Manga can come in all types of genres. For some readers, they might be more interested in the exciting action of books like My Hero Academia or One Piece. Others might be interested in the mystery thrillers like Monster or horror like Uzumaki.
But one genre that has consistently got a ton of hits is the sports genre, with character-defining moments and great knowledge of whichever sport is being talked about. One of the most popular sports manga is related to the boxing field in particular.
10 1 Pound No Fukuin - 7.23
Also known as One Pound Gospel is a boxing manga that combines the sport with romantic comedy. Created by Rumiko Takahashi, the person responsible for incredible works like Inuyasha and Urusei Yatsura. The latter of which is underrated.
The story follows two specific characters. Kosaku Hatanaka who is known for his incredibly strong punches and Sister Angela who is hoping to help Kosaku deal with his constant eating habits. All of these forms into an interesting manga for anyone who is a fan of the mangaka's work.
9 Boys On The Run - 7.38
A manga created by Kengo Hanazawa, Boys On The Run is a short ten-volume manga series about a 29-year-old salesman who falls in love with a woman. However, due to her already being in a relationship with his rival, he decides to learn and become a boxer so that he can beat him up.
Although Kengo Hanazawa is more famous for his later work of I Am A Hero, fans might be interested in seeing some of the pieces that eventually made his famous work so special.
8 Saotome Senshu, Hitakakusu - 7.40
An interesting comedy and unique manga, Saotome Senshu, Hitakakusu tells the story of Satoru Tsukishima who confesses to featherweight champion Yae Saotome. However, being the champion brings out some cons as the school heavily hopes her performance will lead her to participate in the Olympics.
The coach overhearing the confession decides to assign Satoru as a trainer so that they can secretly bloom a relationship with awkward hilarity ensues.
7 Kenshin - 7.57
An interesting boxing manga, Kenshin is written by Koike Kazuo and drawn by Tadashi Matsumori. The former writing Crying Freeman and latter doing the art for Yukemuri Sniper. Following his travel to Alaska in order to become a whaler.
But once he meets a boxer, he begins to pursue that instead. Unfortunately, it isn't as talked about as other famous boxing manga. However, for those that are curious, this would be a decent read for any fan of the sport.
6 Rokudenashi Blues - 7.72
Also known as Good-For-Nothing Blues, it stars the student Maeda who has his life changed when he punches his teacher in the face during the entrance ceremony. Although this has brought him to become valuable to a variety of clubs, he simply wants to become a boxing champion.
Although the manga is known for its boxing elements as expected, the series was praised for its strong storytelling and themes on friendship. Currently, the series has sold over sixty million copies.
5 Rikudou - 7.74
A dark and gritty manga, Rikudou tells the story of Riku who experiences tragedy following the death of his father. After defending himself against his mothers' drug dealer, he ends up being chased by criminals. This results in his training in a rundown gym and being trained by the person who taught him basic self-defence.
The end result is a manga where the character grows stronger while getting into the world of pro-boxing. What makes this most impressive is that this is Toshimitsu Matsubara's first manga that isn't a one-shot.
4 Katsu! - 7.86
Created by Mitsuru Adachi, the man responsible for the baseball comic of Touch and Cross Game, Katsu! is a boxing manga about Katsuki Satoyama who attempts to impress his crush Katsuki Mizutani.
However, after learning of his unpolished yet talented skill in the sport, he eventually learns to embrace the sport and become a pro-boxer. This is recommended for readers who love amazing storytelling, good action and solid romantic comedy writing.
3 RRR - 7.87
RRR is a boxing manga created by Jun Watanabe and it follows Rikitaro and Ooishi. The former is a musician who dreams to become the next rock sensation while the other is a retired boxing champion turned creator of a reality tv show.
This unlikely meeting eventually made Rikitaro train in a boxing gym to get into better shape, becoming something beyond what either of them expected. Filled with strong characters and energetic art, RRR is a surprisingly good time.
2 Hajime No Ippo - 8.68
Hajime No Ippo is one of the most prominent mangas not just in boxing but in the sports genre in general. Boasting over 1000 chapters, the series stars Makunouchi Ippo as he works his way towards the boxing ladder. Facing off against many rivals along the way.
Filled with a lot of boxing facts, techniques and strong characters with a solid plot, Hajime No Ippo has won numerous awards for its storytelling and art style. The art being able to capture the powerful strikes of the boxing world. It's no wonder the series is worth reading or watching.
1 Ashita No Joe - 8.85
Ashita No Joe needs no introduction to why it's considered the best boxing manga. The series has easily influenced many of the books that are listed on this list and is also heavily regarded as one of the best sports manga ever made.
The manga follows the titular character of Joe Yabuki, a delinquent that becomes a boxer. Although he was initially uninterested, his journey as a boxer eventually brought him deep love for the sport. The manga was praised for its characters, themes and the sport itself. It is so influential that it inspired a legacy series in the form of Megalobox which boasted one of the best tournaments.