Date of birth: November 23, 1973

Nationality: Japanese

Boxing style: Infighter, Peek-a-Boo

Height: 5'5" (164.0 cm)

Reach: 65" (165.0 cm)

Weight: 124 lbs.

Weight class: Featherweight

Gym affiliation: Kamogawa Gym

Specialty: Liver Blow, Gazelle Punch, Dempsey Roll

Ippo Makunouchi , voiced by Kōhei Kiyasu, is the main protagonist of the series. He lives with his mother, Hiroko Makunouchi, and helps with the family charter boat fishing business. Ippo is a classic power in-boxer and is well known for his Peek-a-Boo style of boxing and hard punches which include three signature punches: a rib-cracking liver blow, Gazelle punch (an uppercut variant), and the Dempsey roll technique. His signature punches appear to be modelled after Mike Tyson, Floyd Patterson and Jack Dempsey respectively.

Ippo is bullied throughout most of his school life. After being rescued by Takamura, he ends up being brought to Kamogawa Gym, where he displays an explosive punching power. After seeing a video of Mike Tyson, he becomes inspired to take up boxing to feel reborn with strength. He soon proves himself to Takamura and Kamogawa, and starts on the path to being a pro boxer.