Ep. 36: Ippo Meets Champion Eiji Date and Spars After Ranking Tenth
Aired on June 13, 2001
Ippo encounters Eiji Date, a champion who serves as a guest commentator for the evening's matches. Date reveals he is an old friend of Takamura. During the bouts, Aoki and Kimura secure narrow victories, ranking fifth in their category, while Takamura defeats his opponent decisively. Ippo finishes in tenth place within his class. Several days later, after his right fist has healed, Ippo is personally invited by Eiji Date to participate in a sparring session.
Episodes
- Ep. 32 · Ippo faces Sendo despite persistent hand pain requiring anesthetic injection before the match.
- Ep. 33 · Ippo and Sendo clash in a neutral zone where neither can land a decisive blow.
- Ep. 34 · Makunouchi and Sendo exchange powerful blows in a determined fight where Sendo takes the lead.
- Ep. 35 · Ippo graduates high school as a celebrated star while Club Kamogawa faces recruitment challenges.
- Ep. 36 · Ippo Meets Champion Eiji Date and Spars After Ranking Tenth
- Ep. 37 · Ippo struggles against Date's precise corkscrew punch in the ring
- Ep. 38 · Okita controls the blow that knocked Ippo down twice in this intense match.
- Ep. 39 · Miyata faces hostility in Thailand and defies his father's wishes for a new fight
- Ep. 40 · Jimmy Sisfer faces Ichiro Miyata in a highly anticipated boxing match.