Fighting Spirit: Rising

When every challenger claims a counter, Ippo must reinvent his knockout spirit.

After a string of successful defenses, featherweight champion Makunouchi Ippo finds his signature Dempsey Roll under siege. A wave of hungry contenders arrives, each claiming a counter to the relentless onslaught that has flattened Ippo’s opponents. The pressure mounts not only from the ring but from Ippo’s own relentless drive to prove that his strength isn’t just brute force, but the resolve forged in every grueling training session at Kamogawa Gym. As he faces new tactical threats and the looming specter of his own pride, Ippo must dig deeper than ever before, learning that true power often hides behind the willingness to adapt. Meanwhile, the gym’s resident underdog, Aoki Masaru, is on the brink of his own breakthrough. With the infamous Frog Punch in his arsenal, he eyes the lightweight title and the chance to step out of Ippo’s shadow. Their parallel journeys weave a tapestry of sweat, friendship, and the brutal beauty of combat sports, all rendered with Madhouse’s kinetic animation and MAPPA’s gritty fight choreography. "Hajime no Ippo: Rising" delivers a knockout blend of heart‑pounding bouts and character growth, reminding viewers that every champion’s greatest opponent is often the limits they set for themselves.

This boxing sports anime follows a champion defending his title against challengers who study his signature move, featuring intense but sport-framed fight sequences with visible injuries. The series emphasizes perseverance, mentorship, and self-discovery through competition, with minimal sexual content or substance use.