Chapter 80: Chapter 80: "A Night to Remember"
The Yokohama Arena was filled with murmurs and tension as the realization sank in—the fight was truly over. The crowd couldn't believe what they had just witnessed.
"It's over," one commentator said in a solemn tone. "That last punch… Ippo's devastating right overhand was the one that sealed it. Sendo's toughness is incredible; the fact that he even stood for a moment after that punch is nothing short of superhuman."
The other commentator chimed in, "Absolutely. Sendo's willpower carried him through the fight, but even he couldn't withstand that kind of impact. What a finish!"
The referee stepped to the center of the ring, motioning for Ippo to join him. With a solemn expression, he raised Ippo's hand high into the air.
"Your winner, by TKO, and the new Japan Featherweight Rookie King—Makunouchi Ippo!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, though many still murmured among themselves, some chanting, "Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!" in support of Sendo, who was being carefully placed on a stretcher by the medical team. Camera flashes lit up the arena as photographers captured the surreal scene.
Ippo, however, wasn't celebrating. His face was frozen in shock, his wide eyes scanning the ring. His chest heaved, and his bloodied gloves trembled at his sides.
"Coach," Ippo whispered, turning to Kamogawa as the weight of the moment began to sink in. "Did I really… win? This feels like a dream."
Coach Kamogawa placed a firm hand on Ippo's shoulder, crouching slightly to look him in the eye.
"You did, kid," Kamogawa said, his gruff voice carrying an edge of pride. "And you earned it. You worked hard, and you fought your heart out."
Ippo slowly sank to his knees in the center of the ring, overwhelmed by emotion. Tears mixed with sweat and blood as the enormity of his achievement settled in.
Kamogawa knelt beside him, placing a supportive hand on his back. "C'mon, kid. Let's get you out of here. You've done enough for tonight."
Ippo nodded, leaning heavily on Kamogawa as they made their way out of the ring. The crowd cheered louder now, their appreciation growing for the humble fighter who had just delivered such an unforgettable performance.
Backstage – Sendo's POVThe Kentou-Kai gym's backroom was dimly lit, quiet except for the occasional sound of footsteps and muted conversation. Takeshi Sendo stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He blinked a few times, his vision slowly coming into focus.
"What… happened?" he muttered, his voice raspy and weak.
His coach leaned over him, relief washing over his face. "You're awake. Good."
Sendo pushed himself up slightly, wincing as his body protested. "How did it end? Did I lose?"
His coach placed a firm hand on his shoulder, gently guiding him back down. "Don't think about who won or lost, Sendo. You gave it everything you had. That fight was a masterpiece. Hold your head high."
Sendo frowned, his mind racing to piece together what had happened. "I can't… remember," he muttered. "But I remember the thrill. Damn, I want to feel that again."
His coach smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Rest for now, Sendo. There'll be more battles. For now, let's focus on recovering."
Ten minutes later, the lights dimmed again in the arena, the crowd's chatter replaced by murmurs of anticipation. A spotlight illuminated one of the tunnels, and Ryota Sakamoto emerged, his stoic demeanor and confident stride instantly drawing attention.
Some of the crowd cheered while others watched silently, intrigued by the fighter's calm intensity. Sakamoto entered the ring, his movements deliberate and methodical, as though each step was a declaration of his readiness.The lights dimmed once more. The arena erupted in cheers as Alex Makunouchi emerged, performing his trademark walk, the unmistakable "Billionaire Strut.
The camera panned to the opposite tunnel, capturing Alex Makunouchi's entrance. The crowd roared, chanting, "Alex the Great! Alex the Great!"
Alex emerged with an undeniable swagger, his confidence radiating as he walked toward the ring with his trademark strut. His coach followed closely behind, and assistant coach Yagi carried the Japan Lightweight Championship belt high above his head, showcasing it to the cheering fans.
Coach Kamogawa, who had just guided Ippo to victory, was now back in Alex's corner, proudly holding the belt aloft as they made their way down the aisle.
The camera focused on Alex, capturing his sharp gaze and the subtle smirk on his lips. His entrance was magnetic, commanding the attention of everyone in the arena.
As Alex climbed into the ring, he stood in the center, raising one gloved fist into the air. The crowd's cheers grew deafening.
The announcer stood at the center of the ring, microphone in hand, his voice echoing across the sold-out Yokohama Arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the main event of the evening!"
the announcer declared, his voice rising in excitement.
"Sanctioned by the Combat Sports Commission of Tokyo! Our three judges scoring this contest at ringside are…" The camera panned to the judges seated ringside, their stern faces illuminated under the arena lights.
"And when the action begins, our referee in charge of the ring…" The camera switched to the referee, who raised a gloved hand in acknowledgment.
The announcer took a dramatic pause, his voice thick with anticipation.
"And now, for those in attendance, and the millions of boxing fans watching around the world… this is the moment you've all been waiting for! Live from the sold-out Yokohama Arena in Japan… IIIIITTTT'S TIME!!!"
The crowd erupted into deafening cheers, their excitement electrifying the atmosphere.
"Twelve rounds for the Japanese Lightweight Championship!"
The spotlight shifted to the blue corner, where Ryota Sakamoto stood, bouncing on his toes, his piercing gaze locked on the center of the ring.
"Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner!" the announcer began. "A boxer holding a professional record of 14 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws, with 9 victories coming by way of knockout! He stands 5 feet and 7 inches tall, weighing in at 135 pounds. Fighting out of Fuji Mountain Boxing Club, he is the number two ranked lightweight contender in Japan… The Avalanche, Ryota Sakamoto!"
The crowd roared with approval as Ryota raised his gloves, acknowledging his supporters with a confident smirk. His cold, focused expression returned as he bounced lightly on his feet, awaiting the next announcement.
"And now," the announcer continued, the spotlight shifting to the red corner, "introducing his opponent, fighting out of the red corner! A boxer holding a professional record of 5 wins, 0 losses, all wins coming by way of knockout! He stands 5 feet and 9 inches tall, weighing in at 135 pounds. Fighting out of Kamogawa Gym, he is the reigning, defending Japanese Lightweight Champion… Alex 'The Great' Makunochi!"
The arena erupted with deafening cheers as Alex stood stoic, his sharp eyes never leaving Ryota. The camera zoomed in on Alex's calm demeanor, the aura of a champion radiating from his every movement.
The two fighters were called to the center of the ring by the referee. Alex and Ryota walked forward, their footsteps deliberate, tension thick in the air.
The referee addressed them firmly. "Alright, gentlemen. We've been over the rules in the locker room. Protect yourselves at all times and follow my instructions. We're gonna keep this clean. Touch gloves now if you wish to."
Alex kept his arms down, his piercing gaze meeting Ryota's as he made no effort to extend his glove. Ryota mirrored the gesture, his glare unflinching. The two stood face-to-face, neither willing to show an ounce of respect or weakness.
The referee glanced between them, his expression neutral. "Alright, back to your corners."
As Alex turned, the crowd erupted again, chanting his name. The tension in the arena was palpable, the anticipation for the fight reaching its peak. Both fighters retreated to their corners, ready for war.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the highly anticipated main event. Alex took the center of the ring with confidence, adopting his signature hitman stance, his lead hand extended low and loose, baiting Ryota. Ryota, in his high guard, approached cautiously, his eyes locked on Alex's every movement.
Alex began flicker jabbing, the rapid, snapping punches aimed at keeping Ryota on edge. He circled to his right, testing Ryota's reactions. Ryota blocked most of the jabs, occasionally attempting to parry with his right hand, but Alex's flicker jab was quick and elusive.
After a few exchanges, Alex transitioned to a sharp jab to Ryota's body, forcing Ryota's guard to lower slightly. Spotting Alex's chin exposed during the body jab, Ryota launched a powerful right cross. Alex read the move instantly, leaning back with impeccable timing, narrowly avoiding the punch.
The two reset in the center of the ring. Alex resumed flicker jabbing, maintaining a relentless rhythm. Ryota, determined to close the distance, weaved inside Alex's flicker jab and threw a right hook followed by an uppercut. Alex twisted his hips defensively into a Philly shell position, letting the hook glance off his shoulder before blocking the uppercut cleanly with his right glove. With Ryota overcommitted, Alex circled out of harm's way, resetting once again.
The commentators analyzed the situation.
"Ryota's loading up heavy punches here," one noted. "But Alex seems to be tiring him out, forcing him to waste energy."
Alex, calm and composed, flicker-jabbed again, keeping Ryota guessing. He mixed in a crisp left hook that landed cleanly, causing Ryota to grunt but remain steady. Ryota countered with a left hook to the body, but Alex pivoted smoothly to the side, avoiding it completely.
Returning to his strategy, Alex continued flicker jabbing, drawing Ryota into his trap. As Ryota parried one of Alex's jabs with his right hand, Alex smirked and muttered under his breath, "I got you." Ryota's chin was momentarily exposed, and Alex capitalized instantly, firing a lightning-fast right cross. The punch landed flush, staggering Ryota and forcing him back into the ropes.
The crowd roared as Alex pressed the attack. He threw a regular jab, testing Ryota's reaction. Ryota, desperate to counter, launched a right cross, but Alex slipped under it effortlessly and rose with a devastating left uppercut. The punch snapped Ryota's head back violently, his mouthguard flying out as blood sprayed into the air.
Not letting up, Alex followed the uppercut with a straight right hand. The blow landed squarely on Ryota's temple, sending him collapsing into the ropes. The only thing keeping Ryota upright was the ropes themselves, his arms dangling lifelessly at his sides.
The referee immediately stepped in, beginning the count. "One… two… three…" But Ryota's hands never moved, his eyes glazed over. The referee reached eight, then waved it off, signaling the end of the fight.
"It's over!" the commentator exclaimed. "Alex Makunouchi has done it again! A brutal finish in the very first round!"
The arena erupted in cheers, the crowd chanting, "Alex the Great! Alex the Great!"
Coach Kamogawa and Assistant Coach Yagi jumped in celebration, shouting in triumph. In the backroom, Ippo had just arrived with Takamura, Kimura, and Aoki. Watching on the monitor, they erupted with cheers as well.
"Alex did it!" Ippo exclaimed, still battered from his own fight but beaming with pride.
"Man, that kid is a monster!" Aoki added, his voice filled with admiration.
Kimura smirked. "I don't think anyone's taking that belt from him anytime soon."
Takamura chuckled. "That's my boy! He's making Kamogawa Gym proud!"
In the ring, Alex stood tall, his arm raised by the referee. His expression remained calm, but a small smirk tugged at his lips as he soaked in the crowd's adulation. The Japanese Lightweight Championship belt was brought into the ring, and Coach Kamogawa handed it to Alex. The young champion raised it high above his head, a symbol of his dominance in the division
The arena was still buzzing with excitement as Alex Makunouchi stood in the center of the ring, the Japanese Lightweight Championship belt glinting under the arena lights. The crowd's deafening cheers echoed throughout Yokohama Arena, their voices chanting, "Alex the Great! Alex the Great!"
A reporter entered the ring, holding a microphone, and approached Alex. The young champion, still catching his breath, looked calm and composed despite the intensity of his first title defense.
"Alex!" the reporter began, holding the microphone up to him. "Congratulations on a spectacular victory! This was your first title defense, and you've solidified yourself as one of the brightest stars in Japanese boxing. The question on everyone's mind now is—what's next for Alex Makunouchi?"
Alex paused for a moment, looking out at the sea of cheering fans. His voice, steady and confident, echoed through the speakers.
"I want to defend my title once more," Alex said, his tone firm. "And after that, I will challenge the world rankings."
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, their cheers shaking the arena. Fans waved banners and shouted Alex's name, thrilled at the prospect of their champion taking on the global stage.
Coach Kamogawa, standing in Alex's corner, crossed his arms and nodded approvingly. Yagi, beside him, grinned from ear to ear.
The reporter smiled. "Ambitious plans from the reigning Japanese Lightweight Champion! Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Alex Makunouchi!"
Alex raised the belt high once again, basking in the electrifying energy of the crowd. His eyes were determined, his spirit unyielding. This wasn't just the beginning of his reign—it was the dawn of his journey toward becoming a world-class boxer.