Chapter 327

Secret Expectation
Chapter Info
Next	Chapter 328
Chapter	327
Previous	Chapter 326
Volume	37
Japanese Title	密かなる期待
Romanized Title	Hisokanaru Kitai
Pages	20
Arc	Revenge Arc
Episode	Round 5 (Season 2) (p.1-19)
Issue	Weekly Shōnen Magazine #51, 1996 (cover date): December 4, 1996
Release (JP)	November 20, 1996

Secret Expectation is Round 327 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.

Details

• Characters Introduced: Bill Stewart
• Title Page Character(s): Ippo Makunouchi, Masahiko Umezawa

Summary

While talking to Umezawa about his upcoming sparring match with Ricardo, Ippo wonders based on his record, fame and reputation how much stronger than him the world champion really is. While Fujii and Mari wait at the airport, the WBA featherweight champion and his manager arrive, causing an uproar among the people, with reporters swarming the place to get a look at the man. A taxi arrives to take Ippo and Kamogawa to the sparring match, and on their way to the gym, Kamogawa asks Ippo if he actually thinks he can win. Ippo says he knows he stands no chance, but plans to learn as much as possible. Kamogawa tells him that if he can touch the champion even once he will have his praise. He also notes to himself that Ippo has the potential to beat him. When they arrive, they are told by Nakadai that he has been unsuccessful in his information gathering attempts as the champion easily dispatches his opponents and reveals no important technique. He begs Ippo to push Martinez into getting serious. Ippo gets in the ring with no head gear and his usual fighting trunks, as he plans to go at full power for the three rounds. Ricardo's manager tells him who Ippo is and leaves it up to him how to handle the situation. They touch gloves and the match begins.

Trivia

• Ricardo Martínez makes his first physical appearance in this chapter. He was previously shown in pictures and flashbacks.
• On page 11, one of the reporters has "日刊 スポイチ SUPOICHI JAPAN" on the back of their shirt. It is a reference to a real life daily sports newspaper called "Sports Nippon" is also called "Sponichi" (スポニチ, Suponichi). Sports Nippon is the first Japanese daily sports newspaper, having been founded in 1948, and cover sports such as boxing.