New York, NY, USA (May 3, 2024) - If you're a boxing fan looking for alternative ways to enjoy the sport, you may want to consider video games. Undisputed, a highly anticipated video game, is making its rounds in gaming and boxing communities as the first boxing video game since Electronic Arts' short-lived boxing game series, Fight Night.

For Undisputed, boxing fans have been able to score early access for the game on PC since January 2023. The game has since reportedly evolved, including a Career Mode introduced in the latest update released on February 2024. Developed by indie game developer Steel City Interactive, the boxing game is described as "an authentic boxing game developed with care by dedicated fight fans, alongside the professional boxing community."

‍

While we're yet to get an official release date, the game is set to be released on various platforms, including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The game was formerly known as eSports Boxing Club and promises a host of features boxing fans would love, including footwork mechanics, punches from multiple angles and directions, and more than 50 licensed fighters and real-life boxing organizations.

Developers have stated that more than 200 fighters should be available on the game's official roster once completed, with punch stats provided by CompuBox. Fighters to be included in the game include the world's best boxers from the past and present. Legendary figure Muhammad Ali, one of the leading heavyweight boxers of the 20th century, is set to make his appearance in the game. Considering Ali's illustrious boxing career, it'll be interesting to see how he fits into Undisputed, where fans can see the great athlete in updated, next-generation graphics.

‍
If you're wondering how well boxing translates into video games, the answer has been mixed. It isn't the first sport simulated in the virtual world; today, many esports games are simulations of real-life sports. The FIFA games feature licensed teams and leagues from their real-life counterparts, as are the NBA 2K games. Madden NFL remains a popular esports genre among gamers and football fans, including official esports events held at the most recent Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Usually, players of sports-sim games are fans of the real-life sport. For example, watching esports tournaments for Madden NFL may be as exciting as watching football games in real life. However, few boxing games have landed a knockout blow other than Fight Night, meaning fans miss out not just on playing games but the wider culture within esports.

Boxing in esports


Where there is a healthy esports scene around other sports, it's not just about playing games. Boxing fans familiar with esports may be aware that esports betting is also a popular pastime for gamers and sports fans. Suppose you enjoy placing bets on your favorite fighters. In that case, you can easily transfer your boxing and betting know-how by learning some esports betting tips, such as understanding the different odds available depending on your preferred bookmaker and various betting strategies to ensure you don't lose more than you can afford. That is when a title allows it, of course.


With a glaring lack of boxing games available today, we don't yet have an exclusive boxing esports scene. However, with sports and gaming becoming more and more integrated, it'll be interesting to see the growth of boxing fans being able to compete against each other on gaming consoles or computers instead of in the ring.

‍
Boxing games: The best of the rest

For some reason, gamers don't necessarily have the longest catalog of boxing games available. Until Undisputed comes out of early access status and is officially released on platforms, the only notable boxing video games for boxing fans are EA's Fight Night games. Unfortunately, only five were made, ending with Fight Night Champion in 2011. Still, despite it being over a decade since the last installment, the Fight Night series of games is considered one of the best sports franchises in video gaming due to their gameplay and commitment to realism.


The Fight Night games celebrated real-life fighters and their careers, with some titles, like Fight Night Champion, featuring a career mode where players can create their fighters to simulate a real boxing career. The first Fight Night game, released in 2004, featured professional boxer Roy Jones Jr. on its cover. Later on, Fight Night Round 2 was released in 2005 with the great Bernard Hopkins on the cover and a vast roster.


It's important to note that the last Fight Night game was released in 2011. Undisputed's entry into the video game world will mark the first time gamers and boxing fans are treated with a viable boxing game deserving of current graphics and engine standards, ensuring potentially smoother, responsive, and more immersive gameplay.

Virtual boxing as an escape

Finally, another crucial benefit of having more boxing video games is that they can be an escape for passionate boxing fans. While we enjoy viewing fighter stats and intense matches on TV or live ringside, not all of us are built to actually fight or take punches. This is where the joy of video games comes in.


For many boxing fans who enjoy the adrenaline and strategy involved in boxing matches, playing video games is the closest experience you can get without getting pummeled in a real ring. The Fight Night games and the upcoming Undisputed game feature officially licensed fighters based on their real-life counterparts. If you're ever upset or disappointed by a real fighter's performance or match results, you can replicate said fight in these games to release some steam.