Introduction: Time to Wake Up
For far too long, boxers, boxing fans, and the wider boxing community have sat on the sidelines watching Steel City Interactive (SCI) mishandle what should’ve been the most important boxing video game in decades. Undisputed was supposed to be the game that respected the sweet science, celebrated its legends, elevated new talent, and gave fans a true simulation of the sport they love.
Instead, what we’ve seen is a studio dropping the ball—and the bag—again and again.
It’s time to stop enabling it. It's time for the boxing world to demand accountability.
1. The Broken Promises: A Game for Boxing Fans, by Boxing Fans?
Steel City Interactive once claimed Undisputed would be a “love letter to boxing.” A game for boxing fans, by boxing fans. It was marketed with phrases like:
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“Not just a fighting game. A boxing game.”
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“Sim gameplay inspired by the science of the sport.”
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“The NBA 2K of boxing.”
These were not small claims. These were deliberate promises. But what we got instead was a confused product teetering between arcade and simulation, devoid of core features like:
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Clinching mechanics
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Referee involvement
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Stamina systems that matter
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Proper punch impact and fatigue modeling
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Meaningful AI behavior tied to real boxer tendencies
This isn’t just a disappointment—it’s false advertising to an audience that’s waited over a decade for a real boxing simulation.
2. The Bag That Keeps Getting Dropped
Let’s be clear: SCI had the bag. The community gave them attention, early access purchases, feedback, and even a built-in marketing campaign through passionate fans and YouTubers who believed in the dream. They secured licensing deals with legendary and current boxers, from Ali to Tyson Fury.
And yet, they fumbled:
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Slow development with features constantly delayed or deprioritized
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Inconsistent vision, with former EA developers slowly shifting the tone to mimic arcade fighting games
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Broken gameplay loops, with balance issues, unrealistic animations, and missing foundational mechanics
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Ignoring the sim community, favoring quick Twitch-friendly content over long-term immersion
Boxers like Terence Crawford, Deontay Wilder, and even legends like Roy Jones Jr. are now linked to a game that misrepresents their craft.
3. The Boxing Community’s Responsibility
Here’s where the hard truth comes in: part of this is on us.
Too many boxers, trainers, and fans have been silent or too forgiving. They shrug it off with “it’s indie,” “they’ll fix it,” or “at least we have something.” But boxing deserves better than something. It deserves excellence.
Boxing already struggles to capture mainstream attention in the digital age. A powerful, realistic boxing video game could’ve revitalized the sport’s popularity for a younger generation. Instead, Undisputed risks setting it back.
If this were the UFC, Dana White would’ve taken over the project himself by now. Where’s the outrage from boxing's top promoters? Where’s the feedback from current boxers who’ve been scanned into the game but haven’t seen their likenesses used properly?
4. What Boxers and Brands Must Do Now
If you're a professional boxer and your name or likeness is in Undisputed, ask yourself:
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Does this game accurately reflect your fighting style?
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Does this represent your sport with dignity?
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Does this elevate your brand or water it down?
If the answer is no, speak up. Demand transparency from SCI. Push for oversight, corrections, and accountability.
If you're a promoter, broadcaster, or manager, protect your fighter’s image and legacy. Help push for either an overhaul of the current game or support a new studio ready to do justice to boxing.
5. Solutions and a Path Forward
It’s not too late to course correct, but that window is shrinking.
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Demand a roadmap: with clear deadlines and a realistic delivery of long-promised features
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Empower real boxing consultants: not just former game devs from other genres
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Fund new competitors: if SCI can’t deliver, open the door for another dev team that respects the sport
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Elevate offline and simulation communities: the ones who will stick around long after Twitch trends fade
Conclusion: Protect the Sweet Science
Boxing has always been about legacy, discipline, and respect. If Undisputed continues on its current path, it will be remembered not as the resurrection of boxing games but as a cautionary tale of mismanagement and missed opportunity.
Boxers, fans, and the entire sport can no longer afford to let SCI fumble the ball. Or worse—the bag.
It’s time to protect the sport not just in the ring, but in the digital world too.
#TakeBackBoxingGames
#BoxingDeservesBetter
#SimNotSpam
#StopTheFumbleSCI
#ProtectTheSweetScience
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