21+ Best Anime Like Hajime no Ippo: THE FIGHTING!

If you loved Hajime no Ippo: THE FIGHTING!, chances are you'll really enjoy Tomorrow's Joe, Slam Dunk and the others too. They share that same energy—whether it's the intense Comedy, Drama, Sports, or just the vibe that keeps you hooked. While you wait for the next episode to drop, it’s the perfect time to explore something new that still feels familiar. These picks aren't just similar—they're fan favorites for a reason, and they might just become your next obsession.

1. Tomorrow's Joe

Synonyms: Rocky Joe, Champion Joe

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. (Source: AnimeNfo)

2. Slam Dunk

Synonyms: スラムダンク, 슬램덩크, 灌篮高手, 灌籃高手

Hanamichi Sakuragi, an entering Shohoku high school freshman holds a record for being rejected by 50 girls during middle school. His nearly 2 meters height and bright red hair causes most students to write him off as a delinquent. One day, a girl named Haruko Akagi approaches Hanamichi without any fear. When she asks Hanamichi: "do you like basketball?" Hanamichi falls head over heels for the girl of his dreams. Without missing a beat, Hanamichi tells her he loves basketball, and the two head to the gymnasium where Hanamichi learns about the slam dunk. He also learns of Rukawa, one of the country’s top basketball prospects, also a freshman at Shohoku. (Source: Funimation)

3. Megalobox

Synonyms: None

"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. (Source: MAL Rewrite)

4. Tomorrow's Joe 2

Synonyms: Rocky Joe 2, Champion Joe 2

Yabuki Joe is left downhearted and hopeless after a certain tragic event. In attempt to put the past behind him, Joe leaves the gym behind and begins wandering. On his travels he comes across the likes of Wolf Kanagushi and Goromaki Gondo, men who unintentionally fan the dying embers inside him, leading him to putting his wanderings to an end. His return home puts Joe back on the path to boxing, but unknown to himself and his trainer, he now suffers deep-set issues holding him back from fighting. In attempt to quell those issues, Carlos Rivera, a world renowned boxer is invited from Venezuela to help Joe recover.

5. Baki the Grappler

Synonyms: Grappler Baki TV

Baki Hanma is a young fighter who yearns to follow in the footsteps of his father, Yujiro, and become the strongest fighter in the world. Through that he trains tirelessly and fights constantly to hone his skills and develop his body to achieve these goals. Many intense battles lay ahead of Baki as he goes about his quest to be the best and ultimately take the title of "King" from his father.

6. Hajime No Ippo: The Fighting! - Rising -

Synonyms: Hajime no Ippo 3, Fighting Spirit: Rising

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.

7. MEGALOBOX 2: NOMAD

Synonyms: เมกาโล่บ็อกซ์ เจ้าสังเวียนพันธุ์แกร่ง ภาค 2

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. (Source: TMS Entertainment)

8. Aoashi

Synonyms: AOASHI แข็งเด็กหัวใจนักสู้, أواشي, Ao Ashi - Playmaker

Ashito Aoi is a young, aspiring soccer player from a backwater town in Japan. His hopes of getting into a high school with a good soccer club are dashed when he causes an incident during a critical match for his team, which results in their loss and elimination from the tournament. Nevertheless, he catches the eye of someone important who happened to be visiting from Tokyo. How will things turn out for Ashito?(Source: Shogakukan Asia)

9. Eyeshield 21

Synonyms: Eyeshield21

Welcome To the Gridiron of the Damned! Huge hulking bodies throw themselves at each other, while a tiny lithe body runs between them for the goal! No, it’s not a game of football, it’s Sena Kobayakawa trying to evade the monstrous Ha-Ha brothers down the halls of Deimon High School! But wait! Sena’s incredible skills at not getting caught have been spotted by the devilish (possibly actually demonic) captain of the school’s embryonic American style football team, and when Sena asks to be the teams manager, he gets thrust onto the field as a running back instead! But there are two BIG catches: first, to keep the identity of their new “star” player an absolute secret, Yoichi makes Sena wear an opaque visor on his helmet and gives him the alias of “Eyeshield 21.” And the second catch? Well, in order to hit his fastest “speed of light” running mode, Sena usually has to be absolutely terrified. Not that THAT will be a problem with the monstrous players that he’ll soon find himself running from! The insanity hits the streets when the feet meet the cleats in EYESHIELD 21! (Source: Sentai Filmworks)

10. Run with the Wind

Synonyms: KazeTsuyo, В ногу с ветром

Former ace runner of Sendai Josei High School, Kakeru Kurahara is chased away from a convenience store for shoplifting. Shaking off his pursuer, he runs into Haiji Kiyose, another student from his university. Haiji is impressed by Kakeru's agility and persuades him to live in Chikusei-sou, the run-down apartment where Haiji resides along with eight other students. Having lost his entire apartment deposit at a mahjong parlor, Kakeru accepts the offer reluctantly. However, Haiji reveals a secret during Kakeru's welcoming party: the apartment is actually the dormitory of the Kansei University Track Club. He unveils his ultimate goal of participating in the Hakone Ekiden—one of the most prominent university marathon relay races in Japan. Unfortunately, all the residents apart from Haiji and Kakeru are complete running novices. Worse still, none of the inhabitants are even remotely interested in being involved with Haiji's ridiculous plan! With only months before the deadline, will the fourth-year student be able to convince them otherwise and realize his elusive dream of running in the Hakone Ekiden?

11. Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting! New Challenger

Synonyms: Hajime no Ippo Season II, Hajime no Ippo 2, Fighting Spirit: New Challenger

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. (Source: Anime News Network)

12. Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple

Synonyms: History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi, Ken'ichi, el discípulo más fuerte de la historia

From wimp to warrior. Sort of… Yeah, Kenichi’s a total wimp. He’s always getting picked on and doesn’t have a lot of friends to stick up for him. The guy needs motivation if he hopes to graduate in one piece. Well, Miu’s the perfect motivation. She’s hot, she accepts him, and she just so happens to live at a dojo with six martial arts masters. You could say fate has led Kenichi to their door, or you could say he was just following the hottie. Either way, he’s about to get whipped into serious shape. If he can survive some hard-core training, he might survive another day at school. He might even score with Miu. Yeah, you could call Kenichi a wimp. But let’s go with underdog instead. (Source: Discotek)

13. HAIKYU!!

Synonyms: High Kyuu!!, HAIKYÛ !!, 排球少年！！, Haikyu!! L'asso del volley

Inspired after watching a volleyball ace nicknamed "Little Giant" in action, small-statured Shouyou Hinata revives the volleyball club at his middle school. The newly-formed team even makes it to a tournament; however, their first match turns out to be their last when they are brutally squashed by the "King of the Court," Tobio Kageyama. Hinata vows to surpass Kageyama, and so after graduating from middle school, he joins Karasuno High School's volleyball team—only to find that his sworn rival, Kageyama, is now his teammate. Thanks to his short height, Hinata struggles to find his role on the team, even with his superior jumping power. Surprisingly, Kageyama has his own problems that only Hinata can help with, and learning to work together appears to be the only way for the team to be successful. Based on Haruichi Furudate's popular shounen manga of the same name, Haikyuu!! is an exhilarating and emotional sports comedy following two determined athletes as they attempt to patch a heated rivalry in order to make their high school volleyball team the best in Japan. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

14. Ring ni Kakero 1

Synonyms: Put it all in the Ring

In order to fulfill their dead father's wish, the siblings, Kiku Takane and Ryuuji Takane aim for the champion title of the boxing arena. The sister, Kiku, will act as the trainer while her brother, Ryuuji, will concentrate on the role of the boxer and learn the Boomerang Hook technique. His battle with many rivals has led to the growth and maturity of Ryuuji. The junior high boxing tournament has began and Ryuuji will be fighting his arch-rival, Jun Kenzaki. The battle begins. (Source: Anime News Network)

15. Hikaru no Go

Synonyms: 히카루의 바둑, Хікару і Ґо, Хикару и го, Hikaru's Go

With a two-tone hairstyle and a streak of immaturity, Hikaru Shindou finds an old Go board with a hidden surprise - trapped within the Go Board is Fujiwara-no-Sai, the ghost of an ancient Go master! In the blink of an eye, Sai becomes part of Hikaru's consciousness and soon begins to learn the true essence behind this ancient game of skill and strategy. (Source: Viz Media)

16. Levius

Synonyms: ليفيوس

In the 19th century empire after the war, rose “mechanical boxing” which involved people who had had their bodies modified. Under his uncle’s tutelage, Levius, a lonely youth who lost his father in the war and whose mother is in a coma, enters the mechanical boxing scene.

17. Kinnikuman

Synonyms: Muscleman, Musculman

Kinnikuman is a superhero... a bad one. The one day a person named Meat tells Kinnikuman that he is the prince of an alien planet. Kinnikuman must save the day numerous times fighting evil chiyojins and competing in tournaments to prove himself to his family and to gain respect and money.

18. Umamusume: Cinderella Gray

Synonyms: None

Unbeknownst to those around her in the destitute countryside of Kasamatsu, the staggering potential of this ashen-haired "Beast” will soon rock Japan with her feet and catapult her to the national stage—down the path of a legend. Follow Oguri Cap and her insatiable appetite as the starting gates open on this Umamusume's hot-blooded Cinderella story! (Source: It's Anime powered by REMOW, edited)

19. HAIKYU!! TO THE TOP

Synonyms: Haikyu!! Season 4, Haikyuu!! Season 4, ไฮคิว!! คู่ตบฟ้าประทาน ภาค 4 Part 1, 排球少年!! 第四季

The fourth season of Haikyuu!!The Karasuno High School Volleyball Club finally won their way into the nationals after an intense battle for the Miyagi Prefecture Spring Tournament qualifiers. As they were preparing for the nationals, Kageyama is invited to go to All-Japan Youth Training Camp. At the same time, Tsukishima is invited to go to a special rookie select training camp for first-years in Miyagi Prefecture. Hinata feels panic that he’s being left behind as one of the first-years and then decides to show up at the Miyagi Prefecture rookie select training camp anyway... (Source: Crunchyroll)

20. Welcome to the Ballroom

Synonyms: None

Fujita has drifted through middle school aimlessly, unable to find friends or anything that can hold his attention. Then, one day, he's attacked by a gang and saved by a mysterious man. But this isn't a karate master; it's a ballroom dance instructor! Reluctantly, Fujita takes a few beginner's classes, only to find his inspiration... an entrancing, teenage dance prodigy named Shizuku. It's Fujita's first step into the high-octane world of competitive dance! (Source: Kodansha USA)

21. Ahiru no Sora

Synonyms: None

He may be short in stature, but Sora Kurumatani can soar and score on the basketball court! With a passion for the sport he inherited from his mother, Sora vows to her that he’ll take top prize at a high school basketball tournament… but there’s one problem. His new school’s basketball club has turned into a hangout for delinquents! Will Sora’s sheer tenacity and amazing three-point shooting change their minds and get the club up and running again? (Source: Sentai Filmworks)

22. Baby Steps

Synonyms: None

Based on the original manga by Hikaru Katsuki, Baby Steps centers on a honor student named Eiichiro Maruo who becomes frustrated with his life and decides to join the tennis club. Despite lacking experience and physical strength, he utilizes his studious nature to develop a strategic approach to playing tennis. Taking notes of his opponents’ habits and tendencies, he is able to predict their next move before they even react. He also meets Natsu Takasaki, a beautiful girl with a passion for tennis. With her help, he aims to become a professional tennis player. (Source: Crunchyroll)

If you're anything like me, once you finish something amazing like Hajime no Ippo: THE FIGHTING!, you're left wondering—what now? Luckily, there’s a whole world of stories out there that give off the same energy, whether it’s the intense fights, emotional backstories, or just that feeling of being completely hooked. The titles like Tomorrow's Joe, Slam Dunk... I’ve shared aren’t just similar—they feel right. They hit that same nerve that made Hajime no Ippo: THE FIGHTING! special in the first place. Of course, everyone’s taste is different, but I really think you’ll find something here that pulls you in. And hey—if you’ve got a favorite that didn’t make the list, I’d love to hear about it. I’m always looking for my next obsession.