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Hey there! I’m back with another art-exchange involving my bud, SwayzeOne/KingThrash. I write them up a story and in exchange, they draw up some artwork for me. Seems like a pretty good deal to me. Like last time, they wanted me to write up another “what if?” story based around a specific fight from the Hajime no Ippo series. What can I say, dude just really likes to see this guy get beaten up.
In case you want to see how this match actually played out, I recommend either watching the Champion Road television special or reading chapters 300-313 of the original manga. Also I know I stressed this last time, but I am by no means an expert on this franchise. If there’s a line or action in this story that feels like it’s out of character or something, I’m sorry, that’s just my ignorance showing.
I would like to thank MidnightTheOx for peer-reviewing/editing this latest story.
Also thanks to KingThrash for being willing to do this whole art/story exchange thing again with me.
Hajime no Ippo is owned by Kodansha LTD.
========================================================================================
A solid blow to the head sent Makunouchi Ippo stumbling backwards towards the ropes. It felt like the inside of his skull had just been hit with a flashbang. As his vision came into focus, the young boxer turned his attention back to his opponent. Ippo quickly raised his guard as he tried to collect his thoughts. Here he was, newly crowned featherweight champion and already forced to defend his title against a challenger. His opponent was a man named Kazuki Sanada, a junior featherweight champion who wanted to climb up to the next weight class and claim another belt for himself. What should have been a simple title-defense was quickly spiraling out of control for Ippo. The two of them had been fighting for four rounds at this point and Sanada looked perfectly fine aside from the copious amount of sweat running down his muscular frame. Meanwhile, Ippo’s face looked like it had been hit by a meat tenderizer. Despite the pain, the spiky-haired fighter knew that he had to press on and close the distance between him and his foe. After all, he needed to end this fight as soon as possible.
With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Ippo took a cautious step towards the strategic boxer. He needed to be smart about this. After all, Sanada had previously stopped some of his best moves and even managed to break through his strongest defenses. Maybe he could stagger him with some quick footwork before going in for some extremely close combat. Before he could execute his plan, Sanada snuck in and threw his arm out towards Ippo’s chest. The champ braced himself for the attack only to suddenly tense up when he realized he didn't feel anything. He had been tricked with a feint! With those abs exposed, Sanada drilled an uppercut into his gut that left Ippo gasping for air. It felt like his stomach had been struck by a battering ram! As he leaned forward, the injured featherweight was hit with intense, burning pain as his opponent threw a hook at his skull. Sanada had just stuck the hinge of Ippo’s jaw with pinpoint accuracy!
With just a few blows, Kazuki Sanada had just turned this fight from bad to downright terrible as the champion was left completely crippled by the overwhelming injuries. You see, before he became a boxer, Sanada had studied to become a doctor and was well-versed when it came to human anatomy. He had carried this knowledge into the ring, using it to strike his foes in just the right places to maximize the damage. Ippo was left reeling as his opponent took a step forward and wound up for another precise attack. Suddenly, a jolt of adrenaline coursed through Ippo’s body, allowing his frozen legs to move again. He managed to take a step back as the challenger’s crimson glove grazed past his head. Sanada had a surprised look on his face before the champ swooped in and threw a haymaker right at his torso. The punch caused the boxer’s body to stiffen up and before he knew it, Ippo pulled his arm back before launching it forward again to hit him in the same spot. He might not be a doctor in training like Sanada, but even Ippo knew what a good punch to the liver looked like!
Before he could try for a third strike, Sanada made him back off with a sweeping hook. Ippo jumped away from that incoming attack as it narrowly zoomed past his chest. Once he was in the clear, the champ charged forward to press on the attack. He managed to plant a rough haymaker on one of his opponent’s eyes, but not before Sanada stuck him in the ribs with another hook! The two fighters stumbled away from each other as they recoiled from the other’s attack. With only so many minutes left on the clock, Ippo shook off the pain as best he could before he bit down on his mouthguard and ran at his foe. Meanwhile, Sanada just stood there as he let his foe come towards him.
Ippo clenched his fists and tried to use his momentum to add some extra weight behind his incoming attack. His calculating foe took a few small steps to the right, a paltry amount of distance that wouldn't get him out of range of the punch. Ippo shifted his torso to account for the distance…only for a sudden spasm to stop him in his tracks! The champ’s breath escaped through clenched teeth as his midsection felt like it was on fire. He didn’t know it yet, but Sanada had given his ribs a hairline fracture. A minor injury that’s easy to miss but can become noticeable when you move your body at an awkward angle. Say for example, when you’re twisting your entire torso at an odd angle to accommodate a punch? This was a trap set up by the prolific fighter!
Making sure to take advantage of the situation, Sanada proceeded to throw a series of jabs and strikes designed to disorient and overwhelm his foe. Ippo stumbled backwards as those powerful fists slammed into him. The blows caused his chest and face to become more and more injured as his thoughts became hazier with each punch to the cranium. Suddenly, everything became clear once he bumped into something behind him. Ippo had been corralled into a corner by his opponent!
Realizing that he was trapped, the champ turned his attention back towards Sanada who was now sporting a slight grin on his face. He threw another haymaker at Ippo’s skull but luckily, he was able to duck out of the way of the incoming punch, no doubt saving himself from some serious pain. Needing to escape from the corner before his opponent tried to hit him again, Ippo continued to stay low and began throwing lightning-fast punches at Sanada’s chest! His relentless attack slowly caused his opponent to back up as those well-toned abs became nice and bruised. Like a miner digging through the earth, Ippo was able to move forwards, away from the turnbuckle and past the living barricade in front of him. Once he was able to take a few steps forwards, the tired fighter swung a particularly strong punch into Sanada’s gut! The punch seemed to do tremendous damage to the challenger as his eyes went dim and he nearly spat up his mouthguard.
Ippo quickly decided to act and clinched with the dazed featherweight. If he could push Sanada back towards the center of the ring, maybe he could still salvage this round. As the young fighter tried to restrain his opponent’s arms in the clinch, Sanada suddenly sprang to life and broke free! Apparently, that blow to the chest wasn’t enough to put him down quite yet. Before he could process what just happened, Ippo was suddenly rocked by a hard haymaker to the nose! The pain left the champion stunned, leaving him open to further punishment. Sanada swooped in and began firing a wild string of punches aimed specifically at Ippo’s chest.The jabs came in like mosquito bites, fast, numerous and only mildly painful. Unsure of what his foe was intending to do, Ippo soon realized something was happening to him. His lungs were suddenly burning for air and his limbs refused to move. Before he knew it, his entire face became pale white. Sanada didn’t hit random parts of his body; he had used his medical knowledge to strike at Ippo’s vital points! His heart, his spleen, his stomach and his liver. All of these necessary organs had been deliberately targeted. This left Ippo effectively trapped and unable to move inside of his own body!
Sanada watched with keen interest as his opponent struggled to move an inch. The effects were temporary, so he had to finish him off before Ippo could recuperate. As the terrified boxer struggled to breathe, he watched in horror as Sanada reeled back his arm as far as it would go before slamming it into his exposed chest! The harsh blow caused Ippo to cough up his mouthguard, alongside some blood and spittle. The unresponsive fighter toppled backwards from the hit. By some miracle, Ippo’s right arm managed to accidentally snag itself onto some of the ropes. This meant that the young champion was still technically standing. The referee quickly stepped in-between the two combatants and asked Ippo if he was able to continue the match. Ippo could feel his debilitated body slowly springing back to life. He clumsily planted his feet on the ground to try and improve his balance as he untangled his arm. He still needed to press his back against the ropes to support himself but at least he could maintain the illusion that he was alright. Ippo gasped out the words “Y-Yeah, I’m good…” to let the referee know that he could still fight. The sports official carefully studied the wounded champ before reluctantly backing away and letting the fight commence.
Ippo’s body was still recovering but he was able to somewhat move his arms and legs at this point. Unfortunately, his stability was still nonexistent at this point. If he tried to pull away from the ropes, he would lose his balance and would most likely collapse to the ground. For the rest of the round, he would have to press himself against the ropes for support. As the injured boxer planned out his strategy, Sanada would soon lose his patience and resume the fight. He threw a left jab at that bruised chest in front of him before throwing a hook at the champion’s head. Ippo winced from the jab but managed to duck and weave around that second punch. Right as he was about to retaliate, Ippo was suddenly stopped when his opponent slammed an uppercut into his gut! Before he knew it, Sanada began stringing together a little combo. He focused his attack on Ippo’s chest as he alternated between left and right jabs. The wind was once again knocked out of the champion’s lungs as each and every punch prevented him from catching his breath. Combined with the earlier damage, and it was clear that things were looking bleak.
With only seconds left on the clock, the methodical challenger knew he should try and wrap this match up while he had the chance. As his foe planned his finishing move, Ippo clung to the ropes, barely able to stand upright at this point. His eyes were unfocused, and a steady stream of drool was leaking out the corner of his swollen mouth. Meanwhile, his quivering heart was racing inside his aching chest as he desperately tried to refill his lungs.
Sanada shook his head at the pitiful sight in front of him before he pulled his left arm back as far as it would go and threw a spectacular uppercut! His fist collided with Ippo’s jaw, lifting him off his feet and causing a shower of sweat and tears to fly across the air like shooting stars! Before his target’s feet even touched the ground, the strong contender attacked again and hit his opponent in the air with another uppercut! Ippo came crashing down afterwards, only to get his arms snagged up in the ropes again. The injured champ was strung up like a scarecrow as Sanada reeled his arm back and prepared his finishing blow.
Ippo watched in horror as his opponent clenched his fist and launched it at his torso, nailing him right in the stomach with a brutal haymaker! The impact pushed the injured fighter past the ropes and out of the ring entirely! The crowd went hysterical over this impressive feat as a concerned Sanada quickly peered over the ropes to check in on his opponent. Ippo was laying on the ground outside the ring, struggling to comprehend what just happened to him. The referee quickly stepped in and asked the injured boxer if he needed immediate medical attention. Unfortunately, Ippo was barely conscious at this point, rendering him unable to respond to the question. As a result, the ref promptly pulled the plug on the match, declaring Sanada the winner by technical knockout.
Makunouchi Ippo slowly passed out as the harsh reality finally hit him. His first title-defense match, and he lost. He didn’t even get the courtesy of a countdown. The defeated boxer was quickly lifted off the floor and escorted out of the arena by his crew. As Ippo’s unconscious body was being dragged away, half the audience began to cheer for their new champion while the other half called for his head. Kazuki Sanada reluctantly accepted his newly acquired belt before wrapping it around his waist. He clearly didn’t expect the fight to end like this. Once Ippo eventually awoke from his slumber, he would need to train himself for the inevitable rematch. After all, he was going to need to step up and get on Sanada’s level if he wanted to reclaim what was rightfully his!
In case you want to see how this match actually played out, I recommend either watching the Champion Road television special or reading chapters 300-313 of the original manga. Also I know I stressed this last time, but I am by no means an expert on this franchise. If there’s a line or action in this story that feels like it’s out of character or something, I’m sorry, that’s just my ignorance showing.
I would like to thank MidnightTheOx for peer-reviewing/editing this latest story.
Also thanks to KingThrash for being willing to do this whole art/story exchange thing again with me.
Hajime no Ippo is owned by Kodansha LTD.
========================================================================================
A solid blow to the head sent Makunouchi Ippo stumbling backwards towards the ropes. It felt like the inside of his skull had just been hit with a flashbang. As his vision came into focus, the young boxer turned his attention back to his opponent. Ippo quickly raised his guard as he tried to collect his thoughts. Here he was, newly crowned featherweight champion and already forced to defend his title against a challenger. His opponent was a man named Kazuki Sanada, a junior featherweight champion who wanted to climb up to the next weight class and claim another belt for himself. What should have been a simple title-defense was quickly spiraling out of control for Ippo. The two of them had been fighting for four rounds at this point and Sanada looked perfectly fine aside from the copious amount of sweat running down his muscular frame. Meanwhile, Ippo’s face looked like it had been hit by a meat tenderizer. Despite the pain, the spiky-haired fighter knew that he had to press on and close the distance between him and his foe. After all, he needed to end this fight as soon as possible.
With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Ippo took a cautious step towards the strategic boxer. He needed to be smart about this. After all, Sanada had previously stopped some of his best moves and even managed to break through his strongest defenses. Maybe he could stagger him with some quick footwork before going in for some extremely close combat. Before he could execute his plan, Sanada snuck in and threw his arm out towards Ippo’s chest. The champ braced himself for the attack only to suddenly tense up when he realized he didn't feel anything. He had been tricked with a feint! With those abs exposed, Sanada drilled an uppercut into his gut that left Ippo gasping for air. It felt like his stomach had been struck by a battering ram! As he leaned forward, the injured featherweight was hit with intense, burning pain as his opponent threw a hook at his skull. Sanada had just stuck the hinge of Ippo’s jaw with pinpoint accuracy!
With just a few blows, Kazuki Sanada had just turned this fight from bad to downright terrible as the champion was left completely crippled by the overwhelming injuries. You see, before he became a boxer, Sanada had studied to become a doctor and was well-versed when it came to human anatomy. He had carried this knowledge into the ring, using it to strike his foes in just the right places to maximize the damage. Ippo was left reeling as his opponent took a step forward and wound up for another precise attack. Suddenly, a jolt of adrenaline coursed through Ippo’s body, allowing his frozen legs to move again. He managed to take a step back as the challenger’s crimson glove grazed past his head. Sanada had a surprised look on his face before the champ swooped in and threw a haymaker right at his torso. The punch caused the boxer’s body to stiffen up and before he knew it, Ippo pulled his arm back before launching it forward again to hit him in the same spot. He might not be a doctor in training like Sanada, but even Ippo knew what a good punch to the liver looked like!
Before he could try for a third strike, Sanada made him back off with a sweeping hook. Ippo jumped away from that incoming attack as it narrowly zoomed past his chest. Once he was in the clear, the champ charged forward to press on the attack. He managed to plant a rough haymaker on one of his opponent’s eyes, but not before Sanada stuck him in the ribs with another hook! The two fighters stumbled away from each other as they recoiled from the other’s attack. With only so many minutes left on the clock, Ippo shook off the pain as best he could before he bit down on his mouthguard and ran at his foe. Meanwhile, Sanada just stood there as he let his foe come towards him.
Ippo clenched his fists and tried to use his momentum to add some extra weight behind his incoming attack. His calculating foe took a few small steps to the right, a paltry amount of distance that wouldn't get him out of range of the punch. Ippo shifted his torso to account for the distance…only for a sudden spasm to stop him in his tracks! The champ’s breath escaped through clenched teeth as his midsection felt like it was on fire. He didn’t know it yet, but Sanada had given his ribs a hairline fracture. A minor injury that’s easy to miss but can become noticeable when you move your body at an awkward angle. Say for example, when you’re twisting your entire torso at an odd angle to accommodate a punch? This was a trap set up by the prolific fighter!
Making sure to take advantage of the situation, Sanada proceeded to throw a series of jabs and strikes designed to disorient and overwhelm his foe. Ippo stumbled backwards as those powerful fists slammed into him. The blows caused his chest and face to become more and more injured as his thoughts became hazier with each punch to the cranium. Suddenly, everything became clear once he bumped into something behind him. Ippo had been corralled into a corner by his opponent!
Realizing that he was trapped, the champ turned his attention back towards Sanada who was now sporting a slight grin on his face. He threw another haymaker at Ippo’s skull but luckily, he was able to duck out of the way of the incoming punch, no doubt saving himself from some serious pain. Needing to escape from the corner before his opponent tried to hit him again, Ippo continued to stay low and began throwing lightning-fast punches at Sanada’s chest! His relentless attack slowly caused his opponent to back up as those well-toned abs became nice and bruised. Like a miner digging through the earth, Ippo was able to move forwards, away from the turnbuckle and past the living barricade in front of him. Once he was able to take a few steps forwards, the tired fighter swung a particularly strong punch into Sanada’s gut! The punch seemed to do tremendous damage to the challenger as his eyes went dim and he nearly spat up his mouthguard.
Ippo quickly decided to act and clinched with the dazed featherweight. If he could push Sanada back towards the center of the ring, maybe he could still salvage this round. As the young fighter tried to restrain his opponent’s arms in the clinch, Sanada suddenly sprang to life and broke free! Apparently, that blow to the chest wasn’t enough to put him down quite yet. Before he could process what just happened, Ippo was suddenly rocked by a hard haymaker to the nose! The pain left the champion stunned, leaving him open to further punishment. Sanada swooped in and began firing a wild string of punches aimed specifically at Ippo’s chest.The jabs came in like mosquito bites, fast, numerous and only mildly painful. Unsure of what his foe was intending to do, Ippo soon realized something was happening to him. His lungs were suddenly burning for air and his limbs refused to move. Before he knew it, his entire face became pale white. Sanada didn’t hit random parts of his body; he had used his medical knowledge to strike at Ippo’s vital points! His heart, his spleen, his stomach and his liver. All of these necessary organs had been deliberately targeted. This left Ippo effectively trapped and unable to move inside of his own body!
Sanada watched with keen interest as his opponent struggled to move an inch. The effects were temporary, so he had to finish him off before Ippo could recuperate. As the terrified boxer struggled to breathe, he watched in horror as Sanada reeled back his arm as far as it would go before slamming it into his exposed chest! The harsh blow caused Ippo to cough up his mouthguard, alongside some blood and spittle. The unresponsive fighter toppled backwards from the hit. By some miracle, Ippo’s right arm managed to accidentally snag itself onto some of the ropes. This meant that the young champion was still technically standing. The referee quickly stepped in-between the two combatants and asked Ippo if he was able to continue the match. Ippo could feel his debilitated body slowly springing back to life. He clumsily planted his feet on the ground to try and improve his balance as he untangled his arm. He still needed to press his back against the ropes to support himself but at least he could maintain the illusion that he was alright. Ippo gasped out the words “Y-Yeah, I’m good…” to let the referee know that he could still fight. The sports official carefully studied the wounded champ before reluctantly backing away and letting the fight commence.
Ippo’s body was still recovering but he was able to somewhat move his arms and legs at this point. Unfortunately, his stability was still nonexistent at this point. If he tried to pull away from the ropes, he would lose his balance and would most likely collapse to the ground. For the rest of the round, he would have to press himself against the ropes for support. As the injured boxer planned out his strategy, Sanada would soon lose his patience and resume the fight. He threw a left jab at that bruised chest in front of him before throwing a hook at the champion’s head. Ippo winced from the jab but managed to duck and weave around that second punch. Right as he was about to retaliate, Ippo was suddenly stopped when his opponent slammed an uppercut into his gut! Before he knew it, Sanada began stringing together a little combo. He focused his attack on Ippo’s chest as he alternated between left and right jabs. The wind was once again knocked out of the champion’s lungs as each and every punch prevented him from catching his breath. Combined with the earlier damage, and it was clear that things were looking bleak.
With only seconds left on the clock, the methodical challenger knew he should try and wrap this match up while he had the chance. As his foe planned his finishing move, Ippo clung to the ropes, barely able to stand upright at this point. His eyes were unfocused, and a steady stream of drool was leaking out the corner of his swollen mouth. Meanwhile, his quivering heart was racing inside his aching chest as he desperately tried to refill his lungs.
Sanada shook his head at the pitiful sight in front of him before he pulled his left arm back as far as it would go and threw a spectacular uppercut! His fist collided with Ippo’s jaw, lifting him off his feet and causing a shower of sweat and tears to fly across the air like shooting stars! Before his target’s feet even touched the ground, the strong contender attacked again and hit his opponent in the air with another uppercut! Ippo came crashing down afterwards, only to get his arms snagged up in the ropes again. The injured champ was strung up like a scarecrow as Sanada reeled his arm back and prepared his finishing blow.
Ippo watched in horror as his opponent clenched his fist and launched it at his torso, nailing him right in the stomach with a brutal haymaker! The impact pushed the injured fighter past the ropes and out of the ring entirely! The crowd went hysterical over this impressive feat as a concerned Sanada quickly peered over the ropes to check in on his opponent. Ippo was laying on the ground outside the ring, struggling to comprehend what just happened to him. The referee quickly stepped in and asked the injured boxer if he needed immediate medical attention. Unfortunately, Ippo was barely conscious at this point, rendering him unable to respond to the question. As a result, the ref promptly pulled the plug on the match, declaring Sanada the winner by technical knockout.
Makunouchi Ippo slowly passed out as the harsh reality finally hit him. His first title-defense match, and he lost. He didn’t even get the courtesy of a countdown. The defeated boxer was quickly lifted off the floor and escorted out of the arena by his crew. As Ippo’s unconscious body was being dragged away, half the audience began to cheer for their new champion while the other half called for his head. Kazuki Sanada reluctantly accepted his newly acquired belt before wrapping it around his waist. He clearly didn’t expect the fight to end like this. Once Ippo eventually awoke from his slumber, he would need to train himself for the inevitable rematch. After all, he was going to need to step up and get on Sanada’s level if he wanted to reclaim what was rightfully his!
Category Story / All
Species Human
Gender Male
Size 85 x 120px
Always awesome to meet someone who shares my love of Ippo "what ifs"!
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