Manga like Sakanaya Champion

Ashita no Joe

Also known as Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life , Sports

Joe Yabuki is a troubled young man who runs away from an orphanage. Wandering through the Tokyo slums, he meets former boxing trainer Danpei. Joe is later arrested and goes to a temporary jail where he fights Nishi, his future best friend, ​and leader of a group of hooligans. He and Nishi then go to a juvenile prison miles away from Tokyo. There Joe meets Rikiishi, a former boxing prodigy, and a rivalry develops between them. They face each other in a match in which Rikiishi dominates Joe until the latter hits him with a cross-counter, resulting in both being knocked out. This inspires the other prison inmates to take up boxing. Joe and Rikiishi vow to fight again.



Tags: Tragedy , Boxing , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Rehabilitation , Class Struggle , Urban , Anti-Hero , Orphan , Athletics , Primarily Male Cast , Shounen , Delinquents , Historical , Prison , Foreign , Yakuza , War

0-Sen Champion

Status: Finished
Genres: Sports

Tetsuya Nakanishi is a trapeze artist working in a circus troupe in Hawaii. He started boxing after being discovered by former boxer Jimmy Smith, and won many fights and overcame many crises with his special punch, the "cross-shaped triple strike," which he adapted from his father, a famous Zero pilot. After winning the championship in New York, Tetsuya returned to Japan, his parents' home country, with Coach Smith, his daughter Marie, and his best friend Sanpei to make it in the Japanese boxing world.

Tags: Male Protagonist , Boxing , Shounen

Hajime no Ippo

Also known as Hajime no Ippo: Fighting Spirit!.

Status: Releasing
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Sports

Makunouchi Ippo has been bullied his entire life. Constantly running errands and being beaten up by his classmates, Ippo has always dreamed of changing himself, but never has the passion to act upon it. One day, in the midst of yet another bullying, Ippo is saved by Takamura Mamoru, who happens to be a boxer. Ippo faints from his injuries and is brought to Takamura boxing gym to recover. As he regains consciousness, he is awed and amazed at his new surroundings in the gym, though lacks confidence to attempt anything. Takamura places a photo of Ippo’s classmate on a punching bag and forces him to punch it. It is only then that Ippo feels something stir inside him and eventually asks Takamura to train him in boxing. Thinking that Ippo does not have what it takes, Takamura gives him a task deemed impossible and gives him a one week time limit. With a sudden desire to get stronger, for himself and his hard working mother, Ippo trains relentlessly to accomplish the task within the time limit. Thus Ippo’s journey to the top of the boxing world begins.



Tags: Boxing , Shounen , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Bullying , Delinquents

Megalo Box: Shukumei no Souken

Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Sports

The series is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the original manga. In the new story, a man called JD (Junk Dog) participates in fixed boxing matches in an underground ring in order to live. Today, he enters the ring again, but he encounters a certain person. JD wants to take on a challenge that risks everything.



Tags: Boxing , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Shounen