Fighting Spirit: Season 2

2009 · 26 episodes · ★ 8.1

New Challenger

What Season 2 of Fighting Spirit

Season 2 picks up Makunouchi Ippo's career after his victory for the Japanese title. Ippo wants to understand what it means to be strong and to face his idol, Ichiro Miyata, who seems more and more out of reach. Takamura sets his sights on the world title and faces Bryan Hawk, a rival whose behavior is far from that of a true champion, while Aoki and Kimura chase their own dreams. World champion Ricardo Martinez crosses paths with Ippo in a sparring match. Plus, Hammer Nao, Ippo's former junior, challenges him to take his belt.

26episodes

Jan 6, 2009premiered

Jun 30, 2009latest episode

10.4 hrtotal runtime

Season 2 Episodes

2x01 The New Step
Jan 6, 2009 · 24 min
The first episode of the second season starts with mostly the match of Miyata against Arnie. Shows Kimura sparring with Miyata and then the Weigh-in. Then the match is about to start, Miyata and Arnie are ready for battle!
Directing: Tomoya Takahashi · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x02 Bloody Cross
Jan 13, 2009 · 24 min
The second episode of the second season starts off on Miyata's OPBF Title Match. With it Arnie showing his special weapon called Bloody Cross and Miyata throwing strong counters to escape from this techniques strange name 'Bloody Cross '.
Directing: Satoshi Osedo · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x03 To a Promise
Jan 20, 2009 · 24 min
The third episode of the second season continues on the OPBF Match with Miyata against Arnie. With almost everytime Miyata is about to fall down from hits of the champ, but then he tooks big step and takes the OPBF Champion Arnie Gregory to the ground. The count starts, and the episode ends.
Directing: Takatoshi Suzuki · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x04 Towards The World
Jan 27, 2009 · 24 min
Miyata Ichirou wins the title of OPBF Featherweight Champion, but now Ippo feels even further from him than before. After his match, Date Eiji's second Title Match against Ricardo Martinez is officially finalized, after seven years. As they look at the boxing magazine, the coach comes in and says that Ricardo Martinez has requested a sparring match with Ippo.
Directing: Hisato Shimoda · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x05 The Strength of the World
Feb 2, 2009 · 24 min
Ippo comes to the sparring match against Ricardo Martinez as focused as if it were a real match, and he is determined to land at least one hit on the World champion. However, Martinez's lightning-fast lefts and instant reflexes are like nothing Ippo's ever seen. Will Ippo's Dempsey Roll work on the strongest man in the world?
Directing: Tomoya Takahashi · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x06 A Figure to Chase After
Feb 11, 2009 · 24 min
After seven years Eiji Date will finally have his rematch with Ricardo Martinez, the world featherweight champion. The title match begins, Date starts the match off with two lefts, the second landing on the champion's face.
Directing: Takahiro Natori · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x07 The Advent of the Devil
Feb 17, 2009 · 24 min
The world featherweight title match has begun, in the first round, neither Date or Martinez use their rights. The second round is more exciting than the first. In the third round, Martinez steps it up and becomes more aggressive.
Directing: Takatoshi Suzuki · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x08 Spirit For One Last Attack
Feb 25, 2009 · 24 min
Date tries the heart-breaker shot but Martinez blocks it with his elbow breaking Date's hand. By the end of the round Date's hand, jaw, and ribs are broken. After ten rounds the match has a winner.
Directing: Satoshi Osedo · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x09 Inheritance Qualifications
Mar 3, 2009 · 24 min
The Kamogawa Boxing Gym gets a new recruit: Itagaki Manabu, the inter-high national runner up who happens to idolizes Ippo. Meanwhile, Ippo is hit with a blast from the past when he is challenged by Hammer Nao, his former junior who now seeks to defeat him and take his belt.
Directing: Hisato Shimoda · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x10 Biting Dog
Mar 10, 2009 · 24 min
Ippo is reluctant to fight Nao, who used to be his junior and friend. Nao faces his fear of fighting Ippo and resolves to let Ippo know how strong he has become firsthand. Who will come out on top?
Directing: Fumie Muroi · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x11 Ippo vs. Hammer Nao
Mar 17, 2009 · 24 min
The match begins. Ippo goes on an all-out offensive, hoping to end this match as soon as possible, but Nao refuses to stay down until he has shown Ippo his new power! Nao makes use of relentless and forceful body blows, pushing Ippo into a corner.
Directing: Fujiaki Asari · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x12 Requirements for a Pro
Mar 24, 2009 · 24 min
Ippo lowers his guard and it becomes a blow-for-blow confrontation, with Ippo winning out and knocking Nao down. Nao reflects on his past with Ippo as he gets up once more, only to be ultimately knocked out. Ippo remarks that Nao hasn't felt the pain of losing yet, and now that he has, he will become much stronger.
Directing: Kim Min-sun · Writing: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
2x13 Ippo At The Beach 2
Apr 1, 2009 · 24 min
Directing: Futoshi Higashide · Writing: Jun Nakagawa
2x14 Two Spars
Apr 8, 2009 · 24 min
Directing: Tomoya Takahashi · Writing: Fuuta Takei
2x15 Itagaki's Debut Fight!
Apr 14, 2009 · 24 min
Takamura and Ippo's next matches are finalized. Itagaki has a jarring introduction to the world of pro boxing when he fights a boxer desperate enough to cheat, and Kimura's Dragon Fish Blow can't seem to get the job done. To top it all off, Takamura has botched his weight management due to Aoki's revenge and is in no shape to fight! Can Takamura defeat the Filipino Middleweight Champion?
Directing: Takatoshi Suzuki
2x16 The Two Hawks
Apr 21, 2009 · 24 min
Takamura's light punches and decreased stamina have put him at a great disadvantage, but when he sees a familiar and taunting face, his anger allows him to fight back. Bryan Hawk finally makes his appearance - but his behavior is far from that of a true champion...
Directing: Kim Min-sun · Writing: 门胁康裕
2x17 Wild Kid
Apr 28, 2009 · 24 min
Takamura attacks Hawk in a fit of anger, but Hawk effortlessly blocks his attack, stunning everyone. The Kamogawa gang reviews Hawk's previous matches and learn how terrifyingly strong he is. When Ippo and friends visit Takamura's home out of curiousity, Takamura's checkered past with his family is revealed.
Directing: Mana Uchiyama · Writing: 久野惠里
2x18 Extreme Weight Control
May 5, 2009 · 24 min
Takamura resolves to reach the top of the world for the sake of his friends and for the coach. In order to do so, he must lose 20 kilos (44 lbs) before the match. Takamura starves and dehydrates himself to accomplish his goal, but will he make it through this bout of extreme weight control?
Directing: Fujiaki Asari · Writing: Fumie Muroi
2x19 Critical Situation
May 12, 2009 · 24 min
The coach and Nagi see Hawk's devastating boxing firsthand. Takamura barely makes weight and is taunted by Hawk for his skinny appearance. Later, when a press conference turns into utter chaos, all of Japan roots for Takamura to beat Hawk. Ippo makes a risky promise to Takamura, but will he be able to fulfill it?
Directing: Yoshifumi Sueda · Writing: 土谷三奈
2x20 Junior Middleweight World Title Match
May 19, 2009 · 24 min
Ippo manages to win his title defense with a 1-round KO as per his promise and rushes back to see Takamura. There, he sees all of the Japanese champions and former champions, including Eiji and Sendo,encouraging Takamura to do his best. After a flashy entrance ceremony, the long-awaited world title match finally begins!
Writing: Sei Moriwaki
2x21 Battle of Hawk
May 26, 2009 · 24 min
Takamura takes the pace at the beginning of the match, but Hawk unveils his unique style that allows him to dodge and attack simultaneously! After being caught off-guard and taking a beating in the first round, Takamura uses his speedy footwork to circle around Hawk, but Hawk outspeeds him and knocks him down. Can Takamura learn to counter Hawk's wild fighting style in time?
Directing: Takahiro Ikezoe · Writing: 吉原崇郎
2x22 Brawl
Jun 2, 2009 · 24 min
Takamura is outsped once more and knocked unconscious, but manages to recover just in time. Relying on what he has learned from the coach, he knocks down Hawk and discovers his weakness! An all-out brawl ensues and Takamura comes out on top! Takamura begins the next round with a KO proclamation - but can he really end the fight in this round?
Directing: Kim Min-sun · Writing: 大内真一
2x23 Supporting Hand
Jun 9, 2009 · 24 min
Despite using all of his remaining energy, Takamura cannot break through Hawk's defense and is left with no way to fight back. Hawk's wild bloodlust comes out, and he aims to kill Takamura in the ring! With nothing supporting him but the love of his friends and the coach's help, can Takamura mount a comeback?
Directing: Yukina Hiiro · Writing: Fuuta Takei
2x24 The King
Jun 16, 2009 · 24 min
Takamura is knocked unconscious while standing yet again, and remembers all of the pain, suffering, and disrespect he faced for the sake of this match. Realizing that his pain is because of Bryan Hawk, he begins fighting back, this time driven purely by instinct and anger. Takamura turns the table, but the champion on the ropes has one last trick up his sleeve...
Directing: Fumie Muroi · Writing: Atsushi Nakagawa
2x25 Please Accept This Bronze Statue
Jun 23, 2009 · 24 min
After a gruesome fight, Takamura becomes the WBC Jr. Middleweight World Champion, and orders a giant bronze statue of himself to celebrate. Itagaki wins his first official match, and Ippo meets Itagaki's family - and learns how terrifying a simple pun can be!
Directing: Eiichi Kuboyama · Writing: Kenichi Kawamura
2x26 New Challenger Season Finale
Jun 30, 2009 · 24 min
When Miyata confronts Ippo about their promise, it is revealed that Miyata has risen far above Ippo's level due to his over-reliance on the Dempsey Roll. When Ippo's next challenger, Shimabukuro Iwao, declares that he will destroy the Dempsey Roll, Ippo decides to train his Dempsey Roll so that it has no weaknesses. The coach decides to help Ippo, even if it means fighting against modern boxing itself!
Directing: Kotono Watanabe · Writing: Jun Shishido