Introduction: Boxing’s Rich History Is a Goldmine—Not a Barrier
When people say that licensing issues make it too difficult to build a great boxing game, they’re either misinformed or missing the bigger picture. The reality is that acquiring a diverse roster of boxers—past and present—shouldn’t be a major obstacle for a well-funded game company. Boxing is one of the richest sports in history in terms of talent, global reach, and iconic personalities. A publisher like 2K, EA, or even an ambitious newcomer with proper funding has the means and flexibility to secure a compelling lineup across all weight classes and eras.
1. Boxing Has a Massive Talent Pool Across Every Era
From the bare-knuckle pioneers to modern pay-per-view stars, the sport of boxing is loaded with recognizable and marketable names. No single fighter, promotion, or time period dominates the landscape. This means a developer could cherry-pick talent from:
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Golden Era Legends: Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson, Archie Moore
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Modern Icons: Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Lennox Lewis, Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather
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Today’s Stars: Canelo Álvarez, Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue, Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr.
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International Champions: Manny Pacquiao, Oleksandr Usyk, Vasyl Lomachenko, Julio César Chávez
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Fan Favorites & Cult Heroes: Arturo Gatti, Prince Naseem Hamed, Fernando Vargas, Ricky Hatton
This variety means a game can be crafted around a well-balanced ecosystem, not a single name.
2. Most Boxers Aren’t Tied to Long-Term Exclusivity Deals
Contrary to belief, the majority of professional boxers, including many legends, are not locked into permanent licensing agreements. Even those that are often have estates or promotional companies that are willing to negotiate. Licensing individual boxers may take effort, but it’s not beyond the scope of a major publisher’s resources, especially when you consider that:
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Promotions (Top Rank, PBC, Golden Boy, etc.) often control multiple fighters and can open doors quickly.
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Many past boxers’ likeness rights are managed by families or estate managers who are open to commercial opportunities.
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Current boxers are increasingly interested in cross-media exposure and long-term branding.
A studio with industry clout and funding can easily initiate and complete these agreements.
3. Major Publishers Have a Proven Track Record With Licensing
2K and EA have already shown their ability to secure massive rosters in other sports genres:
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NBA 2K features historical rosters, All-Time teams, and likenesses going back decades.
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WWE 2K includes hundreds of characters spanning multiple eras, promotions, and even fictional or posthumous portrayals.
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Madden NFL and FIFA negotiate with leagues, unions, and retired player associations—far more complex ecosystems than boxing.
Boxing, while fragmented, is not as legally complex as global team sports. It’s about direct licensing or working with a few promotional partners, not an international governing body.
4. A Star Roster Is About Curation, Not Just Popularity
A great boxing game doesn’t need every boxer to be a global household name. It needs:
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A curated selection of stylistically diverse fighters
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Matchups that span eras and weight divisions
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Boxers with unique looks, stories, and fighting styles
From slick counterpunchers to brawlers, from heavyweights to flyweights, a carefully chosen roster can reflect the full personality of the sport. Games like Fight Night Round 3 and Victorious Boxers proved that even with limited licensing, compelling rosters can still create incredible player experiences.
5. Community Tools Can Fill the Gaps
Even without every boxer under contract, modern creation suites allow for a thriving community to:
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Recreate legends using custom tools and sliders
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Build out full rosters of fictional or tribute fighters
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Share and download edits across platforms
If a developer supports modding or user creations, the roster can grow beyond what’s officially licensed. It’s what kept games like WWE 2K and NBA 2K alive long after release.
6. Steel City Interactive Can’t Corner the Market
Steel City Interactive, despite selling over a million copies of Undisputed, is still a relatively small studio. They don’t have the resources to sign every legend, every modern star, or every rising prospect. If a company like 2K decided to enter the space, it could easily out-license SCI by offering:
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Better royalties and visibility
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Cross-promotional opportunities
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A higher-quality platform and fanbase reach
The market is open. The history is deep. The time is right.
Conclusion: The Roster Is Out There—You Just Have to Build It
Acquiring a robust boxing roster isn’t an impossible dream—it’s just a matter of commitment. The sport’s legacy is long, its stars are plenty, and its fanbase is hungry for something real. Developers shouldn’t be scared off by licensing myths or the illusion that one name can gatekeep the genre.
If a company truly respects the sport and is willing to invest, the roster will come, era by era, star by star.
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