This Is What the NBA 2K of Boxing Should’ve Been — Not What Ash Habib Delivered
Boxing fans were promised something historic.
In 2021, Ash Habib (CEO of Steel City Interactive) claimed that Undisputed would be "the most authentic boxing game ever made" and "the NBA 2K of boxing" [Source: Boxing Social Interview, 2021]. The company marketed the game as a simulation-first experience, featuring realistic AI, corner tactics, and fighter-specific tendencies.
“This isn’t a button-masher. This is chess, not checkers.”
– Ash Habib, Steam Early Access Launch Trailer, Jan 2023
But instead of that rich simulation, boxing fans received:
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No referees, even after over 2 years of development
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No real clinch system, despite teasers from early builds
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AI with no boxer-specific tendencies, despite SCI showcasing sliders and AI profiles in dev logs
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A career mode that felt shallow and unfinished
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Copy-paste knockdowns with no momentum physics
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Unresponsive footwork, floaty controls, and unrealistic movement
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And no commentary, doctor stoppages, or presentation layers, all promised features
🔁 What Was Promised vs. What Was Delivered
| Category | Promised | Delivered | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simulation | “Not a button masher” | Fast-paced arcade meta | Steam EA trailer, 2023 |
| Career Mode | Full sandbox and story hybrid | Match calendar with few choices | Dev Diary 2022 |
| Real Boxers | “Fighting like themselves” | No AI tendencies per boxer | Discord Q&A, 2023 |
| Footwork | “Cut off the ring, pivot” | Side shuffle and janky turning | Dev Stream, 2022 |
| Presentation | Referees, intros, judges | None of those implemented | Community roadmap 2022 |
| Knockdowns | Realistic momentum falls | Copy-paste knockdown physics | Gameplay footage |
| Clinch | Real clinch warfare | Removed from public builds | Discord AMA, July 2023 |
| AI Logic | “Adaptive and strategic” | Static pattern abuse | User reviews, Steam |
📉 The Fallout of Abandoning the Vision
Boxing fans didn’t imagine this. It was spoken, marketed, and sold.
SCI developers also teased offline depth akin to Fight Night Champion’s Champion Mode, combined with dynamic ranking systems and evolving careers. Instead, Undisputed offers matchmaking fluff and roster expansion DLCs.
And as of mid-2025, Will “Raczilla” Kinsler, a former EA Sports developer who left before Fight Night Champion shipped to work at Epic Games, is now Director of Product Authenticity, Communications, and Gameplay at SCI.
“I want to make sure the game is authentic, but also accessible.”
– Raczilla via Discord, 2024
This has raised community concerns about the game drifting toward arcade-first thinking, rather than sim-first realism.
And with his rise in SCI's ranks and multi-title authority, many fans now believe the vision is being reshaped into a casual, EA-like fighter — not the deep sim originally promised.
🔥 Community Reaction
Across YouTube, Reddit, Discord, and Steam:
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Modders and AI testers have posted workarounds to simulate realistic AI
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Fans are editing boxer stats manually to add missing ring IQ
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The game’s concurrent Steam players dropped sharply after every patch that removed simulation features (Source: SteamDB)
🎯 Closing Thought
Ash Habib and SCI had the blueprint.
They had the backing of fans hungry for realism.
They had the chance to lead the next evolution of boxing gaming — not just visually, but mechanically and spiritually.
But they didn’t deliver the NBA 2K of boxing.
They delivered something safer, smaller, and increasingly commercial.
📌 Suggested Citations and References:
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Boxing Social Interview with Ash Habib, 2021 (paraphrased)
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[Discord AMA Transcript, July 2023 – SCI Official Discord]
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