Yoshi Balboa

"Yoshi Balboa" was the second plush-based series and was a complete homage/spoof of the Rocky franchise (mainly Rocky 1 and 4). A boxing underdog named Yoshi Balboa goes up against famed competitor Apollo Creed (voiced by Tanner Link) in order to change his life around.

For Season 2, Yoshi avenges for Apollo as he takes on an international opponent from Soviet Russia known as Ivan Drago (voiced by Connor Chase).

The series officially premiered on June 8, 2020, with 14 episodes, ending its first season on July 24, 2020.

Season 2 premiered on January 3, 2021, with 11 episodes, and the series officially ended with the fight between Yoshi and Ivan Drago on March 19, 2021.

Another plush-based series titled Yoshinator would be briefly hinted at near the series finale's close.

Season 1 (plot synopsis)
Yoshi Balboa is seen at the beginning of the series, fighting another local underdog by the name of Tony-Rico at a suberban boxing club. After the fight, Yoshi and Tony applaud each other for their efforts and the club owner forces Yoshi to pay for the additional fees. During this point in time, Yoshi works as a part-time loan shark for his boss Mr. Gazzo. Once Yoshi lets a fellow goomba off without paying up, Gazzo grows furious because this type of rookie move could destroy Gazzo's buisness reputation. Yoshi reluctantly ignores Gazzo and heads home. He catches up with a pet shop worker by the name of Adrian. Yoshi attempts to rekindle some sort of conversaiton with the timid girl, but things ultimately fly south. At Mickey's gym, Yoshi discovers that his locker had been replaced. His trainer Mickey explained that a new slot had to be replaced eventually. Angered by this betrayal, Yoshi storms out and soon remembers that his friend Paulie is at a bar waiting for Yoshi to pick him up, so he heads over to the bar and finds Paulie fuddled in the restroom. Regardless of this, Yoshi explains to Paulie that his sister Adrian is continouselsly giving Yoshi the "cold shoulder" and doesn't know what else to do. Paulie is bitter about this dilemma, trying to get through Yoshi's head that Adrian is no good for him, but the two agree on Thanksgiving dinner at Paulie's house. After they talk, Yoshi and the bartender watch a brief television interview featuring heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed discussing his holiday plans. The bartender is disgusted by Apollo's snobbish ego, but Yoshi is fond of Apollo's charisma. At Paulie's house, Yoshi is set up to ask Adrian out for a date. She hides in her room while this is happening with Paulie pushing her to go out with Yoshi and "have a social life." Yoshi and Adrian settle on going ice-skating, but the rink is apparently closed during Thanksgiving. After a bit of punctual persuading, Yoshi and Adrian skate by themselves, diving deeper into each other's past experiences. Yoshi even reveals a bit as to why he decided to become a boxer in the first place. After this brief date, Yoshi takes Adrian over to his apartment, but Adrian is extreamly nervous at first as she had never been inside another man's apartment before. Yoshi tries reassuring her with a kiss. A loving moment shared by these two soon develops.

The next day, Yoshi heads back to Mickey's gym only to be advised to head over to Jergans' office immediately as they are considering Yoshi for something "life-changing." Hand-selected by Apollo Creed himself, Yoshi is offered the "chance of a lifetime" to go up against Apollo Creed in a Philidelphia ex-abition match (taking place on the 4th of July) meant for local underdogs to claim the heavy-weight title. At first, Yoshi refuses to accept the offer, but Jergans convicnes Yoshi enough to just "give it his all", resulting in Yoshi's involvment. This worries Adrian and Paulie, as they don't want to see Yoshi get humuliated by the world, but Yoshi isn't startled by the stakes. Yoshi soon admits to Adrian as he's leaving their house that he was infact hurt by the television promo's mockery of him compared to Apollo. On his way back to his apartment, Mickey is standing in his room, eager to talk. Mickey has watched the promo and knows that Yoshi has a huge opportunity ahead of him, but needs a proper method of training. He proposes to Yoshi that he could be his "manager/trainer", but Yoshi wants to figure everything out on his own. After a heated argument, Yoshi and Mickey shake hands, acknoledging that the support is much appreacted. Paulie ends up being Yoshi's personal trainer and the two take a trip around the area, trying to get Yoshi in the fittest shape. While they are rock-climbing, Yoshi notices a "black hole" of some sort. Catching Paulie off-guard, he slips and is on the verge of death. Yoshi tries catching his friend in time, but it appears to be too late. Paulie has met a devestating fate.

Yoshi feels ultmately guilty of Paulie's death and takes a personal moment by himself to reflect on everything that has happened. Mickey and Adrian share an inner-monolouge with Yoshi about reconsidering his guilt and having it be the perfect time to take action more than ever in beating Apollo. At the ex-abition fight, Yoshi and Apollo warm up in their locker rooms. A suprise guest comes to wish Yoshi luck. It's Adrian. During the fight, Apollo is impressed with Yoshi's courage to keep up. A few devestating blows later, Yoshi ends up claiming the "heavyweight champion of the world" title. He greatly thanks Mickey for training him at the gym and gives special tribute to Paulie, who he couldnt' have done any of this without. Yoshi then shouts to Adrian that "he did it!" Adrian exclaims her love for Yoshi and the two celebrate this special moment. An anonymous figure snickers in the crowd and leaves, alluding to the second season.

Season 2 (plot synopsis)
After a therapy session goes haywire, Adrian tries settling Yoshi down by having him read the mail. Among different envelopes, Yoshi comes across a letter representing an address and scheduled time of meeting. This representative is known as Eugene Krabs from Chicago. Yoshi decides to attend this appointment even to Adrian's dissapproval, thinking that Eugene is antother "fruad" trying to take advantage of Yoshi. One lengthy car ride later, Yoshi meets with Eugene and has admitted to seeing Yoshi's career skyrocket before his own eyes. Eugene offers to be Yoshi's manager (similar to when Mickey offered the same deal), but Yoshi insists to contact his fiance Adrian, as she makes the ultimate decison on everything. Once she angirly refuses the offer and hands up the phone with Eugene, Yoshi is sent into the meeting and signs the contract stating that Eugene will be his official manager (after some money is involved) without Adrian ever knowing. The head representative gives Yoshi their opponent of choice. A Soviet Russian fighter known as Ivan Drago. Eugene pulls Yoshi aside and realizes that Yoshi may not be the ideal fighter for this event (seeing how Drago is one of the most deadliest boxers to ever grace the ring), so he suggests that Yoshi trains somebody who is capable of taking down Drago. Yoshi callls up former hevyweight champion/competator Apollo Creed and proposes the offer. Apollo is destined for a comeback, so Yoshi trains Apollo up until the main event. The fight is not so successful, as Apollo is brutally knocked out by Drago. Luckily, Yoshi throws in a towel to slightly recover Apollo's blows.

At the hospital, Yoshi, Mickey, and fellow gym worker Mike Wazowski come to check up on Apollo. Mickey blaims Yoshi for cowardly stepping down from the event, even though it was Eugene's idea. Outside the hospital parking lot, Yoshi finds another letter left by Eugene. This time, he wants Yoshi to meet up with him for dinner. Yoshi takes out his anger on Eugene for letting his friend nearly die in the ring. It's here when Yoshi realizes that vengence is the only way out of the slump, so Yoshi declares to Eugene that he'll take on Ivan Drago on Christmas Day at Russia. News coverage of Yoshi's decision finds its way to Adrian, who feels disgusted by Yoshi for keeping this hidden from her. She admits that "it's suicide", but Yoshi knows that it's the only way Drago will feel a concequence for his deadly actions. A montage of prior events from Yoshi's past takes place as he reflects on everything in a quiet car ride. Back at the hospital, Apollo meets Eugene and is outraged that Yoshi is fighting Drago by himself, but Yoshi is still determined to give it everything he's got. Apollo's trainer offers to help Yoshi train and Eugene is betting $500k on Yoshi winning.

Yoshi, Eugene, and Apollo's trainer arrive at Moscow, Russia. It's rather snowy. Yoshi points out a cabin where they all can settle down. Eugene and Yoshi share one last conversaiton before Eugene heads down to the venue for organizatoinal purposes. During Yoshi's training, he is startled once Adrian is waiting out in the cold for him. She is apologetic about before and wants to continue supporting Yoshi. After training is concluded, Yoshi and Drago finally meet eye-to-eye for the first time since Apollo's defeat. Ivan Drago is a meanace, nearly tackling Yoshi to the ground. Extreamly concerned, Adrian tries convincing Yoshi to forefeit, but Yoshi is still vengeful and wants every piece of Drago. Yoshi is then flinged by an immense thurst by Drago and is slammed against the wall. Eugene steps away from the chaotic scene as Adrian is emotional. Once Yoshi has been notified as "out", Adrian cries. Still at the hospital, Apollo laughs maniacally, almost as if he was putting up an act the entire time and isn't really who he claims to be. This immortal being is hinted as being the "Y-1000" seen from Yoshinator and YoshiHood series finale, which could also further explain the black hole Yoshi claims seeing back in season 1.