In 2018, TMS Entertainment introduced anime fans to Megalo Box, which focused on a futuristic world where boxers used machinery for more visceral combat. In this world, the better gear often signaled who would reign in the ring. Those inadequately prepared would be badly beaten and could lose their lives. One character that seemed to thrive in this merciless world was Gearless Joe.

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This passionate boxer lived for the sport, and while he came from humble beginnings, nothing stopped him from pursuing a career as a professional boxer. But what do we know about the mysterious boxer, Gearless Joe? There isn't much confirmed about him, but these are things that Megalo Box has confirmed about the series protagonist.

10 His Real Name Isn't Joe.

Megalo Box Gearless Joe

Even though most people know the series protagonist as Joe, that isn't his real name. It's a title he took on so that he could enter the Megalonia competition. Before taking this moniker, he was known as Junk Dog, a nameless street kid who fought in underground arenas. Even those who know him haven't heard his real name, or if he even has one. His identity remains a mystery for the entirety of the series.

9 He Used To Use Run Down Gear

Megalo Box Gearless Joe

As a street kid with almost nothing to his name, Joe would enter matches with an extreme disadvantage: his inadequate Megalo Box gear. Even in the underground, he was severely outclassed, often relying on his talent and reflexes to keep him afloat in the ring. Because he was so talented, he could still outclass those with superior rigs but would choose not to for another reason.

8 Joe Made A Living Throwing Underground Matches

Megalo Box Gearless Joe

Despite Joe's unmatched talent, he seldom won in the underground. He made his living throwing many of his matches to turn a profit. Joe lived in squalor and barely made enough to survive. It's only because he was willing to lose that he lasted as long as he did.

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Eventually, Gansaku Nanbu would propose that he fight in earnest to compete in Megalonia, the world's most profitable boxing tournament. With Nanbu as his coach, Joe would agree to face the world's best boxers and do so as "Gearless Joe."

7 Many Of His Scars Are The Result Of His Reckless Boxing Style

Megalo Box Gearless Joe

Wearing Megalo Box gear offers several benefits during a match. The most obvious advantage it grants is a boost to offensive capabilities. Another crucial benefit of wearing the gear in the ring is the protection it offers your body. The different rigs can create a barrier that softens the blows from opponents. Joe may have started boxing with a makeshift rig at the beginning of the series, but he quickly shifted to fighting "gearless." Putting his body at far more risk for injury. Viewers even see a few new scars emerge on Joe's body after he takes several beatings.

6 "Gearless Joe" Started As A Gimmick To Get Audience Attention

Megalo Box Gearless Joe

When Joe decides to fight without Megalo Box gear, many ask why he's so reckless. What could motivate him to put his body and life on the line like this? The attention that this risky style garners is what drives his decision to go gearless. It made him stand out among a sea of other boxers in the sport. No one could fight like Joe, with or without gear. When he started to win against armored professionals consistently, "Gearless Joe" became a name that no one could ignore.

5 Fame Doesn't Interest Joe.

Megalo Box Gearless Joe

The decision to go gearless may have been a gimmick to gain attention, but fame was never Joe's goal. He only wanted to turn the heads of those in charge of Megalonia as they decided on who entered the tournament. Once he became a big enough name to root for, it was hard for executives to turn him away.

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Megalo Box offered Joe an opportunity actually to put his skills to the test. He'd get to compete against skilled fighters in dangerous situations, something far different from his time in the Underground.

4 Joe Joined Megalonia For The Promising Fights

Megalo Box Gearless Joe

Megalonia is the tournament reserved for the best of the best. Only the most skilled boxers can last here, and that was the promise that enticed Joe to keep fighting. Whether he wore gear or not, he was determined to test his mettle against established fighters. No matter how much he was injured during his time in Megalonia, the thrill of the sport pushed Joe forward.

3 Joe is 5'11"

Megalo Box Gearless Joe

Joe may be at a technical disadvantage in the ring, but it's not the only one he has to accommodate for. Joe stands at 5 feet and 11 inches tall. While this is well above average for everyday people, it's substantially shorter than the biggest boxers in Megalonia. The reigning champ, Yuri, stood at over 6'4 by comparison. Pair this with a longer wingspan, and you'll notice that Joe has a riding against him. His skill and talent help him outplay his opponents, but it's never easy, thanks to the disadvantages he fights through.

2 He Rose To Become Champion In Three Months

Megalo Box Gearless Joe

Megalo Box may have only been 13 episodes, but Joe's ride to the top was a grueling and difficult one to watch. The punishment he put himself through to become the reigning champion of Megalonia was nothing short of agonizing. His body's many scars and injuries highlight how hard it was for him to face his enemies, even with all the skill at his disposal. Putting all that into account, it's hard to believe that he went from a nameless fighter to a world champion in just three months. It just showcases just how incredible his skills were in the ring.

1 He's Back In Megalobox 2: Nomad

Megalo Box Gearless Joe

While Joe became champion at the end of the first season, his story isn't over. Joe returns in Nomad: Megalo Box 2 this spring. Fans can return to the world Joe took by storm to see a grittier and weathered version of the series hero. The series may have just only started up, but it promises to put our hero through the wringer once more.

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