. Other boxers have their moments, too.
  • Ippo’s sparring match against Miyata. Miyata is a rookie boxer in high school like Ippo, but he holds back on his stronger punches possibly because Ippo has no boxing experience at all. Yet, when Ippo starts going on the offensive, he almost gets a hit on Miyata. Then there’s also Ippo’s endurance throughout the match. He does his best to stay on his feet, especially after Miyata stuns him by hitting his chin. Even Kamogawa is surprised by Ippo’s determination, so much that he agrees to take Ippo in as a new member.
  • In the Rookie King fight between Ippo and Sendo Ippo lands a perfect right to Sendo's temple that knocks him right out thirty seconds before the end of the third round. Sendo still manages to spend the next forty seconds pounding Ippo apart.
  • Takamura v. Mama Bear is probably one of the best fights outside of the ring in the series. The fact that it's accompanied by the rousing sound of Ultraseven No Uta only makes it that much more awesome.
  • Takamura's match after the Mama Bear incident. The word had got out around Japan that Takamura had killed a bear with his bare hands. So, when he proceeds to enter the ring with a bear skin robe on complete with claws, everyone, including the opponent, assumed that he was lying his ass off. Takamura then takes off the robe to reveal three huge claw slashes across his chest. Cue EVERYONE losing their shit. You are now freaking out. Superb.
    • The match itself may count as one as while the stunt made people think he was just a show off, Takamura proceeds to dominate the match with his non-dominant hand, and with jabs at that, effectively proving he can match his showmanship.
  • The sparring 'match' between Ippo and reigning World Featherweight Champion Ricardo Martinez is a sight to behold, with Martinez utterly destroying the Japanese Champion with one hand, even countering the Dempsey Roll with the same casual air one would have using a hole punch. And it's noted by his trainer that Martinez was training his weak hand afterwards. The only reason why Ippo didn't outright hit the canvas afterwards was because Martinez didn't want to hurt Ippo's pride by giving him a down. Overall, Martinez shows exactly why he's considered the series' World's Strongest Man.
  • Kimura actually manages to be the only opponent to frighten ''The Executioner'' Ryo Mashiba, one of the scariest boxers in the series, when he challenges him for the Junior Lightweight title.
    • To put this in perspective, Mashiba had fought the iron-jawed Ippo and Sendo before, yet maintained his ferocity. But Kimura hanging on for 6 WHOLE ROUNDS of flicker jabs and refusing to fall at the end leaves him slack-jacked and in an animalistic panic.
    • The entire title match between Mashiba and Kimura could be considered 'Kimura's Finest Hour'. Mashiba goes into the fight assuming that all he'll need is his Flicker Jabs, essentially treating Kimura as a practice run for the world stage. Instead, he ends up in arguably one of his most intense battles ever as he's driven to the aforementioned terror by Kimura's sheer determination to take the belt.
    • After a grueling beating and fighting his damn heart out, Kimura seemingly has gotten his Heroic Second Wind as he stands back to his feet despite a brutal exchange that ended in Mashiba's favor. However, just before the battle resumes, with Mashiba fully intending on taking Kimura's head, it's revealed that Kimura had fallen unconscious on his feet. It's clear however that the last exchange only barely ended in Mashiba's favor by mere inches, and Mashiba himself admits that he would have lost if the final Dragon Fish Blow connected.
      Mashiba: If I stayed as the winner, I'd only be humiliated.
  • In a flashback to Takeshi Sendo's past, he beats the living daylights out of three dozen high-school toughs by himself, earning him the label Naniwa Tiger.
  • The Featherweight Champion Fight Date Eiji vs. Ricardo Martinez: Eiji, delivering his last blow: "I'll give you as many bones as you want . . . In return, give me your life!"
  • Ippo does not trash talk for the most part, but a special mention must be made during the weigh-in with Ippo and his opponent Hammer Nao, formerly Yamada Naomichi (or "Geromichi" to Aoki, Kimura and Takamura), once a former member of Kamogawa gym and Ippo's friend and junior. When prompted for a comment, an exchange occurs with the normally reserved Ippo biting back.
    Hammer Nao: Senpai. I'll continue to call you Senpai, if you don't mind. I am grateful to you. You taught me the basics of boxing- plus you'll be giving me the belt.
    Reporter: Champion, do you have anything to say in regards to that comment.
    Ippo: Not really, I just think that his "thanks" is unnecessary.
    Fuji: Meaning...?
    Ippo: It's a fact that we have practiced together in the past, but... I never taught him how to take a belt.
  • In his fight against Bryan Hawk, Takamura snaps. This shows that Takamura is done taking the guy's abuse and is about to wreck the American.
  • Itagaki vs Saeki. Both of them first feeling each other out. Itagaki getting caught in Saeki's trap. Then this happens. Saeki can't touch Itagaki anymore. Reason: Saeki tries to read him, but Itagaki just made himself very unpredictable.
    • Saeki's composition for the rest of the fight. Out of sheer pride for his reputation as the speed star, he finally forces himself to see through Itagaki's unpredictable movements, and continues forcing his body to perform even after Itagaki killed his legs and knocked him down. doubles as a tear jerker when Saeki discovers that no matter how much he struggles, he never stood a chance from the start.
    • How the manga represents Saeki not being able to follow Itagaki's movements was really cool. One minute Saeki is forcing himself to calm down and focus on Itagaki, the next, Itagaki is gone, and Saeki can't find him before it's too late.
  • Coach Kamogawa's final match of his boxing career. He was fighting Ralph Anderson, an American Sergeant and, in the pre-World War 2 days, a World-ranked Welterweight boxer. In that fight, Kamogawa shows himself to be both the Ippo and the Takamura of his generation:
    • When the match begins, he throws such a powerful punch aimed at Anderson's ribs that although he blocks it, Anderson's arm not only goes numb, but has a visible imprint/outline of Kamogawa's fist on it.
    • The match then consists of Anderson repeatedly beating the crap out of Kamogawa again and again, but Kamogawa just keeps enduring them and getting back up over and over again, to the extent that Anderson begins to get uneasy, then comes to respect him.
    • After enduring all this, Kamogawa throws a body blow with his left fist so powerful that it shatters both his fist and Anderson's ribs completely.
    • He then repeats this with his right fist, again shattering both it and Anderson's ribs. Not only that, but he's completely sent Anderson midair, turned horizontally. The commenter "@bloodyidit4506" (in this video) puts this best:
      @bloodyidit4506: "Hitting a guy so hard that he fucking goes midair horizontal is enough to break not just your hands, but could even cause tears in ligaments in your shoulder and back from the pure burst power. Considering Kamogawa's height and overall body structure he could realistically, MAYBE do this at absolute peak condition, not just in arms, but in his legs and back and stomach, the full body works and he'd have to be fucking high off his ass on his own adrenaline. Kamogawa's training couldn't be done in the time that was shown, in that amount of time, which is acceptable for plot reasons. But this? It's possible even factoring in his opponent's weight. And the blows that Kamogawa made to crush this guy would certainly break his hands at least. At peak adrenaline, you can't even feel the pain outside of a bare feeling something's off. But an entire hand getting broken? Not sure, and not going to test it, but I can see it. Just imagine, being such an asshole that a guy decides to train so hard to break you in half in two punches. And you pissed him off so much that he's willing to break HIMSELF just to utterly destroy you. This is why it's a good idea to be polite, folks."
    • Because he's shattered both his fists, Kamogawa is no longer able to fight. But he doesn't need to, because his punches not only shattered Anderson's ribs, but caused said ribs to pierce his internal organs, leaving Anderson unable to fight, and Kamogawa the winner. A five-chaptered, three-punch fight that proves beyond any doubt that Genji Kamogawa is fucking awesome.
  • Remember Kenta Kobashi and Ryuuichi Hayami, both of whom Ippo beat back in the Rookie Kings Tournament? Well in Chapter 290, we find that both of them dropped to the Jr. Featherweight division and are now ranked nationals: Hayami first and Kobashi second, and have a title fight against each other for the Japanese Jr. Featherweight Championship Belt/Title. And in a moment that is as heartwarming as it is awesome, Kobashi won by KO.
  • Aoki's title fight against Katsutaka Imae for the Japanese Lightweight Title. Aoki proves himself to be more than the clown he is generally perceived to be in the ring. Imae even admits to himself that if you look past the ridiculous techniques, you see a veteran with a strong fighting spirit.
    • Prior to the match, Imae is studying his opponent via videos of his matches, and notes that the Frog Punch is actually an effective and powerful uppercut.
    • When Aoki's Frog Punch is countered in Round 1, he seems to have been badly hurt, leading Imae, confident that victory is near, to go all out, with Aoki only saved by a tight guard and the bell. This continues until the end of Round 4, where Imae, slightly bent over and gasping from 3 rounds of constant attacking, staggers back to his corner...... and sees Aoki walking away as though he hasn't been damaged at all. The look on Imae's face when he realises that Aoki has played him into exhausting himself while he remains relatively strong says it all.
    • Imae himself gets an impressive one when the fight begins to come to its close. He fell for Aoki's Look Away tactic twice so far, both times being completely devastating and nearly taking him out of the fight. When Aoki aims to do it a third time... it doesn't take. Why? Because behind Aoki is Sachiko, the same girl he rejected not too long ago. The sight of her drives Imae to a Heroic Second Wind, allowing him to turn the tides by countering Aoki's Frog Punch.
      Imae: I won't turn my head again! I can see what really matters now!
  • Volg's fight with Mike Elliot is perhaps the best in the series. Already placed in the worst of scenarios, with him fighting once more on foreign soil after having been away from the ring in a while, Volg finds himself completely cornered by an equally intelligent boxer for the first time in his career. Everything he does is blocked, dodged, or countered, with not even the Hien proving effective. Buckling at the knees in his own corner after a grueling 3rd round, barely able to speak, he tells Dankichi of the Japanese phrase he learnt during his time there: Yamato Damashii, or Japanese spirit. Reminded of Ippo's indomitable will during their first fight, he leaps into Elliot's chest and throws repeated body blows even as the champion's strikes land against his cyanosis-afflicted body. Finally, he reveals his ace: Tsubame Gaeshi. Hopes seem to flare as it slips through Elliot's guard, only for them to be dashed as Elliot tightens his guard and stops the White Wolf's fist. Yet, the plan comes together and an overhand White Fang slams Elliot to the mat!
    • Even the courage and ingenuity demonstrated by the above plan pales in comparison to what comes after. In a move so dirty that even mild-mannered Ippo shatters a table in rage, the ref (who was bought out) long counts and then HELPS ELLIOT TO HIS FEET. Already passing out with exhaustion, Volg thinks back to the moments that gave him strength. His fights with Ippo and Sendo. His time with his old trainer. And finally, his mother's words of encouragement, to go be whatever he dreams of becoming. The ambition that drove him to train in the Russian winter despite the death of his mother unshackle Volg for the first time in the match, releasing such intense pressure that the champion (who truly was unconscious from the last hit and unaware of the underhanded tactics from his corner) view Volg not as a man, but as the White Wolf. The two hammer each other in repeated exchanges, with Volg's drive stopping Dankichi even as the trainer reaches for the towel to preserve his fighter's future. Finally, after throwing repeated White Fang's and a Tsubame Gaeshi, a last exchange slumps Volg through the ropes, almost sening him tumbling out of the ring. He turns around...and he sees Elliot facedown on the mat.
    • Props to both Eagle and the honorable cornerman for Elliot. Eagle proves his honor by being outraged by the obvious attempt to screw over Volg, not only calling for the referee's actions to be called into quesiton but for his friend Elliot to retain his honor and forfeit the match. The cornerman, on the other hand, is the one who ends the fight, going as far as punching the corrupt trainer who had paid the ref.
  • Sendo Vs. Nargo. Sendo is fighting for the first time against someone who isn't cracking under the pressure of his intimidating presence, Sendo figures its because his opponent has fought someone stronger then him. His opponent is Mexican so Sendo quickly figures out that someone is none other than Ricardo Martinez. Sendo's response?
  • Ippo's comeback after being expelled one month of the gym by the coach, due to the possibility of being punch drunken. To sum it, he spent all that time moving VERY slowly for everything while using angle/wrists weights, as a result, he gained more balance on his entire body being able to regain it no matter how off balance he gets and keep throwing punches, changing pivot legs and pressing forward, A.K.A THE new Dempsey Roll.
  • Pretty much everything Ippo has done so far in his return match, against the new Filipino Champion, Antonio Guevara. To highlight some spots after all his training with the weights he can now dash at superhuman speeds, considerably hurt a champion in only two hits and of course, leave a strong impression on Mashiba, Sendo and Miyata all at once when he gets to show off part of the New Dempsey Roll.
    • To put this in perspective, the man Ippo is fighting beat Malcom Gedoh, "The Magician" (without him throwing the fight), who gave Ippo a serious amount of trouble when they fought. Cut to now, where Ippo is handily winning against Guevara, which shows how far Ippo has improved.
    • Unfortunately, Ippo's fortune does not last, and he falls before he can deliver the new Dempsey Roll, with one final punch by Guevara knocking him down for a third and final time.
  • Mashiba fights Iga, who uses a combination of Ippo's, Kimura's, and Sawamura's strategies to try and get Mashiba to either lose legitimately or by foul play (the latter option meaning disqualification after being caught playing foul twice before). It doesn't work as Mashiba has become stronger and overcome his previous weaknesses. It also shows significant Character Development on Mashiba's side, as he realizes that he's no longer the foul fighter that he used to be.
    Mashiba: I'll teach you. I'll carve it in your body. [...] Who am I? I'm a boxer! The only thing I can teach you... the only thing I can carve into you... is how much it hurts to take my punches.
    [cue referee stopping the fight and declaring Mashiba the winner]
  • Takamura reminds us of a phrase mentioned early in the series in his final Middleweight World Title Match: He who rules with his left rules the world.
  • Chapter 1274 ends with the unthinkable: Ricardo Martinez, the Super champion who has never been defeated or even knocked down, has been knocked down in a spar with Sendo.
    • Some people would be inclined to believe that it doesn't matter because it was a spar. It bears repeating with what Alfredo Gonzales mentions before this moment: Ricardo has never been knocked down. Not even in a spar. Alfredo was on his way to the gym where Ricardo was sparring with the intent to try to pull this off, and as the number 2 world-ranked featherweight boxer he was simply hoping to get close to knocking him down so Ricardo would take his challenge seriously, not even expecting to actually knock him down. Once Alfredo arrived, he walks in on Sendo, the number 3 world-ranked featherweight boxer that he was ignoring challenges from, pulling off the once-impossible feat.
    • Ricardo stops Sendo and Alfredo from getting in the ring and proposes that the two have an official match. He promises to box the winner. The two accept, both wanting to win and get a chance to box Ricardo in an official match.
  • The Sendo vs Alfredo match is one that can go either way. It first seems that Alfredo will win easily, but Sendo's determination and raw power are enough to keep things even.
    • Ultimately, Sendo's determination and raw power win him the match, if just barely. One thing is for certain: he has proven himself to have surpassed Ippo in this regard, beating Alfredo by withstanding the same kind of counter that caused Ippo's defeat and following up with a finishing blow to win the match.
  • When Ippo and Sendo go to Mexico to support Volg and Wolly for their respective title matches, the former is volunteered for sparring with Volg. Ippo shows in the spar that not only has he not gotten rusty, he's actually gotten stronger, faster, and more skilled. He's only prevented from bringing out the True Dempsey Roll by Sendo interrupting him due to not wanting to risk Volg getting injured before his match.
    • And he doesn't manage that much either. During the spar, Ippo get carried away a little and lands a really nasty body blow on Volg. How nasty? Apparently there was enough force behind that blow that Volg feels a sharp pain in his side whenever he throws a right, during his title match, several days after the spar. Also awesome for Volg for managing to still win in fairly short order despite that handicap.
  • Woli vs. Ricardo Martinez shows that even the undefeated super champion is unable to predict what Woli will do next, as he is forced to put up a guard for the first couple of rounds. Just when Ricardo thinks he can begin a counter attack, Woli brings out a new trick to bewilder the champion.
    • Ricardo then shows why he is the super champion by spending four rounds analyzing Woli's movements and using what he's learned to bring him down near effortlessly.
  • When Mashiba finds that he can't find a proper sparring partner to prepare for his World Title match against Marcus Rosario, Ippo steps up to help him out. The spar reveals that not only has Ippo not gotten rusty, but he's gotten even better as a boxer, enough to push Mashiba to his limits.
    • Even more impressive is the fact that Ippo has taught himself how to box as a southpaw to better imitate Rosario. Mashiba's coach even compliments Ippo, saying that he's become a perfect copy of Rosario.
    • After going seven rounds, Ippo just gets up and goes home, astonishing Mashiba who thought he knocked Ippo out with his final punch.

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