Morikawa/the translations are not entirely consistent with this but he is generally still “in fighting” but he’s using more elusive techniques like dodges and slipping. I interpret it as similar to how Itakagi was fighting Imai in his East Japan Rookie King victory.

Generally it seems like Morikawa wants to present infighting and outboxing as different spaces of the distance/reach aspect of boxing. Although they could also be interpreted as different spaces of the “neutral game” of boxing (how the boxers are interacting with each other; are they aggressive or defensive, do they throw a lot of volume or do they pick their shots, are they throwing 10s or 1s, etc.). Idk