Summary
Tōru Rikiishi serves as Joe's most significant and personal rival in Ashita no Joe. The two first cross paths within a juvenile detention center, where Rikiishi had been incarcerated for brutally attacking an audience member who accused him of having the match rigged in his favor. Despite Joe’s ignorance of Rikiishi’s past as a professional boxer, he manages to land a single punch before being knocked unconscious by Rikiishi’s devastating power. This encounter is pivotal in motivating Joe to approach boxing with seriousness, driven primarily by the desire to defeat Rikiishi in a rematch. A native of Japan, Rikiishi stands at 5'11 and primarily fights at his natural weight of 147 pounds in the Welterweight division, though he has also competed in Lightweight, Featherweight, and Bantamweight classes. He utilizes an Orthodox, No Guard, and Brawler stance, relying on signature techniques such as the Triple Cross Counter, along with his powerful straight right and uppercut.
