Ippo Makunouchi defends his Japanese Featherweight title against increasingly dangerous challengers while Mamoru Takamura sets his sights on a second world championship in the middleweight division. Meanwhile, coach Kamogawa and his old rival Nekota revisit their days as prizefighters in post-war Japan, filling in the backstory of the man who shaped Ippo's career. This third season expands the ring action beyond Ippo's own bouts to the wider Kamogawa gym roster.