Hajime No Ippo Episode 8 -

This shift is critical. Away from the supportive atmosphere of his peers, Ippo is exposed to the "ugly side" of boxing that happens when the lights are off:

After narrowly defeating the prodigy Miyata with a grazed uppercut, Ippo falls into a common vice: . Riding the high of his victory, his intensity at the gym begins to fade. Coach Kamogawa, sensing Ippo's lack of motivation now that his primary rival is "gone," forces him into a week-long training camp with Takamura.

The climax of the episode isn't Ippo's own fight, but Takamura’s professional debut at . After witnessing Takamura endure hellish training on an empty stomach, Ippo sees it all culminate in a single, devastating knockout.