The Champion and The Tiger is Round 1274 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.
Details[]
- Locations Introduced: J.C. Gym
- Title Page Character(s): Ricardo Martínez
Summary[]
In the Kamogawa gym, Ippo is doing mitt practice with Taihei until Ippo messes up and the mitt falls off his hand. Kamogawa guesses that it is about [Sendō]], which Ippo admits, as he wonders what he is doing at the moment. Kamogawa assumes that Sendō is mastering the Tope Suicida wrestling move. Aoki asks what the difference between the Tope Suicida and Tope con Giro is, and Kamogawa explains the difference, and notes how the Scamaras Brothers were a laugh when they came to Japan. Ippo expresses his worry about Sendō boxing in Mexico, however Kamogawa reassures him that Mexico is home to many fine lower-weight class boxers, even facing nameless sparring partners has great merit. Ippo then sees no point worrying himself about it and begins mitt practice with Kintarō. Sendō sees three worn out sparring partners and deduces that Ricardo is done sparring for the day. Ricardo's trainer, Bill Martin informs Ricardo that Sendō is the last remaining saber-toothed tiger to escape extinction. Sendō requests Milo to interpret. Hoshi tries to make Milo not to, however Milo claims that he, like him, wants to see what would happen. Ricardo recognises Sendō as the "Mexican Killer" and, when he hears that his rank is third, he qualifies him as a sparring partner and accepts to spar him. Ricardo tells Bill to stop the spar if he himself gets in trouble. Bill is in disbelief that he would get hurt, however Ricardo feels as if there is some kind of aura around Sendō which could cause a miracle to happen, curious to experience what that miracle is. Driving to the J.C. Gym where Ricardo is requesting sparring partners, Alfredo informs Lisa that he is going confront him face-to-face due to Ricardo ignoring every rematch request. Alfredo notes how Ricardo has not been downed once, even in a spar and plans to push Ricardo to that point in front of the press in order for him to be forced to give him a rematch. During the third round, Ricardo walks away from a beaten Sendō who runs at Ricardo to continue the spar, however Ricardo dodges an attack and lands motionless left jabs and a left hook. Just as Alfredo walks into the gym, he is shocked at the scene of Sendō looking victorious as Ricardo's knee is on the canvas.
Trivia[]
WSM advertising Hajime no Ippo 30 years mark starting next two issues.
- Alfredo González appears to be driving a modern looking car, perhaps 2019 or 2020 Chevrolet Corvette, despite the fact that it should be late 1998 in the story.
- On the cover page, there is text mentioning Ricardo Martínez has never taken a down nor beaten.
- Tope Suicida and Tope con Giro mentioned are wrestling moves.
- Weekly Shōnen Magazine advertises in the issue that the following two issues is celebrating Hajime no Ippo's 30 years mark.
- In the Weekly Shōnen Magazine release, Lisa was erroneously depicted with light skin due to lack of shading. It is fixed in the volume 126 with correct shading.
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| Bold Retirement | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sendō in Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||
| Manga Volumes | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 126 | 127 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Manga Rounds | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1270 | 1271 | 1272 | 1273 | 1274 | 1275 | ||||||||||||||