World-Level Techniques is Round 1365 of Jōji Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo manga series.
Details[]
- Title Page Character(s): Ryō Mashiba, Kumi Mashiba
Summary[]
Juan weaves side-to-side in front of Mashiba, leaving the former guessing where he will come and attack from. Juan attacks from below, and Mashiba blocks the body blow. Juan had already stepped in before Mashiba could notice, and Juan releases multiple blows aiming at the body that Mashiba blocks. Juan throws a right overhand that hits Mashiba's block, however, as Juan's attack hits Mashiba's block, he grabs Mashiba's fist and shoves it away, opening his guard. Juan lands a body blow on Mashiba, who throws a wide left swing, making Juan stop attacking him. As Mashiba moves away from Juan, the latter throws punches while steadily moving forward. Mashiba realises that Juan's front leg takes a big step forward when he throws a punch, then draws his back leg in afterwards in a swift movement. With Mashiba's back at the ropes, Juan attacks Mashiba's guard at his body and feints a punch to the head that makes Mashiba try to block it and throw a counter, letting Juan land another body blow. Mashiba is confused on what to do, as he blocks Juan's attacks. Aoki thinks Mashiba should use his legs, but Kimura believes that Mashiba is determined that Juan can't be dealt with so easily, and the more Mashiba speeds up, the slower the communication between brain and body is, so waiting for a missed punch is all Mashiba can do. When Mashiba's guard lowers, Juan throws a feint to Mashiba's head, and as Mashiba guards his head, Juan lands another body blow. Mashiba reels over in pain, and as Juan is about to land a follow-up punch, the referee gets between them as the first round ends. At the corner, Juan could tell by his eyes that Mashiba won't easily go down, but is unfazed since he has more weapons unsheathed. Ippo is shocked to see Juan breathing so calmly, while even more shocked that Mashiba is having trouble breathing. Mashiba's chief second is grateful of Ippo's advice, and realises that the old Mashiba who would get in slugfests would have gotten beaten before the round was over. Mashiba thinks how he is at the same preliminary match point that Ippo gave up on, and he feels as if he has never felt as much of a hopeless gap in skill of beating people until now. He soon remembers that he has tasted that hopelessness before. The second round begins.