@wolfwood:
I alternate in how i feel about it but on some level i like being in such uncharted waters. This is the most unshounen thing i have ever seen in a long running manga and while it is a bit hit or miss it is at least keeping me wondering. But i mean the lack of progress gets to me at times too, like the Kumi stagnation or the Miyata drag out, but mostly i'm still entertained by the steady stream of knob gags and goofball humor
This is very true, I don't think there's been any sports shounen manga where a character gave up the sport for his health by choice. It's refreshing, especially in our current era when modern medicine is finding all the problems that can come with contact sports (see: football players and brain damage).
So far Morikawa has kept things interesting by keeping the "science" of boxing a forerunner, and thankfully we have great side characters to keep us entertained in the ring. And yes, I'm even looking forward to seeing Ippo's students get their boxing license. Even though I've already forgotten their names.
@desa:
It probably help that unlike most rivals in shonen Miyata isnt a dick with the main guy. When he meets with Ippo, he tries to connect, he will admit to feeling weaker at times and the one time they missed their match he went out of his way to apologize and prostrate himself. So I am invested in them meeting rather then thinking Ippo needs to find someone that value him.
I dont care about Martinez . That was Date match and it was great. Sendo would be interesting because his drive is to be the best and beating Ricardo fits his character motivation. Ippo doesnt value titles enough for getting the world champ to be compelling and he has no personal connection to the guy.
It's nice when rivals don't hate each other. I feel like we're seeing more of that lately. Miyata is a cold guy but, as you say, he isn't a dick. Martinez I didn't think much of after Date, but now that Morikawa has given us a look into his thoughts we need to see what comes out of that. It's a new look at an "undefeated champion".
I think what we need to remember is that Ippo started this whole boxing thing because he wanted to know what strength is. And he still hasn't found an answer, or one that satisfies him anyway.