Bloody Cross is Round 2 of the Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger anime, which is the adaptation of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo series.
Details[]
- Techniques Introduced: Bloody Cross
Summary[]
As the OPBF featherweight title match is about to begin, the challenger Miyata enters the ring with loud cheers from his female audience and Ippo. The champion Gregory enters the ring and throws his hat into the audience. Takamura comments how Americans love to show off, however, Ippo points out that Gregory is Australian. Takamura doesn't believe it since Gregory is white, but Kimura notes that America isn't even in the OPBF region. Ippo is shocked by Gregory's shadowboxing, which Takamura explains that his right he was throwing just to warm up was razor sharp shows that he is in great condition and will be gunning for Miyata from the first round. Ippo agrees and comments how he has a certain aura about him that genuinely strong boxers have. Kimura mentions that he is definitely skilled, as he hasn't lost by knockout. After both boxers head to their corners, Gregory's manager tells Gregory how Miyata got his colour back since the weigh-in, but he doesn't think he was able to completely recover in one day. Gregory plans to put Miyata down as soon as it starts. Miyata's father tells Miyata to keep an eye on Gregory to get a sense of how he fights and learn his timing and habits.
The match begins, and Gregory rushes towards Miyata to attack him with a combination of punches that Miyata dodges at first, but when a right hook hits his block, Miyata gets knocked back into the ropes. Miyata blocks Gregory's combination of punches at the ropes. Takamura mentions that if Miyata gets careless, he will be the one that gets countered. Gregory thinks that Miyata has good eyesight and good at dodging, wondering how long he will be able to keep it up. Miyata quickly dodges a left jab and lands a short left straight counter. Gregory tries to hit back with a right, but it hits the ropes as Miyata has disappeared from the ropes already. Miyata goes behind Gregory and tells him how he isn't being given a chance to relax by him. The audience is confused by what kind of counter Miyata used, which Takamura knows that it was a short left straight. Gregory is shocked after seeing an opponent vanish from out in front of him for the first time, planning to revise his approach next time. Gregory puts his guard up, acknowledging that Miyata is strong. Gregory throws left jabs that are quicker and sharper than before, but Miyata is still able to dodge them. When Gregory steps in and Miyata sways back, Gregory's left jab lands on Miyata's face as Gregory stepped in further than Miyata could sway back. Miyata tries to step to the side, however, Gregory's left hook catches him, hitting his guard. Gregory lands combinations on his guard and then lands a left jab that sends Miyata's jaw up and makes him stumble. Gregory sends out many left jabs that Miyata blocks and dodges. Takamura tells Ippo that what Gregory is doing is another good way to keep someone from throwing counters. Gregory has Miyata trapped at a corner as he lands more punches on his guard.
Miyata wonders if he observed Gregory enough as he starts a close-range exchange with him. While Aoki and Kimura think Miyata is getting hit in the exchange, Takamura advises them to look closer, as Miyata is swaying back just enough for the punches to miss while landing a counter at the same time. After taking Miyata's counters, Gregory steps back, and Miyata disappears from the corner and gets behind Gregory. Takamura notes that Gregory used his lefts too much, explaining to Ippo how Miyata has the ability to study his opponent, so when a punch hits him, the timing gets burned into his body, which means the next time he will be able to counter the punch. Gregory thinks of how when they punch at the same time, Miyata's lands first. Miyata lowers his guard and enters the front-facing offence-oriented variation of the Detroit Style. Both boxers dash towards each other. Gregory throws a left jab, but Miyata counters it with a Cross Counter, sending Gregory down. As Miyata goes to a neutral corner, he thinks of how he got chills as Gregory's left grazed his face. As Miyata expected, Gregory gets back up, and the first round ends shortly after. At Miyata's corner, Kida praises Miyata's performance, however, Miyata's father mentions that the match is about even, as Miyata is at a clear disadvantage in terms of power and he was just holding him off with sheer speed. Miyata claims that the difference in speed isn't that great, as the reason he was able to counter him was because he used his left too much, so he was able to study the timing. Miyata adds that Gregory is strong, and he feels he hasn't shown everything he has yet. Miyata's father advises Miyata to pour on the damage while he is still damaged as it will be trouble if it gets drawn out too much. At Gregory's corner, Gregory is frustrated that Miyata got him. Gregory tells Mr. Sakaguchi that he put the bait out, but he was faster than he expected so he was able to nip him, but now he knows that he will take the bait again. He plans to finish Miyata next time he tries to use the Cross Counter, it will be a cross of blood raining down on him.
As the second round begins, since Gregory is visibly in pain, Miyata goes towards him to attack, throwing left and right combinations that Gregory blocks and dodges. Takamura tells Ippo how another good thing about Miyata is that even though he is good at counters, he doesn't solely rely on them, and he doesn't stay on the defensive and can pour on the pressure. However, Ippo claims that Miyata has a preference on using counters, knowing that he will end the match with a counter since counters are really important to Miyata. Gregory tries to attack with left jabs, but Miyata dodges them all. Miyata dodges a left jab and prepares to land a Cross Counter, however, Miyata is hit in the face instead as his right arm went over Gregory's left, shocking Miyata and the audience. Miyata goes down on one knee, wondering if the reason he failed his counter was because his hand positioning was off. Miyata stands up, continuing the match with Gregory going after him. Miyata's father wonders how many people in the venue understands what Gregory did. Takamura tells Ippo, Aoki, and Kimura that Miyata's timing and speed were perfect. Miyata's father mentions to Kida that Miyata did not make a mistake, as Gregory was baiting him to use a Cross Counter by purposely throwing the same lefts constantly. Miyata uses footwork to step away from Gregory, who chases him. Miyata uses head slips and sways to dodge Gregory's left jabs while trying to get the timing down again for another counter chance. Miyata gets the timing down again, planning to use a Cross Counter on Gregory's next left jab. Takamura tells Ippo to watch closely as when Miyata draws the "cross" for the Cross Counter, it will be stained red with Miyata's blood. Miyata goes for the Cross Counter, throwing a right straight. As Miyata's right starts to go over Gregory's left, Gregory uses the Bloody Cross, pushing his elbow into Miyata's inner elbow, changing the angle of Miyata's counter, making Miyata miss as Gregory lands a right short uppercut. Gregory begins hitting Miyata's face with multiple left and right hook combinations as Miyata realises that Gregory was baiting his counter the whole time. Miyata goes down a second time with a lot of blood on his face.
Takamura mentions how impressive the technique is, as real high level stuff like this is not seen often. He tells Ippo that if he plans to avenge Miyata, to be careful when he faces Gregory. Ippo doesn't believe he will need to avenge Miyata, as it is not over yet. Miyata's pounds the canvas with his fist in frustration, angry with the way Gregory went after his counter, feeling as if he ripped the pride out of his chest and plans to not lose like this.
Anime-Manga Differences[]
See also: Anime-Manga Differences
- The anime removes a scene of Miyata talking to his father before walking to the ring about how the father retired after an OPBF title match, which makes him anxious about his son.
Credits[]
Characters are named as they appear in the credits.
| Role | English Name | Japanese | Rōmaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ippo Makunouchi | Kōhei Kiyasu | 喜安 浩平 | Kiyasu Kōhei |
| Mamoru Takamura | Rikiya Koyama | 小山 力也 | Koyama Rikiya |
| Masaru Aoki | Wataru Takagi | 高木 渉 | Takagi Wataru |
| Tatsuya Kimura | Keiji Fujiwara | 藤原 啓治 | Fujiwara Keiji |
| Ichirō Miyata | Tomokazu Seki | 関 智一 | Seki Tomokazu |
| Miyata's Father | Unshō Ishizuka | 石塚 運昇 | Ishizuka Unshō |
| Arnie Gregory | Takaya Kuroda | 黒田 崇矢 | Kuroda Takaya |
| Sakaguchi | Minoru Inaba | 稲葉 実 | Inaba Minoru |
| Live Announcer | Jin Horikawa | 堀川 仁 | Horikawa Jin |
| Kida | Tōru Ōkawa | 大川 透 | Ōkawa Tōru |
| OPBF Ring Announcer | Nobuyuki Furuta | 古田 信幸 | Furuta Nobuyuki |
| OPBF Referee | Masayuki Katō | 加藤 将之 | Katō Masayuki |
| Audience | Kiyoshi Katsunuma Kazutoshi Hatano Kunio Ida Yū Amano Yoriko Nagata Ikumi Nakagami Mari Kanō Misaki Sekiyama |
勝沼 紀義 波多野 和俊 井田 国男 天野 ユウ 永田 依子 中上 育実 狩野 茉莉 関山 美沙紀 |
Katsunuma Kiyoshi Hatano Kazutoshi Ida Kunio Amano Yū Nagata Yoriko Nakagami Ikumi Kanō Mari Sekiyama Misaki |
Episode Credits[]
| Role | English Name | Japanese | Rōmaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screenplay | Kazuyuki Fudeyasu | ふでやす かずゆき | Fudeyasu Kazuyuki |
| Storyboard | Jun Shishido | 宍戸 淳 | Shishido Jun |
| Director | Satoshi Ōsedo | 大脊戸 聡 | Ōsedo Satoshi |
| Animation Director | Jang Kil-yong Kim Dong-jun |
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| Bloody Cross Arc | |||||||||||||||||||
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| 35 | 36 | 37 | |||||||||||||||||
| Manga Rounds | |||||||||||||||||||
| 315 | 316 | 317 | 318 | 319 | 320 | 321 | 322 | 323 | 324 | ||||||||||
| 325 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Anime Rounds | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||