The Greatest Boxing Anime Of All Time, Ranked (2024)

Anime has the incredible ability to tackle the impossible where nothing is off limits, whether it’s fantastical adventures, giant robot mayhem, or even a deconstruction of popular sports and recreational pastimes. Anime embraces every sport imaginable, no matter how niche, but there’s been a surprising amount of series that explore the highs and lows of boxing.

Boxing is in the middle of a cinematic renaissance after movies like Creed III, Big George Foreman, and Prizefighter. Anime has respected this demanding activity for decades and it’s fascinating to look back on the medium’s diverse history with the sport, as well as which boxing anime deserve to be crowned heavyweight champions.

Updated by Sage Ashford on November 30th 2023: This list has been updated to offer more information on the best boxing anime.

10 Ayane's High Kick Highlights The Struggles Of Entering The Wrestling World

Ayane's High Kick is a two-episode OVA series from the '90s that was initially planned to run for six installments. Ayane's High Kick still connects with its target despite its truncated length. Ayane Mitsui is a 17-year-old high schooler who aspires to get accepted into the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling league, just like her idol, Manami Toyota.

Manami displays commitment to her craft, but faces repeated setbacks until she's given the opportunity to develop her athleticism as a kickboxer. Manami is quite vocal over her disdain for this foot-based sport, but finds herself naturally excelling in the field while she simultaneously keeps her new passion a secret from the wrestling world.

9 Rokudenashi Blues Takes A Delinquent Into The World Of Boxing

There is no shortage of anime and manga that follow struggling juvenile delinquents who attempt to channel their aggression into something productive, like boxing. Taison Maeda is prone to schoolyard fisticuffs at Teiken High, but he longs for a controlled bout in a boxing ring.

Rokudenashi Blues, divided into two movies, chronicles Maeda's mission for boxing supremacy, while it also shades in the other details that drive him and his friends forward in life. Rokudenashi Blues has arguably made a greater impression as a boxing manga and live-action series, but it still makes some vital contributions as an underrated boxing anime.

8 Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Explores The Transformative Power Of Learning Martial Arts

Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple skews to a younger crowd, since it's a more traditional battle shonen anime. The anime features continuous combat and increasing stakes, but there's a hearty sense of humor that ensures Kenichi never gets too dark. Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple tackles a number of martial arts that include karate, Muay Thai, Jujitsu, and Kenpo, which makes it far more than just a boxing anime.

Kenichi is all about inner strength, dedication, and Kenichi's desire to feel confident and empowered after a lifetime of being bullied. Given all it has to offer, it's no surprise Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple's best episodes have impressive IMDb scores. Exciting values and diverse fights make Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple a natural fit for boxing fans.

7 Levius Combines Boxing With Cyberpunk Themes

Boxing is a cutthroat sport in its own right. However, some anime feel the need to increase the stakes even further via bleak dystopian worlds where boxing is akin to freedom. Levius takes place in an alternate cyberpunk 19th century where "Metalboxing" has become Imperial City's greatest form of entertainment.

Levius Cromwell, an orphan with bold dreams for his future, trains under his uncle to become Imperial City's Metalboxing champion. A lot of anime are cut from the same cloth as Levius. Its nihilistic nature is one of the boxing anime's biggest selling points, but it might be too bleak a ride for some.

6 Kengan Ashura Brings The Gladiator Element Back To Combat Anime

Kengan Ashura delivers a brutal burst of adrenaline through its subversive take on gladiatorial combat and society's addiction to this violent entertainment. The anime posits a world where Japanese business owners sponsor martial artists and fighters to battle each other as a way for these salarymen to become prestigious and powerful CEOs.

This sport is referred to as Kengan, which isn't specifically boxing, but it pulls from the same staples and involves fist-based battles. Kengan Ashura divides its suspenseful narrative between Tokita "Ashura" Ohma, a mysterious Kengan fighter, and Yamashita Kazuo's struggles to manage his fighter.

5 Ring Ni Kakero Represents Old-School Shonen Anime

Ring ni Kakero, also known as Put It All in the Ring, was a popular shonen boxing manga during the late '70s. However, its 36-episode anime didn't debut until 2004. Accordingly, Ring ni Kakero feels more in line with nostalgic boxing anime from the '80s even though it has the shiny gloss of modern series.

Ring ni Kakero beautifully tackles the importance of family as the Takane siblings work together to honor their deceased dad's memory. Ryuji trains under his sister Kiku as they put everything on the line. Ryuji tirelessly trains to master boxing's formidable Boomerang blow, but Ryuji and Kiku's sibling bond is Ring ni Kakero's true secret weapon.

4 Baki The Grappler Focuses On One Man's Quest To Defeat His Father

Baki the Grappler is about as close as a boxing anime gets to Shakespearean melodrama. Baki Hanma trains to be a deadly fighter, just like his father, who ends up defeating Baki and killing his mother. Young Baki grows determined to grow stronger than his father and use his superior skills to take out this evil man.

Baki perfects his skills in an underground fighting arena that showcases all sorts of fighting styles, from boxing to mixed martial arts to Baki's own adapted "Total Fighting" technique. If nothing else, Baki the Grappler is the only anime where the protagonist boxes against Muhammand Ali.

3 Megalobox & Megalobox 2: Nomad Reimagines A Classic Boxing Anime

Megalobox is a bold reimagining of Ashita no Joe that was released in commemoration of the manga's 50th anniversary. Megalobox takes a surprising pivot towards a gritty future dystopia aesthetic where boxers wear powerful robotic exoskeletons to aid them.

These steampunk-like elements make Megalobox feel distinct from Ashita no Joe, even if both protagonists are optimistic wunderkinds. Megalobox features exaggerated exoskeleton combat that also highlights the corruption of sports and entertainment. These themes get pushed to even more intense places in the anime's second season, Megalobox 2: Nomad.

2 Ashita No Joe Laid The Foundation For Sports Anime

Ashita no Joe, otherwise known as Tomorrow’s Joe, started its run in the late ‘60s and it’s left an undeniable mark on boxing anime and manga. Ashita no Joe focuses this action-packed sports saga around a powerful emotional core. Joe Yabuki is an aimless orphan who can't help but get into fights.

Joe Yabuki learns how to channel these raw emotions into boxing talent once a washed-up trainer takes him under his wing. Ashita no Joe's trajectory is predictable by modern standards, but it helps lay the foundation for this genre.

1 Hajime No Ippo Is The Standard For All Boxing Anime

Fighting Spirit

TV-PG

Ippo, a teenage boy with a pure heart and unrelenting determination, discovers a passion for boxing after veteran fighter Takamura saves him from bullies.

Release Date

October 3, 2000

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

3

Number of Episodes

127

Hajime no Ippo, which is often localized under the name Fighting Spirit, is a boxing manga that's still running after over three decades. This lengthy boxing saga takes its time as it realistically depicts Ippo Makunouchi's evolution from energetic high school boxer to one of the sport's greatest competitors.

A must-watch anime, Hajime no Ippo presents its lead with constant hardships, both in and out of the boxing ring. Ippo's journey would make a weaker athlete give up, but each of his victories — no matter how small — carry intense weight.