Ippo, a teenage boy with a pure heart and unrelenting determination, discovers a passion for boxing after veteran fighter Takamura saves him from bullies.
Genre: Animation, Action, Comedy
Cast:Steve Staley , Richard Epcar , Grant George , D.C. Douglas , Paul St. Peter , Richard Cansino , Peter Doyle , Beau Billingslea , Stephanie Sheh , Kirk Thornton , Mona Marshall , Dave Wittenberg , Michael Sorich , Ellyn Stern , Dorothy Elias-Fahn , Steve Kramer , Sanae Kobayashi , Joe Cappelletti
Ippo gets invited to see a movie with his new classmates but can't go since he has to work at his mothers fishing store. On the way home he gets beaten up by some of his bullies before a boxer, Takamura Mamoru, steps in. Ippo faints and is brought to the Kamogawa boxing gym. When Ippo wakes up Takamura draws a picture of one of the bullies, places it on a punching bag and forces him to punch it. Doing that, Ippo feels something stir inside him and he later starts to watch videos and buys magazines about boxing. Eventually Ippo asks Takamura to train him in boxing. Takamura says he will accept if Ippo manage to succeed with a seemingly impossible task.
Ippo's goal is to catch 10 leaves, with only a week to do so. While balancing school and work, Ippo is also practicing his jabs.
At first, it seems that Ippo could not keep up with Miyata. Ippo keeps taking hit after hit and gets knocked down twice. After receiving some advice from Takamura, Ippo keeps getting back up to fight.
Ippo finally begins his training in the gym. First, Kamogawa himself, helps Ippo to focus on his jabs and the one-two technique. After getting the hang of it, Kamogawa instructs Ippo to practice shadow boxing.
Ippo begins training with coach Kamogawa for about in order to prepare for a rematch with Miyata. During that time, he begins working on more techniques. Also, he learns more about Miyata's father, who was a former professional boxer.
A representative from a boxing magazine comes to Kamogawa's Gym on the same day Ippo and Miyata have their rematch. With Takamura as referee, the rematch begins. Both fighters begin their four-round match, each displaying their progress.
After a powerful knockout from Miyata, Ippo insists on standing up again and completing the match no matter what.
With Miyata nowhere to be found, Ippo seems distracted in his training, so Kamogawa sends him to train with Takamura. Ippo experiences all the hardship his mentor endures since he prepares for a championship match.
Ippo finally applies to get his featherweight boxing license. During the exam, he meets Ryo Mashiba. Ippo finally gained his license. Back at Kamogawa's Gym, Ippo is about to learn the name of his opponent in his debut match.
After determining Ippo's opponent, Ippo and Oda prepare for their match
The awaited moment has come, And Ippo's first official match against boxer Oda has begun
The news of Ippo's boxing spreads in the school, which makes the thugs secretly admire him and insist on attending his next match.
The Rookie Championship is about to begin. Ippo's first opponent is an American soldier, Jason Ozma. To prepare Ippo trains with Takamura. Ozma trains for the people he came to know in the Japanese gym where he was based.
Ippo begins his first tournament match against Jason
Ippo continues his tactic of exchanging punches, however, he finds himself struggling to land them as the fight nears its end
After completing his fight, ippo decides to spectate miyata's match, meanwhile his opponent for his next match is decided
Ippo and the others head to the beach to relax before they start their training. Ippo realises he must practise his foot-work ahead of his next match.
After meeting kobashi, ippo realises he must work hard to beat him, Ippo and Kobashi start their second match of the tournament
As the fight between Kobashi and Ippo nears its end, Ippo looks for an opportunity to KO, while Kobashi switches up his tactics
Ippo spectates Hayami's 3rd match to see what he's up against. He trains vigorously for his semi final match
Ippo arrives at his semi final match against Hayami with bruises on his face, round 1 commences
Ippo and Hayami continue to exchange blows as their battle nears its end. Hayami realises he shouldn't underestimate Ippo
Miyata begins his semi-final match against Mashiba as Ippo and the others spectate
As the battle continues, Miyata discovers a pain in his foot that limits his abilities. He struggles through the match as it reaches its climax
Ippo and Mashiba both train for their match, meanwhile, Mashiba's motive and reasoning for boxing are revealed
After a period of immensely focused training, Ippo steps into the ring for his final match for the rookie championship
As Ippo and Mashiba continue their fight, they both develop weaknesses, however both fighters give their best to try and win even under harsh circumstances
The eastern japan rookie tournament finally comes to an end with Ippos victory. Ippo decides to take a break from boxing due to his right hand
After winning the Easter japan rookie tournament, Takeshi Sendo, the winner of West japan rookie tournament, takes interest in Ippo and tries to convince him to take part in the All Japan tournament
Ippo wants to fight Sendo so he goes to an orthopedic doctor to get his fist looked at. Ippo then starts an intense training regime.
A recap of the boxing matches that have taken place thus far.
Ippo is still having trouble with his right fist but his match with Sendo begins.
Ippo tries a different fighting stance making his match with Sendo only get more intense.
Ippo and Sendo keep fighting, the crowd starts cheering Sendo on and the match reaches its climax.
Ippo graduates and takes photos with people from his school. New people join the gym and are put to the test by running with Takemura, Ippo, Aoki, and Kimura.
Kimura, Aoki, and Takemura each fight their match. Ippo spars with the featherweight champion, Date.
Dante uses his secret weapon on Ippo, the fact that Date used it on Ippo made Okita challenge Ippo to a real match.
Okita uses moves that makes him unpredictable for Ippo. Okita also uses a fighting style like Dante and he uses a corkscrew.
Miyata's in Thailand and he get's a tough opponent with a great record, Jimmy Sisfa.
Miyata's fight with Jimmy Sisfa begins, Miyata starts off bad and when that happens Miyata tries a counter punch.
Aoki, Kimura, and Ippo all try going A-class. Yamada has his first fight. All the guys want to go to training camp.
Ippo's mother collapses from overworking so Ippo has to look after the family business. Ippo thinks about quitting boxing so that his mother doesn't overwork herself again.
Ippo Prepares for his match against Saeki, the speed star, by trying to improve his movements and become faster.
Ippo's match with Saeki has begun, but Saeki is so fast that Ippo can't land a hit on him. Ippo Is left with a blind spot after getting his eye swollen making it even harder to track Saeki.
After all, the guys are done with their matches they go to karaoke. Takemura lets everyone know Yamada is leaving so they give him a send-off.
Aoki and Kimura fight their matches. Kamogawa wants Ippo to train his legs to get flexible muscles so that he can deliver a more powerful punch that can beat Volg.
Ippo meets Volg after Volg gets lost. Volg tells Ippo that he boxes so he can get money for his mother.
The match with Ippo and Volg begins and the two boxers seem to get the edge over one another quite a bit.
The fight between Ippo and Volg carries on. Ippo takes a lot of hits and gets knocked down a couple times.
After many rounds, Ippo and Volg are both exhausted. After the match is finished Volg visits Ippo in the hospital and meets Ippo's mother.