Oh boy, the people have spoken. This series is edgy and bad right? Well no. This series is truly a hidden gem; overshadowed by another boxing manga: Hajime no Ippo. While I do admit the series have some similarities; they're really different series. While Ippo focuses more on the heroic/shounen-ish side of boxing, Rikudo focuses on the more realistic and brutal side to boxing.
Story 9/10
The story is great. It showcases a backstory and daily hardships of a boxing champion and the consequences that each fight has on the mental and physical state of a boxer. The over the top violence never felt unjustified or "edgy". You're either gonna love it or you're gonna hate it.
Art 8/10
The art is also really good; it has great attention to detail and fits the story very well. The only problem I have with it is that it sometimes has a bit of loss of detail.
Character 10/10
This is my favourite part of the story. The story of the main character Riku is one that is very well constructed and believable. From being a puny little orphan barely able to land a punch to being a hardened boxing champion and how every little fight makes someone more and more tough is a great way to convey the story. The relationships between the main characters is also very well constructed especially between Riku and his love interest.
Overall 9/10
Rikudou is a recipe for a great and violent manga, without necessarily being "edgy". Some action, drama, moments that make us think and just a hint of romance for good measure is why this manga is among my favorites.