Story Summary
Ippo Makunouchi, a 16 year old second year high school student, is always bullied by a group led by Umezawa. They always find reasons to beat him up, usually he gets beat up because of his mother's fishing boat business. One time while he was being beaten up near the river, a man passing by saved him and scared the bullies away. The man, who happened to be Mamoru Takamura, a great boxer. Takamura taught him how to punch like a boxer and also told him the story about being reborn again. Having loved the feeling of punching and a great desire to be reborn, he said that he wanted to become a boxer like Takamura.
Having said this, Takamura told him to first grab 10 leaves before they fall to the ground. If Ippo can do it within a week, Takamura will make him a pro boxer. With many hardships, Ippo learned finally how to grab 10 leaves...and he did it with just one hand, to Takamura's surprise. With no other choice, Takamura brought Ippo to the boxing gym to be introduced to Mr. Genji Kamogawa, the head trainer of Kamogawa boxing gym.
Like Takamura, Mr. Kamogawa doubted Ippo's skill to become a boxer because of Ippo's baby-faced look. In his rage, Kamogawa made him sparr with Ichiro Miyata, a boy the same of Ippo's age. Though the same age, Ichiro was dramatically stronger and more highly skilled than Ippo. That's because he was in the gym since he was just a boy. Ippo lost to the sparring match butwas accepted by Kamogawa because he was amazed at the boy's determination and his somewhat hidden potential. The hard (when I say this, I mean very, very, very,) training soon followed and he soon realized that he was very way behind and it was harder than he thought it would. He even thought it was like murder. But he always get encouragement from Takamura and Ichiro (he idolizes him a lot even if Miyata never talks to him). Once, when Ippo's shoes were worn out and the coach told him to buy a new one, Miyata saved him from being tricked by the store owner by picking the appropriate shoes for Ippo. Ippo thanked him by giving him juice and Ippo suggested that they talk at each other until they finish their juice. Miyata drank it in one gulp and was about to leave, but Ippo somehow tricked him (innocently) and made him say his reasons for becoming a boxer. After that, Ippo trained hard and eventually got to spar Miyata again. Ippo managed to beat him with an accidentally one inch uppercut. They thought that his uppercut missed but suddenly, Miyata fell and couldn't get up.
After the sudden defeat, Miyata's father decided that they should move to another gym because he feels that Ippo and Ichiro can't fight well if they train in the same gym. (Ippo will know Ichiro's weakness and vice versa) Ippo thought it was his fault so he came to Miyata's house to apologize. Then, Miyata explained about it and made him promise to settle their fight in the pro ring since they have a 1 win - 1 loss record. The one who wins in the ring will be the winner of their match. Miyata said that he expects Ippo to fight him in the Japan Eastern Rookie Tournament Championship match.
Because of the desire to fight Miyata again, he trained harder again until it was time to get his boxing license. The test was so easy for Ippo but he was very nervous. In the end, Ippo beat his opponent with just one blow. But he was not the only one who showed great skill. There was also Ryo Mashiba, who beat his opponent harshly by flicker jabs. Soon, it was time for his debut match, against Oda Yusuke. He won, of course. Followed by the Rookie Tournament, He fought Ozma, Kobashi and Hayami. All of which he won by "the underdog wins" theme. He was about to fight Miyata next but Mashiba beat the crap out of Miyata by stepping on Miyata's foot so he cannot move. By that, Ippo and Miyata lost the chance of fighting in the ring again. To his anger, Ippo beat Mashiba roughly, but it made Ippo injure his hand.
Next, Ippo met Takeshi Sendo, who was determined to fight him after his hand healed. The man was so hard to beat until Ippo hit him on his temple. Ippo thought it useless because Sendo still managed to fight but after the bell, Sendo fainted while sitting in the corner. His face, though he already fainted, was staring at Ippo. At this point, Ippo graduated High School with his classmates who are very proud of him. They even fell in line to get pictures of Ippo. He saw Miyata on the road and told him he's going to Thailand to train there because Ippo is becoming better than him. Ippo also had a junior (a younger boxer training in the gym) named Naomichi Yamada, who idolizes Ippo a lot. So Ippo had a new goal---to win the Japan Featherweight Championship belt. Being the Rookie champion, he was already 10 in the rankings. He soon fought with Okita, 5 in the rankings, then joined a tournament where strongest boxers compete to win a chance to fight the champion, Eiji Date. He won with the speed star, Takuma Saeki and Alexander Volg Zangeif, the Amateur Champion from Russia. After beating Volg, he fought with Date, but he lost. Ending his 10 consecutive wins and making his first loss. Like every boxer, it was hard for Ippo to cope with the loss. Finally, with the help of his friends and Kumi (his crush), he was about to have a comeback. He beat Ponchai, from Thailand and Sendo, being the champion since Eiji gave up the belt, challenged Ippo to a fight. After that fight, which Ippo won, Ippo became the new champion, ending the series there.
(Heh, sorry if I didn't give the finer details at the matches. See them on the Character pages. That's because my hand really hurts and I'm getting bored. Okay. Bye.
