The BEST episodes of Tomorrow's Joe

#1 - Youth is Now.. Burnt-out

Season 2 - Episode 47 - Aired 8/31/1981

A thrilling Fight between Joe Yabuki and Jose Mendoza. For the Sake of Tomorrow goes to the final Rounds and Joe's fire burn bright and hot!!

#2 - The Violent... Endless Fight to the Death

Season 2 - Episode 46 - Aired 8/24/1981

Jose is rattled by Joe’s sudden comeback, but quickly realizes Joe is no longer able to see out of his right eye, due to the effects of punch-drunk syndrome. Jose moves to Joe’s blind spot and batters him with his punches.

#3 - The Man I Hate

Season 1 - Episode 53 - Aired 3/31/1971

#4 - The Tange Gym... Is Indestructable

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/5/1981

With Joe’s bout against Carlos now over, Joe, Danpei and the people from the neighborhood are busy organizing Nishi’s retirement party. However, unbeknownst to everyone, Nishi was struggling to accept that he could no longer physically box.

#5 - Those Knuckles... The Mark's Message

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/9/1981

Joe is eager to take on Yongbi Kim, the OPBF Bantamweight Champion, but according to Danpei, Kim is avoiding Joe because he’s afraid of him. When in fact, Kim is eager to take on Joe, as well. Danpei has his reasons to want to avoid.

#6 - Rikiishi... I Hear the Song

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/2/1981

With Danpei vehemently against Joe’s dangerous weight loss, Joe leaves the Tange Gym. He visits the Shiraki Gym and locks himself up in the very same room where Toru Rikiishi once starved himself, so he could fight Joe.

#7 - In Round 6... A Miracle Occurred

Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/30/1981

Joe has fought beyond his limit, yet he refuses to go down. Unable to comprehend how Joe can continue to fight, Kim slowly becomes unhinged and resorts to using his deadly technique known as Chom-Chom.

#8 - Boxing... A Requiem

Season 2 - Episode 27 - Aired 4/13/1981

Joe happens to run into Wolf Kanagushi, a former boxer at a pachinko parlor. He is relieved to learn that Wolf is now working as a trainer at a boxing gym, and is no longer a Yakuza muscleman. Wolf tells Joe about the financial struggles the gym is facing

#9 - Yabuki's... New Defense

Season 2 - Episode 29 - Aired 4/27/1981

Knowing Jose is watching from the ringside, Joe predicts a two round K.O. victory. However, Joe quickly realizes that defeating his Hawaiian challenger will be harder than he originally thought.

#10 - Yoko... Her Love

Season 2 - Episode 44 - Aired 8/10/1981

On the day of the title match, Yoko finally tracks down Joe in his locker room and urges him to cancel the fight before he ends up like Carlos. She learns Joe is well aware of what is happening to his body, and that he is going to fight Jose regardless.

#11 - Joe VS. José... The Gong of the Match Rings

Season 2 - Episode 45 - Aired 8/17/1981

Joe and Jose finally face off in the ring. With his impenetrable defense, Jose dodges Joe’s attacks while hitting him with his own punches. After receiving countless blows and unable to land a meaningful punch against Jose.

#12 - Farewell, Rikiishi Toru

Season 1 - Episode 52 - Aired 3/24/1971

#13 - The Gong Chimes.. The Ring of the Devil

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/23/1981

Kim’s manager confidently predicts Kim’s victory during the pre-fight press interview. Danpei and Nishi encourage Joe in the locker room, but Joe is not his usual self. Unsurprisingly, Kim dominates the fight and Joe can only defend himself.

#14 - José arrives in Japan… The Match Date Approaches!

Season 2 - Episode 41 - Aired 7/20/1981

#15 - Joe and Danpei... Two Everyday People

Season 2 - Episode 43 - Aired 8/3/1981

In order to avoid Danpei finding out about his health, Joe decides to train with Nishi and Danpei at a mountain lodge, far away from Yoko. Desperate to tell Joe about his health, Yoko tracks down Joe and visits the mountain lodge.

#16 - A Shock… Yoko's Premonition

Season 2 - Episode 42 - Aired 7/27/1981

After noticing Joe might also be suffering from punch-drunk syndrome, Yoko asks Dr. Kinninski for his professional opinion. Dr. Kinninski is reluctant to give a concrete diagnosis without examining Joe.

#17 - Joe Fired Up… The Target is Near

Season 2 - Episode 40 - Aired 7/13/1981

Noriko and Nishi are engaged. Joe is happy from the bottom of his heart to see his long-time pal marry his dream girl. Meanwhile, Jose arrives in Japan just two days after their bout has been officially confirmed.

#18 - Two Beasts... in the Jungle

Season 2 - Episode 39 - Aired 7/6/1981

Yoko arranges Carlos to be admitted into a hospice to recuperate. However, Dr. Kinninski, the world’s leading authority on punch-drunk syndrome delivers the devastating diagnoses that Carlos is suffering from a severe case of punch-drunk syndrome.

#19 - Unexpected Visitor... Gondo Goromaki

Season 2 - Episode 38 - Aired 6/29/1981

The bout between Joe, the Brawler and Harimau, the Wild Beast begins. At first, Joe struggles to keep up with Harimau’s agility and speed. However, Harimau proves to be no match against Joe, who has regained his instincts as a former street fighter.

#20 - The Wild Child… Harimao

Season 2 - Episode 37 - Aired 6/22/1981

Joe is humiliatingly caught off guard by Harimau, not once, but twice. Admitting he’s lost his street fighting instincts, Joe asks Goromaki Gondo, a Yakuza henchman for his help. Invited by Joe, Gondo and his subordinates show up at the Tange Gym.

#21 - Yoko's... New Attempt

Season 2 - Episode 36 - Aired 6/15/1981

Harimau, a wild beast-like man who grew up deep in the Malaysian jungle has been confirmed as Joe’s challenger. Yoko brings Harimau to the Tange Club to introduce him to Joe, but Joe reiterates his displeasure about having to fight.

#22 - The Champion ...Alone

Season 2 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/8/1981

Yoko, who feels Joe has lost his wildness within, offers to give up her exclusive rights to Jose’s fights in Japan, under the condition that Joe fights one last bout before his title match against Jose.

#23 - He... Fell with the Card

Season 2 - Episode 34 - Aired 6/1/1981

Jose, the WBC World Champion and Gomez, the WBA World Champion will fight head to head to determine the true World Bantamweight Champion. Joe, who has won his right to challenge the winner of the unification bout, flies to Las Vegas to see Jose and Gomez’

#24 - Beginning of the Struggle... Carlos VS Joe

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/22/1980

As the New Year’s Eve bell counts down the passing year, Joe and Carlos’ bout kick off with the sound of the boxing bell. Joe and Carlos put on a heated and breathtaking fight. However, Joe is unable to land his forte, the cross-counter.

#25 - The 13th King Comes From America!?

Season 2 - Episode 33 - Aired 5/25/1981

Leon dominates the fight and Joe is on defense. However, Leon’s underhanded tactics light a fire inside Joe and the fight quickly becomes a fierce and tightly contested battle. With no knockout punch from either side, the winner is determined by points.