There is no official ranking of the best Hajime no Ippo fights. This list weighs suspense, tactical adaptation, emotional stakes, character change and how well each bout pays off—rather than treating fan favorites as a settled consensus. It considers the manga and anime together; animation, music and pacing can change how a fight lands.
Spoilers: The entries discuss major matchups and some outcomes.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Hajime no Ippo nº 01 | $37.08 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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HAJIME NO IPPO (MANGA VO JAPONAIS) | $14.01 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Hajime No Ippo - Volume 01 | $33.82 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Hajime no Ippo nº 02 | $33.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Hajime no Ippo Original TV Series Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51EfiE-yPoL._SL160_.jpg)
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Hajime no Ippo Original TV Series Collection [Blu-ray] | $99.95 | Buy on Amazon |
How this ranking weighs the fights
Hajime no Ippo is not only a sequence of boxing spectacles. Nippon TV frames the series around Ippo’s search for the meaning of strength, with bouts shaped by clashing styles, will, signature techniques and career stakes. That makes the most memorable fights the ones where the action reveals something about the people in the ring, too. Nippon TV’s official catalog highlights several such clashes.
The order below is an editorial judgment, not an official verdict or a representative fan poll. Reader discussions repeatedly name bouts such as Ippo–Sendo II, Takamura–Hawk, Mashiba–Sawamura and Volg–Elliott, but those conversations are signals of enthusiasm, not proof of a universal consensus. One community discussion offers a snapshot of that debate.
#1 Best Overall
The 10 best fights in Hajime no Ippo
1. Ippo Makunouchi vs. Takeshi Sendo II
This is the natural high point of Ippo’s early championship journey: a rematch that makes the rivalry a test of what both boxers have learned. Its appeal lies in the way growth and resolve matter as much as toughness. The fight is regularly named among reader favorites, though its place at number one is a critical choice, not a poll result.
2. Mamoru Takamura vs. Bryan Hawk
Takamura’s challenge to Hawk is the list’s great world-title spectacle, but the stakes make it more than a display of force. Nippon TV describes Takamura’s attempt to win a title in another weight class as a fierce, historic match. The contrast between champion and challenger gives the bout its scale, while the result carries consequences for Takamura’s ambitions. The fan-maintained Battle of Hawk arc guide covers the story arc; it is a reference rather than an official episode guide.
3. Tatsuya Kimura vs. Ryō Mashiba
Kimura–Mashiba earns its place by shifting attention from Ippo and Takamura to a supporting character’s defining opportunity. It is a useful change of texture in a series known for major protagonists and forceful rivalries. The matchup is also available in animation: Discotek’s third North American Blu-ray set, released in 2021, includes the Mashiba–Kimura OVA. The series release overview describes the set’s contents; availability may vary.
4. Ryō Mashiba vs. Ryuhei Sawamura
This title fight is volatile and morally complicated, making it an effective counterpoint to cleaner tactical contests. The clash invites debate over where aggression ends and unsportsmanlike conduct begins. Its tension comes not just from who can impose a style, but from the discomfort of watching the match’s boundaries tested.
Rank #3
5. Mamoru Takamura vs. David Eagle
After Hawk’s explosive challenge, Eagle offers a different kind of opposition: a champion-versus-champion contrast that makes composure and discipline part of the drama. The ranking reflects how that change of rhythm broadens Takamura’s story; it is an editorial placement rather than a source-published order.
6. Volg Zangief vs. Mike Elliott
Volg–Elliott stands out as a championship bout whose pressure and payoff have made it a recurring favorite among manga readers. Its inclusion reflects that enthusiasm without pretending community discussion establishes an objective ranking. It also gives the list a major fight centered on a boxer beyond Ippo and Takamura.
Rank #4
7. Ippo Makunouchi vs. Alfredo Gonzales
Gonzales represents a serious international test for Ippo, and the encounter matters for more than the immediate contest: its aftermath changes Ippo’s trajectory. The fight belongs on a list of the series’ turning points because it challenges the limits of the path he has followed. Its result is a major spoiler, so readers who want to encounter it fresh should stop here.
8. Takeshi Sendo vs. Alfredo Gonzales
This pairing carries the world-stage pursuit forward through Sendo, whose approach makes the rematch feel distinct from Ippo’s encounter with Gonzales. Its value in a ranked list is partly comparative: it deepens the sense of what the opponent demands and what Sendo is willing to risk as he pursues a larger challenge.
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- English language, Japanese langauge, Spanish Language, English subtitles
9. Ippo Makunouchi vs. Eiji Date
Date is a foundational obstacle on Ippo’s path toward a title, and the bout gives the young boxer a measure of the distance between promise and elite experience. It matters as a turning point: the contest shapes how Ippo understands what it takes to reach the top, not simply whether he can hit hard.
10. Masaru Aoki vs. Imae
Aoki’s title attempt adds a different character dynamic to a list otherwise led by Ippo and Takamura. Nippon TV specifically promotes it as Aoki’s first attempt at the Japan title and as a clash of wills against champion Imae. Its distinctive matchup helps the ranking cover more than the series’ most obvious headliners.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Two strong alternatives
Ippo Makunouchi vs. Ryūhei Sawamura
If the list were built around technical problems rather than championship milestones, Ippo–Sawamura would be a compelling replacement. Nippon TV frames the fight as a dangerous test of Ippo’s signature Dempsey Roll and the counters that threaten it.
Ippo Makunouchi vs. Takeaki Shimabukuro
Shimabukuro’s challenge to the Dempsey Roll is another official-catalog pick that broadens the tactical range. Nippon TV’s descriptions of both this bout and Ippo–Sawamura point to a useful way to judge fights: look at how an opponent forces a signature weapon to evolve or fail, not only at the final result. The official catalog also promotes the Aoki–Imae clash and Takamura’s second-class world-title attempt.
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Discotek released three North American Blu-ray sets in 2021; the third contains episodes 49–76, Champion Road and the Mashiba–Kimura OVA, according to the series release overview. Check the exact edition and current availability before buying, since the cited release history does not establish present stock or availability in other regions.
Quick Recap
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