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.

Ippo succeeds in catching 10 falling leaves, and is granted his first sparring session.

Ippo loses his first sparring session, but shows enough potential to be accepted into the gym.

Ippo practices shadow boxing.

Ippo trains for a rematch.

Ippo and Miyata face off in a rematch.

Ippo and Miyata are in the last round of the rematch

Ippo trains with Takamura and discovers the hardship of pro boxing.

Ippo takes the License Test and meets Mashiba.

Ippo and his opponent Yusuke train for Ippo's debut match.

Ippo defeats Yusuke via K.O.

Ippo fights and wins his second match via K.O.,After the fight he was befriended by Umezawa, his former bully.

Ippo and his opponent Jason prepare for the first match of the Rookie King Tournament.

Start of Ippo vs Jason match, both men exchange powerful punches but neither goes down.

Ippo defeats Jason via K.O. after a tough match.

Ippo watches the fight videos of Kobashi and Hayami, his future opponents.

Ippo joins Takamura, Kimura, and Aoki in a training camp near the beach.

Start of Ippo vs Kobashi match, Ippo is loosing by points because of Kobashi's strategy.

Kobashi abandoned his strategy and loses the match to Ippo via K.O.

Takamura wins the Japanese Middleweight Championship belt, Ippo trains with Aoki to counter Hayami's Shotgun punch.

Start of Ippo vs Hayami fight, Hayami takes the advantage during the early rounds.

Ippo defeats Hayami via K.O. Ippo's training with Aoki and Kimura's help Ippo win the match.

Ippos day off. Miyata and Mashiba face off.

Miyata and Mashiba continues to fight. Ippo is angred by the outcome.

Ippo trains for Mashiba flicker jabs.