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."

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

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

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

It is the day of graduation, Ippo has also obtained his. At his high school, he became The Star, Idol of all students. This awareness leads logically significant upsurge in new boxers Club Kamogawa, known mainly through Takamura, Aoki and Kimura. But most do not have the mind needed to make boxing, and quickly brought back to reality by Takamura which they all did make a fool of jogging. Only a poor fan Ippo Yamada, managed to keep up, somehow.

Ippo finally meets the champion in its class, Eiji Date. The latter is there to comment on the evening's matches as a guest. It turns out that date and Takamura are old friends. It is then time fighting. Aoki and Kimura wins them narrowly, and ranks both 5 of their category. Takamura broke his opponent as usual. Ippo meanwhile, is ranked 10 ° in its class. A few days later, the right fist Ippo is healed and he immediately asked by Newest Eiji in person for a sparring.

In Thailand, Miyata a draw against a second-class boxer. Decision of the arbitrator although debatable, the Japanese are not welcome there, and Miyata seems to be the target of combatants wishing to earn points easily. But our young prodigy does not intend to scroll and accept a new challenge, against the wishes of his father, who would rather see it go up in the lightweight category. For Miyata, that change is impossible, it MUST NOT prevent Ippo, about dignity, he refused to flee the face of obstacles.

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.

Ippo trains for Mashiba flicker jabs.

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

Ippo gets to get up, the game resumes. Date returned, and hardly the match resumed, Ippo is again stuck in the ropes. Date then returns its corkscrew, trying to anticipate where Ippo Date will strike, and protects his body. But the blow-out date is very accurate and comes crashing right in the heart of Ippo. The latter is then locked again, and again takes the left of Date. Our young boxer collapses into the ring for the 2nd time. Date who just wanted to test this one, decided to no longer use and Sparring resumes...

Ippo takes the License Test and meets Mashiba.

At sunset, While Ippo's mother prepares the material for fishing, it can hardly his training, sorry for being late to help his mother. The next day at Kamogawa club, while everybody is training, the coach delivers some news: Aoki and Kimura are registered in Class A tournament - a competition of the highest level. Ippo learns with astonishment that it is also registered for this tournament. But always with astonishment, Geromichi learns that he was included in Pro test.

Ippo gets ready for his match against Saeki the Speed Star.

The tactics of the coach against Vorg is based on a succession of sudden melee after which the least enduring two boxers will drop his guard for breath. The victory Ippo so upon his endurance. He will have to work hard breathing and cardiovascular system. In order to have a chance, the coach must impose an extremely strong pace to Ippo. Because of that, a few days before the game, Ippo begins to think that it will not recover in time from his training.

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

Ippo trains for a rematch.

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

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.

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

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

Okita also control the blow that had allowed Date set down Ippo 2 times !! Ippo, panicked, took distance, and Okita feints put the uncomfortable, it can not predict its moves. Ippo then test to get closer, but is kept at bay by jabs Okita !! The latter took the lead thanks to its experience and managed to place all his shots !! He finally ends up stuck Ippo in the corner, what he expected from the beginning of the round, in order to launch its Corkscrew, once dreaded by Makunouchi !!!