Sakigake!! Otoko Juku 19

In order to improve friendship (and not kill each other), the Otokojuku first-years and the Americans are holding a boxing tournament...but with their opponent's skills (and the first fighter Togashi), do the first-years have a chance?

Chp. 19: Otokojuku Soul is Here!!

29.
Matsuo: Am…azing…!! With great footwork and punch speed, he is not a novice!! To…Togashi, we are entrusting you with this boxing, but are you fine with that?
Tazawa: He…hey, what are you reading at this time……!?
Togashi: Hmm hmmm, I’ll take him out with a Cross Counter……………
(TN: The “Cross Counter” is a well known boxing technique in Japanese culture due to the manga “Ashita no Joe” involving throwing a punch at the very same time the opponent throws a punch towards you, exploiting their opening)
Book: BOXING MANUAL (Sports Manuals for Beginners)
Matsuo: ………………

30.-31.
Onihige: And so now, we will begin the first match of the Otokojuku Japan-US Friendship Boxing Tournament!! In the Blue corner, representing the American exchange students, Brian Jones; In the Red corner, representing the Otokojuku first-years, Togashi Genji!! Will both men step to the center of the ring so I can explain the rules!!
First-Years: Togashi—Japan’s No. 1!! Beat that guy down--!!

32.
Onihige: There will be no time limit. Other than punches, you can use your head or legs. There will be no count even when you’re down, since you’re not ever getting up even if we counted to a thousand when you take these punches.
Keith: Fufufu, of all things, they’re challenging us to boxing, the home-style of America. And even within us further is our Brian, who is thundering into the class of Olympic candidates…
(TN: Considering they were just past the period of the 1984 Olympics, he probably is referring to him entering the 1988 Olympics in nearby Seoul)
Brian: Nice to meet you, boy.
Togashi: Same, you Mohawk oldie.

33.
Onihige: Well then, Togashi, this match is being done for the honor of Otokojuku, no, Japan. Your loss is Japan’s loss.
Onihige: If by any chance you show yourself as unshapely, then you’ll be ending up cutting open your stomach. In short, if you don’t want to be ground up and scattered down, then don’t lose.
Togashi: Damn, what’s with that selfish talk?
Brian: The gong has rung, bo--y.

34.
Togashi: Th…that’s………!!
Brian: Fufufu, these Picaresque Matches are rarely seen these days, even in mafia underground matches. But what can you do when there are too many dead leading to no more combatants with every match?

35.
Brian: Well if you have second thoughts, now’s the time. Don’t you think you can see the gallant Brian Jones, the All-America College Boxing Welterweight Champion, in the Olympics?
Togashi: Shut up! Don’t dangle your boring advertising to making me worry. If you’re a boxing champion, then I’m a brawling champion---!!
Togashi: Ryaa---!!

36.
Togashi: YOU A**HOLE---!!
Student: N…no, they’re arm reach and punch speed are too different.
Momotarou: Well, he’s got the pro movement perfectly.
Onihige: To…Togashi, what are you doing---!! Don’t you have guts? Show your guts---!!
Brian: Fufufu, I’ll teach you a bit of boxing. You rarely have a chance to get coaching form an Olympic Gold medal candidate.
Brian: This is weaving. It’s a foundation for defense where your center of gravity is concentrated on your heels, allowing you to dodge punches in all directions with just your upper body.

37.
Brian: And this is a jab: you send out a small punch, restraining yourself while softening your opponent’s guard.
Togashi: Uuh.
Brian: And in the end, you finish with a lead punch to the right!!
First-Years: To…Togashi--!!

38.
Togashi: Uuh…!!
Brian: Fufufu, what, a knock out with one blow? That can’t be. I don’t want it to end in one blow when so many here live.
Matsuo: To…Togashi, you’ve done enough. Don’t stand up. At this rate you’ll be killed---!!
Onihige: Wh…what are you saying! St…stand, stand, Togashi---!! Are you a student of Otokojuku~~
Togashi: Th…that’s typical. That I’m really being mocked……

39.
Togashi: By this guy---!!
Brian: Fufufu, you’re no good. You still aren’t using a guard at all.

40.
Togashi: UWA!!
Brian: What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to show me that Yamato soul that all you Japanese people pride?
(TN: “Yamato soul” or “Yamato-damashii”, is a notable “Japanese spirit” or “Japanese soul” originally used to define themselves from the Chinese in ancient times and later used in conjunction with Japanese nationalism such as during the pre-war era)
Student: To…Toagshi’s getting killed---!!
Tazawa: St…stop--! Ha…hasn’t Togashi already gotten a rope-down---!!
Keith: Fufufu, hey, Brian, play with him as long as you want. I’ll be going later. You’re finishing this rather quickly.
Brian: Fufufu, OK Keith.

41.
Brian: Fufufu, well then, boxing is different from brawling.
First-Years: To…Togashi---!!

42.
First-Years: ………………
Keith: Fufufu, he was a bad opponent.
Brian: Fufufu, I’m not complaining. He was in a death match challenged by all of them. Well, which of you will be the next to die?

43.
Momotarou: Fufufu, what do you mean? Who’s the one winning against whom?
Brian: N~~!?
Brian: ………………!!

44.
Onihige: Stop Togashi--!! I…I really know you have guts. You’ve done enough here---!!
Momotarou: Fufufu, that’s not how it is. Don’t say such happy things.
Onihige: Y…you, don’t you think that your ally will be killed in front of your eyes--!!
Momotarou: Fufufu, Togashi hasn’t lost. If he threw in the towel here, then he’ll be killed.

45.
Brian: Well, this is one with a Yamato soul! Fufufu, it’s fine you do have such an anachronistic idealism.
Togashi: Well now. I don’t know what a Yamato soul is, but if this is the Otokojuku soul, why don’t I show you?
Keith: Fufufu, what is he thinking………is he planning to fight unarmed without his gloves?
Brian: WHY DON’T YOU F**K OFF---!!
Everyone: To…Togashi--!!

46.
(TN: You can see for yourself)

47.
Togashi: Fufufu, that’s my reverse KO counter punch. No matter how short we Japanese are, our legs are longer than our arms, as are their destructive power!
Togashi: Don’t forget even if you go to hell. My name is Togashi Genji, Otokojuku first-year---!!
First-Years: He…did it—Togashi--!!
Onihige: Well, let’s send our next opponents--!!

TN: And that's how you shut a boxer up: by kicking them! That's one of the things that I love about this series: when up against an opponent who seems superior to you in every way, use something unconventional with a lot of gall to take them down! In particular this does seem to apply to Togashi a lot, considering that he does have abilities and skill but mostly seems to fight on the fly compared to Momotarou, though always shows a knack for guts and for bizarre strategy every time he does so. Aside from that, his fight with Brian Jones was brutal and somehow having him fall way behind was just the perfect set-up for his bizarre underdog victory. But you do have to wonder: if an Olympic-caliber boxer is the "first opponent"...then what will the last two's abilities be like!? Heck, we know Keith is probably going to be one...but what if he's not the most powerful of the Americans...hmm......something to think about for next time!