 The game features forty @-@ four playable characters — forty @-@ two characters and two duplicate characters that have handicapped abilities . The protagonist is Ippo Makunouchi , but the story shifts to his friends and fellow contenders as well . The game features most of the boxer up to the 53rd volume of the manga , including Ryuichi Hayami , Ryo Mashiba , Vorg Zangief , Kazuki Sanada , and Ryuhei Sawamura . Excluded are , Itagaki Manabu , Makino Fumito , Hama Dankichi , and Rally Bernard . The different boxers span five different weight classes ; most boxers have a special move derived from the manga series . 
