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David "Golden" Eagle (デビッド · "ゴールデン" ·イーグル, Debiddo "Gōruden" Iguru) is an American professional boxer and the former WBC middleweight champion as well as an Olympic gold medallist. He fought Mamoru Takamura for his third WBC middleweight title defence.

Background[]

Eagle - Anime - Olympic Gold Metal and WBC Champion

Eagle's achievements.

During his Olympic career, he was teamed up with Mike Elliott.[2] At a party that was thrown for the Olympic boxing team, Elliott told Eagle how he wants to have a match that is like a game of chess, where both him and his opponent out thinks each other when he goes into the professional ring. When Eagle asked him if he thinks that there will be anyone that will keep up with him, Elliott believed that if he keeps winning, he will eventually run into someone that can.[3] During his Olympic career, he fought and defeated Richard Bison twice in the Olympic qualifiers.[4] Eagle was an undefeated Olympic gold medallist prior to the start of his successful pro career. Barrelling through a mere fifteen fights before reaching world champion level, Eagle was said to have never tasted defeat due to his dedication and tactical skill set.[5]

Eagle - Anime - Visiting Broken Hawk

Eagle visiting a broken Hawk after losing to Takamura.

As the WBC middleweight champion, Eagle believed that Bryan Hawk would be his greatest threat in the future after first seeing one of Hawk's matches in-person,[6] preparing himself if Hawk decided to conquer his next weight class. After Hawk lost to Takamura Mamoru, Eagle visited him. Eagle asked Hawk what happened to him. After Hawk went crazy at the mere mention of Takamura's name, Eagle was shocked that a man like Hawk was completely broken and wanted to know what kind of person could do that to Hawk.

History[]

Part II[]

A Passing Point Arc[]

Eagle - Anime - Arriving in Japan

Eagle arriving in Japan.

Eagle arrived at the airport in Japan for his upcoming WBC middleweight title match against Takamura Mamoru. He commented to the press that he came to Japan because Takamura interested him as he defeated Bryan Hawk, who was his greatest threat. While his aid planned to take him to his hotel for his dinner, Eagle wanted to head to the gym instead, since he was worried about his rhythm after a long flight, wanting to get back into "fight mode" as soon as possible.

David Eagle - Anime - Sign Autographs for local kids

Eagle signing autographs for local kids.

Prior to his public sparring session, Eagle was in front of the Kawahaea gym signing autographs for the local kids, including Miyata Ichirō and Makunouchi Ippo, as he mistook them as local kids. During the spars, Eagle defeated his sparring partners that he brought with him from America. Afterwards, Eagle was told to rest by his coach, however, Eagle knew that there was no overdoing it when it comes to Takamura, remembering how he changed Hawk. He felt that he didn't need to see Takamura spar since he wanted to experience how strong Takamura was in the ring.

Takamura and Eagle's press conference

Eagle and Takamura at their press conference.

After arriving at Yokohama Arena for the weigh-in, Eagle passed the weight check. At the press conference, after Takamura's commented how he viewed the match as a mere passing point, Eagle stated that he also thought of the match as a passing point, planning to make this fight nothing more than a step down his path. However, he felt that he couldn't look beyond Takamura since he Japan's hero of world class skill, believing that he must do his absolute best during the match. When Eagle went to shake Takamura's hand, Takamura refused and left. While his staff thought Takamura was being rude, Eagle felt that Takamura's eyes were already in fight mode, making him in no condition to shake hands.

Eagle blocking Takamura's punch

Eagle fighting Takamura.

The next day, Eagle arrived to the ring in the Yokohama Arena. When the gong rang, they charged at each other and landed a jab on their block. They both proceeded to stand still while throwing jabs, not landing any clean hits until Eagle was grazed, knocking him off balance. Eagle barely avoided Takamura's follow-up right straight. Seeing Takamura's power, Eagle decided to keep some distance and take a defensive stance. Takamura followed and threw punches at the guard. Going forward while blocking, Eagle made Takamura go to the ropes without him knowing. Eagle continued to block until Takamura broke Eagle's guard. Eagle threw out a left jab as a counter to Takamura's attack at the last second, however, Takamura barely dodged it. Eagle continued to try applying pressure to Takamura by calmly staring at him, but Takamura continued to charge at him while wildly swinging combinations, which Eagle blocked until his guard broke. Eagle quickly threw a barrage of jabs that gets dodged. As Takamura dodged, he came close and threw an uppercut that he stops as the first round ended. In the corner, he only listened to his coach's advice while closing his eyes until the second round began.

Eagle dodging Takamura's punches

Eagle dodging Takamura's attacks.

In the second round, Eagle blocked Takamura's punches until he was able to read them, attacking Takamura with pulled punches to get him irritated so that Eagle is able to land a full powered counter on one of Takamura's now wider throws. With Takamura legs buckled from the counter and at the corner, Eagle threw punches at Takamura's guard. Eagle quickly blocked as Takamura threw wild punches to get out of the corner, knocking Eagle's block away and making him back up to the centre of the ring. Eagle attempted to hit Takamura with lefts, however, Eagle had to block and dodge Takamura's wild swings until Eagle used a two-handed block against Takamura's uppercut, getting lifted up in the air slightly, with the second round ending shortly after.

In the third round, while avoiding Takamura's huge swings, Eagle countered Takamura, which sent his knee down on the canvas, causing a down to be declared. When Takamura got up, Eagle dodged Takamura's rege-filled attacks until Eagle landed a counter, causing Takamura to cling onto the ropes to avoid falling as the third round ends. In the corner, Eagle revealed to his seconds how he is barely hanging on, as he is nervous every time he counters Takamura's attack. Excessively sweating, Eagle's seconds wipe off his sweat and Eagle deemed the fourth round to be the last as Takamura already fell for Eagle's plan he had for Hawk.

Takamura hitting Eagle while clinched

Eagle getting hit while clinched.

In the fourth round, Eagle dodged Takamura's wild punches while countering them at times. Eagle was leaned on by Takamura, and, unable to escape, Eagle was hit by a body blow. Eagle retreated while avoiding Takamura's now smaller combinations, however, Eagle trapped himself in a corner. Eagle was approached by Takamura, and his escape routes were blocked by Takamura's outstretched arms. As Takamura threw both of his fists toward Eagle, Eagle pushed into Takamura and, while changing position to get out of the corner, Eagle was hit by a liver blow. Back into the corner, Eagle was attacked, and when he tried to clinch, Eagle was hit with a body blow while clinched. Eagle continued to get attack at the corner and was saved by the gong as he was about to be hit with a big punch while defenceless. In the corner, he expressed how lucky he was to have survived, but felt as if he could turn things around now that he survived.

In the fifth round, Eagle immediately set a tight guard, which was blown away from an uppercut. Unguarded, Eagle was hit by a right straight, knocking him down. Eagle got back up, praising Takamura's strength and reflected on how he was waiting to meet his true rival that he never had in his Olympic and pro career, viewing Takamura as his true rival. Eagle approached Takamura with a guard. After getting his guard attacked, Eagle repeatedly threw one-twos, which misses their target. Eagle and Takamura hit each other in an exchange that resulted in Takamura getting a cut above his left eye, which blood emerged out of and into his eye. Seeing the injury as a bad turn of events, Eagle decided to avoid hitting Takamura's cut and changed his targets to Takamura's right side of his face and body to have a clean fight, successfully hitting him with body blows. While attacking Takamura's body at close range, Eagle was clinched for Takamura to ask him if he is avoiding the cut on purpose, however, Eagle doesn't understand Japanese. After Eagle was pushed back, he dodged Takamura's attacks while landing body blows until the fifth round ended. In the corner, Eagle declined his seconds' advice to aim for the cut.

Eagle's eye starting to bleed

A cut appearing above Eagle's right eye.

In the sixth round, while avoiding a wide swing, Eagle got headbutted, causing a bleeding cut to appear above his right eye. Seeing as they both have cuts above their eye, Eagle believed that they are now equal. However, unlike Eagle, Takamura aimed for the cut while going into Eagle's bloody blind spot, making Eagle's cut worse even though Eagle blocked the punches. Eagle decided to attack without worrying about the cut, but he was hit with a left hook, almost causing him to go down. Eagle got cornered after blocking an attack. As Takamura was about to attack, Eagle hit him, but it wasn't enough to stop him as Eagle was hit with a right. Eagle began to fall until he hung onto Takamura in a clinch. When the referee broke the clinch, Eagle hit Takamura with a one-two and proceeded to hide in Takamura's blind spot until the sixth round ended. In the corner, Eagle's seconds managed to stop the bleeding above his eye.

Takamura and Eagle calling for the fight to continue

Eagle and Takamura's call to continue the match.

In the seventh round, Eagle and Takamura immediately enter the centre of the ring and enter a exchange match with neither afraid of hitting the cuts above their eye. Their hitting match got interrupted when the referee called for a doctor check on both boxers due to severe bleeding. While the doctor was wanting to stop the match and crown the victor by a point decision, Eagle, Takamura, and the crowd protested to continue the match. The doctor and referee decided to let the match continue, and the seventh round ended shortly after. In the corner, Eagle's seconds were able to temporarily stop the bleeding, while also cutting Eagle in a way to make the blood not get into his eye if the cut opens up again.

Takamura's finishing blow on Eagle

Eagle getting defeated by Takamura.

In the eighth round, Eagle and Takamura commence another exchange match in the centre of the ring. Eagle's cut began to bleed once again from Takamura's attacks. While landing hits on Takamura's who gained a swollen right eye and had blood in his left eye, Eagle was hit with a right hook, an attack that pulled Eagle down to the canvas with Takamura, causing a double down. After both boxers got up, Eagle pushed Takamura to the ropes with one-twos. The two began a hitting match which ended in Eagle getting knocked down onto the canvas. The match came to an end as Eagle's seconds arrived to the ring to check on him, resulting in Eagle's loss of the match and his title.

In the ring after his loss, Eagle approached and shook hands with Takamura, wishing him luck and thanking him for the experience before walking away from the ring.

Proud Wolf Arc[]

Eagle with girlfriend

Eagle watching the match between Elliot and Volg.

Eagle went to the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to watch the IBF junio lightweight title match between the champion Mike Elliot and challenger Alexander Volg Zangief. While watching the match, Eagle clapped his hands during the third round, as he explained to his girlfriend how incredible it currently is, as he has never seen anyone that was able to stand up against him like Volg has and that the two boxers have made the outside arena quiet. After the third round, Eagle believed that Elliot has finally found the person he was looking for in Volg, as he always wanted to have a match that was like a game of chess. During the fifth round when Volg knocked Elliot down for the first time, Eagle applauded his efforts that led to the down. However, when the referee helped Elliot up, Eagle expressed how the referee is shaming America, wanting Elliot to forfeit. As the match continued, Eagle realised that Elliot was unconscious when the referee helped, which was why Elliot did not forfeit. After Volg won and became the new IBF junior lightweight champion, Eagle applauded for Volg.

Match History[]

Match History
Professional Boxing Record
# Result Record Date Opponent Location Time Type Notes
18 LOSS 17-1-0 1994-08-27 Japan Mamoru Takamura[7] Tokyo, Japan 8(12) KO "A PASSING POINT"
3rd WBC Middleweight Title Defence Match
Unknown Opponents
15 WIN 15-0-0 199X Unknown[8] USA ?(12) N/A WBC Middleweight Title Match
Amateur Olympics Record
# Result Record Date Opponent Location Time Type Notes
? WIN ?-0-0 199X Unknown Unknown ?(4) KO Olympic Game Won Gold medals
? WIN ?-0-0 199X USA Richard Bison Unknown ?(4) TKO Qualification Olympic Game

Spars[]

Appearance[]

David Eagle PS3

Eagle's appearance.

Eagle is strikingly handsome and tall. Eagle was assumed to be a movie star or famous actor for his good looks, and it is said that his popularity with the female demographic stretches from America to Japan. Eagle has a small, neatly swept back blond pompadour with a few hanging hair strands, blue eyes, and eyebrows of average thickness.

Personality[]

As opposed to fellow American (former) boxer Bryan Hawk, Eagle comes off as polite and easy-going, willing to overlook his schedule to answer a question from the Japanese press. He is disciplined and serious despite being undefeated, remaining modest and unpretentious of his boxing abilities. Against strong opponents Eagle shows a fiercely competitive, spirited, and strategically observant side, claiming he has never been able to show his true potential in any fight until his match against Takamura. Takamura also mentions that Eagle's eyes are identical to Ippo's, hinting at a very strong-willed fighting spirit. Both Iimura Mari and Fujii Minoru note that Eagle does not hunger for glory, yet has unwavering determination, and that he survives through hard work as opposed to monstrous natural talent. They both agree that Eagle is a "true champion".

Eagle shows a cool head and is able to understand people. During the pre-match press conference, Takamura refuses to shake hands and turns away. Instead of being provoked, Eagle realises that Takamura is already in fight-mode. During the match, Eagle shows a sense of honor in not targeting Takamura's cut eye, earning the admiration of the Japanese audience in contrast to Bryan Hawk's lewd antics.

Boxing Abilities[]

David Eagle is easily one of the strongest characters in the series, evident from the fact that he brought Takamura Mamoru to the verge of defeat, being the second person to do so after his compatriot Bryan Hawk. He was even strong enough to defeat fellow middleweight world champion Richard Bison twice, as well as earn gold for his team at the Olympics, whereas junior lightweight champion Mike Elliott only managed to get silver. Overall, this shows that David Eagle is incredibly strong even for the standards of a world champion.

David is an all around by-the-book boxer, using basic boxing techniques and strategies which are polished to the highest level. His most deadly "weapon" is a sharp, solid One-Two that coach Kamogawa has even stated to be near perfection.

Eagle is calm and calculative; he knows how to hide his strength until the right moment, and how to act overwhelmed only to bring out bad habits from his opponent. He would also use the early rounds of a bout to study his opponent, as he did in the title match against Takamura, by putting up a solid guard and in combination with his Ominous Pressure he would force an opponent take steps back without them realising, despite Eagle being the one receiving the punches. Eagle has furthermore shown incredible determination in his fights, which Takamura compared to his junior, Makunouchi Ippo.

Techniques[]

Weaknesses[]

Physically, technically, and even in terms of fighting spirit, Eagle should be considered among the handful of boxers in the series who have no outstanding weaknesses---yet halfway through his match with Takamura, Takamura discovers that Eagle's sense of "good sportsmanship" is in fact a major handicap. Eagle does not attack Takamura's bloodied eye to force a medical decision, and he seems to admire Takamura so much that he only wants a competition with him, not a victory. Takamura exploits this mentality to eventually defeat the otherwise perfect Eagle, first by bloodying Eagle's eye and then deliberately targeting it, then instilling fear in Eagle through demonstrating his own physical and technical skills, which are equally world-class.

Gallery[]

Main Article: David Eagle/Gallery

Quotes[]

  • (To a reporter) "I've come to Japan because Mamoru Takamura interests me, that's all there is to it!"[9]

Trivia[]

  • Eagle is inspired by Oscar De La Hoya.[10]
    • Eagle's background resembles De La Hoya as they both were an Olympic Gold Medalist and that both of their nicknames has "Golden" in it (De La Hoya "Golden Boy"/"Golden" for Eagle).

References[]

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