Ippo fights with the boxing prodigy, Hayami, in the semifinal match of the Eastern Japan Rookie Championship Tornament. Hayami"s infamous "shotgun" punches corner Ippo. It"s obvious to everyone"s eyes that Hayami outclasses Ippo as a boxer. Time is running out; there"s no way in for Ippo. What"s left for him to do? Ippo decides to fight: he fights for those he defeated to get to the semifinal. Can Ippo"s fighting spirit connect his right hook to the prodigy before his "infighter-killer" uppercut lands? Meanwhile, Miyata boxes with Mashiba in the other semifinal. Mashiba"s dirty and desperate "trick" produces an astounding conclusion to the fight.