Fighting Spirit: Mashiba vs. Kimura

Tatsuya Kimura can’t shake the feeling that he’s falling behind. While his friends Ippo Makunouchi and Mamoru Takamura have claimed championship belts in their own weight classes, Kimura remains unable to capture the Japan Junior Lightweight title—a frustration that only grows as his match against reigning champion Ryo Mashiba draws near. To prepare, he trains under Ichirou Miyata, Ippo’s rival and someone who knows Mashiba’s dangerous “Hitman” boxing style firsthand after suffering a decisive loss to it.

Mashiba, however, is fighting with his own stakes. Determined to keep his belt, he aims to move on to a World title challenge and secure financial stability for his sister, Kumi. As the bout approaches, Kimura’s need to prove himself collides with Mashiba’s resolve to protect what he has and what he’s fighting for.