Two recent examples of successful and aggressive defense against carnivores - the first one was everywhere, but I watched it first on Stranger Fruit (African buffaloes chasing away the lions - with a crocodile playing a supporting role) and the second one just got posted on Anterior Commissure (wildebeest mother chasing away African wild dogs). What great examples of strong parental behaviors - worth your time watching both videos in their entirety:
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African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), photographed at the Bronx Zoo.
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The cape buffalo has long been known as an intelligent and aggressive animal. They will kill lion cubs when they find them, and adult male lions have been attacked and killed by cape buffalo gangs.
A favorite activity among cape buffalo is walking right up to cars and checking out the people inside. An assertive, self-confident bunch all around.
And then we have elephants, and I presume hippos and whales. (Well, toothed whales against say sharks may be a judgment call.)
I believe I have seen what Alan describes on Discovery (IIRC Big Cat Diary) on lion cubs, presumable then cape buffalo.
Aside from these examples of herd or maternal behavior, there is also the random event which moves you if you sheer for the "little guy". I seem to remember a series of photos where a hare has been cornered against a crag by a fox, leans backwards against the rock and successfully kicks the fox until it gives up. (Again a judgment call - aggressive or not?)
Don't those animals know they're supposed to just dial 9-1-1 and wait for the cops to arrive? ;-)
I once worked on a ranch where a colt would pick fights. He got me once, picking me up in his teeth by my left shoulder and holding me off the ground. There's little force in a punch when your feet are in the air, I found. So I drove a thumb into his eye and he let go.