A Second's Job is Round 1226 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.
Details[]
- Title Page Character(s): Ippo Makunouchi
- Characters Introduced: Taihei Aoki, Teru Okazaki
Summary[]
Itagaki skilfully dodges all of his opponent's attacks. However, at the end of the round, Ippo queries why Itagaki didn't throw any punches, to which Itagaki believes it will be enough if he just throws one hit that counts. In the next round, Itagaki's opponent throws a flurry of punches to Itagaki's guard, when he sees an opening, Itagaki throws a liver blow. When the round ends, Ippo states that not throwing punches will let Itagaki's opponent get into rhythm, surprising Itagaki, who thought he would get praised. In the next round, Itagaki throws a big swing that turns into an exchange that hurt Itagaki more than his opponent. Both boxers land hits on each other until Itagaki lands an uppercut that downs his opponent, but he quickly recovers. At the end of the round, Ippo asks Itagaki if that really is his boxing, shocking Itagaki. At the eighth and final round, Itagaki, flustered, throws a flurry of punches as his opponent does the same. The round ends in decision, with Itagaki as the winner. Outside Kōrakuen Hall, after Ippo states to Itagaki that winning with just force isn't his style of boxing, Itagaki storms off. Ippo realises being a second is difficult after Aoki and Kimura explain that he can't just complain to boxers, but to say nice things also. At his home, Ippo decides that he should scout to find boxers. As Ippo looks for people to scout, he notices a boy who is standing by himself. Then, a group of juvenile delinquents go up to the boy and start ganging up on him. As the group kick the boy, Ippo throws one of the thugs down to the ground and asks the group what they are doing.