Blind Step Arc

Blind Step Arc
Information
Volumes	95-97, (3 Volumes)
Manga Rounds	913-941, (29 Chapters)
Chronology
Previous	Chronos Arc
Next	Speed Zone Arc

The Blind Step Arc is the fortieth story arc in the series and the second in the World Contender Saga.

After Ippo defeated three Asian national champions, his world ranking rose drastically, so it may be time for him to relinquish the national belt and move towards the world. Ippo has a JBC title defence coming up before the main event of Takamura's fourth WBC middleweight title defence against Peter Rabbitson. Ippo's last challenger, Hisato Kojima, who is from three weight classes above dropped down just to face Ippo in his best possible form. Kojima shows a different side than expected, as he heavily insults Ippo and even Kamogawa to the point where even Ippo doesn't hold his anger back. Kojima's reason for his rude behaviour is to get Ippo's fullest potential, which in the end it is revealed that he wants to help him in a certain way before Ippo climbs to greater heights.

Summary

A Minor Misunderstanding

Kimura and Chie at the Nermina Park.

While being celebrated for his win by his shopping district, Kimura notices that Chie is down, which Kimura learns from her mother that her father is still in the hospital. Kimura offers Chie to go somewhere fun with him. Kimura invites Aoki, Ippo, and Itagaki to his house to celebrate their victories. After talking about women and Aoki thinking Kimura is a lolicon due to him having an anime figure from a magical girl series, Kimura reveals that he has a girlfriend and gives Aoki, Ippo, and Itagaki extra tickets to an amusement park that he is taking his girlfriend to. While Ippo thinks Kimura is telling the truth, Itagaki and Aoki knows that Kimura is lying and Aoki thinks Kimura is possibly an anime-loving paedophile. Wanting to use his tickets, Itagaki contacts Mari to take her to the Nermina Park for a date. When they arrive to the park, Itagaki unintentionally insults her by calling each other runner-ups and fellow rejects, and is the only one enjoying the rides at the attractions. After taking a break from the rides, Itagaki is interviewed by Mari about his match with Karasawa, being asked how he was able to disappear from Karasawa's sights in the second round. Itagaki explains how his senses accelerate when he gets focused, and he can see every twitch their muscle makes and every breath they take, being able to do feints as he can also see their eyes move. He is asked if he was purposely trying to beat Ippo's time against Karasawa and if he thinks he has caught up to Ippo. Itagaki comments that there is no way he caught up to him and his match with Karasawa reminded him how great Ippo is. Itagaki then sees Ippo with Kumi, and Aoki with Tomiko, and goes sit with them. When Aoki brings up that Kimura might be a paedophile, Tomiko suggests to call Kimura and reveal everyone to his girlfriend. As Aoki calls Kimura to show them his girlfriend, Kimura is near the group, and not knowing they're there, he tells Aoki that he is at the park and will show his girlfriend another time. As Aoki and the others sees Kimura with a little girl, Aoki calls the cops and has Kimura arrested.

Ippo and Itagaki picking up Kimura at the police station.

Since Chie's mother explained to the authorities that Kimura took Chie to the park since she was sad, Kimura was allowed to leave the police station. Kimura is walked home with Ippo and Itagaki as he vents about Aoki and expresses how he needs to answer the hopes of his shopping district by winning the Class A Tournament, while Itagaki wants to win as well for his goal. At the Kamogawa, Kimura tries to attack Aoki for getting him in trouble until Aoki calms him down by offering him a date with one out of three of Tomiko's friends after the Class A Tournament. Later, while doing roadwork, Itagaki realises that the photos of Tomiko's friends Aoki showed Kimura to pick out were just pictures of pin-up models that Aoki bought. Itagaki sees Kimura being excited, and his energy is making Aoki excited, so it is like lies giving birth to more lies. Itagaki thinks that the forecast after the tournament is a strong chance for a rain of blood.

Hisato Kojima

Kamogawa revealing Ippo's eighth JBC featherweight title defence.

Later at the Kamogawa gym, while Takamura is still away from the gym, Kamogawa informs Ippo, Aoki, Kimura, and Itagaki that Takamura has another WBC world title defence coming up, and Ippo has another JBC featherweight title defence as well. Kamogawa reveals that Ippo's opponent is non-ranked, which Yagi explains that he was ranked eighth as a lightweight and then moved down to featherweight and just fought, so his featherweight ranking should come out soon. As his name is revealed to be Hisato Kojima, Aoki remembers him as someone during his Rookie King days and was beaten in a spar before by him until Aoki used his legs, making him be of no challenge to him. Ippo realises that he will be colliding heads against someone two weight classes above him. At the Game Play Game, Kojima gains the highest score on the punching machine. After walking out with two of his kōhai, Kojima mentions to the two how he believes that he is the only one in Japan that can stand a chance of defeating Ippo as he knows the mistake that his previous opponents made against him. Kojima wishes to accomplish something impressive as a boxer, and it has to be against Ippo. Later, Kamogawa, Yagi, and Shinoda gives the gym members an overview of the upcoming matches, with Takamura's fourth WBC middleweight title defence match and Ippo's eighth JBC featherweight title defence match in October and in November it will be the Class A Tournament finals.

Miyata talking to Kojima about him fighting Ippo.

While doing roadwork with Aoki, Kimura, and Itagaki, Ippo wonders why Kojima would go two weight classes down to fight him, Kimura mentions that Kojima is looking down on him, thinking that his toughness and power from the lightweights would let him handle Ippo easily. Aoki gives his prediction that, despite knowing how strong Kojima is, Ippo will win. At the Kawahara gym, Miyata and Kojima spar against each other. The spar geta stopped by Kojima's coach as he doesn't want Kojima to get hurt anymore in the one-sided spar. After Kojima thanks Miyata, Miyata criticises how slow he was to keep up with him, commenting that he is underestimating Ippo. Kojima figures that Ippo will just stand right in front of him, however, Miyata notes how he is wrong to think he could win in a slugfest because of his bigger body, as Ippo will land two or three punches before he lands one, and his only chance of winning is in the early rounds when he has his strength and stamina, where landing a strong body blow on Ippo will give him the stamina advantage. Before Kojima leaves, he asks Miyata what will happen if he lands the body blow, however, Miyata can't answer, leading Kojima to claim that Miyata would make the same mistake as Sendō and the other fighters. His father wonders what Kojima means, but Miyata doesn't know, and mentions that it has nothing to do with him anymore anyway. Walking away from the Kawahara gym, he is asked by his coach if he knows how he will hit Ippo, since he is fast in his own way, to which Kojima answers that he picked Ippo for a good reason.

Provocation

Ippo meeting Kojima.

Ippo begins training to thicken his neck to absorb the shock from the lightweight's punches and building stamina to not lose out from getting pushed by another body. When he overhears that Itagaki is going to the Kōrakuen Hall to see who he would be fighting next between Makoto and Saeki, Ippo goes with him and Aoki. They arrive during the opener fights and notices Kojima cheering loudly for a junior of his. Ippo feels Kojima is a good person and proceeds to request a handshake before Kojima stops him to ask for their fight to consist of Ippo stopping and exchange blows with him. Ippo answers that that is all he can do, which Kojima replies that he will win then.

Ippo after hearing Kojima bad mouth his previous opponents.

Kojima begins provoking Ippo about how his punches will break him, however, Ippo thinks Kojima is still a nice guy and provocations are common before a match. When Kojima claims that Ippo's previous opponents were crappy boxers, hacks, and jokers, Ippo asks him why he would say that, as he believes them to be good boxers. After Kojima's further provocations, Ippo walks away, telling him that he will see him in the ring, going home without seeing Saeki and Makoto's match. Itagaki yells at Aoki, who agreed to sign an autograph for him since he is a fan of Aoki's, for not attacking Kojima for what he said to Ippo as he stayed to watch Saeki win against Makoto by knockout in the fifth round. The next day, while doing roadwork, Ippo learns that Saeki won the match from Itagaki, and Ippo expresses how he is disappointed in Kojima since he thought he was a nice person. Itagaki notices that Ippo isn't mad at Kojima for what he said, which makes Itagaki tell him that he would be mad if someone made a fool out of the opponents he fought like Kojima did him.

Mari interviewing Oda.

At the Monthly Boxing Fan, Fujii and the staff talk about how Kojima seems to have a grudge against Ippo and how the editorial department will get others interested in Ippo and Kojima's match. Fujii predicts that Ippo won't slip up against Kojima and that Ippo will train in anticipation of Kojima being bigger than he is, since he has already fought Oda, who came from the lightweight class just like Kojima. Mari realises their talking about a fighter who she hasn't seen Ippo fight, asking them what gym he is from. Mari goes to the Nishikawa gym. She asks the Nishikawa coach, Mikami for the boxer, Oda, however, Mikami reveals to her that Oda has retired after fighting Ippo due to his condition. Mikami calls Oda over to Mari since he became a trainer for the gym. Mari is shocked by his overweight appearance due to the photo she has of him was when he was a boxer. Mari goes with Oda to the Soehiro to interview him. During the interview, Mari learns that Oda felt motivated after his match with Ippo, however, he thought that he didn't have what it takes to compete with monsters like Ippo and retired. Since Oda knows about Kojima, Mari wants to hear details about him from Oda. She is surprised after learning about Kojima not being able to use his right fist because he broke it twice due to his punches being too powerful, resulting in him relying on his left to climb up the JBC rankings, and that Kojima is a huge fan of Ippo. She wonders why Kojima would provoke Ippo when he has a handicap and is a fan.

Later, Umezawa visits Ippo and Itagaki at Ippo's home, and first discusses about manga. Umezawa has Ippo read the latest Boxing Fan magazine issue that has Takamura's title defence announcement and Kojima has a section claiming to know Ippo's weakness and also mocked Ippo's previous fighters. After Ippo read it, Umezawa tells Ippo that it is alright to get angry this time since Kojima made a fool of everyone Ippo has fought in a public forum, however, Umezawa figures that he isn't the type to get mad, suggesting to give him a punch that makes him see hell instead. Itagaki suggests that Ippo should cancel the match if he doesn't get into the spirit so that he could fight him, however, Ippo expresses that it is his responsibility as Kojima talks a little too much. At the Monthly Boxing Fan, after Mari found out that Fujii interviewed Kojima, Mari complains to Fujii about how he should have brought her with him when he interviewed Kojima and criticises him for letting Kojima get away with snide remarks. Fujii is interested on Kojima's comment about knowing Ippo's weakness.

At the Kawahara gym, Miyata overhears his gym mates talking about Ippo's upcoming title defence against Kojima, who claims to know about Ippo's weakness. Miyata tells them that he will reveal the one weakness he noticed in Ippo. After noting Ippo's power and speed, he explains how he has a strategy to go against him rather than him having a weakness. Miyata reveals how Ippo is dedicated to always step forward and fight it out. He explains how the chance to go against Ippo is when he charges forward, however, one will need incredible concentration and courage to pull off a counter that will overcome Ippo's durability. After his explanation, his father asks if the strategy can be pulled off, which Miyata confirms that he can do it. His father mentions that Kojima may pull it off if he has a similar plan, however, Miyata believes that Kojima can not pull it off and that he is inexperienced with counters, which would make him risk his boxing career if he throws one. At his house, Kojima watches videos of Ippo's matches, knowing now what his punches will be since it is the same every time. When he notices his wife, Aki looking worried about him fighting Ippo, he reassures her that he will be fine, believing that he will overcome Ippo no matter what training he does.

Takamura's advice to Ippo before his match against Kojima.

While Ippo is running with Itagaki, Aoki, and Kimura, they spot Takamura next to a campfire. After having pranked everyone, especially Aoki, by having the fire throw chestnut with burs fly out in a "Igakuri" pun, Takamura advises Ippo to remember the faces of his previous opponents every time he gets hit by Kojima, and to fight like a champion since he isn't just about him this time. That night, he remembers Takamura's words of fighting like a champion, realising the fight isn't just about him this time. At the Kamogawa gym, after hearing Kamogawa's advice to keep Takamura's words in mind but still fight like a challenger and fight according to his boxing style, Ippo decides that he will fight using his usual boxing. While doing roadwork with Ippo, Itagaki sees Ippo being easygoing and planning to use Takamura and Kamogawa's advice combined when he fights Kojima, which leaves Itagaki irritated, as he was looking forward to seeing Ippo's unknown wild side.

Ippo, angry after hearing Kojima insult Kamogawa.

Kojima goes to the Bōsō Jumbo for his training camp, going with two of his kōhai. There, he focuses on his weight management by running and going to the sauna until he makes the weight. At the Kamogawa gym, Takamura observes and explains to Aoki, Kimura, and Itagaki how Ippo's training while standing on his big toes will lead him to have stronger legs and better weight shifting. At a sauna, Kojima thinks of how he has been taunting Ippo, who he idolises to intensify the match that he wants to engrave to his body. When it is time for Kojima's coach to pick him up, he couldn't find him outside, so he rushed to the sauna and finds Kojima passed out on the floor. The day of the weigh-in arrives for Ippo and Takamura's matches. At the Roigal Hotel, Ippo is not worried about what Kojima might say to him as he has faith in Kamogawa's advice and his training. Ippo goes to his weigh-in first with Itagaki, Kamogawa, and Yagi. At the weigh-in, while Ippo was in good shape, Kojima's body looked frail. The press then asks for a comment, which Ippo tells them that he will do what he was trained to do and work hard. Kojima mocks Ippo's comment and then claims that the weakness he knows Ippo has is the fault of his trainer, Kamogawa. The provocations makes Ippo visibly angry. As Ippo walks away, Kojima claims that arcade games measure his punching power as two tons. When the press asks for Ippo's score, Ippo replies for them to ask Kojima after their match. Takamura and Rabbitson's press conferences begins, and, when it is Takamura's turn to speak, he ends up causing a scene by flipping the table over when he learns that Ippo left to eat without him.

Operation World Domination II - Semi-Final - JBC Featherweight Title Match - Champion Ippo Makunouchi (Eighth Defence) VS. Challenger Hisato Kojima (JBC Rank 6)

Sendō, Date, Okita, Saeki, and Mashiba meet outside Ryōgoku Kokugikan.

On the day of the matches, outside the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Sendō, Saeki, Date, Okita, and Mashiba meet each other. The five gets into an argument until they are stopped by Kumi, who screamed at them to stop. At the Kawahara gym, Miyata tells his father that he has no interest in watching the match when offered a ticket, however, he is pushed into going to the Ryōgoku Kokugikan to watch it after his father scolds him about how there is more to boxing than just technical skill and that there will be something in the match that will get him out of his rut. Fujii and Mari notices how the boxers seem to be in a bad mood probably because of Kojima's comments toward them, creating a strange atmosphere in the venue. In the waiting room, Takamura asks Ippo, who offered to eat and celebrate together after the match, if Ippo's condition is fine, which Ippo replies that it won't take long. Takamura has Ippo remember his advice from earlier and also reminded him that Kojima talked poorly of Kamogawa, something they both don't take lightly. Before Itagaki leaves the room to watch Ippo fight Kojima, Takamura requests for him to tell Ippo to rehearse his words at the corner and expresses how he understands what Ippo is going through since he sees him as a brother, however, he does not know how Ippo will use his anger of his opponent talking poorly of Kamogawa and that for the first time in his life, Ippo is looking to brawl with someone. As Takamura's request to Itagaki was for Ippo to cool down, Itagaki wants to see Ippo when he is heated so he decides not to tell Ippo.

Ippo walking the ring.

At Kojima's changing room, Kojima explains to two of his kōhai the weakness he knows that Ippo has, which is his fighting pattern of weaving with the Peek-a-Boo Style towards punches and then throwing a left hook, letting him take the pace whether the hook lands or not. He reveals his plan against Ippo to them, revealing that he will land a left counter when Ippo rises up to throw the left hook after Ippo ducks his attack. After everyone leaves his changing room to let him concentrate, he begins to regret being rude to Ippo and knows that what he said wasn't true, while also believing that the weakness he claims Ippo has isn't a weakness, but a great pattern. Kojima reads a letter his coach gave to him from Aki, which said that their first child she is pregnant with is going to be a boy, and that she decides on naming it a combination of his and Ippo's name, naming it "Kazuto". The letter gives Kojima the courage to win the match. Ippo and Kojima enters the ring as their match is about to begin.

Ippo defeating Kojima with one punch.

When the match begins, Ippo takes a wider stance than usual and, after about a minute of neither boxer moving, Ippo dashes towards Kojima. In range, Ippo begins to throw a left hook, however, he gets hit with a counter. Ippo is about to fall until he catches his fall when he remembers the faces of his previous opponents and Kamogawa. Ippo immediately throws a left that sends Kojima in the air and onto the canvas. The referee quickly ends the match without a count, resulting in Ippo's victory from one punch. Despite winning, Ippo holds his head down as he walks from the ring. While Saeki complains that it was too simple for a Japanese title match, Sendō thinks it was great, as Ippo and Kojima hit each other with their best punch. Okita asks Mashiba if he would go down from a punch by a boxer who is two weight classes higher like Kojima was to Ippo. Mashiba gets irritated and claims he wouldn't from someone like Kojima. Date is impressed by how Ippo always has a different approach in every match despite his one-note strategy and praises Kamogawa's coaching skills to make Ippo pull it off. Itagaki claims that Ippo has overcome his weakness as he doubts that no one will try for the counter again, however, Miyata claims that he still sees the weakness.

Takamura's arriving to the ring to fight Rabbitson.

Ippo expresses his remorse to Takamura in the waiting room from how he fought against Kojima. Takamura is annoyed at Kamogawa's grinning face due to the reason Ippo was angry during the match. Ippo thanks both Kamogawa for the training and Takamura for the advice that helped him in the match. Hoping to have a match that will also make Kamogawa grin, Takamura goes to the ring for his fourth WBC middleweight title defence match against Rabbitson while wearing a poorly painted panda outfit which the crowd and Kamogawa criticises him for. After everyone leaves for Takamura's match against Rabbitson, Ippo faints. While going to the bathroom at the venue, Kojima runs into Aoki. He intended to give Aoki a board to give to Ippo to sign for his future son, Kazuto, however, Aoki signs his own autograph as he thought that he wanted his autograph. When Aoki goes back to the waiting room, he discovers a passed out Ippo. Aoki begins helping him go to the doctor until Aoki finds out the autograph he signed for Kojima was found in the trash by Team Aoki, causing Aoki to run off, leaving Ippo. Ippo wakes up and sees part of the broken autograph with "To Kazuto' on it, wondering what it is.