Future - Part 3: All Japan Rookie King Tournament: Rocky of Naniwa Arc

The West Japan Rookie King - Takeshi Sendō

Sendō visits the Kamogawa gym.

After winning in the East Japan Rookie King Tournament, Ippo begins to have more coverage on boxing magazines. Learning that Ippo won the tournament, Umezawa reminds Ippo that the next tournament is the All Japan Rookie King Tournament. However, Umezawa, Takemura, and Matsuda become disappointed when Ippo reveals to them that he has to withdraw due to his right fist being broken and the healing period is two months, which is the same amount of time when the tournament starts and he does not want to hurt it again right after it heals. Ippo then wonders how far he will go in boxing, needing to find a new goal.

At the Naniwa Boxing Club in Osaka, a man watches videos of Ippo's matches while expressing how boring the West Japan Rookie King Tournament was and how he has now found a man he can connect with. His trainer then informs him that Ippo has withdrawn from the All Japan Rookie King tournament, angering the West Rookie King and causing him to go to Tokyo. Meanwhile, Ippo goes to the Yamanaka Bakery and finds out that Kumi had quit there to work with her brother's job. Saddened by the thought of never seeing her again, Ippo walks to the Kamogawa Boxing Gym where he finds the West Japan Rookie King, Takeshi Sendō, who was waiting for him.

Sendō expressing his reason for boxing.

Sendō, after explaining why he is called "Rocky", asks why Ippo is withdrawing, as he accidentally reveals he had developed a hidden technique, the Smash just for him. Ippo explains the situation about his right fist, then heads out for roadwork, which the angered Sendō soon follows. While taking a break, Ippo asks Sendō why he started boxing. Sendō answers that he loves sticking to strong people and win in order to confidently say he is strong. Sendō then goes back to the Kamogawa gym to take a shower so he can head back to Osaka. After meeting Takamura and got his autograph, he begins to leave, only to remember that he only brought enough money for one trip and requests to stay at the gym for the night. That night, Ippo notices how Sendō's a lot like him while reading magazine articles, wondering what would happen if they fought.

Sendō sparring against Takamura, hitting him with a Smash.

The next day, Kamogawa meets Sendō, and tells him Ippo can not fight. He then gives Sendō money to go back home before leaving to Thailand to find boxers for Takamura to fight. Takamura becomes fired up from the news and wishes to spar. Sendō requests to spar, as thanks for letting him stay at the gym overnight despite Takamura being six weight classes higher. When the spar begins, Sendō has trouble hitting Takamura, and hits him with an elbow on purpose, which angers him. Sendō then unleashes his Smash, hitting the surprised Takamura. Takamura immediately knocks out Sendō with a strong right, ending the spar. While getting water to wake Sendō back up, Ippo realises how much Sendō really likes boxing and now Ippo does not want to lose to him. After Sendō wakes back up, Kimura drives Sendō (along with Ippo) to an airport for him to go back to Osaka. Before leaving for the plane at the airport, Sendō tells Ippo that he will be waiting at Osaka for him. As the plane departs, Sendō realises he forgot his souvenir while he was talking to Ippo.

Anxious Fist

Yamaguchi checking Ippo's x-ray.

After Ippo asks for a doctor recommendation from Miyazaki, he goes to the Yamaguchi Chiropractic where he meets the doctor, Tomoko Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi informs Ippo that his shoulder and fist can not keep up with his hitting power, which is why he injures his arm with the impact every time. She then instructs Ippo to put his fist under ice in order to be able to fight in his next match and to also build his shoulder muscles in order for his shoulder to withstand his punches. Meanwhile in Osaka, Sendō receives a package from Ippo, containing his souvenir he forgot and note claiming that he might be able to go to Osaka. Sendō gets fired up from the note, not wanting to waste a second on training, as Ippo would be coming in his best condition.

The "Airplane Ride Back" training.

Kamogawa and Yagi return from Thailand after finding two possible opponents for Takamura. Kamogawa notices Ippo training and putting his right fist in a bucket of ice. Ippo then explains to Kamogawa and Yagi that he plans on drugging his fist in order to fight Sendō. After Yagi tries to talk Ippo out of it, Kamogawa knows that Ippo is too stubborn to listen, and begins to show him tapes of Sendō fighting. Kamogawa explains how powerful Sendō is, intending to pull Ippo away from fighting him, however it had the opposite effect. Kamogawa decides to let Ippo train so he is ready for the match and will decide if Ippo's ready or not on the day of the match. Kamogawa has Ippo and Takamura do a stamina training exercise that he came up with, called the "Airplane Ride Back". During the training, Yamaguchi meets with Kamogawa, explaining how the training improves the back muscles of shoulders, which is perfect for Ippo's situation. Kamogawa predicts that unless Ippo's power is at 100%, it would be hard to win. Yamaguchi then suggests having her to do a check up in Osaka so that his right fist is as close to 100% as possible.

Ippo discovering that he is unable to use his right.

With a week until their match, Ippo and Sendō continue to train, with the latter having support from local shops. Two days before the match, the Kamogawa group arrive at the Ishino gym in Osaka. Kamogawa has Ippo partake in a spar with the lightweight eight-rounder, Komori. The spar ends abruptly when Ippo finds out he can not throw his right, due to him subconsciously stopping it to avoid damaging his fist. Kamogawa wants to know if Ippo can really hit with his right, however, the next day Ippo is unable to hit Kamogawa's mitt correctly. As Kamogawa begins to quit and pack for Tokyo, Takamura offered Ippo advice when he sprained his right wrist before a match. Takamura would then win with just one punch from his right in just fifteen seconds in the first round before he felt any pain. As Ippo wonders what would happen if he and Sendō throws their best punch after hearing Takamura's story, Kamogawa instructs Ippo to cool his fist so he can throw the one punch he wants.