Ippo Makunouchi is a shy, kind-hearted high school student who spends most of his time helping his mother with their family fishing boat business. Because of his quiet nature and the smell of fish, he is constantly bullied by a gang of delinquents. His life changes forever when he is rescued from a beating by Mamoru Takamura, a professional boxer. Inspired by Takamura’s strength, Ippo begins to train at the Kamogawa Boxing Gym. He soon discovers that he possesses a devastating natural punching power and an unbreakable spirit. This legendary series follows Ippo’s journey through the professional ranks, focusing on technical boxing, intense training, and the search for the answer to one question: "What does it mean to be strong?"

Alternative Names: Hajime no Ippo, Fighting Spirit, The First Step, Шаг за шагом, هاجيمي نو إيبو, Espíritu de Lucha, El Primer Paso,더 파이팅 (The Fighting), 第一神拳, はじめの一歩.

Genre: Sports (Boxing), Action, Comedy, Drama, Shonen.

Author: George Morikawa.

Status: Ongoing.