Aoki was a punk from his childhood up through high school, at which point he encountered, fought and got beat down by Takamura Mamoru (who was then a middleweight with two wins under his belt). This loss motivated him to quit school along with his close friend Kimura Tetsuya to become boxers at Kamogawa gym.  Although their initial goal was to land a clean hit on Takamura, they grew to love boxing and develop their own skills. Aoki became a clownish boxer whose signature techniques, the Frog Punch and Look-Away, eventually led him to a draw in a Japanese title match with then-champion Imae Katsuka. Currently in the series, Aoki has an ongoing rivalry with Papaya Dachiu, the lightweight champion of the Philippnes, with whom he has drawn two consecutive matches.

Makunouchi Ippo has been bullied his entire life. Constantly running errands and being beaten up by his classmates, Ippo has always dreamed of changing himself, but never has the passion to act upon it. One day, in the midst of yet another bullying, Ippo is saved by Takamura Mamoru, who happens to be a boxer. Ippo faints from his injuries and is brought to the Kamogawa boxing gym to recover. As he regains consciousness, he is awed and amazed at his new surroundings in the gym, though lacks confidence to attempt anything. Takamura places a photo of Ippo's classmate on a punching bag and forces him to punch it. It is only then that Ippo feels something stir inside him and eventually asks Takamura to train him in boxing. Thinking that Ippo does not have what it takes, Takamura gives him a task deemed impossible and gives him a one week time limit. With a sudden desire to get stronger, for himself and his hard working mother, Ippo trains relentlessly to accomplish the task within the time limit. Thus Ippo's journey to the top of the boxing world begins.


__Non-Anime Roles:__
~! - Bjarne Betjent in "Sesame Street Stays Up Late!" (Japanese)
 - Cheetas in "Beast Wars" (Japanese)
 - Ciseaux in "Sakura Taisen 3 ~Pari wa Moeteiru ka?~" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Daffy Duck in "Looney Tunes" (Japanese)
 - Dobby in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (live-action movie) (Japanese)
 - Douglas in "Rockman X5 and Rockman X6" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Ezel Berbier in "Final Fantasy Tactics Advance" (radio drama) (Japanese)
 - Genjo Sanzo in "Saiyuki" (DC) (Japanese)
 - Gushoshin in "Yami no Matsuei" (Drama CD) (Japanese)
 - Hugo in "SNK vs Capcom - Chaos" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Isac in "Megaman X6" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Jei in "Cosmic Fantasy 3" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Kamidake in "Tenchi Muyo! Game-Hen" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Keiichi Takamatsu in "Refrain Love 2" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Kenji in "Initial D: Special Stage" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Miguel Casse in "Independence Day" (movie) (Japanese)
 - Milan in "Remastered Tracks Rockman Zero" (Music / Drama CD) (Japanese)
 - Milan in "Rockman Zero" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Mitsurugi Heishirou in "Soul Edge" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Oni-Ichiban in "Tengai Makyou III-Namida" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Pecker in "Jak II Renegade" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Purprill the Mandroid in "Rockman ZX" (Japanese)
 - Ryu & Yun in "Street Fighter III: New Generation" (VG)
 - Senshi Roa & Fernando Alberg in "Super Robot Wars Original Generations" (VG/PS2) (Japanese)
 - Steve Hale in "Full House" (live-action TV series) (Japanese)
 - Vahn in "Legend of Legaia" (VG) (Japanese)
 - Zangief in "Street Fighter Zero 2" (Japanese)!~

Benjamín Rivera Jaramillo is a Mexican voice actor known for being the Latin American Spanish voice of Fry in Futurama

Makunouchi Ippo has been bullied his entire life. Constantly running errands and being beaten up by his classmates, Ippo has always dreamed of changing himself, but never has the passion to act upon it. One day, in the midst of yet another bullying, Ippo is saved by Takamura Mamoru, who happens to be a boxer. Ippo faints from his injuries and is brought to Takamura boxing gym to recover. As he regains consciousness, he is awed and amazed at his new surroundings in the gym, though lacks confidence to attempt anything. Takamura places a photo of Ippo&rsquo;s classmate on a punching bag and forces him to punch it. It is only then that Ippo feels something stir inside him and eventually asks Takamura to train him in boxing. Thinking that Ippo does not have what it takes, Takamura gives him a task deemed impossible and gives him a one week time limit. With a sudden desire to get stronger, for himself and his hard working mother, Ippo trains relentlessly to accomplish the task within the time limit. Thus Ippo&rsquo;s journey to the top of the boxing world begins. 
(Source: MAL Rewrite)

Ippo Makunouchi continues his boxing career and his goal on knowing the meaning of being strong, and the desire on fighting his idol Ichiro Miyata once again. Along him are pro boxers Takamura, Aoki and Kimura that each one of them aspire to their own dreams.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

Ippo continues to defend his Japanese Featherweight title from an ever stronger pool of challengers. Meanwhile, Takamura challenges for his second WBC title in the middleweight class, and Aoki challenges for the Japanese Lightweight title.

As the new Champion, Ippo must protect his title against some of the best boxers available. 
Makunouchi Ippo is the new Featherweight champion of Japan and is now ready for his first title defense. His opponent, the former Jr. Featherweight champion and a medical student, Sanada Kazuki. In addition to this feud, Sanada is being coached by Kamogawa's former rival, Hama Dankichi. What makes things worse is that Sanada works at the same hospital where Kumi is a nurse at and everybody at the hospital wants Sanada to win. Not only does Ippo have to defend his title, he has to reclaim his love.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

Kimura finally has his championship match. It takes place at the annual champion carnival. But now he must face the intense champion, Mashiba for the Junior Lightweight championship.
 
(Source: Anime News Network)

Masaru Aoki