 The game features a mix of simulation and arcade style boxing . The storyline , which unfolds in the story mode , takes place in six linear segments that originally overlapped in the manga . The game 's fights mirrored the fights from the manga series . The beginning of the game focuses on Ippo Makunouchi 's rise to the Japanese Featherweight championship , and later switches to Ippo 's fellow gym mates ' careers . 
