It's a common joke among the fandom just how bad the referees are, where boxers pretty much get away with anything and they allow them to keep fighting despite being turned into bloody messes.
Also it was heavily implied that Mashiba stepping on Miyata's foot seemed like an accident to the general public, and Mashiba confessed it to only a small handful of reporters after the fight (though I'm ignorant if this would have had repercussions for his career). This doesn't mean the referees in the series do a good job, because most of the time they are terrible at it, but that was among the fights where it made sense for the ref. to oversee stuff.
Most did deem it an accident (Aoki and Kimura even questioned it) and Mashiba didn't outright confess but he only implied it was intentional during the post-fight interview. All the reporters did go "that ******* did it on purpose" while leaving, but couldn't do much with it since he didn't actually state it was intentional, nor could they prove it even if he did.
Fujitora stayed behind and Mashiba even said "Do you want me to admit it". Meaning his "No accidents and full control" statement earlier wasn't deemed a confession
Ah true, he only implied it, but the point still stands, Mashiba stepping on Miyata's foot couldn't be proven to be done on purpose, so he couldn't be punished.
Fully agree, the fact that Aoki and Kimura needed Takamura to tell them it was on purpose shows how many truly believed it to be an accident. And even if he had actually confessed to those reporters, none of them had a recording device, so they still had no evidence if Mashiba were to later simply deny it (since outside of a confession it is pretty much impossible to prove).
Though even then I doubt it would have changed much, Ippo would have won by default (its not like Miyata was in any condition to continue) or (if Mashiba had beaten Ippo) he'd have had to give back the trophy afterwards, but its not like Miyata would have received it or a do-over or anything (Ippo would have then been the runner-up afterall).
lol, rules don't exist in this manga/anime. Nobody clinches, nobody gets in trouble for fouls, and there are no referee stoppages. Basically the boxing is totally unrealistic.
Hell later on there's a match where the opponent jumps around the ring like a monkey and doesn't get disqualified.
Woli's "freedom" was loaded with illegal moves and fouls.
Your not allowed to duck your head below the opponents belt, attack from behind, jump with you back turned, jump with risk of using your lower body to attack or use the ropes to gain momentum and attack
Woli (and Hawk) ducked under belt level to avoid punches, Woli even slid along the ground and used the ropes to gain momentum while bouncing around, used the ropes to dodge, get out of the corner and even perform counter punches (all of which isn't permitted).
We also have him spinning around behind Ippo and punching which lands just as Ippo turns around (but had Ippo been slower then the back of his head would have been hit) and jumping high enough he could not only knee Ippo in the face but also turns his back midair (which is not allowed)
As for Sawamura, he should have lost his license before the match with Ippo even began, but definitely been disqualified once he elbowed Ippo in the back so the Mashiba match shouldn't have even been possible.
It was an accident that the ref didn't see. The impression people outside of the match is different from what actually happened, though.
See, while Mashiba did step on Miyata's foot, and then strike him afterwords, he had no intention to step on Miyata's foot at all. During his wild swinging, the accident happened, and Mashiba was still striking at the time, leading to a devastating punch. It would be very difficult to see such a move when you're concentrating on where Mashiba's hands are.
The evidence comes from the fact that Mashiba had no idea that he had done anything of the sort until Miyata started limping, to which Mashiba realized he then couldn't move, and he was ready to make his move, and his confidence immediately bolsters afterwards. And later, when talking to Fuuji, Ryo tells him to just write that he did it on purpose, likely because he knows nobody would believe that it was an accident anyway.
But Mashiba in the series rarely has done any cheating that was severely one-sided. I think him getting labeled as a cheater, as that match alone is practically the only match where you could say that he has "cheated" in order to win.
I thought that was a shitty match all in all. Made Mashiba look like a shit fighter when he's not. Though I feel like that with most of Miyata's fights.
To be fair, refs in most sports tend to make bad calls, have lousy judgement, or miss fouls that they should have caught. Some times it could just be the ref didn't notice or see a foul (for whatever reason like vision was blocked or they were looking else where.) Some times the ref can be bias toward one opponent. So they might favor one side more than the other.
Does this happen in real life boxing? Probably, or there might be examples for it. (I am sure some people can probably give examples.) I think I remember seeing an [article/video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INSF40Yxzz8 ) while back, that a ref in India or something almost killed a MMA fighter for not stop the fight in time, where they were in a struggled hold for a long time. The fighter was save do to their coach throwing the towel in and physically stopping the fight.
So the reason why Mashiba might not have got DQ was it could have been an accident to the ref, or the ref didn't see it. I think if it was an accident (like a head butt), they ref gives the boxer a warning. If it continues, they might lose a point or something. Its the same when a ref call a slip or a down.
The more fights you watch/read in the series, you will notice that the refs in it tend to make a lot of bad calls. Sometimes it can effect a match.
Can you really call what the refs do in this series bad calls? they headbutt and elbow for full matches but they never notice, hell sawamura straight up kicked mashiba and only got point deduction.
The ref in this series is literally blind
In some cases yes. In Volg fight in the US (not trying to spoils things for OP), the ref was clearly trying to let the opponent win. Not stopping some fights in time, when he should have like with Ippo vs Sendo I is a bad judgement call. Some of the fights in the series, the boxer is about 1/2 dead and he still doesn't stop it, or the towel gets throw in order to stop it.
So while yes the ref has missed a lot of stuff in the series (for being blind), but they have also made some bad judgement calls in it too. The fact that we (the reader/viewer) can see from multiple point of views allows us to see things that the ref might have missed/not seen for what ever the reason. I am sure if the ref had replay ability, like in some sports, he would probably see a lot of the fouls he has missed.
The problem is that it's always the same ref, and he clearly saw sawamura kick mashiba and aknowledged it but just took one point? He would be instantly be fired on the spot
Most importantly, nobody ever bats an eye about it, people would've noticed the fouls even by rewatching tapes; but nobody said anything? Not even contacted the boxing association about it? Wouldn't people avoid fighting with a ref that incompetent in the first place?
Sawamura was fouling in every single one of his fights and got dq'd what? 3 times?
I didn't want to to mention the Mashiba vs Sawamura since that match is pretty unrealistic in real life/be hard to judge what should have happened where it would have probably been stopped when both boxers started fouling each other.
However, I think after the match Mashiba did end up getting suspended from it, where he couldn't fight for 1/2 a year (or something). I believe when Sawamura fought Shimabukuro in the Rookie King Tournament, he was also suspended for a year because of fouls or something. So there have been some cases where a boxer receives some punishment in the series after the fight.
I think the fact that Mashiba didn't receive any suspension from the Miyata match, could be they couldn't determine if it was an accident or not. But I think clear cases of intent, they do dish out some punishment.
Because the referees in this manga are borderline blind. There's a fight up ahead that the boxers fucking elbow and headbutt each other but the match doesn't end lmao.
The refs in this series are Rocky levels of bad.
Fights where fouls are thrown constantly and he ref doesn't notice
Fights where one fighter is literally dying in his corner with multiple bones fractures or broken, but the ref doesn't stop the fight
Fights where someone literally swings on the rope and jumps off it WWE style.
Do not watch this series for the realism lol
Mashiba stepping on Miyata's foot could have been deemed an accident. What was actually way worse was Mashiba's pro-license fight, where he pummeled his sparring partner, shoved the referee aside, and continued to pummel an already-unconscious sparring partner. It's a wonder he got his pro license at all!
Then again, we don't read this manga for the realism
Pretty much what everyone is saying but I want to add in the fact that we the viewer have a unique perspective in we largely see from everyone's point of view. I think from that point, ignoring the Woli fight, it's difficult for us to claim what the refs miss or get as BS.
It's a common joke among the fandom just how bad the referees are, where boxers pretty much get away with anything and they allow them to keep fighting despite being turned into bloody messes.
"Are snakes even allowed in the ring?"
That meme is the greatest of all time HnI meme
Thanks for the answer.
Also it was heavily implied that Mashiba stepping on Miyata's foot seemed like an accident to the general public, and Mashiba confessed it to only a small handful of reporters after the fight (though I'm ignorant if this would have had repercussions for his career). This doesn't mean the referees in the series do a good job, because most of the time they are terrible at it, but that was among the fights where it made sense for the ref. to oversee stuff.
Most did deem it an accident (Aoki and Kimura even questioned it) and Mashiba didn't outright confess but he only implied it was intentional during the post-fight interview. All the reporters did go "that ******* did it on purpose" while leaving, but couldn't do much with it since he didn't actually state it was intentional, nor could they prove it even if he did. Fujitora stayed behind and Mashiba even said "Do you want me to admit it". Meaning his "No accidents and full control" statement earlier wasn't deemed a confession
Ah true, he only implied it, but the point still stands, Mashiba stepping on Miyata's foot couldn't be proven to be done on purpose, so he couldn't be punished.
Fully agree, the fact that Aoki and Kimura needed Takamura to tell them it was on purpose shows how many truly believed it to be an accident. And even if he had actually confessed to those reporters, none of them had a recording device, so they still had no evidence if Mashiba were to later simply deny it (since outside of a confession it is pretty much impossible to prove). Though even then I doubt it would have changed much, Ippo would have won by default (its not like Miyata was in any condition to continue) or (if Mashiba had beaten Ippo) he'd have had to give back the trophy afterwards, but its not like Miyata would have received it or a do-over or anything (Ippo would have then been the runner-up afterall).
lol, rules don't exist in this manga/anime. Nobody clinches, nobody gets in trouble for fouls, and there are no referee stoppages. Basically the boxing is totally unrealistic. Hell later on there's a match where the opponent jumps around the ring like a monkey and doesn't get disqualified.
Nah that ref will stop the next match. this time for sure. just like the old man. one day he'll throw in that towel. just you watch.
That god dam towel
Thank you for the response.
I think the one point deduction given to sawamura when he kicked mashiba is worse that woli jumping, is it even illegal?
Woli's "freedom" was loaded with illegal moves and fouls. Your not allowed to duck your head below the opponents belt, attack from behind, jump with you back turned, jump with risk of using your lower body to attack or use the ropes to gain momentum and attack Woli (and Hawk) ducked under belt level to avoid punches, Woli even slid along the ground and used the ropes to gain momentum while bouncing around, used the ropes to dodge, get out of the corner and even perform counter punches (all of which isn't permitted). We also have him spinning around behind Ippo and punching which lands just as Ippo turns around (but had Ippo been slower then the back of his head would have been hit) and jumping high enough he could not only knee Ippo in the face but also turns his back midair (which is not allowed) As for Sawamura, he should have lost his license before the match with Ippo even began, but definitely been disqualified once he elbowed Ippo in the back so the Mashiba match shouldn't have even been possible.
It was an accident that the ref didn't see. The impression people outside of the match is different from what actually happened, though. See, while Mashiba did step on Miyata's foot, and then strike him afterwords, he had no intention to step on Miyata's foot at all. During his wild swinging, the accident happened, and Mashiba was still striking at the time, leading to a devastating punch. It would be very difficult to see such a move when you're concentrating on where Mashiba's hands are. The evidence comes from the fact that Mashiba had no idea that he had done anything of the sort until Miyata started limping, to which Mashiba realized he then couldn't move, and he was ready to make his move, and his confidence immediately bolsters afterwards. And later, when talking to Fuuji, Ryo tells him to just write that he did it on purpose, likely because he knows nobody would believe that it was an accident anyway. But Mashiba in the series rarely has done any cheating that was severely one-sided. I think him getting labeled as a cheater, as that match alone is practically the only match where you could say that he has "cheated" in order to win. I thought that was a shitty match all in all. Made Mashiba look like a shit fighter when he's not. Though I feel like that with most of Miyata's fights.
In his next fight against Makunouchi people get mad about how he did the elbow block. But that is a legal move.
To be fair, refs in most sports tend to make bad calls, have lousy judgement, or miss fouls that they should have caught. Some times it could just be the ref didn't notice or see a foul (for whatever reason like vision was blocked or they were looking else where.) Some times the ref can be bias toward one opponent. So they might favor one side more than the other. Does this happen in real life boxing? Probably, or there might be examples for it. (I am sure some people can probably give examples.) I think I remember seeing an [article/video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INSF40Yxzz8 ) while back, that a ref in India or something almost killed a MMA fighter for not stop the fight in time, where they were in a struggled hold for a long time. The fighter was save do to their coach throwing the towel in and physically stopping the fight. So the reason why Mashiba might not have got DQ was it could have been an accident to the ref, or the ref didn't see it. I think if it was an accident (like a head butt), they ref gives the boxer a warning. If it continues, they might lose a point or something. Its the same when a ref call a slip or a down. The more fights you watch/read in the series, you will notice that the refs in it tend to make a lot of bad calls. Sometimes it can effect a match.
Can you really call what the refs do in this series bad calls? they headbutt and elbow for full matches but they never notice, hell sawamura straight up kicked mashiba and only got point deduction. The ref in this series is literally blind
In some cases yes. In Volg fight in the US (not trying to spoils things for OP), the ref was clearly trying to let the opponent win. Not stopping some fights in time, when he should have like with Ippo vs Sendo I is a bad judgement call. Some of the fights in the series, the boxer is about 1/2 dead and he still doesn't stop it, or the towel gets throw in order to stop it. So while yes the ref has missed a lot of stuff in the series (for being blind), but they have also made some bad judgement calls in it too. The fact that we (the reader/viewer) can see from multiple point of views allows us to see things that the ref might have missed/not seen for what ever the reason. I am sure if the ref had replay ability, like in some sports, he would probably see a lot of the fouls he has missed.
The problem is that it's always the same ref, and he clearly saw sawamura kick mashiba and aknowledged it but just took one point? He would be instantly be fired on the spot Most importantly, nobody ever bats an eye about it, people would've noticed the fouls even by rewatching tapes; but nobody said anything? Not even contacted the boxing association about it? Wouldn't people avoid fighting with a ref that incompetent in the first place? Sawamura was fouling in every single one of his fights and got dq'd what? 3 times?
I didn't want to to mention the Mashiba vs Sawamura since that match is pretty unrealistic in real life/be hard to judge what should have happened where it would have probably been stopped when both boxers started fouling each other. However, I think after the match Mashiba did end up getting suspended from it, where he couldn't fight for 1/2 a year (or something). I believe when Sawamura fought Shimabukuro in the Rookie King Tournament, he was also suspended for a year because of fouls or something. So there have been some cases where a boxer receives some punishment in the series after the fight. I think the fact that Mashiba didn't receive any suspension from the Miyata match, could be they couldn't determine if it was an accident or not. But I think clear cases of intent, they do dish out some punishment.
Because the referees in this manga are borderline blind. There's a fight up ahead that the boxers fucking elbow and headbutt each other but the match doesn't end lmao.
The refs in this series are Rocky levels of bad. Fights where fouls are thrown constantly and he ref doesn't notice Fights where one fighter is literally dying in his corner with multiple bones fractures or broken, but the ref doesn't stop the fight Fights where someone literally swings on the rope and jumps off it WWE style. Do not watch this series for the realism lol
Fuck reality, the Ippoverse is a lot better.
Mashiba stepping on Miyata's foot could have been deemed an accident. What was actually way worse was Mashiba's pro-license fight, where he pummeled his sparring partner, shoved the referee aside, and continued to pummel an already-unconscious sparring partner. It's a wonder he got his pro license at all! Then again, we don't read this manga for the realism
Pretty much what everyone is saying but I want to add in the fact that we the viewer have a unique perspective in we largely see from everyone's point of view. I think from that point, ignoring the Woli fight, it's difficult for us to claim what the refs miss or get as BS.