Makunouchi Ippo is an ordinary high school student in Japan. Since he spends most of his time away from school helping his mother run the family business, he doesn't get to enjoy his younger years like most teenagers. Always a target for bullying at school (the family fishing business grants him a distinct odor), Ippo's life is one of hardship. One of these after-school bullying sessions turns Ippo's life around for the better, as he is saved by a boxer named Takamura. He decides to follow in Takamura's footsteps and train to become a boxer, giving his life direction and purpose. Ippo's path to perfecting his pugilistic prowess is just beginning...
The best episode of "Fighting Spirit" season 1 is "The First Step", rated 8.1/10 from 396 user votes. It was directed by Kenichi Kawamura and written by Tatsuhiko Urahata. "The First Step" aired on 10/3/2000 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Fruits of Labor".
Ippo is a high school student who works full time at his mother's fishing though. Because of this, he gets bullied on by the kids at his school. That's when his life turns around, when a professional boxer happens to be jogging along the way, and introduces Ippo to the world of boxing.
Director: Kenichi Kawamura
Writer: Tatsuhiko Urahata
Ippo succeeds in catching 10 falling leaves, and is granted his first sparring session.
Director: Saburo Hashimoto
Writer: N/A
Ippo loses his first sparring session, but shows enough potential to be accepted into the gym.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo practices shadow boxing.
Director: Nanako Shimazaki
Writer: N/A
Ippo trains for a rematch.
Director: N/A
Writer: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
Ippo and Miyata face off in a rematch.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo and Miyata are in the last round of the rematch
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo trains with Takamura and discovers the hardship of pro boxing.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo takes the License Test and meets Mashiba.
Director: Rokou Ogiwara
Writer: N/A
Ippo and his opponent Yusuke train for Ippo's debut match.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo defeats Yusuke via K.O.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo fights and wins his second match via K.O.,After the fight he was befriended by Umezawa, his former bully.
Director: Yasuhiro Matsumura
Writer: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
Ippo and his opponent Jason prepare for the first match of the Rookie King Tournament.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Start of Ippo vs Jason match, both men exchange powerful punches but neither goes down.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo defeats Jason via K.O. after a tough match.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo watches the fight videos of Kobashi and Hayami, his future opponents.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo joins Takamura, Kimura, and Aoki in a training camp near the beach.
Director: Yuzo Sato
Writer: Yasuko Kamo
Start of Ippo vs Kobashi match, Ippo is loosing by points because of Kobashi's strategy.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Kobashi abandoned his strategy and loses the match to Ippo via K.O.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Takamura wins the Japanese Middleweight Championship belt, Ippo trains with Aoki to counter Hayami's Shotgun punch.
Director: Hideo Hayashi
Writer: Ryosuke Nakamura
Start of Ippo vs Hayami fight, Hayami takes the advantage during the early rounds.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo defeats Hayami via K.O. Ippo's training with Aoki and Kimura's help Ippo win the match.
Director: Mitsuyuki Masuhara
Writer: Yasuko Kamo
Ippos day off. Miyata and Mashiba face off.
Director: Nanako Shimazaki
Writer: N/A
Miyata and Mashiba continues to fight. Ippo is angred by the outcome.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Ippo trains for Mashiba flicker jabs.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A