Also the next guy... in Ippo wasn't anywhere as interesting as Bryan Hawk and really doesn't play off as an "America Elemental".
To me he was included as a counter point of Bryan Hawk because... well... Bryan Hawk is a boarder line racist character... I think Hawk is more of a caricature you aren't meant to take seriously personally (and frankly Japan is not very PC anyway) but covering your bases is a good idea.
I'd say he was meant to be the other extreme, but if you pay attention to the dialog in the Bryan Hawk fight, you knew Eagle wasn't a big deal from the get go... and it really shows...
Where Bryan Hawk was intimidating and actually very entertaining until they neutered him... Eagle was just kind of boring and reminded me a lot about why I don't like Takamura.
He is ok but where Bryan Hawk was a major fight... Eagle actually manages to feel minor... not even a worthy fight. He doesn't feel like an opponent equal in strength. As well where Bryan overcame a lot of his shortcomings with sheer amazingness, Eagle just fell apart the second he was out of his comfort zone.
Well I always wondered why a lot of the boxers never saw a doctor after a match.
The Doctors in the Ippo universe are utterly incompetent and can't do their jobs...
Which is odd because really early on in the series they actually were doing their jobs and actually checked to see if the Wrestlers were brain damaged or concussed...
Heck why does this ring have a doctor all of a sudden? The Japanese Nationals didn't have a doctor... As well the World Feather Weight Title match didn't have a doctor either
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To admit though the series is still in what I call the "Flawed opponents" stage these things have.
Where all the big opponents lack something like willpower or friendship or some crud.
Which only exists to build up the real opponent they are saving later on.
Though at least we are out of the "Tutorial Boss" stage.