While some fighters like to brag about their skills, their fit bodies, and all the cash, clothes and fancy bling and cars they got, Miyata is not all about that. Even though legions of female fans scream in his presence (Ippo is probably his biggest fangirl), while some fighters would embrace such cheers as encouragement and maybe take them to a party after a fight, Miyata just simply doesn’t care. He is solely driven by his goals to the best, and not for the fame or money. Yes, success in boxing can lead to such rewards but sometimes they can be a downfall. Due to his upbringing and how everybody almost abandoned his father after his loss, he doesn’t let his achievements get to his head. He knows he has to work hard to get to where he does and puts it in and shows it in his performances in the ring.

If anything defines Miyata, it is his amazing technical prowess. Despite not competing in the amateurs in his early years whether it would be in high school boxing, the Japanese equivalent to the Golden Gloves or the Olympics, Miyata has a masterful grasp on initiating the pace with his stick and move tactics with that efficiency. Even though he may not have the knockout power of Ippo or Sendo, his lightning jab, and his foot speed allows him to wear down his opponents and fall victim to his counters, which uses not only his own power but the power of his opponents against them.

His first step in mastering his father’s counter-centric style was in his second fight in Thailand against Jimmy Sisphar, a Muay Thai champion turned boxer and considered the top prospect in his country. Like his rival Ippo, Jimmy hits like a mule. Despite being battered by Jimmy for four rounds, Miyata was able to exploit an opening against Jimmy’s right hand and throw his right over Jimmy’s while slightly slipping it making the most devastating counter of all time. In addition to his foot speed and his counters, Miyata is also capable of utilizing Mashiba’s flicker jab, which he used against Kimura in their sparring sessions to get Kimura ready for Mashiba.

While Takamura himself has to cut massive amounts of weight to make it down to 160 or 154 when he fought Brian Hawk (with a walking weight of nearly 200 pounds), ever since his first bout in Thailand, Miyata also has his own weight control issues. However, the science behind Miyata’s weight control to make 126 is different from Takamura’s. Though Takamura on average has to lose around 40 pounds and Miyata probably cuts between 10-20 pounds, the issue comes down to differences in body composure and how much the body can take in regards to their frame and genetic makeup. Takamura’s weight control is mostly cutting water and fat, as is weight control for athletes in combat sports in general (most real life fighters whether boxing or MMA tend to cut 20-40 pounds). However, due to Miyata’s growth spurt and his bone density that lead to his weight gain (keep in mind he started professional boxing right after he turned 17 while he was still growing), Miyata’s weight control has his own unique set of difficulties that is not caused by fat and water weight.

Yes, he can get down to 126, but eventually, all the weight cutting can take a toll on him (which is not uncommon for real life smaller fighters who yo-yo diet) but he has managed to make the weight with no issues as of yet. But sometimes at weigh-ins, he can look nothing more like a bag of bones. Thankfully, weigh-ins are 24 hours before fight time and fighters are allowed to rehydrate (as in just eating healthy foods, or carbo-loading). But eventually, that entire weight cutting throughout his career will be difficult in supporting his respective frame. Due to his active career, he manages to stay close to fighting weight. Miyata does not see his weight cut as a handicap and compares it to sharpening a pencil, however, it has been noted in the series that a pencil eventually runs out. Maybe in the future, there can be an appropriate nutritionist that can help him make the weight safely and maintain a healthy career.

Despite the devastating circumstances that led to the end of his father’s career, his father has always been encouraging and supporting his boxing career. While some real life fighters would discourage their children from taking up boxing and/or any other combat sport, Miyata’s father without any hesitation has been training him sometime after his retirement. Miyata’s father sees that his son has the potential to not only succeed but to also surpass him. Miyata himself sees his own career as a comeback for his father, but his father encourages him to fight his own way and to find his own path in his boxing career feeling he has nothing to prove.

The greatest advice his father gives him is in his fight with Arnie Gregory for the OPBF title when he Miyata says he will go for a lucky punch, and his father tells him that in boxing there are no such thing as lucky punches and only those who work hard and really want it. This speech also allowed viewers and Miyata himself know that his father has come to terms with his own loss that led to the end of his career and despite that, there is still hope for the future. Thanks to this encouragement, Miyata wins!

After nearly three years away from Japan due to fighting opponents in other neighboring countries such as Thailand and Korea, Miyata is given his shot at fighting for the OPBF title against the champion, Arnie Gregory of Australia. Initially, Miyata is able to get his rhythm down and even score a few knockdowns against the champion. Eventually for a few brief moments, Arnie is able to stop Miyata’s counters. However, thanks to encouragement from his father as earlier stated, Miyata re-discovers his drive and manages to land one last shot and permanently end the rule of Arnie Gregory and bring back honor to his family’s lost legacy. Plus, due to winning a title that ranks higher than Ippo’s national title, Miyata has higher priority in the world rankings over Ippo and hopes that their victories and successes will eventually put them in the ring together.