Hajime no Ippo

"Hajime no Ipo" tells the story of teenager Ippo Makunouchi - who, in the absence of his father, pitches in to help his mom run their fishing boat rental biz. But life isn't all smooth sailing for him. He's got a timid nature, hardly any sleep, and that lingering smell of the sea, which makes him an easy target for bullies who won't let up. The poor guy ends up getting battered and bruised every single day.

But fate takes a turn when Mamoru Takamura, a rising boxing star, swoops in to save Ippo from an after-school brawl. Takamura takes the kid under his wing and brings him to the Kamogawa Boxing Gym to recover. Turns out, Ippo's got a killer punch, thanks to all those years of working hard in his family's physically demanding business.

Impressed by Ippo's natural talent, the other boxers at the gym encourage him to step into the ring and take on prodigy Ichirou Miyata in a practice match. This sparks a friendly rivalry between them. Soon enough, Ippo finds himself with a new coach, Genji Kamogawa, the gym's owner and a former boxer.

With Genji's guidance, Ippo begins his official boxing journey, ready to face off against tougher and stronger opponents with each match. It's a rollercoaster of victories and losses, but Ippo's unyielding determination keeps him going. With a rock-solid body and a fighting spirit that won't quit, our protagonist in "Hajime no Ipo" is ready to take on the world and prove that he's got the talent to become the best champ.

Release: 2000

MyAnimeList Score: 8.76/10