Comic Show Arc

Comic Show Arc
Information
Volumes	49-51, (3 Volumes)
Manga Rounds	441-460, (20 Chapters)
Anime Rounds	3-6 (Season 3), (4 Episodes)
Chronology
Previous	Submarine Wars Arc
Next	Dragon Slayer Arc

The Comic Show Arc is the twenty-third story arc in the series and the second in the Rising Saga.

Aoki Masaru partakes in the Champion Carnival by fighting the JBC lightweight champion, Katsutaka Imae, who shows his dislike of Aoki's way of fighting.

Summary

JBC Lightweight Champion - Katsutaka Imae

Aoki failing his weight management.

Ippo goes to the Kamogawa gym after resting from his match against Shimabukuro Iwao. There, he is shocked to see Aoki, who has visibly lost too much weight and became a bantamweight. Ippo meets Kamogawa in his office and reveals how he noticed the Dempsey Roll's weak point being counters during the match, realising that this is why Kamogawa turned down a fight with Miyata. Kamogawa then adds that Shimabukuro may have permanently destroyed the Dempsey Roll as future challengers most likely have picked up on Shiabukuro's strategy. Ippo leaves, commenting on how he also realised that Kamogawa will always be there to train him and Yagi will always encourage him. Later, after Aoki messed up his weight management once more, becoming noticeably overweight, he returns to his lightweight weight division. Itagaki asks Kimura about Aoki's chances of winning against the champion. Kimura answers that Aoki is at a 6-4 disadvantage, with the champion being an orthodox fighter, while Aoki is an unorthodox fighter, Kimura note a chance of winning is not out of the question. Aoki asks Ippo and Takamura what it feels like to first hold the champion's belt. Takamura answers that it was like holding something he always deserved. Ippo answers that he felt accomplished, making Aoki excited and further wishes to acquire the belt to know the feeling.

Aoki gets support from his customers at the Chūka Soba, with them planning to come watch him. When they mention how it must be exciting to be in the gym with Ippo and Takamura, Aoki wishes to catch up to them and make a mark in the history of the world he loves. Aoki meets Kimura outside and rides on his motorcycle for old time's sake. Afterwards, Aoki mentions how Ippo and Takamura are different from him and Kimura, but wants, after six years, to win the Japanese title. Aoki later discovers that the champion, Katsutaka Imae, is fearless towards him and that he would "crush the frog". Aoki translates that it means to crush his Frog Punch, so his gym mates try to think of a new technique that combines an existing technique with his Frog Punch. Aoki felt as if they were making fun of him by the suggestions and ran back home. At his house, Aoki expresses to Tomiko how everyone at his gym is worried about him and he knows that it will be hard for him to win, but he's jealous of Ippo and Takamura and wants to win and get a belt. Aoki then looks up and notices that Tomiko looked up as well. The next day, he passes by Itagaki's father who also looks toward the direction of what Aoki was looking at, making Aoki come up with an idea. Aoki then confirms that he can use this new idea as a technique when he has his gym mates look out the window when he turned his head.

A Researcher and a Hard Worker

Aoki and Imae at the weigh-in.

The tickets for the title match becomes sold out due to Imae being popular to the hardcore boxing fans and Aoki being popular among younger audiences. At the Kikumoto gym, Imae's coach is pleased that Imae can change a wide audience's thoughts about him, as they think of Imae as a lame boxer. Imae explains his plans to counter Aoki's Frog Punch, Double Punch, and Corkscrew. When his coach reminds him of Aoki's recent technique to Play Dead, Imae expresses his devotion towards boxing and swears to not lose to him. On the day of the weigh-in, after itagaki passed his weight check for his first round of the East Japan Rookie King Tournament, Aoki begins his weight check by taking his clothes off. When Imae enters the weigh-in room, he gets flustered over Aoki not being serious for their match. They are then asked to shake hands, however, Imae refused, as he comments that he would if he respected Aoki, but he does not even consider him a boxer. Aoki reveals to Imae that he has a present for him: a new technique that attacks his instincts and impossible to defend. Aoki then mentions that he will prove Imae that he isn't just a clown and that he does his research. Imae replies that if Aoki is a researcher, then he is a hard worker.

Outside the Kōrakuen Hall after the weigh-in, Ippo, Kimura, and Itagaki discuss how Aoki and Imae are similar boxers. They then see Imae choosing boxing over his girlfriend and breaks up with Sachiko. When they see her face, as she cries and runs away, Kimura and Itagaki reconfirmed their suspicions, with Aoki and Imae having a fetish for ugly women. At Aoki's home, Tomiko made dinner for Aoki to regain his strength and Aoki explains to her about Imae and how he is afraid of the champion, however, he becomes encouraged by the presence of Tomiko. Imae becomes afraid that he will get hit by the Frog Punch, but he believes he will not lose because he chose solitude to focus on boxing and become a champion as he feels he does not need support.

BOXING MARTIAL ARTS - JBC Lightweight Title Match - Katsutaka Imae VS. Aoki Masaru

Itagaki winning against his opponent in the first round of the Rookie King tournament.

On the day of the title match, Aoki is calmer than usual in the changing room thanks to Tomiko holding his hand. While waiting for their match, Aoki and Imae encounter each other while going to the bathroom. Imae talks down to Aoki for fooling around with a woman while he broke up with his woman to concentrate on boxing and claims that he will show Aoki the strength of a serious boxer. Aoki then tells Imae that he threw away his goddess of victory and that he will show him the strength of a man with someone to look over them. Meanwhile, Itagaki's first round of the East Rookie King tournament begins. Itagaki has trouble at first, but wins by a knockout in the final fourth round. Aoki and the champion, Imae then arrive to the ring for their match as the match begins.

Imae countering the Frog Punch.

After a minute of no punches being thrown in the first round, Aoki makes the first move, however, Imae predicts Aoki's weird movements and is able to keep his pace. Aoki realises that Imae uses a strong right straight after some weak left jabs and correctly predicts a right straight coming. Aoki dodges the straight by ducking down and coming back up with a Frog Punch. The attack leaves a visible scar on Imae's face after it grazed him, making Imae acknowledge the technique's power. Aoki then uses unorthodox movements to dodge and attack Imae. When Aoki stopped, Imae attempted to hit Aoki, but Aoki dodges and launches a Frog Punch. Imae counters the Frog Punch, making Aoki go down. Aoki gets up and immediately goes down again after Imae hits him. When Aoki gets back up and visibly hurt, Imae becomes confident and goes all out on attacking Aoki, who only blocks until the end of the first round. As the second round begins, Imae continues to attack Aoki's guard until the end of the fourth round, unknowingly following Aoki's plan of wasting his stamina. Cornermen of both sides are shocked of Aoki's risky plan, while Imae is angered that he was fooled.

Aoki using the Look Away on Imae.

In the fifth round, Aoki switches to out-boxing, hitting and running from the now tired Imae. Imae is hit when he tries to rest, and was saved by the bell for the end of the fifth round. With Imae confused as what is real and what isn't, his coach advises that he is in Aoki's pace and to not rush in and attack, instead take points. When the six round begins, Aoki, after knocking Imae's jab away, steps back and stops. Aoki turns his head to look away from Imae, who with almost the entire audience, also looks away to see what Aoki is looking at. With Imae looking away, Aoki uses his Frog Punch, knocking him down. In shock as to what happened, Imae gets up and clinches until Aoki gets out with an uppercut. Aoki proceeds to look away again, which Imae also is forced to do so by instinct and gets knocked down by a Frog Punch. Since on of Imae's hands blocked the punch, minimising the damage, he gets up. Before either are able to do anything, the sixth round ends. At the corner, Imae acknowledges Aoki's strength and realises that the difference between them is that Aoki has a "Goddess of Victory".

Aoki and Imae meet after the match.

In round seven, Imae begins to lose his will to fight due to having thrown his own "Goddess of Victory" away. However, when Aoki uses his Look Away, Imae could not look away, as he sees his girlfriend, Sachiko in the audience praying for him. Not knowing that Imae did not look away, Aoki misses his Frog Punch as he leaps into the air. Aoki is hit in the air and catches his fall. Aoki and Imae has a punching match until the end of the ten round match, with both laying on the canvas at the end. With the match over, it comes down to a decision. The score ends in a draw, resulting in Aoki losing and Imae keeping his belt. Outside the Kōrakuen Hall, Aoki sees Imae with his goddess of victory, realising that it was the reason he was doing well at the end.

Since Takamura expressed his negative opinions on the match to Aoki, the gym members have Takamura go to his house to apologise since it would be his fault if Aoki retires. When they get to his house, they overhear Aoki and Tomiko talking about he would become the champion the next time he tries. They leave, seeing that he is busy and won't retire.