Red Lightning Arc

Red Lightning Arc
Information
Volumes	83-89, (7 Volumes)
Manga Rounds	791-849, (59 Chapters)
Spin-Off	806.5
Chronology
Previous	Winner Takes All Arc
Next	Second Coming of Death Arc

The Red Lightning Arc, also known as Fate Arc (因縁編, In'nen-hen), is the thirty-sixth story arc in the series and the fifth in the Survival Match of Asian Champions Saga.

The fated battle between the sons of two boxers: the son of Miyata, the OPBF featherweight champion, "Lightning God" Ichirō Miyata, and the son of Randy, the OPBF interim champion, "Asura" Randy Boy Junior begins. While Miyata and Randy's match is the semi-final, Takamura defends his WBC middleweight title for the third time against Ronald Duck as the main event, Aoki fights Ponsa Kureck, and Kimura fights Sim Rex as the openers.

Summary

The Magician's Confession

Gedo telling Ippo and Kamogawa about Randy.

Takamura drops Ippo off outside the doctor's office door with Kamogawa following. Gedo and his coach walks out of the doctor's office and both parties notice each other. Kamogawa makes Ippo go in the doctor's office while he stays behind. Kamogawa gives Gedo the fight money that he would normally receive since it was a good match and so that he doesn't go home empty handed. After claiming that he will still do his extending punch trick, Ippo exits the doctor's office and asks if he will still offer to throw matches, which he answers that he still will. Ippo is confused as to why he would, as he expresses how strong Gedo is and asks if he ever wanted to be a world champion. Gedo mentions that he did, but figures it would be impossible to after coming across Randy, warning Ippo that he may come across him if he went for the world title. As Gedo walks away from the venue, he asks his seconds if he put up a good fight, since he doesn't remember. After seeing their reaction, Gedo decides to focus on coming up with a new magic trick.

The Shape of a Stone

Aoki, Kimura, and Itagaki learning that they will enter the Class A Tournament.

Two days later, after Itagaki does roadwork with Kimura, they go to the Chūka Soba after Aoki had to close early due to popular demand. Itagaki and Kimura comment how if Aoki worked as hard as he does working at his job, he would be a boxing genius. Assuming the two are hungry, Aoki orders his new employees Hiroshi and Isamu of Team Aoki to cook the three of them ramen. After Itagaki and Kimura talk's about Ippo's technique of absorbing punches, Aoki shows them Isamu and Hiroshi's report chart about their boxing skills, including Ippo's. As Itagaki, who's only got speed, and Kimura, who has a very small circle, are upset about their rating, they see Aoki's rating is so high that it goes over the paper's border, they claim that it would be impossible for Aoki, making Aoki depressed. At the gym, Aoki vows to prove to Itagaki and Kimura that he is not just about ramen, by becoming champion. However, after realising that he is ranked seventh, Kimura's also ranked seventh, and Itagaki is ranked eighth, Kimura and Aoki wants to move up to avoid Itagaki surpassing them in the gym's internal ranking system. Shinoda reveals a way for all three of them to go up in the rankings by taking the on Class A Tournament, which all three accepts.

Fujii explaining the power grid shapes.

Fujii visits the Kamogawa gym in hopes on interviewing Ippo. After finding out he is still recovering and away from the gym, Fujii begins to leave before being dragged into interviewing Aoki, Kimura, and Itagaki, who are going to participate in the Class A Tournament. They ask Fujii to fill out a power grid on them. Kimura and Aoki's are circular, while Itagaki's is more triangular. After Aoki and Kimura makes fun of Itagaki for being unbalanced, Fujii explains that if one imagined the power grid shapes as rocks and is placed in a square filter, the bigger rocks like Takamura would not fall through the filter and would stay in the pro ring, but pointed rocks like Itagaki and Ippo can also stay, even if they are small rocks by putting their best attribute forward. Aoki and Kimura are advised to train by Shinoda to make their smaller rocks bigger. After leaving the Kamogawa gym, Fujii remembers the time when Ippo was partaking in the Class A Tournament, and is interested in Itagaki's chances in the upcoming tournament. With Ippo able to move around now, he goes out fishing. Aoki, Kimura, and Itagaki notice Ippo fishing. As Ippo grabs a net to put in the water to catch a fish, Aoki thinks the fish should be called "Masaru". After the fish falls through the net, Kimura and Itagaki keeps saying Masaru fell through the net, making Aoki angry.

Team Itagaki and the Meeting of Speed Kings

Itagaki meeting Karasawa and Saeki.

After Ippo's face has fully recovered, he is invited by Itagaki to go to the Kōrakuen Hall with him. Itagaki has him meet Team Itagaki, his two kōhais that joined the Kamogawa gym six months ago, wanting them to introduce themselves to Ippo only when they succeed in their pro test. Itagaki plans to have Team Itagaki become pros to surpass Team Aoki and move up in the gym's internal ranking. As Ippo watches the pro test, he becomes nostalgic as he remember how he first met Mashiba at his pro test. Ippo is surprised to see Saeki and Karasawa watching the pro test. Saeki and Karasawa informs Ippo that they are planning on getting ranked first to take the JBC featherweight belt, fighting Ippo if he still has the belt when they get there, and that they would be participating in the Class A Tournament along with Fukui. As Ippo reveals that Itagaki is also partaking in the tournament, they do not know who he is, to which Itagaki warns them that he would make them learn his name. After their conversation, Ippo checks to see how team Itagaki did, however, it turned out the duo got knocked down and most likely did not pass. Afterwards, while Ippo and Yagi are worried about Team Itagaki, Itagaki feels that he can only worry about himself since he is good against in-fighters, but hasn't had experience against an out-boxer yet, nor against anyone faster than him. Ippo is asked by Yagi of his opinion, which Ippo comments that Itagaki is not much slower but lacks the experience Saeki and Karasawa have.

Later after a fishing trip, Itagaki tries to get Nanako to go home since her help isn't needed, however, Nanako didn't want to leave because Kumi is around. As Nanako claims that Kumi shouldn't get in the way, Itagaki replies that she shouldn't get in Ippo and Kumi's way. When Nanako asks if it bothers him, Itagaki notes how he is jealous of Ippo having a belt and Kumi, but sees it as natural for his goal to have things that he wants and knows that Ippo will relinquish the title one day and with him at the top rankings, he would take the title. As Ippo and Kumi talk, Ippo gets excited after hearing that Mashiba is going to have his return match soon as his suspension is almost over and agrees to go with her to watch Mashiba's OPBF title match. When Itagaki gets back to the Kamogawa gym, Aoki and Kimura makes fun of him as they inform him that Team Itagaki quit the gym.

Randy vs. Japan

Itagaki sparring against Randy.

At the Otowa gym, Randy, with Mr. Sakaguchi as his second has a public sparring session, where he defeated three of the gym's ranked boxers. Mr. Sakaguchi is disappointed to hear that there are no more boxers to fight, remarking that he should have gone to Mexico instead. He asks for someone to call other gyms for boxers who uses their feet to spar with Randy. At the Kamogawa gym, Itagaki says that he will do it. The next day, Itagaki goes to the Otowa gym with Shinoda and Ippo to spar against Randy. The Otowa coach wishes for Itagaki to beat him since Randy and Mr. Sakaguchi are looking down on the Japanese. Ippo watches Randy shadowbox as Mari approaches him commenting how it looks like he is glaring at him like he stole his lover and asks if he came to fight him too. Ippo claims that he is only observing. When the spar begins, Itagaki focuses while in a no-guard stance. Being able to see all of Randy's movements, he dodges his punches while connecting with his own with counters and jabs. In the second round, Randy uses his Switch Hitting style to his advantage and Itagaki gets knocked down twice due to his rhythm getting affected by Randy switching his stances. Unable to fight after the second down, Itagaki is carried out from the ring by Shinoda and Ippo. Mr. Sakaguchi laughs at and mocks everyone applauding Itagaki and thinking that Randy was forced to fight seriously, claiming that he wasn't fighting seriously and that they will see that happen when he takes the world champion, Ricardo Martínez down.

Ippo and Randy's spar being stopped by Mr. Sakaguchi.

Randy notices that Ippo is glaring at them. Ippo asks if Randy is ready for the world since he still has to fight Miyata. Mr. Sakaguchi downplays Miyata by calling him a mere stepping stone to go to the world stage, making Ippo irritated at the two that got between him and Miyata. Itagaki mentions to Shinoda that there is one round left since the three round spar ended in two rounds. As Ippo looked ready to spar against Randy for the remaining one round, everyone in the gym chants Ippo's name. Ippo gets ready and enters the ring to fight Randy for one round. As Ippo and Randy were about to start fighting, Mr. Sakaguchi got in between them and stops the spar, reminding Ippo how he refused to fight Randy the last time they met, and that Randy will only face him after his fight with Miyata, in the Philippines, and when Ippo's world ranking is on the line. Everyone becomes disappointed, especially Ippo as Randy and Mr. Sakaguchi leaves the gym. Outside the gym, Mr. Sakaguchi informs Randy to remember Ippo's name, as Miyata and him are the world rankers he has to take for the shortest path to become the world champion. When Mr. Sakaguchi tells him that Miyata is first since he keeps defeating his pawns, Randy confronts him, claiming that he is not his tool and that he will only believe in his goals as long as it aligns with his own, planning to only work with him until he receives his present.

Itagaki and Imai thinking about their spars.

Inside the Otowa gym, Itagaki tells Ippo, Mari, and Fujii that he didn't know how he went down and thinks that he is out-boxers' worst match up. Imai arrives with a beaten face and claims that Miyata can win. Itagaki laughs at Imai for getting beaten and not being able to hit Miyata. Itagaki learns from Imai how Miyata sparred with him and a southpaw to get used to Randy's Switch-Hitting style. Itagaki and Imai, acknowledging that there is always someone better than them, both agree that they will show Miyata and Randy one day. Walking home with Imai, Itagaki asks who he thinks is stronger between Miyata and Randy, which Imai answers that it is Miyata, however, Itagaki disagrees from his experience of fighting Randy. Itagaki and Imai argues about how Imai thinks that being an out-boxer feels like a pain and Itagaki thinks that it is simple being an in-fighter. When Itagaki arrives to his house, he became annoyed as his parents invited Imai in for dinner. Itagaki and Nanako becomes annoyed as Imai brags about having problems with living in his big house and are shocked that Imai chimed in with his own puns with their parents. After dinner Itagaki walks Imai home and asks what Imai will do next, which Imai reveals that he would increase his strength the long way for the inevitable battle for the JBC featherweight title.

Preparations to Fight Against Asura

Takamura facing three boxers at once.

When Ippo and Itagaki go to the Kamogawa gym, they are surprised to see Takamura back from his trip from the southern islands of Japan. They learn that Takamura is going to spar with three JBC middleweight ranked boxers, and that Kamogawa and Takamura made a promise that since Takamura doesn't want to do a third title defence and wants to move up to the super middleweight class, if Takamura doesn't get hit, Kamogawa will allow him to do it, but if he gets hit he has to do the third title defence. When Takamura calls for the three boxers to come in the ring all at once to fight him, Ippo, Itagaki, Kimura, and Aoki are shocked, but Kamogawa said it was his idea, as Takamura claims that he heard Miyata had sparred against two boxers at once, so he thinks he can beat three at once. The spar begins, and, after defeating one boxer with one punch, Takamura gets touched before by the other two before knocking them both out at the same time in one round, resulting in Kamogawa keeping the arrangement of his third WBC middleweight title defence for him. Ippo thinks a world title defence is still amazing, while Itagaki notes that Takamura seems to be in a rush to get all the titles. Yagi reveals to the gym members that Takamura's third WBC middleweight title defence opponent in April at the Yokohama Arena would be WBC third ranker Ronald Duck, Aoki and Kimura will be openers, and Miyata will face Randy in the semi-final.

Miyata fighting two boxers in a spar.

At the Kawahara gym, preparing for his upcoming match against the interim OPBF champion, Randy, Miyata made preparations to go against Randy's Switch Hitting ability by sparring against the orthodox boxer, Imai, and a southpaw boxer at the same time. While watching Miyata spar against the two boxers, his father believes that the fear of not knowing whether a punch will come from the left or right keeps his eyes on both sides. Miyata defeats the two boxers after struggling and getting hit a lot. After Miyata's father thanks Imai for sticking with Miyata's sparring sessions unlike other boxers that participated, Imai asks how long they will continue the training since Miyata seems to be getting hurt and is in no condition to fight. Miyata's father claims that he will focus on Miyata's recovery when the match nears, however, if he can't learn anything from the training, then he will lose, as he is still missing something.

Takamura telling Ippo about Miyata's weight control struggles.

At the Kamogawa gym, as Aoki and Kimura prepare for their matches, Aoki spars with Itagaki, and Kimura spars with Ippo. After the spars, Ippo notices Takamura watching and that he looks angry. The gym members notices Takamura struggling with his weight control as he was not sweating after roadwork. Takamura is sure he can win against any opponent, but points out Miyata, who is set up to go against Randy, is not the same. As Ippo voices his worries, Takamura stops him and reminds him that he was about to fight the same Miyata that was suffering from weight control. Takamura adds that it was all Ippo's fault due to Miyata staying in the weight class to fight Ippo and because he is a featherweight, he is fighting Randy. Seeing Ippo depressed, Takamura notes it was all Miyata's decision and the path he chose. As it begins to snow, Ippo remembers his meetings with Miyata that happened while it was snowing and how their promise disappeared.

Miyata's father discussing Miyata's upcoming match against Randy with Kida and the Kawahara coach.

At the Kawahara gym, Miyata's father watches tapes of Randy's matches with Kida and the Kawahara coach. Miyata's father explains to the staff about Randy's stance that allows him to stare directly at his opponent no matter which way his opponent confronts him from, and that he never gets hit directly on his face due to his ability to use head slips. Miyata's father informs the staff that Miyata's two-on-one training is finished, however, he needs to learn how to use genuine uppercuts since he can't confront Randy with direct attacks, and he thinks bringing the uppercut specialist Ippo to the gym would be a good way for him to learn first hand. Since he knows that he can't since the Kamogawa gym cut ties with the Miyata family, Miyata's father decides that he would have to teach Miyata how to use uppercuts himself. After learning that Miyata's two-on-one training is done and they want to have Ippo spar with Miyata, Itagaki informs Ippo, but mentions that Kamogawa will be angry so he can't do it. Since Miyata needs someone with good uppercuts, they wonder who they could get to help until they remember Sendō could do it.

Beatdown Tour

Sendō meeting Sawamura to help him with his beat down tour.

Outside the Sendō Shop, Sendō reveals to Hoshi that he is going on a beatdown tour, showing him a list of boxers he plans to defeat, since he will be challenging for a world title soon and doesn't want anyone in Japan to try and question his strength. Hoshi is proud of his senpai, thinking that he is a real man, and plans to look after the shop while he is away. A week later, at the Naniwa Boxing Club, Hoshi gets yelled at by Yanaoka for letting Sendō go off on the tour without informing the gym. Yanaoka asks the coach what they can do, however, the coach becomes stressed and doesn't want to think about it, instead, he wants the gym to pretend they never heard about it. After beating three boxers in Kyushu, he heads for Nagoya and asks Sawamura to be his guide. Sawamura rides a motorcycle to the meeting spot to pick him up. Sendō wants to be the driver of the motorcycle, however, he quickly loses control of it and causes him and Sawamura to fall off and the motorcycle crashes, causing Sawamura having to guide him on foot.

At the Kawahara gym, Miyata does mitt practising with his father and notices how his father is making him do uppercuts, commenting that he doesn't think he needs to strengthen them. His father notes that while he compensates his weak punches in many ways, he only does it for straight punches, and that Randy is talented at dealing with any kind of punches, suggesting for Miyata to scare him with punches other than straights. Miyata argues that throwing a full swung uppercut would leave him off balance instead of Randy, leaving him critically open for Randy to hit him. His father replies that there are boxers that use full swung uppercuts without worrying about being critically opened. Miyata, remembering Ippo, rebukes his father for comparing him to Ippo, vowing to win using his own style and method, however, he gets shocked when his father asks him if his method is truly his own style. Once Sendō defeated the boxers on his beatdown list in Nagoya, Sawamura takes him to the train station. While Sendō apologises for wrecking his motorcycle, Sawamura mentions that it wasn't his anyway, and that he has decided to quit using motorcycles as he has learned how frightening they can be. Sawamura discovers that Sendō plans on going to Tokyo next, and sees that Mashiba and Miyata are on the list.

At the Kamogawa gym, Itagaki informs Ippo that he has a match after Takamura's that leads to Mashiba's return match. As they discuss how they can help Miyata with his uppercuts, they notice that Sendō has arrived to the gym. The gym members learn about Sendō's beatdown list and assume that Ippo must be on the list. Sendō claims that he wouldn't be satisfied unless he beats Ippo in a real match, so when he takes the world title, Ippo will be his first title defence opponent. When Takamura arrives to the gym, Sendō tries to beat him since he is on the list, but fails. Sendō reveals to the gym members how he has come to fight Miyata and Mashiba since he has been fighting Mexicans a lot and noticed that their range is different from Japanese boxers and wants to work on his jabs against Mashiba and Miyata who have great jabs. Sendō also explains that he does not know how to get to the Kawahara gym which is why he came to the Kamogawa gym first. Ippo wishes to take him there, but Kamogawa stops him and asks for Itagaki to take Sendō there instead. As Sendō and Itagaki heads out, Sendō comments that it probably is for the best Ippo doesn't come to see the spar. Due to Kamogawa not wanting to let Ippo go see the spar, Ippo becomes depressed until his depression annoys the others at the gym, making them order him to go around and buy them outlandish items as a hint for him to watch the spar.

Sendō sparring against Miyata.

After buying a tsuchinoko drink for Takamura, Ippo arrives outside the Kawahara gym and peeks inside the window and sees Sendō and Miyata talking, having not sparred yet. Itagaki goes outside and notices Ippo sneaking around. They both decide to stay outside a watch. Kida and the Kawahara coach are not impressed of Sendō coming and requesting a spar with Miyata unannounced and without permission, however, Miyata becomes okay with the spar after being smacked on the head by Sendō when he first declined by wanting the coach's permission first. Miyata gets his payback from Sendō hitting him by throwing the sparring gloves that Sendō gave him on his head and getting his own, making the two equally serious. Itagaki heads back inside to be Sendō's second. When the spar begins, Sendō gets hit by Miyata's lefts, learning how Miyata's fast and painful lefts makes his opponent drop their guard, letting Miyata able to hit them with rights. Sendō breaks Miyata's guard with a Smash and sends out another Smash, however, the second Smash misses as Sendō gets hit by a counter. Seeing that Miyata did not follow up after the counter, Sendō becomes angry that Miyata isn't treating the spar like a real fight and begins attacking again. Sendō gets hit with lefts until the first round ends. At Miyata's corner, Miyata's father asks him why he didn't use footwork. Miyata answers that he was thinking about how he would fight Randy in the eleventh round, where he might be too tired to use his footwork. In the second round, Sendō walks towards Miyata with his hands up and exposing his entire body. Sendō uses head slips to dodge Miyata's lefts and throws punches of his own from the same position, appearing motionless at Miyata's guard. After feinting Miyata into throwing a counter, Sendō dodges and hits him with a body blow. Sendō forces Miyata into a corner and throws a right at his guard, breaking it with a Smash after. Sendō ends the spar by hitting the ring post with his right near Miyata's head, as he believes that Miyata has understood his strength.

Seeing that it would be helpful to spar again, Miyata asks Sendō to have a spar for a few days, however, Sendō declines, claiming that he is busy and won't do him any good. He mentions to Miyata that he is full of holes and suggests for him to not think that he can only win with straights in the real world, as he shows that the straight head hunter only punches are predictably repetitive. Sendō adds that his counters won't work either, as his lefts and rights have good form that looks like it has been taken out of a reference book, which is a negative because if his form is off, he wouldn't be able to punch at all, criticising his belief that he can be a world champion by merely reading books. After declining Miyata's spar request again, he gets hit by Yanaoka, who just showed up, for being rude and plans to force Sendō to spar with Miyata. Miyata's father is shocked to see Yanaoka, as they both greet each other, with Yanaoka claiming that he will never forget his punch and is still chasing after him.

Inherited Dream

Miyata's father discovering a young Miyata shadow boxing.

As Ippo, Itagaki, and Sendō walk from the Kawahara gym, Itagaki expresses how he is surprised that Miyata's father and Yanaoka fought each other in the past. Sendō noticed how Miyata did not look surprised about it, which Ippo points out that Miyata idolises his father so much he probably knows the names of all his opponent and possibly saw his father and Yanaoka's match. Sendō is irritated that Yanaoka went off with Miyata's father to talk and now Sendō has no where to stay for the night. Ippo invites Sendō to stay with him for the night, which Sendō happily accepts. At the Mayweather Bar, Miyata's father and Yanaoka talk about their past, where Yanaoka was driven to defeat Miyata's father, who was deemed unrivalled throughout Japan, however, Miyata's father defeated Yanaoka in the seventh round by knockout. Miyata's father apologises to Yanaoka for not living up to his expectations as a boxer, but Yanaoka compares Miyata to his father, claiming that Miyata's father will take the world in a different way by teaching his son use the same counter that he used to use. Miyata's father revealed to Yanaoka that Miyata learned the counter himself at a young age. Miyata's father explains to Yanaoka about the match against Randy Boy Senior, which is a match he will never forget, detailing how in the final round of his OPBF title defence, when he tried to throw a Jolt Counter, but was hit instead, hearing the sound of his jaw and dreams shattering. Miyata's father claims how Miyata was the only one that would stay at his side, but he hit him once after he kept carrying his old gloves, reminding him of his boxing. Miyata's father tells him the most important day of his life was when he saw Miyata shadow boxing with movements he learned from memory of his father's boxing, making Miyata's father want to watch his son as his last hope. When Yanaoka mentions to Miyata's father that regardless of how he did it, he taught Miyata how to box, Miyata's father does not want to admit it and claims that Yanaoka must be drunk.

Sleeping with Ippo, Sendō argues with him that he won the spar against Miyata, however, Ippo disagrees, noting that the counter that Sendō overcame isn't all that there is to Miyata, as there is his footwork. Remembering that Miyata didn't use his footwork during their spar, Sendō decides to show Miyata who's better by having him use his footwork the next day. A week later, at the Kamogawa gym, while Ippo theorises with his gym mates about how Miyata's spars against Sendō went, Sendō arrives and confirms that Miyata was not using his footwork, assuming his weight control was the reason. Sendō leaves with Yanaoka as they go back to Osaka after Sendō tells Ippo that he will come back to watch Miyata's match against Randy in April. As the Kamogawa gym members are worried about Takamura's weight control, a dried up Takamura arrives, revealing how, thanks to Ippo bringing the drink he requested a week ago, his weight control has been easy since he can eat all he wants and gain weight due to diarrhoea. Takamura plans to bring some of the drinks to Miyata before being stopped by Ippo, who grabs his by his pants, causing him to have to defecate. Aoki and Kimura believe that they can't rely on Takamura or Miyata to kick things off, so it is up to them, planning to bloom brighter than cherry blossoms.

When the Cherry Blossoms Bloom

Takamura and Miyata's joint press conference.

After having a bad dream about his father's defeat against Randy's father, Miyata does roadwork. He comes across a Prunus that hasn't blossomed, and remembers the memory of him, his father and mother standing under the cherry blossoms, which was his last memory of them having fun as a family, before his father's match against Randy's father. At the Kawahara gym, Miyata struggles with mitt training with his father, who is lifting his mitts high to try and get Miyata to move around more to help him in his weight control. When the weigh-in for Takamura, Aoki, Kimura, and, Miyata arrive they go to the Kōrakuen Hall, where all of them and their opponents pass. The Kamogawa gym members goes to the De La Hoya, where Takamura eats a lot of food to recover from his weight control. Takamura, Miyata, Randy, and Duck goes to their joint press conference, where Mr. Sakaguchi takes most of his and Takamura's time mocking the Japanese for being bad about weight management, using Miyata and Takamura's poor looking state at the weigh-in as examples, and telling the crowd to remember Randy's name, as he will become world champion one day. Takamura wishes to beat Mr. Sakaguchi after Miyata and Randy's match due to not letting Takamura give his speech.

World Conquest Proclamation - Openers - Tatsuya Kimura (JBC Rank 7) vs. Sim Rex (Philippines Rank 6) / Masaru Aoki (JBC Rank 7) vs. Ponsa Kureck (Thailand Rank 5)

Kimura fighting Sim.

At the Yokohama Arena on the night of the matches, the openers have knockout wins back-to-back, making Yagi think that Aoki and Kimura should get ready to fight soon. Aoki believes he will be able to take his time since Kimura is fighting before him and it will end in a decision, causing him and Kimura to argue. Aoki and Kimura visit Miyata in his room and notices that the atmosphere is heavy. Aoki and Kimura advises for Miyata to get ready soon since their matches will end quickly and they will pass the momentum to him. Miyata's father tells him to not cool down, as two ten round decisions will take an hour, but Miyata believes that the atmosphere in the arena is odd, so even they could end their matches early. Miyata's father agrees, telling him he should get ready to fight as soon as possible, but Miyata claims to be ready right now. As Kimura leaves to the ring, Aoki thinks it will still be a while until he has to fight so he takes a nap naked in his room. As Kimura's match against Sim Rex begins, Kimura was on the defensive for the first four rounds in order to make Sim tire out in the later rounds. In round five, however, their heads collide, causing a doctor stoppage due to the bleeding. Due to the doctor stoppage, the match goes into a decision, which results in Kimura's loss.

Aoki fighting Ponsa.

After hearing about the results of Kimura's match from Ippo and Itagaki, Aoki becomes fired up to win for Kimura. As Aoki heads out for his match, Ippo stays with Kimura in the doctor's office. When Aoki's match against Ponsa Kureck begins, Aoki and Ponsa has an exchange in the middle of the ring until Aoki gets pushed back. Aoki proceeds to run away from Ponsa the entire ten rounds while looking for a chance to hit him. The chance never came and Aoki loses by decision, earning him a scolding from Shinoda. In Miyata's room, Miyata's father believes that the atmosphere in the arena is indeed strange for Aoki and Kimura to lose to cannon fodder, wondering if what is inside the ring are storm clouds. As Kamogawa, Yagi, and Shinoda begins to leave to go to Takamura's room they think that someone should stay with Aoki and Kimura. Itagaki wants to watch Miyata's match, so he leaves. Ippo tries to stay, but his pacing around makes Aoki and Kimura annoyed and they tell him to leave. Itagaki brings Hiroshi and Isamu in Aoki and Kimura's room to keep them company. Hiroshi and Isamu claims that Aoki and Kimura's matches had a unique flavour and were suited for them, making Aoki and Kimura angry.

World Conquest Proclamation - Semi-Final - OPBF Title Featherweight Unification Match - Champion Ichirō Miyata vs. Interim Champion Randy Boy Junior

Miyata and Randy in the ring as the match is about to begin.

As Ippo and Itagaki run to the audience area, Ippo remembers how he always thought that he would fight Miyata again if they kept boxing, but it wasn't him at the other end of Miyata's thread of fate. He doesn't want to get in between Miyata and Randy, and instead wants to see the match through to the end. Ippo and Itagaki sits next to Sendō and Sawamura. Sendō wants to know how strong Randy is. Itagaki explains how he sparred against him and was beaten easily, and that it seemed that Randy can disrupt rhythm with some kind of static. Sawamura claims that the description of Randy having static means Miyata will either lose or have a really hard time as the static noise spells bad news for counter users. Sendō asks Ippo what he will do if Miyata loses. Ippo answers that Miyata will win, but on the off chance he doesn't he will fight Randy. As the match is about to begin, Randy is unfazed by Mr. Sakaguchi's attempt to rile him up to make his match a revenge match by telling him that Miyata's father was the reason his father passed away. Randy remembers how his father would only wear t shirts as he could not button his shirts due to his hands shaking, he would repeat things he said before, and, after losing his world title match in one round, his father passed away seven days later. He wonders why his father went to the world title match when he was already having symptoms of brain damage, wanting to know what is difference the world stage makes, planning to keep going until he finds his answer. When both fighters get in the ring, Miyata is advised by his father to push Randy as hard as he can right away and they will come up with a strategy later.

Miyata fighting Randy.

As the match begins, Miyata and Randy do not go to the centre of the ring to touch gloves as the referee ordered, instead they take a distance and circle around the ring. Suddenly, Miyata uses his speed to appear in front of Randy as Randy was about to charge toward him, and lands a counter. Miyata dodges Randy's assault and goes around him with lefts, landing a hit on Randy's head. Randy begins to speed up, keeping up with Miyata's footwork and knocking away his punches. As Miyata tries to use footwork to get away from Randy, he gets chased until he is trapped in a corner. Miyata dodges Randy's barrage of punches at the corner and hits Randy with a counter in the middle of the barrage, escaping from the corner. Miyata signals for Randy to fight him in the centre of the ring, which Randy accepts. After dodging Randy's long range punches, Miyata and Randy enters an in-fight at the centre of the ring, which Miyata dominates, hitting Randy multiple times until the first round ends. At Miyata's corner, after hearing his father tell him to stay focused, Miyata believes that he has been getting more focused and wonders if he can pull off his ideal punch that he has been chasing after since he was a child. At Randy's corner, Randy does not want to take it easy like Mr. Sakaguchi wants to by waiting for Miyata to slow down in the later rounds, as he wants to prove that he can take on an opponent with world class speed now, since if he can't prove it now, he doubts that he can do it later. Sendō notes that Randy winning or losing will depend on his guts, as there is not much Randy can do with Miyata's speed, and if he gets angry and throws punches with more power, Miyata's counter will gain more power if it connects.

Miyata landing a Jolt Counter on Randy.

When the second round begins, Miyata counters against Randy's first punch of the round, and notices that Randy saw the counter coming, planning to throw a punch that Randy can't see. Miyata attacks Randy's guarded head with a flurry of punches while mixing in blows to his exposed body. When Randy drops his guard to attack, Miyata hits his head and retreats. Miyata enters a middle ranged exchange with Randy, where Miyata is the only one landing punches at first until Miyata decides to put his guard up and slow down to bait Randy into going on the offensive by thinking that he can be caught. As Miyata was about to get hit during the exchange, he swiftly dodges to the side and lands a counter over his punch that downs Randy. Watching the match on TV, Kamogawa remembers when a young Miyata came to his gym after his father retired and asked one thing: to be taught counters. After Randy gets up, Miyata rushes from the neutral corner as Randy hunches over from the damage. When he gets to Randy's range, he blocks a punch with his shoulder and continues to dodge more punches while noticing that Randy is unable to step-in and he hasn't moved his foot. Miyata stops his footwork to ready himself to throw a Jolt Counter as Randy begins throwing a right. Miyata hits Randy with a right-on-right Jolt Counter and is shocked that he is still standing. Knowing that Randy will go down if he gets hit again, Miyata launches another attack, however, his leg gets crossed up, making him trip and fall on Randy, causing a slip to be declared for both boxers. When they both get up, Miyata tries to rush to Randy and attack before being stopped by the referee as the second round ends. At Miyata's corner, Miyata is surprised to learn from his father that the reason his legs crossed with Randy's was because Randy was taking the southpaw stance, and it is also the reason he did not go down against the Jolt Counter as Miyata countered a mere southpaw right jab. At Randy's corner his seconds splash water on his face to keep him up. Mr. Sakaguchi tries to give him advice but couldn't in time.

Miyata using his Speed Hell against Randy.

In the third round, Miyata successfully uses the anti-southpaw strategy of attacking while circling clockwise against Randy, who entered the southpaw stance at the start of the round. During his assault, Miyata manages to get hit by Randy's right after feeling like there is some kind of static interrupting his steps and breaking his rhythm. Miyata realises that Randy is switching between the orthodox and southpaw stance without him knowing, causing the static that makes it hard for Miyata to keep his rhythm. With Miyata comparing Randy's ability to switch between the stances as fighting against multiple boxers, he plans to throw more punches and move at full speed. Miyata uses Speed Hell, attacking Randy with a barrage of punches on his guard at full speed, trapping Randy in a corner while still hitting his guard until he is stopped by the referee as the third round ends. At Miyata's corner, Miyata notes how Randy's guard is solid, but when he makes a move, he will counter Randy. He is instructed by his father to do what ever it takes to take down Randy before he recovers from the damage he still has from getting hit by the Jolt Counter. At Randy's corner, Randy tells a complaining Mr. Sakaguchi that he is using the data he gave him against Miyata, however, he realises how Miyata is evolving, as he is stronger and faster than the data that Mr. Sakaguchi had claimed he was.

Randy realising he broke Miyata's ribs.

In the fourth round, Miyata continues his full speed assault on Randy's guard. After Miyata pauses, Randy opens his guard. As Randy advances toward Miyata, Miyata resumes his fast barrage of punches, however, Randy begins to dodge the punches using head slips. Randy is able to force himself to Miyata's chest, hitting Miyata with a body blow. Miyata continues to attack at full speed while getting hit by multiple body blows, occasionally countering them while noting that Randy can hit his body all he wants and take his stamina as he never planned to take the match to the second half. Sendō notes how strong Randy's punches look and how Miyata must be hurting worse because of his weight control. Ippo comments how unfair it is to aim for someone's body after harsh weight control, but Sendō points out Ippo's hypocrisy as Ippo would be aiming for the body too if he was fighting Miyata. As Randy slips down to avoid Miyata's punch and attack his body, Miyata connects a counter with his right, which Randy did not see as Miyata had him focus on his left counter the whole time when he was countering the previous body blows. Seeing that Randy recovered, Miyata realises that he lost the bet as the fourth round ends. Randy realises that he has the advantage now, as he broke Miyata's ribs when his first body blow connected. At Miyata's corner, Miyata's father asks him where he is having trouble at, however, Miyata simply claims that there is nothing to worry about. At Randy's corner, Mr. Sakaguchi wonders if Miyata's side is damaged. When Randy claims that it might already be broken, he tells Randy that it should give him confidence to win

Randy being able to easily watch where Miyata goes.

In the fifth round, Miyata attempts the same tactic of using his right counter against Randy's body blow, however, he misses since the attacks to his body broke his ribs, causing pain and slower movement when he tries to throw a right. Because of that, Miyata gets hit by multiple body blows, further increasing the pain to his broken ribs. Miyata dodges an attack to his face with a sway, retreating by using footwork to try and stabilise his breathing, however, he realises that no matter where he goes, Randy is always staring directly at him and creating the static that messes with his rhythm. Miyata uses footwork, sways, and neck twists to avoid Randy's punches to his head while throwing lefts at his block. After getting hit by two body blows that he was unable to avoid, Miyata gets pressured, as he does not know where to go, making him back into a corner. Miyata fights his way out of the corner by landing multiple lefts on Randy's head, however, he quickly falls down due to his jaw getting hit while trying to escape. When he gets up, the gong to end the fifth round rings. At Miyata's corner, Miyata realises that he can't hide his pain from his father and tells him that he can only use his right to attack with all his strength two or three more times. At Randy's corner, Mr. Sakaguchi deems Miyata and his father pitiful existences to Randy, noting to Randy that it will only take one more down to make him win.

Miyata being struck by Randy's right.

In the sixth round, Miyata plants his feet and put up his guard, blocking Randy's attacks. When his guard breaks, Miyata is unable to avoid Randy's combinations to his face and gets pushed to the ropes. Miyata is able to put his guard up again, blocking the attacks while at the ropes. When a right goes through Miyata's guard and hits his face, Miyata goes down. Remembering that he wanted to prove that his father's boxing isn't wrong, Miyata stands up. Miyata goes on the offence, throwing big low-to-high punches that Randy easily dodges. When Miyata tries to throw a left hook, he falls from the momentum of the swing, rolling down on the canvas. After getting up, Miyata misses his punches while getting hit by Randy's attacks. Miyata falls from his own momentum again as the gong to end the sixth round rings. As Miyata crawls to his corner, Randy asks the referee if Miyata should still be fighting anymore. At Randy's corner, as Randy claims that Miyata might die if it continues, Mr. Sakaguchi tells him to not have sympathy, since the one who caused his father's death is Miyata's second, advising him to use the same counter as his father did that ended Miyata's father's career. Randy has no hard feelings toward Miyata, and knows that his style, while similar to his father's, is entirely different. Miyata has to be lifted up off the chair by his father so that he can leave for round seven. Miyata's father wants to watch his son fight just like he watched him fight when he was young.

Randy, refusing to lose after getting hit by a Cross Counter.

In the seventh round, Miyata continues to throw upward jabs that misses while getting hit by Randy's lefts. After noticing how every time Randy is attacking him, he always uses his left, Miyata gets hit with another left that sends him on his back. The referee was about to end the match, however, Miyata rolls back and stands up, intending to continue. As Randy advances toward Miyata, Miyata moves his left fist slightly to feint Randy into throwing a left, remembering his strategy when he was a child of feinting with small movements to make his opponent throw a left to hit him right straight. When Randy throws a left, Miyata uses the Cross Counter, knocking him down, however, he is able to stand back up.

Miyata defeating Randy.

As Miyata and Randy dashes toward each other, they both throw a right. Miyata is the one to land his punch, hitting Randy with a Corkscrew Counter, something Randy describes as "Red Lightning", sending him down. The referee ends the match immediately, resulting in Miyata's victory and keeping his OPBF featherweight title. Before leaving the ring, Miyata raises his right fist to the crowd as he is told by his father to give his regards to the crowd that cheered him on. Miyata's father realises that the punch Miyata used to defeat Randy was not something he ever used before, believing that Miyata has surpassed him. Sawamura explains the Corkscrew Counter that Miyata used to defeat Randy. Sendō argues the logic behind it, causing an argument between him and Sawamura. Sawamura asks Ippo if he would win if he fought Miyata now, noting Miyata's two weaknesses that would let Ippo win by knockout in the later rounds, however, he adds that that prediction dropped when he saw him use the Corkscrew Counter, which could turn the match around even if Miyata is weakened in the later rounds. He suggests for Ippo to fight him while he still has a chance, as Miyata will just get farther away until Ippo can't reach him. Ippo answers that he is fine with it, as he does not think of him and Miyata as rivals, but someone he looks up to.

Randy seeing a vision of him and Miyata as kids.

In Randy's room, Randy gets yelled at by Mr. Sakaguchi for losing, wanting an answer as to why he lost by a counter from a weakened Miyata. Randy does not remember anything about the match besides the gong of the first round sounding, and then seeing something shining in his eyes. He also kept seeing a proud boy with his fist raised in the air when he closes his eyes. Mr. Sakaguchi leaves after informing Randy that their contract has been cancelled. Randy plans to go back home with his seconds and visit his father's grave to tell him that he lost. In Miyata's room, Miyata requests to his father to let him go to the doctor, however, his father has the training mitts on, wanting Miyata to not forget the last punch he threw. Miyata tries to remember how he threw it, but he can't since he threw it out of stubbornness.

World Conquest Proclamation - Main Event - WBC Middleweight Title Match - Champion Mamoru Takamura (Third Defence) vs. Challenger Ronald Duck (WBC Rank 3)

Takamura's finishing blow on Duck.

As Takamura and Duck's match is about to begin, the two boxers go to the ring while Takamura is angry that his entrance is not as flashy as Miyata's. Takamura tells Kamogawa that the match will blow him away. In the bathroom, Mr. Sakaguchi wants to leave as soon as possible, but he has a upset stomach due to Miyata. He plans to stink the place up with his diarrhoea and not flush the toilet afterwards. Mr. Sakaguchi wishes to never come to Japan again. The match between Takamura and Duck enters the ninth round with Takamura's right eye swollen shut and behind in points. Takamura was unable to hit Duck with huge punches throughout the ninth round. At Takamura's corner, Kamogawa scolds Takamura, asking if the huge misses or his swollen face were supposed to blow him away. In the tenth round, Takamura continues to miss with wide swings while getting hit by Duck's attacks and thinking that it is Mr. Sakaguchi's fault he is messing up. After Takamura takes a left jab to the face, he manages to tap Duck's forehead with his left, before landing solid right straight on Duck's face. Duck clinches Takamura, before sliding down and falling to the canvas. The referee ends the match and Takamura is declared the winner. After the crowd boos him out of the ring due to his poor performance, Takamura storms to the restroom while swinging his fists and unknowingly and accidentally hits Mr. Sakaguchi, who was coming out of the restroom. Outside the venue, Sawamura walks with Sendō to the train station and tells Ippo that he got what he came for, which Sendō hints to Ippo that Sawamura found a goal to be a trainer like Miyata's father.

Miyata laughing after reading about Mr. Sakaguchi from a newspaper.

Later, Miyata goes to the Kawahara gym after going to the doctor for a check up to give his thanks to the staff. After receiving a newspaper about his match with Randy, Miyata talks to his father about how he still feels like he won by being lucky. His father tells him that there is no such thing as a lucky punch and deems the last punch he threw was Miyata's best punch. Walking away from the gym, Miyata laughs after reading from a newspaper that Mr. Sakaguchi was hit by an unknown assailant and claims that he will never return to Japan again.

Trivia

• The "Fate Arc" name is taken from Hajime no Ippo: Fighting Souls.