Chapter 260

Proof of Being Japan's Best
Chapter Info
Next	Chapter 261
Chapter	260
Previous	Chapter 259
Volume	30
Japanese Title	日本一の証明
Romanized Title	Nihon'ichi no Shōmei
Pages	16
Arc	Lallapallooza Arc
Episode	Round 73 (Season 1) (p.1) Round 74 (Season 1) (p.1-16)
Issue	Weekly Shōnen Magazine #23, 1995 (cover date): May 24, 1995
Release (JP)	May 10, 1995

Proof of Being Japan's Best is Round 260 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.

Details

• Techniques Introduced: Cross Counter
• Title Page Character(s): Ippo Makunouchi, Genji Kamogawa, Haruhiko Yagi, Shinoda, Takeshi Sendō, Kazuhiro Yanaoka

Summary

In the champion's corner, Yanaoka is impressed at Ippo's performance and states he is a "troublesome guy". however, Sendō replies that he is not troublesome, but simply the strongest he has ever fought. He then states that his belt has no meaning until he beats Ippo. He also thanks Yanaoka for keeping his promise, and states he must now prove he is Japan's finest. Meanwhile in his corner, Ippo is told by Kamogawa that the fight has only just begun and he will find another opportunity to land a good punch. As soon as the next round begins, Ippo pushes forward and lands a hit that immediately corner's Sendō. The champion however, sees the opportunity and lands a counter that helps reversing the situation. With Ippo now in the corner, Sendō goes on the attack, as Yanaoka remembers the promise Sendō was talking about: Before Sendō ever got to the Naniwa Boxing Club, he defeated three students from the gym in a street fight. Upon hearing this, Yanaoka goes to rescue them and meets Sendō for the first time. Sendō tells him that he only wanted to test his strength, but Yanaoka replies that the students were not professional fighters, and that in the ring, Sendō would lose to a real boxer. Annoyed by this, Sendō launches a punch, but Yanaoka throws a counter and stops right before landing it. When back at the gym, Yanaoka tells the coach that he found someone worthy and hungry for fighting. Sendō then arrives and asks if he will get to meet the champion by fighting the best fighters. After recalling the events, Yanaoka yells at Sendō that Ippo is the man he has been waiting for, and he must bat him in order to be acknowledge as the best. Ippo seems to have the upper hand in the battle, but the bloodied Sendō, full of determination, counter-attacks.