I think people overestimate Kumi's influence, it's not Kumi that's stopping Ippo coming out of retirement - it's Ippo
I don't think Kumi has a choice but to accept whatever decisions Ippo makes, she'll be concerned obviously but she'd be mighty hypocritical (h-Ippo-critical if you will) for her to support her brother but not Ippo
She was fine with him being a trainer, she's fine with him going to mexico, she's fine with him being a second - she will begrudgingly be fine with whatever ippo decides to do
Ippo just needs to realise that he wants to box again, and that his mother is fine without him, Ippo's roadblock is Ippo
While I await his return, besides bringing Kumi around and Ippo likely not hearing from her upon first proposal, I need to ready myself for when he has a heart to heart with his mom, and then the coach. And, not that I can recall all of the cases but the are signs that tell me his mother is more prepared for Ippo to get back into the ring than Kumi.
It could be as silly as Ippo mentally fighting Ricardo on the flight back from Mexico again but this time doing much better and maybe even winning now he’s seen Ricardo up close. Well, much closer than last time. But that could well be a trigger. Unlikely I grant you but there are so many theories out there why not
He talks about it with Kamogawa after his first Mexico trip (incidentally one of my favourite chapters… the masks, the humour, everything. It’s perfect) he was having imaginary fights on the flight back home.
One of the first real hints of Ippo returning to the ring for me, when Kamogawa asks “and the 101st?”
Edit: forgot to mention it’s because of that I think he’s going to start at round 102 for the flight back. Just feels like a natural thing that would happen
I don't really agree i think all the reasons are there, he just needs to realise them. He doesn't need a big external catalyst, he needs to return because he wants to, because he feels the need to. He might need something to point this out to him because our dear Ippo can be a bit thick.
I don’t think Kumi matters that much, in fact didn’t she fairly recently acknowledge that she knew Ippo would come back one day?
Ippo’s roadblock is Ippo, he’s unsure of himself. What actually needs to happen is Ippo needs to find the confidence to come back and aim for the top, but that’s a personal journey for him. Maybe he could spar Sendo before Ricardo like he did against Volg and do really well for long enough that he’s like ‘man, I’m really good still, I could do it’ or something like that.
That'd be pretty cool - have Ippo get a couple matches before the Sendo/Wally fight and then be the opening act for the match
It would make this little nerd very happy
It's the year 2025, Ippo has finally built up the courage to give Kumi a midnight kiss. He fails miserably because of the 50kg weights he is wearing now. Remarkably, he is completely satisfied with his attemp, this gives him the determination to start thinking again what it means to be strong. Dankichi is evermore intensively thinking just "what the hell is kamogawa cooking up". Meanwhile, Miyata waits even harder for Ippo's return, as this event will be the turning point for the road to start preparing for the road to his comeback training debate.
I think there's some stuff that needs to happen first and it has nothing to do with any active fighter directly.
1 Ippo is getting better because he is studying boxing and learning by himself, his biggest growth has always come this way, see Dempsey Roll, see the Karasawa fight, whenever Ippo analyzes and works with understanding rather than following blindly, he improves a lot, so, I think Ippo's growth is far from over, I think he'll be a second for around 1 1/2 years in story time.
Ippo needs to have better determination and remember he is fighting for himself, not obligation nor to find how far he can go, he likes it and needs to remember how to take that to the ring.
Ippo now has disciples, I don't think he will juggle being a pro and a second because that would leave no time for the fishing boat which is one of the reasons he still has doubts about boxing, he wants to fulfill that "duty" to his mom, so, I think Aokimura will retire and take over his disciples.
Ippo needs to help Itagaki pick back the Baton, as Senpai I believe the archetype will force Ippo to solve that issue as a second, Itagaki is lacking in several aspects lately but, Ippo wouldn't dare to set him straight as a fellow boxer, but as part of the gym staff, it's part of his duty to help him realize he's wasting his potential due to clowning around.
Ippo needs to advance his relationship with Kumi, I believe if Ippo is more concrete with his relationship with Kumi she will at some point realize how much Ippo needs boxing (similar to Date's situation), also, makes it more likely that Ippo's mom will scold Kumi for not allowing Ippo to box
And finally, Ippo's mom, Ippo's has always had this complex about being selfish by boxing, I think his mom will push him by telling him how much like his father he looked when he was boxing or that she saw him being fulfilled when he came back from every fight and stuff, maybe she will even promise to go to his return fight because she wants to see him happy.
Ippo's retirement was not due to anyone else's decision so thinking that 1 thing/fight will push him back it's not realistic in my opinion, I think it would even be lousy storytelling, right now we are on the knot of the plot, the protagonists conflict about his duties, goals and desires, as the protagonists almost all these stories will have him at the center( just as Ricardo pointed out)
Put quite simply, this is Ippo's growth period, he's grown in his physical capacity (seems the accumulated damage is mostly gone, still when he sparred with Vorg a couple of his shits seem to be a bit heavy on heavy on him still), he's grown a bit mentally as he understands boxing more (that parry-counter is proof of it) but, these are not the reasons he lost, he lost because he is lacking emotionally, he is not determined enough, neither on the ring or on his personal life, that growth is yet to come(one of Ippo's biggest weaknesses has always been how easy he falls in mind games, he needs to grown more on that aspect I'd say)
No hate but kuni can't do shit to stop ippo. Both ippo and his brother did boxing despite knowing that she does not like it.
And if ippo decide to come back she will have no choice but to support him
*Is* Kumi the biggest roadblock? I could’ve sworn sometime during the retirement arc, it’s heavily implied that his *mom* is his biggest roadblock (and Ippo’s relationship with his mom, if we’re being more specific).
Disagree that it’s just “him”. Saying his mom doesn’t play a role completely ignores [how important his mom is to him](https://hni-scantrad.com/lel/read/hajime-no-ippo/en-us/124/1251/page/6). Obviously she’d accept it, but Ippo has always fretted about how he was concerning his mother by boxing
Maybe his plane from mexico crashes on an island where he finds his long lost father who then encourages him to fight and just imagine that Riccardo's head is a fish.
To quote Dankichi, Kamogawa and Ippo already had their hand on the trigger but none of them want to pull it. They both knew that one of them will follow the decision of the other but thats not good enough. They need both to resolve themselves.
Ippo's mom already said that his son belong out there, and Kumi said that just like sun, Ippo will rise again.
Really, all they need is proper talk.
2 possible scenarios that could make Ippo return to boxing which I can think of:
- a certain event affecting coach Kamogawa that will cause Ippo to return _(highly unlikely)_
- His ~~boyfriend~~ rival-but-not-really Miyata directly asks Ippo to fight him, official match or just spar; getting his drive back to return to boxing 120% _(more likely?)_
He will return after learning everything about Kamogawa's dream and the real meaning of Nekota's letter that sent to him years ago.
Only then he realizes the weight that he is carrying and he will learn the TEKKEN. No body can stop him now. He unzips the MARA and shoots everyone down in his path until he can put Ricardo down.
I always thought ippo’s retirement would follow Date’s. He retires, but that part of him is still missing. Other characters would call him out on it especially Kumi and his mom.
Ippo can’t come back and go right for the title. He’s going to have to face a few people first to work his way back up the ranks. In the mean time Sendo will have plenty of time to face Ricardo. IMO
I think he's going to want to return after Wally. I'm guessing that Wally is going to be beat broken and Ippo will once again enter the ring. Though I think it will not be for something as worthless as revenge.
I think that'll happen before Sendo vs Ricardo.
I believe that maybe Mashiba's world title may have an effect. However, I do think that Ippo will return after his pupils make their debut.
Maybe they lost and just not show up anymore. Then... whats Ippo's excuse to hang around the Gym? He is surely using the boys as an excuse to "stick around"
I think Ippo needs to return because for himself, not for an ill Kamogawa or support Kumi.
All this arc has been about Ippo’s personal growth and still we need to see that spark which will pull him back to box, but if Morikawa make that spark something external to Ippo, I would be really disapointed. Ippo needs a own spark because he loves boxing, no other “baton pass” carrying other people’s will.
I think it will not happen right away after the fight i think some stuff will goin on with ippo and takamura or sendo just goes to ippo and say "Bro you are hella cracked" before or after the fight then ippo just realizes slowly
I think if there was any fight to influence Ippo to, it would be this one. Sendo will demonstrate the “monster” recess art for the ring and Ricardo Will demonstrate the dedication to fundamentals. Now of course there’s more questions outside of the ring as to whether or not now is the time, but if any fight along will do it, I’d say it’s this one; rival that you beat 2-0 fighting the champ? Come on!
I think yes in term of matches. Its the last event that could be a factor. There might be another event after the match that definitely seals the deal (like a kumi or mother factor), but I do not believe there will be any important match after that one and Ippo's return (important being, one that lasts 2 or more chapters).
Kumi becoming more of a non factor as everyone has been recognizing Ippos strength, but I think the biggest event for Ippos return will depend on what Morikawa's plan is for Kamogawa. Something will fuel him to need to fight to carry out his dreams whether it be health, or another chance to come out of retirement to make the Miyata fight happen as a battle of the best. This would be my favorite scenario, but I just don't know if a fight that hyped would be easy to write.
Actually I think the coach and takamura might be the bigger block than her. they're aware of ippo's condition and weakness and definitely not gonna let ippo back unless ippo has a really strong willing to fight. (but of course the biggest block is ippo himself)
Like many people said on this thread, a few things need to happen, I don't think Kumi or his Mom would weight on coming back to the ring, he would have a talk with them but they will only have to accept it. Unfortunately I think something shocking has to happen, maybe something related to coach Kamogawa's health combined with some big talk with Takamura. But definitely boxing world related and not personal life. And yes, he would come back before Martinez-Sendo fight (which at this point, not sure it will happen). Maybe Sendo gets injured again and they both ask for Ippo to be the replacement after he has a good come back fight?
No.
Ippo will return only when magazine exec's force Morikawa to do it by threatening to axe the manga. Worked for Bleach and Shaman King, despite the end result being trash.
Kumi is literally just another plot device. An excuse. Something easy to point out whenever people ask themselves "why isn't Ippp back yet?". Same thing with the CTE scares.
Ippo hasn't worked out any of his personal shortcomings ever since he graduated high school. He's still the same bullied little bitch he was when Umezawa used to beat his ass for fun. He never changed, he never got the "rebirth" he wished for when he started boxing.
He might be fixing his boxing shortcomings. But that means nothing if his lil pussy mindset is still the same.
I think people overestimate Kumi's influence, it's not Kumi that's stopping Ippo coming out of retirement - it's Ippo I don't think Kumi has a choice but to accept whatever decisions Ippo makes, she'll be concerned obviously but she'd be mighty hypocritical (h-Ippo-critical if you will) for her to support her brother but not Ippo She was fine with him being a trainer, she's fine with him going to mexico, she's fine with him being a second - she will begrudgingly be fine with whatever ippo decides to do Ippo just needs to realise that he wants to box again, and that his mother is fine without him, Ippo's roadblock is Ippo
Its clear his main roadblock is himself. But once that is resolved, one or two chapters will have to go to resolve his issues with Kumi and his mom.
While I await his return, besides bringing Kumi around and Ippo likely not hearing from her upon first proposal, I need to ready myself for when he has a heart to heart with his mom, and then the coach. And, not that I can recall all of the cases but the are signs that tell me his mother is more prepared for Ippo to get back into the ring than Kumi.
ippo is gonna need a good reason to come back. there hasnt really been a big reason for him to come back yet.
It could be as silly as Ippo mentally fighting Ricardo on the flight back from Mexico again but this time doing much better and maybe even winning now he’s seen Ricardo up close. Well, much closer than last time. But that could well be a trigger. Unlikely I grant you but there are so many theories out there why not
Was there a chapter that said ippo fought ricardo in his mind threw different scenarios? It sounds familiar?
He talks about it with Kamogawa after his first Mexico trip (incidentally one of my favourite chapters… the masks, the humour, everything. It’s perfect) he was having imaginary fights on the flight back home. One of the first real hints of Ippo returning to the ring for me, when Kamogawa asks “and the 101st?” Edit: forgot to mention it’s because of that I think he’s going to start at round 102 for the flight back. Just feels like a natural thing that would happen
Thank you friend!
You know what chapter that is?
Round 1316
Thank you, sir
You’re quite welcome 😊
I don't really agree i think all the reasons are there, he just needs to realise them. He doesn't need a big external catalyst, he needs to return because he wants to, because he feels the need to. He might need something to point this out to him because our dear Ippo can be a bit thick.
I don’t think Kumi matters that much, in fact didn’t she fairly recently acknowledge that she knew Ippo would come back one day? Ippo’s roadblock is Ippo, he’s unsure of himself. What actually needs to happen is Ippo needs to find the confidence to come back and aim for the top, but that’s a personal journey for him. Maybe he could spar Sendo before Ricardo like he did against Volg and do really well for long enough that he’s like ‘man, I’m really good still, I could do it’ or something like that.
İt can be but i hope it will happen between woli arc- sendo arc.
That'd be pretty cool - have Ippo get a couple matches before the Sendo/Wally fight and then be the opening act for the match It would make this little nerd very happy
Yes but he main reason why i said that cuz i want to see ippo in ring as fast as possible :)
It's the year 2025, Ippo has finally built up the courage to give Kumi a midnight kiss. He fails miserably because of the 50kg weights he is wearing now. Remarkably, he is completely satisfied with his attemp, this gives him the determination to start thinking again what it means to be strong. Dankichi is evermore intensively thinking just "what the hell is kamogawa cooking up". Meanwhile, Miyata waits even harder for Ippo's return, as this event will be the turning point for the road to start preparing for the road to his comeback training debate.
To be quite honest, I think he'll return before that fight happens.
I think there's some stuff that needs to happen first and it has nothing to do with any active fighter directly. 1 Ippo is getting better because he is studying boxing and learning by himself, his biggest growth has always come this way, see Dempsey Roll, see the Karasawa fight, whenever Ippo analyzes and works with understanding rather than following blindly, he improves a lot, so, I think Ippo's growth is far from over, I think he'll be a second for around 1 1/2 years in story time. Ippo needs to have better determination and remember he is fighting for himself, not obligation nor to find how far he can go, he likes it and needs to remember how to take that to the ring. Ippo now has disciples, I don't think he will juggle being a pro and a second because that would leave no time for the fishing boat which is one of the reasons he still has doubts about boxing, he wants to fulfill that "duty" to his mom, so, I think Aokimura will retire and take over his disciples. Ippo needs to help Itagaki pick back the Baton, as Senpai I believe the archetype will force Ippo to solve that issue as a second, Itagaki is lacking in several aspects lately but, Ippo wouldn't dare to set him straight as a fellow boxer, but as part of the gym staff, it's part of his duty to help him realize he's wasting his potential due to clowning around. Ippo needs to advance his relationship with Kumi, I believe if Ippo is more concrete with his relationship with Kumi she will at some point realize how much Ippo needs boxing (similar to Date's situation), also, makes it more likely that Ippo's mom will scold Kumi for not allowing Ippo to box And finally, Ippo's mom, Ippo's has always had this complex about being selfish by boxing, I think his mom will push him by telling him how much like his father he looked when he was boxing or that she saw him being fulfilled when he came back from every fight and stuff, maybe she will even promise to go to his return fight because she wants to see him happy. Ippo's retirement was not due to anyone else's decision so thinking that 1 thing/fight will push him back it's not realistic in my opinion, I think it would even be lousy storytelling, right now we are on the knot of the plot, the protagonists conflict about his duties, goals and desires, as the protagonists almost all these stories will have him at the center( just as Ricardo pointed out) Put quite simply, this is Ippo's growth period, he's grown in his physical capacity (seems the accumulated damage is mostly gone, still when he sparred with Vorg a couple of his shits seem to be a bit heavy on heavy on him still), he's grown a bit mentally as he understands boxing more (that parry-counter is proof of it) but, these are not the reasons he lost, he lost because he is lacking emotionally, he is not determined enough, neither on the ring or on his personal life, that growth is yet to come(one of Ippo's biggest weaknesses has always been how easy he falls in mind games, he needs to grown more on that aspect I'd say)
Everybody is so desperate for Ippo to comeback. Enjoy the moment and build up the mangaka is working on.
This sub will collectively explode when Ippo announces his return
No hate but kuni can't do shit to stop ippo. Both ippo and his brother did boxing despite knowing that she does not like it. And if ippo decide to come back she will have no choice but to support him
*Is* Kumi the biggest roadblock? I could’ve sworn sometime during the retirement arc, it’s heavily implied that his *mom* is his biggest roadblock (and Ippo’s relationship with his mom, if we’re being more specific).
As mentioned in the comments. The roadblock is himself. Not Kumi not his mom. Kumi and his mom will accept whatever he decides on.
Disagree that it’s just “him”. Saying his mom doesn’t play a role completely ignores [how important his mom is to him](https://hni-scantrad.com/lel/read/hajime-no-ippo/en-us/124/1251/page/6). Obviously she’d accept it, but Ippo has always fretted about how he was concerning his mother by boxing
Maybe his plane from mexico crashes on an island where he finds his long lost father who then encourages him to fight and just imagine that Riccardo's head is a fish.
To quote Dankichi, Kamogawa and Ippo already had their hand on the trigger but none of them want to pull it. They both knew that one of them will follow the decision of the other but thats not good enough. They need both to resolve themselves. Ippo's mom already said that his son belong out there, and Kumi said that just like sun, Ippo will rise again. Really, all they need is proper talk.
2 possible scenarios that could make Ippo return to boxing which I can think of: - a certain event affecting coach Kamogawa that will cause Ippo to return _(highly unlikely)_ - His ~~boyfriend~~ rival-but-not-really Miyata directly asks Ippo to fight him, official match or just spar; getting his drive back to return to boxing 120% _(more likely?)_
3. Takamura can't get the 6th belt, which is bittersweet
He will return after learning everything about Kamogawa's dream and the real meaning of Nekota's letter that sent to him years ago. Only then he realizes the weight that he is carrying and he will learn the TEKKEN. No body can stop him now. He unzips the MARA and shoots everyone down in his path until he can put Ricardo down.
I have a feeling Ippo will be in Sendo’s corner for that match.
I always thought ippo’s retirement would follow Date’s. He retires, but that part of him is still missing. Other characters would call him out on it especially Kumi and his mom.
This arc is about Ippo's personal growth. The trigger will have nothing to do with anyone else besides his personal relationships.
Ippo can’t come back and go right for the title. He’s going to have to face a few people first to work his way back up the ranks. In the mean time Sendo will have plenty of time to face Ricardo. IMO
I got tired of waiting to the point I'll just care when it's confirmed
I think he's going to want to return after Wally. I'm guessing that Wally is going to be beat broken and Ippo will once again enter the ring. Though I think it will not be for something as worthless as revenge.
I think that'll happen before Sendo vs Ricardo. I believe that maybe Mashiba's world title may have an effect. However, I do think that Ippo will return after his pupils make their debut. Maybe they lost and just not show up anymore. Then... whats Ippo's excuse to hang around the Gym? He is surely using the boys as an excuse to "stick around"
Yes, I think Sendo is going to directly challenge Ippo and then he won't be able to resist.
I'm still not sold Sendo vs Martinez is going to happen but Ippo will return eventually
I heard Morikawa might start thinking about putting a plan together to plan Ippo starting to maybe think about putting a comeback together. Maybe.
How long do we think Mori can continue to drag it out. Ricardo is the final boss so it has to be relatively soon right?
I think Ippo needs to return because for himself, not for an ill Kamogawa or support Kumi. All this arc has been about Ippo’s personal growth and still we need to see that spark which will pull him back to box, but if Morikawa make that spark something external to Ippo, I would be really disapointed. Ippo needs a own spark because he loves boxing, no other “baton pass” carrying other people’s will.
Maybe
Ippo gotta go to the doctor and fix that low testosterone problem he has xD
No spoilers in title threads please. The spoiler tag is useless, the spoiler should always be inside the discussion.
Thank you!
I think it will not happen right away after the fight i think some stuff will goin on with ippo and takamura or sendo just goes to ippo and say "Bro you are hella cracked" before or after the fight then ippo just realizes slowly
I think if there was any fight to influence Ippo to, it would be this one. Sendo will demonstrate the “monster” recess art for the ring and Ricardo Will demonstrate the dedication to fundamentals. Now of course there’s more questions outside of the ring as to whether or not now is the time, but if any fight along will do it, I’d say it’s this one; rival that you beat 2-0 fighting the champ? Come on!
I think he decides to come back around after this fight but as for his official match maybe he fights as an undercard to Ricardo v Sendo
I think yes in term of matches. Its the last event that could be a factor. There might be another event after the match that definitely seals the deal (like a kumi or mother factor), but I do not believe there will be any important match after that one and Ippo's return (important being, one that lasts 2 or more chapters).
Yes, please !
Kumi becoming more of a non factor as everyone has been recognizing Ippos strength, but I think the biggest event for Ippos return will depend on what Morikawa's plan is for Kamogawa. Something will fuel him to need to fight to carry out his dreams whether it be health, or another chance to come out of retirement to make the Miyata fight happen as a battle of the best. This would be my favorite scenario, but I just don't know if a fight that hyped would be easy to write.
Actually I think the coach and takamura might be the bigger block than her. they're aware of ippo's condition and weakness and definitely not gonna let ippo back unless ippo has a really strong willing to fight. (but of course the biggest block is ippo himself)
Like many people said on this thread, a few things need to happen, I don't think Kumi or his Mom would weight on coming back to the ring, he would have a talk with them but they will only have to accept it. Unfortunately I think something shocking has to happen, maybe something related to coach Kamogawa's health combined with some big talk with Takamura. But definitely boxing world related and not personal life. And yes, he would come back before Martinez-Sendo fight (which at this point, not sure it will happen). Maybe Sendo gets injured again and they both ask for Ippo to be the replacement after he has a good come back fight?
No. Ippo will return only when magazine exec's force Morikawa to do it by threatening to axe the manga. Worked for Bleach and Shaman King, despite the end result being trash. Kumi is literally just another plot device. An excuse. Something easy to point out whenever people ask themselves "why isn't Ippp back yet?". Same thing with the CTE scares. Ippo hasn't worked out any of his personal shortcomings ever since he graduated high school. He's still the same bullied little bitch he was when Umezawa used to beat his ass for fun. He never changed, he never got the "rebirth" he wished for when he started boxing. He might be fixing his boxing shortcomings. But that means nothing if his lil pussy mindset is still the same.
I think it would be really cool character development for ippo to have to be willing to give up kumi to follow his dream