Top Boxing Anime Recommendations

Gintama

Also known as Gintama.

Studio: Sunrise
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Sci-Fi

Life isn't easy in feudal Japan... especially since the aliens landed and conquered everything! Oh sure, the new health care is great, but the public ban on the use of swords has left a lot of defeated samurai with a difficult decision to make concerning their future career paths! This is especially true if, as in the case of Gintoki Sakata, they're not particularly inclined towards holding a day job, which is why Gintoki's opted for the freelance route, taking any job that's offered to him as long as the financial remuneration sounds right. Unfortunately, in a brave new world filled with stray bug-eyed monsters, upwardly mobile Yakuza and overly ambitious E.T. entrepreneurs, those jobs usually don't pay as well as they should for the pain, suffering and indignities endured!



Tags: Parody , Samurai , Ensemble Cast , Meta , Slapstick , Male Protagonist , Surreal Comedy , Anachronism , Found Family , Aliens , Episodic , Swordplay , Shounen , Police , Terrorism , Philosophy , Satire , Historical , Tragedy , Primarily Adult Cast , Space , Mopeds , Ninja , Sadism , Crime , Masochism , Oiran , Robots , LGBTQ+ Themes , Homeless , Crossdressing , Mafia , Ghost , Nekomimi , Boxing , Pirates , Educational , Fishing , Yakuza , CGI , Dissociative Identities , Kuudere , Body Swapping , Anthropomorphism , Female Harem

Megalo Box

Also known as Megalobox.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Sci-Fi , Sports

"To be quiet and do as you're told, that's the cowardly choice." These are the words of Junk Dog, an underground fighter of Megalo Box, an evolution of boxing that utilizes mechanical limbs known as Gear to enhance the speed and power of its users. Despite the young man's brimming potential as a boxer, the illegal nature of his participation forces him to make a living off of throwing matches as dictated by his boss Gansaku Nanbu. However, this all changes when the Megalo Box champion Yuuri enters his shabby ring under the guise of just another challenger. Taken out in a single round, Junk Dog is left with a challenge: "If you're serious about fighting me again, then fight your way up to me and my ring."

Filled with overwhelming excitement and backed by the criminal syndicate responsible for his thrown matches, Junk Dog enters Megalonia: a world-spanning tournament that will decide the strongest Megalo Boxer of them all. Having no name of his own, he takes on the moniker of "Joe" as he begins his climb from the very bottom of the ranked list of fighters. With only three months left to qualify, Joe must face off against opponents the likes of which he has never fought in order to meet the challenge of his rival.



Tags: Boxing , Martial Arts , Male Protagonist , Athletics , Primarily Male Cast , Revenge , Primarily Adult Cast , Cyberpunk , Disability , Dystopian , Yakuza , Artificial Intelligence , Tanned Skin , Delinquents , Time Skip , Motorcycles , Drugs

Blood Lad

Studio: Brain's Base
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Supernatural

Staz is the vampire boss of a section of the demon world, but he has little interest in human blood. He's more infatuated with Japanese culture. When he learns that Yanagi Fuyumi, a Japanese teenage girl, accidentally wanders into the demon city, he jumps to the occasion. However, while Staz deals with an intruder on his turf, the oblivious Fuyumi is killed by a monster and becomes a wandering ghost. The disappointed Staz vows to her that he will find a way to bring Fuyumi back to life.

Tags: Demons , Vampire , Afterlife , Delinquents , Ghost , Otaku Culture , Love Triangle , Urban , Male Protagonist , Parody , Werewolf , Skeleton , Heterosexual , Zombie , Kuudere , Nudity , Boxing , Seinen , Dragons , Isekai

Baki

Also known as BAKI.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Sports

The protagonist, Baki Hanma, trains with an intense focus to become strong enough to surpass his father, Yujiro Hanma, the strongest fighter in the world. Five of the world's most violent and brutal death row inmates are gathering to face Baki. Their objective is to taste defeat -- their unmatched strength and skill have led them to grow bored of life itself, and they now seek out Baki in the hopes that he can overwhelm and utterly crush them. In this crisis, other underground martial art warriors gather to fight by Baki's side: Kaoru Hanayama, Gouki Shibukawa, Retsu Kaioh, and Doppo Orochi. An epic showdown between violent death row inmates and Baki and his friends begins!



Tags: Martial Arts , Fugitive , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Shounen , Gore , Delinquents , Revenge , Crime , Judo , CGI , Surreal Comedy , Prison , Boxing , Nudity , Foreign , Guns , Super Power , Crossdressing , Circus

Hajime no Ippo: THE FIGHTING!

Also known as Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: 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 the Kamogawa 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 , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Shounen , Martial Arts , Coming of Age , Fitness , Heterosexual , Ensemble Cast , Delinquents , Bullying

Dumbbell Nan Kilo Moteru?

Also known as How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?.

Studio: Doga Kobo
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Slice of Life , Sports

Hibiki enjoys the finer things in life, and when it comes to food, she's downright indulgent. When it becomes clear she's getting chubby, she decides to better herself by joining a gym. In her attempt to find a casual gym, she meets Akemi - a comrade-in-arms. Little does Hibiki know, Akemi has an ulterior motive. What will this wonderful world of fitness have in store for Hibiki?

Tags: Fitness , Educational , Athletics , Female Protagonist , Urban , Primarily Female Cast , Episodic , Tomboy , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Gyaru , Meta , Parody , Tanned Skin , Boxing , Shounen , Food , Teacher , Nudity , Cosplay , School

RAINBOW: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin

Also known as Rainbow.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Thriller

Seven teenagers in 1955 have to learn to live together in the same hold in the reformatory of Shounan. Confined in a hall where suffering and humiliation are daily, they are waiting for a ray of hope in a dark, incarcerating world. The story follows their life together and how they move on afterwards.

Tags: Ensemble Cast , Seinen , Tragedy , Coming of Age , Delinquents , Survival , Primarily Male Cast , Rehabilitation , Historical , Crime , Gore , Revenge , Prison , Boxing , Torture , Time Skip , Orphan , Found Family , Philosophy , Drugs , Bar , Gangs , Suicide , School , Yakuza , Language Barrier

TEXHNOLYZE

Also known as Texhnolyze.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Psychological , Sci-Fi

In a man-made underground society, descendants of a banished generation vie for control of the crumbling city of Lux. Ichise, an orphan turned prize fighter, loses a leg and an arm to satisfy an enraged fight promoter. On the brink of death he is taken in by a young woman doctor and used as a guinea pig for the next evolution of Texhnolyze. With his new limbs, Ichise is taken under the wing of Oonishi, a powerful leader of Organ, an organization with some hold on Lux. As Ichise is drawn deeper into a war for territorial control of the city, he learns of his possible future from the young girl prophet Ran, who guides him from the shadows in his darkest times. With the explosion of the warfare, Ichise must uncover the truth about Lux and fight for his survival as he realizes his destiny.



Tags: Dystopian , Cyberpunk , Philosophy , Tragedy , Noir , Primarily Adult Cast , Urban , Survival , Mafia , Post-Apocalyptic , Denpa , Gangs , Disability , Male Protagonist , Crime , Cyborg , Terrorism , Guns , Amputation , Gore , Primarily Male Cast , Lost Civilization , Female Protagonist , War , Suicide , Cult , Conspiracy , Afterlife , Heterosexual , Drugs , Boxing

Kurenai no Buta

Also known as Porco Rosso.

Studio: Studio Ghibli
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Drama , Romance

Take flight with "Porco" Rosso, a valiant World War I flying ace! From tropical Adriatic settings to dazzling aerial maneuvers, this action-adventure from world-renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki is full of humor, courage and chivalry. When "Porco" —whose face has been transformed into that of a pig by a mysterious spell— infuriates a band of sky pirates with his aerial heroics, the pirates hire Curtis, a rival pilot, to "get rid" of him. On the ground, the two pilots compete for the affections of the beautiful Gina. But it is in the air where the true battles are waged. Will our hero be victorious?



Tags: Aviation , Foreign , Anthropomorphism , Historical , Philosophy , Primarily Adult Cast , Coastal , Male Protagonist , Pirates , Fugitive , Travel , Military , Heterosexual , Fairy Tale , War , Primarily Male Cast , Guns , Boxing

Akiba Meido Sensou

Also known as Akiba Maid War.

Studio: P.A. Works
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama

Akihabara is the center of the universe for the coolest hobbies and quirkiest amusements. In the spring of 1999, bright-eyed Nagomi Wahira moves there with dreams of joining a maid café. She quickly dons an apron at café Ton Tokoton, AKA the Pig Hut. But adjusting to life in bustling Akihabara isn’t as easy as serving tea and delighting customers. Paired with the dour Ranko who never seems to smile, Nagomi must do her best to elevate the Pig Hut over all other maid cafés vying for top ranking. Along the way she’ll slice out a place for herself amid the frills and thrills of life at the Pig Hut. Just when Nagomi’s dreams are within her grasp, she discovers not everything is as it seems amid the maid cafés of Akihabara.



Tags: Yakuza , Maids , Primarily Female Cast , Crime , Gangs , Female Protagonist , Work , Primarily Adult Cast , Surreal Comedy , Guns , Parody , Urban , Restaurant , Tragedy , Otaku Culture , Gore , Found Family , Revenge , Kemonomimi , Anti-Hero , Slapstick , War , Anachronism , Gyaru , Ensemble Cast , Orphan , Coming of Age , Kuudere , Homeless , Conspiracy , Time Skip , Gambling , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Tanned Skin , Disability , Boxing , Food , Ninja , Nudity , Baseball , Poker , Fishing

NOMAD: Megalo Box 2

Also known as MEGALOBOX 2: NOMAD.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Sci-Fi , Sports

The second season of Megalo Box.

In the end, “Gearless” Joe was the one that reigned as the champion of Megalonia, a first ever megalobox tournament. Fans everywhere were mesmerized by the meteoric rise of Joe who sprung out from the deepest underground ring to the top in mere three months and without the use of gear. Seven years later, “Gearless” Joe was once again fighting in underground matches. Adorned with scars and once again donning his gear, but now known only as Nomad.



Tags: Boxing , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Foreign , Time Skip , Dystopian , Coming of Age , Rehabilitation , Disability , Cyberpunk , Drugs , Found Family , Motorcycles

Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger

Also known as Fighting Spirit: New Challenger.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Sports

Ippo Makunouchi continues his boxing career and his goal on knowing the meaning of being strong, and the desire on fighting his idol Ichiro Miyata once again. Along him are pro boxers Takamura, Aoki and Kimura that each one of them aspire to their own dreams.



Tags: Boxing , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast

Ookami-san to Shichinin no Nakama-tachi

Also known as Okami-san and Her Seven Companions.

Studio: J.C. Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance

Ookami Ryouko is a spunky and, by some accounts, rather manly high school girl. She is tall, speaks in a traditionally masculine way and is very proficient in fighting. Ookami-san's best friend is the small and high-pitched voiced Akai Ringo. Incidentally, the two are rather flat-chested, a fact the Narrator (voiced by Arai "Kuroko" Satomi of Railgun fame) is all too eager to point out.

Ookami and Ringo are members of the Otogi Bank, a club in Otogi High School that assists students with their problems in return for their assistance on a different problem at a later date; thus the Otogi Bank is effectively a loan institute for problems where you can take out a loan for a solved problem but you have to repay it sooner or later.

The Otogi Bank is able to solve any problem and will go to any lengths to do so, often leading the members to danger or mayhem. Since most of the members of the club are female, another male is needed for the more dangerous assignments. Thus, the scopophobic (the fear of being looked at) Morino Ryoushi is inducted as a member, right after he confesses his love for Ookami...

Tags: Parody , Fairy Tale , Meta , School Club , Tsundere , Boxing , Crossdressing , Love Triangle

Hajime no Ippo: Rising

Also known as Fighting Spirit: Rising.

Studio: MADHOUSE , MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Sports

Ippo continues to defend his Japanese Featherweight title from an ever stronger pool of challengers. Meanwhile, Takamura challenges for his second WBC title in the middleweight class, and Aoki challenges for the Japanese Lightweight title.

Tags: Boxing , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Athletics

Hanma Baki

Also known as Baki Hanma.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Sports

To gain the skills he needs to surpass his powerful father, Baki enters Arizona State Prison to take on the notorious inmate known as Mr. Unchained.



Tags: Martial Arts , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Animals , Boxing , Surreal Comedy , CGI , Body Horror , Heterosexual

Baki: Dai Raitaisai-hen

Also known as Baki: The Great Raitai Tournament Saga.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Sports

The second season of Baki.

Weakened by the poison from his last battle, Baki Hanma finds himself on the verge of death with no salvation in sight. However, after Baki's friend, Retsu Kaiou, brings him to China, he learns about the centurial Raitai Tournament, where the fiercest warriors fight to be crowned as the strongest martial artist in all of China.

As it is now allowing entry to foreigners, Baki is informed that he will have to compete in the tournament as it holds the cure to his illness. Unfortunately, Baki's father, deemed the "Strongest Creature on Earth," is participating too. Baki 2nd Season details the events of the grand Chinese tournament, as well as Baki's encounter with the eccentric yet powerful Mohammad Alai Jr.



Tags: Martial Arts , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Gore , Boxing , Body Horror , Heterosexual , Love Triangle

Oemojisangjuui

Also known as Lookism.

Studio: Studio Mir
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Supernatural

In a society that favors good looks, a high school outcast leads a double life switching between his two bodies that are polar opposites in appearance.



Tags: Male Protagonist , Delinquents , Body Swapping , Bullying , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Gangs , Martial Arts , Work , Coming of Age , Parody , CGI , Fashion , Boxing , Musical Theater

Ashita no Joe

Studio: Mushi Production
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Slice of Life , Sports

Joe, a teenage orphan in the slums of the Doya streets, meets Danpei, a homeless, alcoholic ex-boxing coach. Danpei, seeing Joe's boxing talent, decides to train him. When Joe is sent to a terrible juvenile home for petty crimes, he meets Rikiishi who becomes his boxing rival. Danpei arrives at the home to help Joe to train in order to defeat Rikiishi. When Joe decides to seriously pursue boxing, Danpei cannot get a coaching license because of his reputation as a drunk.



Tags: Boxing , Anti-Hero , Coming of Age , Delinquents , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Class Struggle , Primarily Male Cast , Rehabilitation , Ojou-sama , Orphan , Prison , Yakuza , Homeless , Police , Crime , Time Skip , Educational , Gangs , Bullying , Primarily Teen Cast , Achromatic

Hanma Baki Season 2

Also known as Baki Hanma Season 2.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Sports

The second season of Hanma Baki.

In Hanma Baki’s first season, the fighter Baki — the strongest high schooler in the land — trained in a prison against fellow inmates, defeating a giant praying mantis and formidable opponents like Biscuit “Mr. Unchained” Oliva and Jun “Mr. Second” Guevaru. Now, Baki is back and gearing up to battle Pickle, a perfectly preserved prehistoric man so powerful, he once preyed on dinosaurs. If Baki can take down Pickle, his final matchup will be with his all-powerful father, Yujiro Hanma.



Tags: Martial Arts , Dinosaurs , Gore , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , Boxing

Hajime no Ippo: Champion Road

Also known as Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting! - Champion Road.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Sports

As the new Champion, Ippo must protect his title against some of the best boxers available.

Makunouchi Ippo is the new Featherweight champion of Japan and is now ready for his first title defense. His opponent, the former Jr. Featherweight champion and a medical student, Sanada Kazuki. In addition to this feud, Sanada is being coached by Kamogawa's former rival, Hama Dankichi. What makes things worse is that Sanada works at the same hospital where Kumi is a nurse at and everybody at the hospital wants Sanada to win. Not only does Ippo have to defend his title, he has to reclaim his love.



Tags: Boxing , Shounen , Martial Arts , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age