The Undermining Narrative
When Ash Habib, in his interview with TheKingJuice (“Being Honest About Undisputed Boxing Game”), casually refers to a “small group of people who think they’re so smart” (1:18–1:21), it sets up a dismissive frame. Instead of acknowledging that long-time boxing community members have legitimate concerns and decades of contributions, it paints them as arrogant troublemakers. This language quietly discredits rather than engages, turning valid criticism into something that can be brushed off as ego.
The Reality of Fan Contributions
Fans like Poe and DeBeas don’t just speculate—they’ve put in years of effort:
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Direct Engagement: Poe has receipts—emails, forum posts, podcast recordings, and direct Q&A sessions with developers across EA and Round4Round. His questioning of devs has been consistent, transparent, and on record.
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Boxer Outreach: Poe has personally helped connect real boxers with game studios, building authenticity into rosters at no personal gain. Shannon Briggs is one clear example, but there are many others he championed.
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Community Advocacy: These fans represent the hardcore base that will keep a boxing game alive long after casual players drift away. Their pushback isn’t arrogance—it’s preservation of realism, accuracy, and respect for the sport.
Deceptive Tactics and Deflection
The “small group” remark is part of a larger pattern:
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Framing Critics as Elitist: Instead of addressing concerns head-on (lack of referees, loose footwork, shallow AI, etc.), SCI leans on dismissive language that alienates veteran fans.
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Using Casual Fans as a Shield: By leaning on casual audiences, SCI can justify stripped-down features as “gameplay balance” instead of acknowledging the removal of promised authenticity.
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Deflecting Toward Big Publishers: Ash’s mention of reaching out to EA and 2K makes it sound like SCI is on the same level, when in reality, these publishers have the resources to actually deliver realism without compromise. It distracts from Undisputed’s current failings.
Why This Hurts the Community
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Alienation of the Core Base: Long-time boxing fans—the ones with knowledge and passion—are treated as nuisances rather than partners.
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Short-Term Focus: Casual fans will eventually move on. When they do, only the hardcore community will remain, and they’ll be left with a game that doesn’t reflect what they asked for.
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Loss of Trust: Dismissing receipts, ignoring feedback, and reframing criticism as arrogance damages credibility.
The Bottom Line
Ash Habib’s “small group” comment wasn’t just a throwaway—it reveals a philosophy of managing dissent rather than listening. But the truth is that fans like Poe and DeBeas aren’t just smart—they’re invested, knowledgeable, and proven contributors. Ignoring them doesn’t just discredit individuals; it risks erasing the very foundation of a lasting, authentic boxing game.
Would you like me to merge this with the earlier “loose footwork justification” breakdown into one long-form piece? That way we can show a connected narrative of how SCI dismisses realism criticisms across multiple fronts (movement, AI, community voices).
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