Dazed by the power, Kobashi is caught by a straight right from Ippo. Although Kobashi manages to struggle back to his feet, he collapses again just as the referee finishes the count. The Result
Kobashi abandons his defensive shell and tries to trade heavy blows with Ippo.
As the final round begins, Kobashi is comfortably ahead. However, he becomes obsessed with the "dream of a KO". Despite his coach's orders to stay safe and cruise to a decision win, Kobashi decides he wants to prove he can actually knock someone out.
The fight begins with Kobashi completely dominating Ippo by using a "clinch and hit" strategy. Kobashi isn't looking for a flashy knockout; his goal is to win purely on points by landing light jabs and then immediately clinching to prevent Ippo from using his devastating power.