Itagaki, Manabu
Summary
Manabu Itagaki is a charismatic featherweight boxer and a core member of the Kamogawa Boxing Gym alongside Makunouchi Ippo, Takamura Mamoru, Aoki Masaru, and Kimura Tatsuya. Working as an assistant at the Makunouchi Fishing Boat following Umezawa Masahiko’s retirement, he balances his boxing career with labor training similar to Ippo’s regimen. His trainer is Shinoda Tomoyuki. Known as an out boxer with orthodox stance, Itagaki possesses prodigious talent, high speed, and reflexes that mirror his rival Miyata’s style. His signature technique is the Hedgehog, a barrage of mid-power blows. His journey to the gym began after repeated defeats by his nemesis, Kyosuke Imai, leading him to skip college to seek victory. He achieved personal redemption by defeating Makino Fumito in the East Japan Rookie Kings opening round and ultimately claimed the Rookie King title after a grueling final against Imai, unlocking genius-level fighting potential.
