Everyone's Next Round is Round 1012 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.
Details[]
- Title Page Character(s): Ippo Makunouchi
Summary[]
At the Kamogawa gym, Ippo does mitt practice with Kamogawa. Kamogawa tells him to take a break, but Ippo claims he doesn't need one. Kamogawa tries to continue the session, but is stopped by Yagi in order to not overdo it. Itagaki tells Aoki how it is rare for someone to knockout someone with a single body blow, as they got to be careful to not get hit by a counter from above or below, noting how they need the power and perfect position to pull it off. Aoki adds that they need to get close enough for their punch to come in at an angle. Itagaki demonstrates on Aoki that the punch has to be thrown upward like they're pushing their opponent's liver inward as if their guts are getting punched out. Kimura, having overheard their conversation, now doesn't feel good since he is going to be his sparring partner since Alfredo is more of an out-boxer type. Shinoda tells the gym members how he is more impressed with Kamogawa, as he is the one who teaches Ippo the step-in, positioning, and punch angles, adding that he does the same with Takamura who has a different build, deeming the coach a master trainer. As Takamura begins doing mitt practice with Kamogawa, Aoki and Itagaki note that Kamogawa is an expert in taking those hard hits as well. Shinoda thinks how, despite his age and different build, Kamogawa is still able to withstand the blows of the two hard punchers of their gym while showing no signs of exhaustion even though his body should feel it, knowing that he himself could never do it. Kimura asks Itagaki why he isn't the one sparring with Ippo since they both have matches on the same day. Itagaki answers that he isn't allowed to even though he wants to. Aoki tells Itagaki that he will be sparring with him since Itagaki's opponent for the vacant JBC featherweight title is an in-fighter. Aoki and Kimura are shocked that Itagaki didn't know who his opponent is nor what type he is, but Itagaki figures he is just better off boxing like he normally does and it should get him by. Ippo looks at the latest Monthly Boxing Fan issue to see who Itagaki is fighting and is shocked to see that, with Itagaki as the first ranker, he will be fighting the second ranker, Imai. Itagaki looks at the magazine and becomes confident that he will win. Aoki and Kimura reminds him that Imai gave him a lot of trouble last time, barely winning a split decision. Itagaki explains that he has grown a lot since that match, and thinks that it will be a great chance to show the difference between them. Aoki and Kimura think that Itagaki is too confident. Takamura thinks that Ippo going for the world title and Itagaki going for the JBC title just sounds weird to him. Takamura complains that he wants to conquer his third weight class, the super middleweight, but Yagi explains that it is one of the most competitive weight classes and there are talks about an unification match, so it is hard to negotiate with any of those champions. Takamura reads the headline talking about the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF champions and claims that they are just cannon fodder, wanting to just beat them already. Aoki and Kimura think that Takamura is even more confident that Itagaki. At his home, Takamura looks at the latest Monthly Boxing Fan issue while thinking how there is no way Ippo being a world champion will happen. But then he remembers how he beat Volg, who is now world champion, and he has a good record. He doesn't think that Ippo's punches will land in the world level, wondering what kind of fight Kamogawa will put Ippo in. He then notices something on the cover of the magazine.