Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

The Kamogawa Gym buzzed with the energy of a fresh week. Alex was leaning against the ring ropes, towel draped over his neck, as Kamogawa and Yagi walked in with determined expressions. The coach held a clipboard, while Yagi carried a folded newspaper.

"Alex," Kamogawa said, his voice steady, "we've got some news for you."

Alex straightened up, tossing the towel aside. "Let me guess—someone's taken the bait?"

"You're sharper than you look," Yagi said with a smirk, unfolding the newspaper. "Shohei Matsuda, ranked number ten in Japan, has officially accepted your challenge. The fight's set for three weeks from now."

Alex grinned. "Good. Let's get to work."

Kamogawa cleared his throat, his stern eyes locking onto Alex's. "Before you get too cocky, remember, Matsuda has experience. He's a brawler with a solid chin and good stamina. He's seen his share of flashy upstarts. You'll need to fight smart."

"I hear you, Coach," Alex said, nodding earnestly. "I'll stick to the plan."

The KFC SponsorshipLater that afternoon, Alex and Yagi headed to a local studio for a commercial shoot. KFC had approached Alex after his recent victory, offering him a medium-sized sponsorship deal of ¥300,000 (around $2,700).

The set was simple yet effective: a boxing ring adorned with buckets of chicken. Alex stood in the center, dressed in a sleek outfit that combined boxing gloves with a stylish red-and-white jacket.

"Alright, Alex," the director called, "we want confidence, swagger, and a knockout smile!"

Alex rolled his shoulders, stepping forward with a grin. He delivered a quick series of shadow punches before picking up a bucket of chicken and holding it high. "When hunger hits, knock it out with KFC!"

The crew clapped, and the director gave a thumbs-up. "That's a wrap! Great work, Alex."

After the shoot, Yagi handed Alex the check. "Not bad for a day's work, huh?"

"Not bad at all," Alex said, pocketing the check. "I could get used to this."

Preparing for MatsudaBack at the gym, Kamogawa laid out a meticulous training plan.

"Matsuda's a pressure fighter," Kamogawa began. "He'll try to back you into a corner and trade punches. We're going to sharpen your footwork, tighten your counters, and work on controlling the pace."

Over the next two weeks, Alex dedicated himself to the regimen. He sparred with Ippo, Aoki, and even Takamura, each pushing him in different ways. Kamogawa emphasized staying disciplined, drilling Alex on maintaining his composure under pressure.

A Look at the RankingsOne afternoon, during a break, Yagi handed Alex another document—the updated Japanese lightweight rankings.

"Take a good look," Yagi said. "These are the fighters standing between you and the title."

Alex skimmed the list, pausing at the top.

Japan Lightweight

RankingsChampion: Shinobu Iga (10-1-0, 6 KO)

Ryota Sakamoto (14-3-2, 9 KO)Kenta Hoshino (11-2-1, 7 KO)Daichi Kuroda (12-4-0, 5 KO)Hayato Shimizu (10-3-1, 6 KO)Tetsuya Miyamoto (9-5-1, 3 KO)Hiroshi Yamamoto (8-4-2, 4 KO)Riku Tanaka (7-3-0, 6 KO)Koji Nakamura (6-4-0, 2 KO)Masato Sugihara (7-5-1, 3 KO)Shohei Matsuda (6-6-0, 1 KO)"Shohei Matsuda," Alex said, tapping the paper. "The gateway to the rest of them."

Yagi nodded. "And you've got three weeks to make sure you're ready to walk through it."

Ippo's ResolveMeanwhile, Ippo sat on the bench, deep in thought as he observed Alex's intense training. Kamogawa noticed and approached him.

"You've got the heart, Ippo," Kamogawa said. "But you're not ready for the top 15 just yet. You need more experience before stepping into that ring."

Ippo nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "I understand, Coach. I'll keep working hard."

The Media FrenzyAs the fight drew closer, Alex and Kamogawa attended a press event. Journalists fired off questions, and Alex answered with his usual confidence.

"Matsuda's tough, no doubt," Alex said, leaning into the microphone. "But I'm tougher. He's just the first step on my way to the top."

Kamogawa added, "Alex has been training hard. He's focused, disciplined, and ready to give his best."

To Be Continued...