The Goat's True Strength is Round 1265 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.
Details[]
- Locations Introduced: Kiriya Osteopathic Clinic, Hero Individual Academy
- Title Page Character(s): Ippo Makunouchi, Taihei Aoki, Kintarō Kaneda
Summary[]
After leaving the press conference building, Taihei and Kintarō are excited and asks many questions to Ippo about Takamura. Ippo tells his two students that, along with him, they will be helping the three seconds, acting as support. Taihei and Kintarō wonder about Takamura's condition as he did not spar much. Ippo believes that everyone is built differently, with Takamura always delivering a high-class performance and watching will answer all questions. Ippo also claims that it is lucky to be watching the pride of Japan from the ringside, and suggests to not take their eyes off of him, not even a blink. The next day, at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, with Goat waiting for the WBA and WBC middleweight champion to appear while shadowboxing with his lefts, Takamura enters the ring. When the match starts, Shinoda notes how Goat is supposed to be a boxer-fighter rather than an out-boxer. Takamura blocks Goat's left jabs multiple times until they both throw a left at the same time, resulting in Takamura getting hit. Takamura continues blocking more left jabs, Takamura steps in, only to get get by a right short uppercut. Takamura then gets hit by a left hook when he got closer, making Takamura tighten his guard, with both hands blocking both sides of his face.
Trivia[]
Special Award for 6 series including Hajime no Ippo.
Morikawa's message about the reward.
- Mamoru Takamura's fighting record is mistakenly depicted as 24-0, when it should be 25-0.
- In the Weekly Shōnen Magazine release, it mentioned that Jōji Morikawa won Kodansha's 43rd manga award.
- On pages 2 and 3, the building in the middle is "Kiriya Osteopathic Clinic'" (桐谷整骨院, Kiriya Seikotsu-in).
- The building on the right is "Hero Individual Academy" (英雄個別学院, Eiyū Kobetsu Gakuin). It may be based off the real-life Genius Individual Academy (英才個別学院, Eisai Kobetsu Gakuin in Japan, a school for gifted children.
- Michael Goat is seen wearing a wool robe with a goat head, and horns on his head as his namesake.