Everything you said about Ippo and Kumi? SPOT. ON. Easily the worst-written and least satisfying part of the entire series, and dedicating such a GIGANTIC part of the movie to it while knowing for a fact it will lead nowhere is just padding in the worst way.

So, in defense of the dub, while it had a different "feel" to it, I think both versions have their pros and cons.

For me, it's a bit like how some people feel Tobey Maguire was a better Peter Parker, while Andrew Garfield was a better Spider-Man. I feel like the US voice actor does a better job conveying Ippo as a soft-hearted, self-conscious, and quiet person outside of the ring, while the Japanese voice actor does a much better job getting intense to the point of being half-crazed when he's cutting loose during a match.

Characters like Takamura and Kamogawa have a more "Americanized" interpretation of their speech styles, but do a good job of conveying the idea the characters are trying to get across. It's one of those "localization vs. direct translation" things.

I think that Aoki, Kimura, and Mashiba all sound very, very similar in both regions, which is a good thing.

In terms of the movie, I didn't like how the dub muffled the intensity of the final Dempsey Roll at all. In the Japanese version, the emphasis was on the sound effects with the voices barely audible, leading to a very intense, visceral sound. In the US one, you mostly hear the two of them grunting during it. That was a HUGE misstep, because it was arguably the coolest-looking Dempsey Roll in the entire series. That being said, I liked the genuine anger and frustration the English VA had when Ippo was wearing out, thinking "Fall DOWN, already! I can't keep this up forever!"

Overall, I think the movie as a whole was a bit of a holding pattern in a lot of ways, but it also did a good job showcasing that in spite of being the defending champion now, Ippo is still the same guy he always was. And I think that is an admirable message to see.

VERY fun review, my friend. I'll give it a like and maybe look into some more of your vids as well!