If you are a boxing fan and an otaku, you must be on the lookout for some of the best boxing anime to watch. If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place, as we’ll look at some of the most popular anime that focuses on boxing!
Anime and boxing are the epic duo that brings you the real-life experience of thrill and suspense. Anime not only feasts one’s craving for over-the-top duels but also is an aesthetic in the sense of titles, be it “shonen” or “seinen.” The depiction of intense and apathetic life inside the rings is the forte of boxing anime.
Boxing may not always have been the most popular genre in anime, but it has some excellent titles that portray the never-ending ambitions to knock out opponents and be the godfather of life inside the ring.
The inviolable, sturdy characters with concrete guts make these boxing anime worthy of praise, and the fluid moves and hand-to-hand combating skills will surely captivate you so much that you’ll want to try these martial arts.
But that’s enough talk; let’s get right on with our list of the top-rated boxing anime you can start watching this year!
Best Boxing Anime to Watch in 2023
10. One Pound Gospel
Hatanaka Kosaku was a renowned boxer, having won his very first match with a knockout. His punches are so deadly that one hit was enough to drop his opponents. But, things took a wrong turn when his love for food transformed into an obsession.
Turned into a compulsive eater, he gained weight excessively, resulting in decreased battle capacity by the day. He would often eat a lot of food before matches without thinking of the consequences, and as a result, would throw up following a few punches.
A sliver of hope appears when fate brings Sister Angela, a novice nun at the local convent, into his life. Taking Kosaku as kind of a “personal project,” she begins training him to lose his gluttonous habit. As time passes, the relationship between the two grows into something more beautiful. Now Kosaku must train to compete against a feared opponent, all while tackling his eating disorder.
9. Nozomi Witches
Nozomi Witches is an old-school boxing anime that’s still very much worth watching! It is an amalgam of an intense boxing saga and an emotional tale of a brother and sister where the former has passed.
Ryoutaro Shiba, the main lead, was living a normal life until, following his parents’ move into a new house, he finds himself living across a gorgeous maiden. This girl, Nozomi, an intoxicating sight, soon becomes involved with our boy as the two grow close.
Little does Ryoutaro know that the girl he likes has a late brother who loved boxing. So witnessing Ryoutaro’s innate talent for the sport, she insists, much to his reluctance, that he start training in professional boxing. Now a member of the school boxing club, he realizes his talent and soon finds himself amongst the winners.
But he still doesn’t know what Nozomi desires, what her intentions are, and whether he can live up to her expectations!
8. Ganbare Genki
Ganbare Genki, Japanese for “Do Your Best Genki,” is the story of a family where boxing runs in the bloodline. Genki, the main character, is also of this blood, being raised by his father, who was once a professional boxer, and is trained to prepare for the boxing world. Following his mother’s death, his father ruined his career and became an itinerant boxer, traveling from one place to another.
And as the cruel fate has it, Genki soon loses his father too. But, as I said, boxing is in his blood, and his father’s death only motivates him to push himself further. Following in his father’s footsteps, little Genki trains to become a professional boxer, much to the dismay of his grandfather. This is the tale of a boy defying fate to fulfill his passion and satisfy his fighting spirit.
The struggle this young boy goes through is for sure a heavy dose of motivation and will inspire you to keep your morale high and follow your dreams no matter what.
7. Rokudenashi Blues
Unlike most of the top boxing anime mentioned on this list, Rokudenashi Blues is an anime movie. This movie stars Maeda, a delinquent high-school student who stutters when nervous. He dreams of becoming the boxing champion, but he is a loner. However, one day, he is noticed by several people in his high school after he punches his teacher in public, and several clubs want to recruit him.
Thus begins the boy’s boxing career as all boxing clubs try to grab him for themselves. The most interesting factor is that this story does not simply revolve around his boxing career. It is a package depiction of honor, affinity, and the pressure associated with delinquent students in Japan.
This boxing anime presents an engaging tale of the life events of a boxer who has to fight innate and external rivals in order to become a champion and fulfill his dreams.
6. Rainbow: Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin
Shounan Special Reform School is home to the worst of criminals, and our protagonist, Mario Minakami, finds himself locked up in these very cells on some serious allegations. Along with him in this harsh environment are six other cellmates, constantly the victims of staff brutality.
Joined by a former boxer, this band of inmates lives through the hellish torture of a sadistic prison guard and a violating doctor, hoping to one day leave this dreadful place.
This anime proves how with diligence and determination, one can improve themselves, and a person can deviate from their routines and desires to more profitable and cheerful dispositions.
5. Megalo Box
When talking about the best boxing anime, there’s no way we can forget Megalo Box, as it is one of the best titles to watch. This sci-fi action title starts with a boxer known by his ring name, Junk Dog. In this tech-obsessed world, boxing has evolved where boxers use mechanical limbs to increase their punches’ speed and power.
Our main character, Junk Dog, has lived his entire life in the slums, as he does not have the citizenship to live in a good area. Even though he considers himself a professional boxer, he fixes himself to losing all his matches in the boxing ring to make ends meet. But all this changes thanks to an unprecedented encounter.
One fateful evening, his bike accidentally crashes into a car, barely escaping a fatal encounter. In a heated moment, he challenges the owner’s bodyguard Yuri, who happens to be Megalo Boxing Champion. Having lost the fight and hearing the world of the former champion, something new lights up inside him, something he had never felt before.
Now taking up the name “Joe,” he enters Megalonia, a Megalo Boxing Championship that spans the world, in hopes of becoming a better fighter by going up against tough fighters and climbing the professional boxing ladder, and ultimately facing the opponent against whom he lost.
4. Ring ni Kakero 1
Ring ni Kakero 1 is a sports anime featuring a non-conventional story depicting the struggle of two siblings trying to fulfill their father’s dream. Both have an innate talent for boxing and train hard in the boxing gym to get better. One has a physical talent for battle, while the other plays the game with mindful strategies. As they grow, so do their skills, triggering an onslaught of fierce rivals.
In this brother-sister duo, with the latter as his coach, Ryuuji competes in boxing tournaments, besting his opponents with sheer strength and will. Now entering high school, he takes part in the National Boxing Championship, where he will compete against his arc rival, Jun Kenzaki.
3. Levius
Now we are getting at the top of the list of the best boxing anime, and at the 3rd position, we have this cyberpunk-themed anime, Levius.
The story is set in the 19th century when society is rising from the ashes of war. Five years after the conflict, a new type of sport named Metal Boxing is introduced, combining the elements of boxing and cyborg bodies. This is the sport of mechanical martial arts, where cybernetically-enhanced fighters fight one another in brutal matches.
The story of Levius focuses on a young man named Levius Cromwell, a fighter born during wartime who has lost his father in battle. During his adolescent years, he began training under his uncle, Zack Cromwell, consequently emerging as a skilled brawler.
Working his way up the ladder, Levius faces many perils, finally attaining Grade 1, the highest rank possible. The future of Imperial City now rests in the hands of a continuing battle between Levius and his opponents.
2. Ashita no Joe
Ashita no Joe is a boxing anime that follows Joe Yabuki, a wandering orphan. During his many ventures, the man has traveled all over Japan, having met many interesting personalities.
After wandering about at different locations, Joe finds himself in one of Tokyo’s poorest neighborhoods and is soon in conflict with a local gang. Now, Joe might not have the best manners, but his hand-to-hand combat skills are top-notch, and he effortlessly takes care of all his opponents.
A former boxing coach witnesses Joe’s fight, and seeing potential in this mysterious boy, he offers to train him to become a better boxer.
But, despite the man’s generosity, Joe still pulls off money-making scams and consequently ends up in jail. But Joe soon learns that he has to survive in this harsh world, and the only thing he has are his fighting spirit and his combat skills, so he decides to train diligently to make a name for himself in the boxing world as the path to become a boxing legend is filled with struggles.
1. Hajime no Ippo
If you had to watch just one boxing anime, make sure it’s this one! Hajime no Ippo is the best and most popular boxing anime you’ll ever watch!
The story follows Ippo Makunouchi, a kind-hearted and introverted boy, often bullied by others. One day, as some boys are ganging up on him, Mamoru Takamura, a professional boxer, interrupts. The generous man takes Ippo, who is injured, to his gym for first aid. Witnessing Mamoru’s fighting skills, Ippo, too, begins considering boxing as a career option and a way to escape bullying.
Now under the guidance of the best coach in town, Ippo must prove that he has what it takes to be a champion. Throughout his journey, he faces many opponents with unique strengths. To defeat each of them, he must find his way and use his undying spirit to his advantage.
Conclusion
The boxing genre, in general, is full of suspense and thrill, many unique characters, and tons of professional and underground boxing. Significantly, the heat of being in the ring is enough to give you goosebumps and send a chill down one’s spine.
It is one of the most addictive genres, seeing the training montage as the initially hesitant character trains hard to the very end to win matches and attain glory. We, as fans, also get all hyped as the main character wins one round after another, and we find ourselves curious to know what the next fight may bring. Will it be a victory or a defeat? A character’s will, as he trains and rises from his defeat, is always a thrill to witness.
That’s the reason why boxing anime are so fun to watch, and that’s also the reason why titles like Hajime no Ippo are considered the best of the best!
So, if you are a fan of professional boxing and martial arts and love watching anime, you first need to start watching all the boxing movies and shows featured on this list because you will love them. Get some popcorn ready, pick a boxing anime from the list, and ensure you have time before you start watching because you won’t want to stop in the middle!
