Episode 31 is a retrospective on the hope that managed Ippo championship. It is made in the form of a newspaper article commented and written Fuuji, journalist of the monthly "boxing fan."

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

Ippo learns how to heal his right fist and gets ready for the All Japan but something happens his powerful right punches!

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 practices shadow boxing.

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

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

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

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

Ippo trains for Mashiba flicker jabs.

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

Ippo trains for a rematch.

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

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

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

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

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

Ippos day off. Miyata and Mashiba face off.

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

Ippo VS Mashiba Round 1

Ippo defeats Mashiba for Rookie King of Eastren Japan.

Sendo goes to Japan to meet Ippo and make him go to All Japan and gets a chance to spar with Takamura.

After two straight missed Ippo, the sparring match is abandoned. Meanwhile, Sendo, the great favorites of the match, continues to train. Just before the game, the pain in the fist Makunouchi have not disappeared, his orthopedic injects an anesthetic. The pain, however, can return at any time of the match, but Ippo is determined to face Sendo costs!

Ippo and Miyata face off in a rematch.