Ippo is sixteen years old and most people think he is a wimp—which isn’t really true. He works at his family’s fishing charter business and has a sailor’s build, but he is simply too nice to fight back against bullies.

But one day, while being picked on by a group of bullies, Takamura, a professional boxer, saves him.  This was the turning point in Ippo’s life.  He now aspires to be a professional boxer and, surprisingly, has the talent for it.