18 Fighting & Boxing Anime You Need to Check Out ASAP

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Anime expert Ed Erskine shares his favorite boxing anime that will knock you out of your seat!

Co-authored by Ryan Burns and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: September 1, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Boxing Anime
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• Other Fighting-Related Anime
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Boxing and anime go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s hard to watch an anime without finding some type of fighting reference or fists being thrown, but still, finding anime specifically centered on boxing can seem difficult. That’s why we’re here to give you a list of boxing anime you need to check out, with recommendations from some of wikiHow’s anime experts. Not only that, but we also go into other fighting anime if you’re still looking for some fun shows to add to your Watch Later. So, read on and dive into the ultimate list of boxing and fighting anime!

Best Boxing Anime

Anime expert Ed Erskine says the best boxing anime are Hajime no Ippo and Megalobox. Some other great boxing and fighting anime series include Ashita no Joe, Fist of the North Star, and Ring ni Kakero. These series feature deep character growth, high emotional stakes, and mind-blowing, physics-defying boxing moves!

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Section 1 of 2:

Boxing Anime to Watch

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   Hajime no Ippo Hajime no Ippo is Erskine’s #1 pick for the best boxing anime, noting that it’s an amazing series. It follows Ippo Makunouchi, a teenager who helps his mother run a fishing boat rental business. When he gets into it with bullies after school and is rescued by a boxer, his fighting skills are instantly noticed by other boxers and gym-goers, and he embarks on a journey to build a boxing career.

   • Where to Watch: Unavailable to legally stream in the United States.
   • According to anime and manga expert Ryan Burns, Hajime no Ippo is critically acclaimed and known as one of the best sports anime out there.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Ed Erskine is an anime expert and podcaster. He founded the Suuuper Anime Podcast, where he and his co-host break down anime series, episodes, and character profiles.

   Ryan Burns is an anime and manga expert. He’s the creator behind @Ryespops, where he shares a variety of content around anime, pop culture, toys, and travel.
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   Megalobox Megalobox is another amazing boxing anime that Erskine says is one of the best. It follows a boxer named Junk Dog who competes in Megalo Boxing, a boxing-esque sport where fighters use mechanical limbs to beef up their speed and power. Although he makes his living by throwing matches, Junk Dog flips a switch after a battle with the champion Yuuri, which pushes him to enter the Megalonia boxing tournament and become the strongest fighter of all.

   • Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Disney+
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   Ashita no Joe Also known as Tomorrow’s Joe, Ashita no Joe follows a troubled youth named Joe Yabuki who only solves his problems with fists. When he gets into a battle with a local gang and defeats them all, a former boxing coach notices his potential and offers to train him as long as he agrees to learn the art of boxing. With his unruly personality, however, this proves to be difficult.

   • Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
   • Ashita no Joe is known as the father of boxing anime, as it laid the groundwork for the genre all the way back in 1970.
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   Genki, the Boy Champ A young boy named Genki Horiguchi has dreams to become a boxer like his father, and after his father’s death, he earnestly chases these dreams. Although his grandparents initially oppose him boxing, he trains in secret, doing anything he can to achieve those dreams and honor his father.

   • Where to Watch: Unavailable to legally stream in the United States.
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   Fist of the North Star In a post-apocalyptic future, the strong prey on the weak in a world predicated on survival of the fittest. One warrior named Kenshirou was betrayed and left for dead in this future, but once he wakes up, he goes on a quest to save his kidnapped fiancée Yuria. During his journey, he employs the deadly Hokuto Shinken fighting form to defend the strong from the weak, and it comes back to bite him.

   • Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
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   Ring ni Kakero This 2004 anime depicts two siblings trying to fulfill their father’s final wish. Kiku and Ryuji Takane aim to become boxing champions, with Kiku training her brother Ryuji up and pushing him to learn the Boomerang technique. As Ryuji matures and makes his way to the junior high boxing tournament, he finds a chance to achieve his goal standing behind his arch-rival, Jun Kenzaki.

   • Where to Watch: Unavailable to legally stream in the United States.
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   Joe vs. Joe Known as Futari no Joe in Japan, Joe vs. Joe tells the tale of two Joes: Joe Yuuki, a well-off Shibuya DJ, and Joe Akamine, a poor delivery boy training to become a pro boxer. When Yuuki is challenged by Akamine for money, Akamine defeats him, which pushes Yuuki to become a better fighter and earn his rematch. The two then form a bitter rivalry that can only be settled in the ring.

   • Where to Watch: Unavailable to legally stream in the United States, but you may be able to find some full episodes on YouTube.
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   Eiji Eiji is the son of legendary boxer Keijirou Akahi, but instead of boxing, he’d rather play guitar with his punk band and get into fights with classmates. After being scouted by his father’s old coach and seeing his classmate become the high school boxing champion, he changes his tune and begins taking an interest in the sport.
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   Burning Blood (B.B.) More commonly known as B.B., Burning Blood follows a trumpet player named Ryo Takagi. He and his band are about to hit it big, but his natural fighting skills are urging him to battle. After he loses a fight to a man named Jin Moriyama, he trades his trumpet in for some boxing gloves, determined to hit the ring and earn his rematch.

   • Where to Watch: Unavailable to legally stream in the United States.
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    Rokudenashi Blues Rokudenashi Blues is a 1992 anime that follows Maeda, a nervous new student at Teiken High School who hits his teacher during the entrance ceremony. This immediately gains the attention of different clubs who want to use him for their own reasons, but he’s not having any of that. He just wants to focus on his dream of becoming a boxing champion.

    • Where to Watch: Unavailable to legally watch in the United States.
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    Levius Levius takes standard boxing and gives it a steampunk makeover. Set after a brutal war, the series follows Levius, a veteran who lost his arm and replaced it with a steam-powered arm. He uses the arm to compete in metal boxing, a brutal sport where fighters use mechanical prosthetics for crazy, bloody matches, and attempt to become the face of the sport.

    • Where to Watch: Netflix
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    One-Pound Gospel This 1988 anime OVA follows a young boxer named Kosaku Hatanaka, who was once a prodigy who quickly built an unimpressive record. After an especially embarrassing, career-threatening fight, his coach tells him it’s his last chance; a local woman named Sister Angela commits to setting him on a path of righteousness, setting up the events of the story.

    • Where to Watch: Unavailable to legally watch in the United States.
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    Nozomi Witches Nozomi Witches follows Ryotaro Shiba, who joins a boxing club after his neighbor Nozomi Egawa encouraged him to. When Nozomi saw Ryotaro’s reflexes and skills, she saw an opportunity to achieve her dream of seeing someone represent Japan in the Olympics, and Ryotaro is eager to help bring that dream to life.

    • Where to Watch: Unavailable to legally stream in the United States.
    • Over the course of the story, Ryotaro faces many different challenges as he fights tougher and tougher opponents, and shows his grit and determination along the way.
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Section 2 of 2:

Other Fighting-Related Anime

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   Baki the Grappler Baki Hanma has been a fighter since birth, learning different techniques from his mother and becoming formidable. He strives to surpass his father, a man feared by the public as an “Ogre,” but soon realizes he needs to become strong without his mother’s help. So, he goes on a journey to grow his body and soul as much as possible before battling his father, and learns many new things along the way.

   • Where to Watch: Unavailable to stream legally in the United States.
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   Kengan Ashura Kengan Ashura follows Tokita Ohma, a fighter sponsored by a wealthy CEO, who battles other fighters to help settle corporate disputes. Known as the Ashura, Ohma was recruited off the street by the CEO after he defeated their previous fighter, and when he joins their ranks, he basks in his joy of fighting and crushing opponents.

   • Where to Watch: Netflix
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   Dragon Ball Z Dragon Ball Z is an iconic anime series that follows a Saiyan man named Goku as he protects the Earth and the universe from different threats. It’s known for its striking depiction of visual combat, iconic transformations, and thrilling story beats, and according to Erskine, it has had a massive impact on society inside and outside of the anime community.

   • Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
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   Tiger Mask Naoto Date was once a feared heel wrestler in America. Known as Tiger Mask, he built a reputation as a villain. When he returns to Japan, a young boy explains that he hopes to live up to that villain role. Date embarks on a journey to become a heroic wrestler who can serve as a role model, not an evil heel.

   • Where to Watch: Unavailable to legally stream in the United States.
   • While the 1969 anime is unavailable to legally stream, the sequel Tiger Mask W can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
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   Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc This 2024 anime is an adaptation of the 2011 continuation of the original 1979 Kinnikuman manga. It follows the adventures of Kinnikuman, an alien prince who became a chojin wrestler. After winning the Survivor Match and becoming the king of Kinniku, he works with old friends and former enemies to battle new enemies, showing a newfound maturity in his personality and wrestling moves.

   • Where to Watch: Netflix
   • Kinnikuman is known for its comedic elements and heartfelt character arcs, especially in the original manga, where Kinniku starts as a lazy man and transforms into an honorable fighter.
   • If you’re confused about where to start with the chronological events of the anime, start by reading the 1979 manga. Then, pick up the anime, which picks up after the original manga.
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