[3] Matches in Animal Boxing are played under a special set of rules that make the game feel more like an arcade fighting game rather than a boxing simulator, in that there is no knockdown; the contestant who loses all health first loses the match outright in a technical knockout, although brief breaks are given to both fighters every time either of their health drops below one of two thresholds;[4] if no TKO occurs within three rounds of play, the healthier fighter wins on a technicality.

Taking and throwing punches also builds up a rage meter that temporarily boosts a fighter's damage output once it is completely filled.

After they spent many months trying to fit in, a boxing gym opens, and all of the Forest's residents, along with their new human guest, begin training for the sport in a scramble for pugilistic supremacy.

They only had three-quarters of a year to complete it, which did not permit them to add significant enhancements to the gameplay experience, such as a combo system and more fleshed-out personalities for the various animal opponents.

The physical release received a mediocre, lukewarm review from IGN, who praised the graphics and controls, while criticizing the gameplay, namely the lack of significant opponent diversity.