2 Takamura questions

How did Takamura take 10 years to become Japanese champion, but Ippo only 3? What was Takamura doing all that time, especially considering he was already the rookie champion long ago and is undefeated? He only had a record of 12-0 or something, that's barely 1 fight per year?

Episode 76- how did Takamura not know how to box during his debut match? Didn't he have to box during his pro test, which must have been before that? He had said that his pro test had been easy in another episode, that he was the only one who was any good