I was trying to figure out why I liked the first one so much and the 2nd wasn't as good. It looks like Ryan Coogler wrote and directed the first but wasn't attached at all to the second...and it showed. It looks like Coogler had a part in writing this one so I'll probably watch with a little apprehension since MBJ is the director and not Coogler.
It's sad what's happened to boxing. I personally would rather watch a good boxing match than MMA/UFC stuff, though.
I was seriously impressed that he watched Hajime No Ippo. It's my all-time favorite and a very niche and very Japanese anime. The creator is an ex-boxer, a boxing trainer and owns a boxing gym. If you want to learn about boxing, this is a great Anime to watch (and Manga to read).