Summary
Takeshi Sendo is a professional boxer and marketplace owner who operates his stall alongside his grandmother in Osaka, Japan. Born on May 5, 1972, he competes in the Featherweight division, which has a weight limit of 126 pounds. Standing at 167.5 cm with a reach of 168 cm, Sendo utilizes an in-fighter and brawling style, adopting a crouching brawling stance. He trains under Yanaoka at the Naniwa Kentou Boxing Gym and is currently affiliated with the Naniwa Kentou-kai. Sendo serves as a major antagonist during the Championship Road arc, acting as the second Japanese champion that Makunouchi Ippo challenges for the title. He is widely regarded as Ippo’s chief rival, notable for being the only boxer to face Ippo more than once in the professional ring. His arm strength rivals or even exceeds that of Ippo’s. His signature techniques include the Smash, also known as the Three Quarter Uppercut, which comes in various forms such as the Low Smash, Deadly Smash, and Southpaw Smash. He also employs the Knuckle Drop, the Clenched Fist, and the New Smash, a deceptive move involving a decoy Smash. A former JBC Featherweight Champion, Sendo draws inspiration from the real-life boxer and actor Akai Hidekazu, known as the "Naniwa Rocky." He greatly admires Rocky Marciano, frequently clarifying that he is not the same person as the film character, and is also a fan of Takamura Mamoru. His path to boxing was shaped by the death of his father, a fireman who died saving a child. Much like Ippo, Sendo revered his father, and this loss motivated him to strive for his father’s level of strength. In his youth, Sendo was known as a troublesome delinquent who led his own gang. However, his grandmother explained that he engaged in this behavior to protect innocent civilians from other gangs. He and his grandmother run their marketplace together. Sendo first appears watching a video tape of Ippo’s spectacular knockout victory over Mashiba Ryou. Inspired by the footage, he travels to Tokyo to challenge Ippo. He leaves somewhat disappointed upon learning of Ippo’s broken fist but optimistically tells Ippo that he will be waiting for him in Osaka when the time is right, accidentally leaving a bag of souvenirs behind at the station. Initially, Sendo lacks motivation and does not train seriously until he receives a package and a letter from Ippo suggesting their match might still happen. This prospect reignites his drive, leading him to resume intense training in anticipation of their bout.
