VISION GRID SYSTEM: THE COMEBACK OF RYOMA TAKEDA

The following morning, Japan’s sports media wakes to discover that yesterday’s story has somehow found a second chapter.

No newspaper attempts to compete with the noise still echoing from London. There is little point. Instead, Japan simply pushes the same wave a little farther inland.

The front pages now ar filled with a photograph taken inside a gym in Osaka. Nakahara stands beside the ring apron, a contract resting between him and Umemoto.

The image captures the exact moment before Umemoto signs. One side extending the challenge. The other unable to refuse it. And by breakfast, the headlines are already everywhere.

RONIN RETURNS FIRE — NAKAHARA WALKS INTO OSAKA AND LEAVES WITH A SIGNED CONTRACT

”COWARDS?” NAKAHARA’S ¥4,000,000 ANSWER STUNS UMEMOTO’S CAMP

TOKYO VS OSAKA IS OFFICIAL AGAIN

LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER CONQUERING LONDON, RONIN IGNITES ANOTHER WAR AT HOME

THE REMATCH IS SIGNED. THIS TIME, SO ARE THE BETS.

NAKAHARA TO UMEMOTO: ”IF YOU LOSE, APOLOGIZE! ”

Editorial writers waste no time connecting the two stories. If London had been about ambition, Osaka was about pride.

By midmorning, television sports programs replay the footage from Umemoto Gym almost as frequently as they replay Ryoma’s press conference in London.

On one side of the split screen stands Ryoma, calmly insisting that someone from the future had provided him with confidential information.

On the other stands Nakahara, offering ¥4,000,000 and demanding a public apology if Umemoto loses.

Separately, the two stories seem unrelated. Together, they create something far more interesting.

***

As if that weren’t enough, on the very day Ryoma returns to the office, Ronin Fight Management assembles the media to unveil the biggest undertaking in its brief promotional history.

They rent a conference hall in central Tokyo. By nine in the morning, the room is already full with reporters, television crews, and photographers, their attention fixed on the stage.

Behind the long conference table hangs a massive backdrop featuring the official poster for the WBO World Lightweight Championship between Ryoma Takeda and Miguel Cabello, with Tokyo Dome displayed prominently beneath it.

Even before the conference begins, quiet conversations ripple through the press seats as reporters study the backdrop.

”...Tokyo Dome?”

”Seriously?”

”The company’s barely a year old, and they’re already aiming for Tokyo Dome?”

One veteran reporter lets out a short laugh and shakes his head. ”Either they’re completely insane... or they know exactly what they’re doing.”

The familiar WBO logo dominates the top, while another line immediately catches the media’s attention; Presented by Aqualis Labs. Below it are the logos of Ronin Fight Management, NSN Tokyo, TV Asahi, and Fuji Television.

Another reporter points his pen toward the line beneath the event logo.

”Aqualis Labs again.”

”That part doesn’t surprise me,” someone replies. ”They’ve backed Ryoma since the beginning. If he made it to a world title, everyone knew Aqualis would be standing beside him.”

His pen shifts farther down the backdrop. ”What surprises me is this. NSN Tokyo... Business Partner.”

Before the discussion can continue, another voice cuts in.

”And look below that. TV Asahi... Fuji Television.”

”They’ve already secured the broadcast contracts?”

”Before the first press conference?”

As Ryoma, Nakahara, Kaito and President Fujimoto, Reika, and Maria take their seats, Ronin’s professional fighters gather quietly beside the stage, waiting for their turn to be introduced. The room gradually falls silent, and dozens of cameras rise in unison toward the podium.

***

Nakahara adjusts the microphone before offering a brief bow to the assembled press. His eyes briefly move toward the people seated beside him.

”First of all, I’d like to thank everyone for coming on such short notice. Last week, Ronin Fight Management was fortunate enough to secure the promotional rights for the WBO World Lightweight Championship in London. That achievement would not have been possible without the continued support of Aqualis Labs.”

He pauses briefly, then inclines his head toward Kaito and President Fujimoto.

”They have stood behind Ryoma from the very beginning, and we’re honored to have them once again as the title sponsor for this event.”

His attention then shifts to Reika and Maria. ”We’re equally pleased to welcome NSN Tokyo as our business partner. Together, we hope to deliver an event worthy of the stage we’ve chosen.”

Then he pauses again before a new slide appears on the screen behind him.

”Now... allow me to introduce the fight card.”

Junior Lightweight — 6 Rounds: Daichi Kuroda vs Takuya Shimizu

Super Bantamweight — 6 Rounds: Yuji Sakuma vs Haruto Minase

Reporters continue jotting down notes with little reaction until the next matchup appears, introducing the first name familiar enough to draw a few glances across the press seats.

Lightweight — 8 Rounds: Satoru Yoshitomo vs Wakasuhi Murota

Several reporters immediately look up from their notebooks.

”Last year’s All Japan Rookie King.”

”And Murota’s currently ranked fifteenth by the JBC. That’s a respectable first test.”

”I just hope Satoru finally gets to show what he’s can really do.”

”He deserved his Class A license even after losing to Kazuya Tojo.”

Then the next slide appears.

JBC Featherweight Final Title Eliminator: Shuji Okabe vs Masato Kiryu

Another wave of typing sweeps across the room. Several reporters exchange knowing nods as the picture becomes clearer with every announcement.

”Another title project.”

”Looks that way. Ronin already has champions all over the place.”

”And now they’re eyeing another belt.”

Then the screen changes again.

JBC Super Featherweight Championship: Champion Tatsuki Aramaki vs Former Champion Rikiya Miyamoto

This time, the lights dim slightly as the still graphic behind the stage dissolves into fight footage from their first meeting.

Rikiya Miyamoto controls the opening rounds, stepping in and out behind a crisp jab, repeatedly finding Aramaki’s head with sharp, accurate combinations.

The statistics flash briefly across the screen. Total punches landed: Miyamoto 67, Aramaki 0.

Then the footage reaches the fourth round. Aramaki suddenly dips low, explodes forward, and launches the trademark Gazelle Punch.

The right hand lands flush. Miyamoto collapses instantly. And a wave of voices rolls through the conference hall.

”They’re doing the rematch already?”

”I thought they’d wait another six months.”

”That alone could headline Korakuen.”

One reporter leans toward another. ”Wait... If they’re already putting that rematch here... then Ryohei and Umemoto have to be on this card too.”

Almost as though answering the speculation, the next graphic fills the screen.

JBC Super Lightweight Championship: Champion Ryohei Yamada vs No.1 Contender Kimitada Umemoto

The screen switches to highlights from their first meeting; Umemoto pressuring Ryohei around the ring and repeatedly trapping him along the ropes and in the corners. Heavy combinations continue to crash through as the former champion appears to dictate almost every moment of the fight.

Then, midway through another exchange, a short counter snaps into Umemoto’s jaw, and the former champion collapses before most of the audience even realizes what landed.

Around the conference hall, several reporters can’t help smiling.

”People are still arguing about that punch.”

”One lucky shot,” someone mutters.

Another shakes his head. ”Or the cleanest counter of Ryohei’s career, depending on who you ask.”

”Either way,” a veteran reporter says as he continues typing, ”Osaka’s been demanding this rematch ever since.”

”Wait…” another reporter says, frowning at the running order in the press kit. ”That’s two championship rematches on the same night, right?”

”On a Tokyo Dome card?” someone else replies. ”I’d say that’s a pretty respectable place to be.”

Another reporter suddenly looks up from his notes. ”You’re all forgetting they still have Kenta Moriyama. He just won the WBO Asia Pacific title.”

Several heads lift almost simultaneously.

”Are we about to get four title fights?”

Back on the podium, Nakahara advances to the next slide.

International WBO Welterweight Ranking Bout: WBO Asia Pacific Champion Kenta Moriyama vs Moses Ndlovu (Zimbabwe)

The screen transitions into another highlight package. It opens with Kenta Moriyama’s dominant victory over Arvin Della Cruz, the clean, disciplined precision of his Soviet-style boxing gradually dismantling the reigning WBO Asia Pacific champion round after round before the title finally changes hands.

The room quiets for a brief moment before whispers begin again.

”Who’s his opponent? Moses Ndlovu...?”

”Who is he?”

The footage then cuts to Moses Ndlovu. Gone is the measured rhythm of the previous clips, replaced by explosive bursts of power as the Zimbabwean overwhelms opponents with relentless pressure, heavy hooks, and frightening physical strength.

”That’s the former WBO Africa champion?”

”He’s currently ranked number seven by the WBO.”

”So it’s not a title defense...”

”No.” A veteran boxing writer slowly closes his notebook. ”But if Moriyama beats him... he’s going to be standing right outside the world title picture.”

Without waiting for Nakahara to announce the next bout, the screen changes once more. This time, it plays highlights from Miguel Cabello’s most recent world title fight against Liam O’Connell.

The footage showcases Cabello at his best, controlling the early and middle rounds with the crisp timing, sharp angles, and effortless precision that have become the hallmark of his polished Cuban boxing.

As the montage continues, however, the tone gradually shifts. The championship fight turns into a grueling battle of attrition, with O’Connell surging forward and forcing Cabello onto the back foot over the final two rounds.

Though visibly exhausted by the closing bell, Cabello secures the decision on the judges’ scorecards, successfully claiming the WBO Lightweight Championship.

A low murmur spreads through the conference hall as the footage comes to an end.

”Now that’s a main event worthy of Tokyo Dome.”

”Cabello’s first world title defense... and Ryoma’s first shot at a world championship.”

Nakahara waits until the room settles before announcing the bout everyone has been expecting.

Main Event, WBO World Lightweight Championship: Champion Miguel Cabello vs Challenger Ryoma Takeda.”

Before the applause can fully subside, the screen changes one final time. The footage now shifts to Ryoma’s victory over Liam O’Connell. He slips a series of punches with a peek-a-boo defense before smoothly switching his stance, then explodes with a crushing right-handed Gazelle Punch.

”Forget selling tickets,” a reporter says with a grin. ”That highlight alone will sell the fight.”

A veteran boxing writer quietly closes his notebook. ”If both men perform the way they did against O’Connell... Ryoma wasn’t overselling it in London. This really could be the biggest fight of the year.”