ippo Stood ready for the 3rd round semifinals he was hyped up having passed the 1st - 2 rounds pretty easily, So he was looking forward to the 3rd round to see if maybe he could have a challenge as competition in the semi finals.
As a referee ran through the rules ippos eyes were on his opponent whose name was Lopez ippo had not heard his 1st name But that didn't matter to him, Lopez eyes were fixed on the ring as he was patting his head from time to time trying to pump himself up For the fight. When Lopez ritual was over he reached out and touch gloves with ippo and quickly backed away, after retreating back to his corner he put up his guard. ippo Looked at him and slowly did the same, It seemed Lopez will be more cautious because of ippo previous 2 fights.
Ding! Ding!-round Number one
ippo took off towards Lopez with his hard left swing in-and-out Circling around to his left just like his previous fight jabbing out testing out Lopez reflex.
Lopez was more cautious patient trying to save his strength so he could capitalize if ippo made a mistake
ippo tried to work Lopez into the corner but Lopez sidestepped him Swung around and nail ippo with a couple jabs as he passed, ippo not deterred kept pursuing Lopez trying to pin him in the corner and Slow down Lopez Speed
ippo was too eager though he got caught by Lopez again Smacking him with a number of Jabs keeping him back and from cornering him. Lopez finally grinned At ippo thinking that he was more tired and fatigued from the last 2 fights then he looked.
ippo moved toward Lopez again confident in his hard left punch that he could put him down snapping out with jabs and hooks, Lopez just Crouched forward letting the jabs head high across his forehead and the hooks missing as he bullied ippo toward the ropes. Grinding a 1/2 dozen Murderous lefts and rights in to epo stomac Causing ippo to clinch forcing the referee to pull them apart.
Ding! Ding!
With the bell ippo dropped his gloves and headed towards his corner, a swash in his walk, because he knew Even with all the punishment he just took that he was still good to go he still had stamina and power enough to Keep going, Lopez just turned it to his corner more slowly trying to conserve strength and get his breath back as he sat down.
Lopez corner man slashed water into his mouth and made him Raise his hands to make Room for deep gulps of air harried Lopez gazed forward toward epo Not Being able to believe How relax he seemed.
Lopez Tried to catch his breath, as he sat in this corner his corn a man working over him hard kneeding his legs.
Lopez looked out over the crowd remembering how he had come here how by 9 he learned how to fight with fists and feet At 11 he discovered he had another Talent and unwavering and Undstrainable temper Which helped him put more power into his fists, he believed that he could still win this fight and put his opponent down.
Lopez smashed it gloves together With determination as he glared at the crowd and his opponent across from him swearing he would put him down.
Ding! ding! ‐ round 2
ippo move towards Lopez cautiously he needed to be cautious hes could still feel the pounding he had taken in the last round even though didn't hurt much they could still build-up and cause damage over time.
ippo throughout some Left and rights Trying to force Lopez to open his defense he finally got through forcing a hard right to smash his defense open, ippo duck down and came up with a roaring left upper smashing his glove right in to Lopez's cheek sending him flying back to the ropesThen collapsing to the Matt, The ref ran over after telling = get to his corner checking on Lopez as he called the down.
1...2...3...4... the ref called as he watched lopez, he seemed to struggle and barely made it up at the count of 9. the reff looked him over and had lopez do a few tests to see if he could fight, finally he saw what he needed to and stepped back.
BOX!
as the reff called the match to resume ippo rushed in and met lopez who tried to back away and keep distance so he could recover from the down, ippo wouldnt let him and pressed harder pushing against lopez as he put up a block. ippo drove him to the ropes and started to pound against lopezs guard slamming hard left and rights, wanting to force a guard break and to pile on more damage as he knew the longer he kept lopez pinned and hammered at his guard he would exhaust alot of stamina fighting him off.
lopez was desperate to get away, he couldn't keep up his guard with the punishment being dealt by ippo, he tried slipping along the rope to get around but ippo just moved with him jabbing at him along the way he tried to escape causing more damage as his guard slipped when he was moving.
ippo knew he could finish this now, he knew he could put down Lopez, but he was having just too much fun. he couldn't just let this opportunity to get better quicker escape, he wanted to milk Lopez for everything he had before he put him down.
"just a little but more, I just need to drag this out for another round and I can finish it.' oppo thought to himself as he kept up jabbing at Lopez and not wanting to give him an inch to maneuver.
ippo started to feel something as he heard the bell ring and saw the ref getting between him and lopez.
Ding! Ding!
"he just saved your ass, down worry I'll finish what I started next round" ippo bragged as he turned and walked back to his corner.
ippo couldn't help but think why he bragged like sendo would or takamura, he couldn't help but deep think as he rested in his corner as his corner man checked him over. feeling the bruising and massaging it out as best he could. ippo reached a conclusion that the feeling he got from before must have to do with what he said.
ippo was so deep into his thoughts he barely heard the bell, he decided to just ignore the feeling and concentrate on finishing the fight.
Ding! Ding! - round 3
ippo came charging out and started to press more heavy on lopez, trying to corner him with jabs and drive him into the ropes. lopez couldn't for the life of himself figure a way out, he couldn't breathe and kept thinking back to what his opponent bragged at the end of round 2. he looked around desperately trying to find a way through,
'there that's my way out' lopez thought desperately and pressed hard with jabs and straights as he seemed to see ippo overreached and off balance.
'this is boring, let's see if he has anything left if I give him a free shot' ippo wondered as he pretended to miss a big hook and overextend he saw lopez seem to come alive and start hitting more and push into his chest trying to drive him back into a corner. ippo let himself be pushed wondering what lopez would try.
'I can do this, I can do this, I almost have him I just need to hold out some more for the bell.' lopez desperately fought back and kept trying to press his opponent deep into a corner and fight to stay alive to the end of the round.
"hmph, just another pooser like the rest"
lopez heard before he felt immense pain and the ground seemed to rush at him as darkness engulfed him.
ippo couldn't help but feel disappointment as he felt lopez last ditch effort, 'he just swings like nothing but a cornered rat, this is pitiful I cant drag it out anymore' ippo thought as he prepared to end the fight.
"hmph, just another pooser like the rest" ippo said as he slipped lopez next couple jabs, ducked under and twisted hard as he drove his hard left into lopez stomach folding him in half and then rising and clocking him in his temple with his right, slamming him down on the mat just like the fight in the quarter finals ended. he brutally finished his opponent and just walked to the corner as the ref came and counted before crossing his arms as the bell rang signaling ippo as the winner, while having his hand raised ippo couldn't help but feel that rush of energy again as he called out in a loud voice as the audience cheered his victory
"F^$% YEAH"
ippo was out of breath as he made his way to the locker, following the corner man. he wondered if his next fight would be more demanding and give him a better shot as getting that huge stat boost he wants by pushing this hard and dragging the fights out.