Capítulo 35: Chapter 35: Rumors in the Ranks
The morning sun painted the streets of Tokyo in a soft glow as Alex and Ippo jogged side by side. Their breaths formed faint clouds in the cool morning air, and the steady rhythm of their footsteps filled the silence.
"Today feels good, doesn't it?" Alex said, looking over at Ippo.
Ippo nodded, his face determined. "Yeah. Another chance to improve."
When they arrived at the Kamogawa Gym, the sound of animated voices greeted them. Stepping inside, they found Takamura, Aoki, and Kimura gathered around a newspaper, their faces alight with curiosity.
"Morning, guys. What's so interesting?" Alex asked, setting his bag down.
Takamura smirked and waved the paper. "Check this out, superstar. The lightweight division's heating up."
"Lightweight? What's going on?" Ippo asked, stepping closer.
Aoki held up the paper, pointing to the headline: "Riku Tanaka and Hayato Shimizu in Negotiations?"
"It says here Tanaka might challenge Shimizu," Aoki explained. "They're supposedly working out the details for a fight four months from now. Rank 7 versus rank 4. Big deal for our division."
"Four months?" Alex repeated, his interest piqued. He scanned the article, noting the stats. "Tanaka's 7-3 with six knockouts, and Shimizu's 10-3-1 with six knockouts too. That's a solid matchup."
Kimura nodded. "The article's hyping it up, saying it could shake up the rankings if Tanaka pulls it off."
"Yeah," Takamura added, leaning back, "but Shimizu's no pushover. Guy's got experience. Tanaka might be biting off more than he can chew."
Ippo tilted his head. "Doesn't that put a lot of pressure on both of them?"
"Welcome to boxing," Alex said with a chuckle. "Every fight's a gamble, especially at this level."
Aoki grinned mischievously. "Rumor has it Shimizu wasn't too thrilled about the idea of facing Tanaka. Guess he's not a fan of high-risk, low-reward fights."
Takamura laughed. "Can you blame him? If Tanaka loses, he can just say he wasn't ready. But if Shimizu loses, his shot at a title's gone."
"True," Alex admitted. "That's the game, though. No risk, no reward."
Kimura tapped the paper. "It's fights like these that set the stage for guys like us. Tanaka's gunning for a title, and Shimizu's trying to hold his ground. Makes you wonder who'll come out on top."
Alex smiled. "Guess we'll find out in a few months. For now, though, let's focus on our own grind."
"Exactly," Takamura said, stretching. "Now stop gawking at the paper and get to work. Those bags won't hit themselves."
As Alex and Ippo moved to their training spots, the excitement of the rumored fight lingered in the air. While the division was buzzing with possibilities, Alex knew his time to make waves was just beginning.As the gym buzzed with activity, Kamogawa-sensei called out from his office. "Ippo, come here for a moment."
Ippo paused mid-punch on the heavy bag, looking over at his coach with a hint of curiosity. "Yes, coach!"
He wiped the sweat from his brow and hurried into the office, closing the door behind him.
Kamogawa gestured for Ippo to sit, his expression serious but encouraging. "Ippo, I've got news. We've got your next match lined up."
Ippo's eyes widened. "Really? Who's my opponent?"
Kamogawa leaned back in his chair. "Jason Osma. He's new to the scene but making waves. Three wins, all knockouts. Tall, powerful, and dangerous. You'll be stepping into the ring with a super puncher."
Ippo swallowed hard, his mind racing at the thought of such a formidable opponent. "A... a super puncher?"
Kamogawa nodded. "But don't let that scare you. You've been improving every day, and we've got three weeks to prepare. With the right strategy, you can take him down."
Ippo clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "I'll do my best, coach!"
Kamogawa gave a small smile, leaning forward. "Good. We'll start working on a specific plan tomorrow. For now, keep sharpening your basics. You'll need every tool in your arsenal for this one."
"Yes, coach!" Ippo said firmly, standing up with renewed resolve.
Meanwhile, back on the gym floor, Alex found himself drawn to the newspaper again. He picked it up, flipping to the article about the rumored fight between Riku Tanaka and Hayato Shimizu.
Rank 7 versus Rank 4... Alex thought to himself. If the negotiations go through, this could be a hell of a fight. Two guys trying to climb the ladder—high stakes, big risks. Watching them might give me some insight into my own path.
Alex folded the paper neatly and set it back on the bench. His mind was already picturing the potential match, analyzing the fighters' stats, and imagining how the bout might play out.
When the time comes, I'll be watching.
With a focused look, Alex returned to his training, ready to continue his own climb through the lightweight ranks.
To be continued…
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