A top-10 anchor roster for every major era, with separate versions of boxers whenever their style, weight, age, or physical condition changed significantly.
This is also not simply a pound-for-pound ranking. I am weighing:
Historical importance
Hardcore fan demand
Rivalries and fantasy-fight value
Distinct fighting styles
Representation across divisions and countries
Gameplay possibilities
Whether the boxer would require genuinely unique animations, tendencies, traits, footwork, defense, and AI
The International Boxing Hall of Fame and International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame provide useful historical foundations, while current pound-for-pound rankings help identify today’s elite. (Boxing Hall of Fame)
Male Boxers
Foundations Era: Before 1920
Jack Johnson — heavyweight defensive master, clinch control, uppercuts and psychological warfare
Sam Langford — compact power puncher capable of fighting across enormous weight differences
Joe Gans — technical lightweight pioneer with timing, placement and counterpunching
Bob Fitzsimmons — unusual stance, deceptive power and historic multi-division importance
James J. Jeffries — physical heavyweight pressure, durability and body strength
Stanley Ketchel — aggressive middleweight puncher with reckless power
Barbados Joe Walcott — short, extremely powerful welterweight with heavyweight-level toughness
Abe Attell — clever featherweight technician
Jimmy Wilde — undersized flyweight knockout artist with extraordinary leverage
Philadelphia Jack O’Brien — mobile, versatile boxer who competed across weight classes
Essential additional names
Harry Wills, Peter Jackson, Battling Nelson, Terry McGovern, Kid McCoy and Packey McFarland.
1920s
Jack Dempsey
Harry Greb
Gene Tunney
Benny Leonard
Mickey Walker
Tommy Loughran
Georges Carpentier
Pancho Villa
Tiger Flowers
Kid Chocolate
Why this era matters
This group would introduce dramatically different mechanics:
Dempsey’s explosive crouching attack
Greb’s chaotic volume and awkward movement
Tunney’s disciplined lateral boxing
Leonard’s intelligent lightweight counterpunching
Walker’s ability to compete above his natural size
Loughran’s long-range defense
Villa’s relentless flyweight pressure
Harry Greb would be especially difficult to reproduce because no complete fight footage of him is known to survive. Developers would need historical research, written accounts and carefully constructed tendencies rather than inventing a generic pressure-boxer template.
1930s
Joe Louis
Henry Armstrong
Barney Ross
Max Schmeling
Tony Canzoneri
Jimmy McLarnin
Kid Chocolate
Freddie Steele
Young Corbett III
Marcel Thil
Essential additional names
Max Baer, Primo Carnera, Lou Ambers, Billy Conn and John Henry Lewis.
Joe Louis and Henry Armstrong would require two of the most sophisticated identities in the game. Louis should not simply have high power ratings. He needs compact combinations, economical footwork, measured stalking, short counters and precise finishing behavior. Armstrong needs suffocating pressure, chest-to-chest work, body volume, endurance and the ability to punch while crowding an opponent.
1940s
Sugar Ray Robinson
Joe Louis
Willie Pep
Ezzard Charles
Archie Moore
Sandy Saddler
Ike Williams
Jake LaMotta
Marcel Cerdan
Jersey Joe Walcott
Essential additional names
Charley Burley, Holman Williams, Beau Jack, Kid Gavilan and Jimmy Bivins.
This may be the deepest technical era for a boxing game. Pep and Saddler alone could demonstrate why tendency systems matter. Pep should use angles, anticipation and evasive movement. Saddler should use height, rough inside work, leverage and physical control. They cannot share the same featherweight movement package.
1950s
Sugar Ray Robinson
Rocky Marciano
Archie Moore
Floyd Patterson
Carmen Basilio
Kid Gavilan
Gene Fullmer
Sandy Saddler
Willie Pep
Pascual Pérez
Essential additional names
Bobo Olson, Joey Maxim, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ingemar Johansson, Harold Johnson and José Nápoles’ early version.
This era needs realistic stamina differences. Marciano should maintain awkward, grinding pressure without moving like a modern combination puncher. Patterson should have exceptional speed and explosive combinations but greater vulnerability. Moore should rely on veteran positioning, traps, cross-arm defense and counterpunching.
1960s
Muhammad Ali
Sonny Liston
Joe Frazier
Émile Griffith
Carlos Ortiz
Dick Tiger
Eder Jofre
Fighting Harada
José Torres
Nino Benvenuti
Essential additional names
José Nápoles, Luis Rodríguez, Vicente Saldivar, Bob Foster, Gene Fullmer, George Chuvalo and Floyd Patterson.
A 1960s Ali must be different from a 1970s Ali. The younger version should have lighter legs, faster reflexes, longer combinations and more frequent pull counters. The older version should rely more on timing, clinching, rope tactics, toughness and selective movement.
1970s
Muhammad Ali
Joe Frazier
George Foreman
Roberto Durán
Carlos Monzón
Larry Holmes
Alexis Argüello
Wilfred Benítez
Ken Norton
Salvador Sánchez
Essential additional names
Earnie Shavers, Ron Lyle, Jimmy Young, José Nápoles, Antonio Cervantes, Wilfredo Gómez, Ruben Olivares, Matthew Saad Muhammad and Dwight Muhammad Qawi.
This era provides some of the greatest style clashes possible:
Ali versus Frazier
Foreman versus Frazier
Ali versus Norton
Durán versus Benítez
Monzón versus Hagler
Holmes versus Foreman
Sánchez versus Argüello
Shavers versus Tyson
Norton’s crab-like guard, Frazier’s bob-and-weave pressure, Foreman’s framing and pushing, and Ali’s outside movement would require completely separate defensive and movement systems.
1980s
Sugar Ray Leonard
Marvin Hagler
Thomas Hearns
Roberto Durán
Mike Tyson
Julio César Chávez
Pernell Whitaker
Salvador Sánchez
Aaron Pryor
Larry Holmes
Essential additional names
Michael Spinks, Evander Holyfield, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Wilfredo Gómez, Azumah Nelson, Donald Curry, Mike McCallum, Hector Camacho and Edwin Rosario.
The Four Kings cannot be variations of one another:
Leonard: explosive combinations, athletic movement and late-round flurries
Hagler: stance switching, disciplined pressure, durability and educated aggression
Hearns: long-range right hand, snapping jab and dangerous leverage
Durán: hand fighting, feints, inside defense, body punching and counterpunching
Tyson also requires more than a peekaboo stance. His prime version needs rapid weight transfer, shifting combinations, double hooks, slips into attacks, explosive entries and intimidating finishing behavior.
1990s
Roy Jones Jr.
Pernell Whitaker
Oscar De La Hoya
Julio César Chávez
Lennox Lewis
Evander Holyfield
Mike Tyson
Bernard Hopkins
James Toney
Ricardo López
Essential additional names
Félix Trinidad, Naseem Hamed, Riddick Bowe, George Foreman, Terry Norris, Azumah Nelson, Marco Antonio Barrera, Johnny Tapia, Kostya Tszyu and Ike Quartey.
For pure video-game personality and animation value, Prince Naseem Hamed is nearly mandatory. His entrances, unconventional angles, low hands, leaping punches, taunts and unpredictable balance would make him one of the roster’s most distinctive boxers.
James Toney would also expose whether the game has authentic inside boxing. His shoulder positioning, subtle rolls, short counters and ability to remain relaxed against the ropes cannot be represented by ordinary blocking animations.
2000s
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Manny Pacquiao
Bernard Hopkins
Roy Jones Jr.
Oscar De La Hoya
Shane Mosley
Juan Manuel Márquez
Erik Morales
Marco Antonio Barrera
Joe Calzaghe
Essential additional names
Winky Wright, Lennox Lewis, Kostya Tszyu, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Diego Corrales, José Luis Castillo, Antonio Tarver, Chris Byrd, Rafael Márquez and Israel Vázquez.
There should be at least two Mayweather builds:
“Pretty Boy” Mayweather: faster combinations, more offensive volume and greater knockout intent
“Money” Mayweather: economical offense, advanced distance control, shoulder-roll counters, clinch awareness and round-management intelligence
Pacquiao likewise needs several versions because his flyweight aggression, featherweight explosiveness and later welterweight tactical approach were not identical.
2010s
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Manny Pacquiao
Canelo Álvarez
Terence Crawford
Gennadiy Golovkin
Andre Ward
Vasiliy Lomachenko
Román “Chocolatito” González
Naoya Inoue
Guillermo Rigondeaux
Essential additional names
Oleksandr Usyk, Mikey Garcia, Sergey Kovalev, Juan Francisco Estrada, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Carl Froch, Miguel Cotto, Timothy Bradley, Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder.
This era provides critical southpaw, stance-switching and angle-based identities:
Crawford’s adaptive stance switching
Lomachenko’s lead-foot positioning and angle changes
Rigondeaux’s minimalist counterpunching
Golovkin’s ring cutting and balance
Ward’s clinch work, framing and ugly-fight intelligence
Inoue’s body attack and rapid finishing combinations
Current-Era Male Top 10: 2020 Through July 24, 2026
This is the top ten I would prioritize for a current-generation game. It differs slightly from conventional pound-for-pound rankings because commercial demand, rivalries and gameplay identity also matter.
Naoya Inoue
Oleksandr Usyk
Terence Crawford
Shakur Stevenson
Jesse “Bam” Rodríguez
Canelo Álvarez
Dmitry Bivol
Artur Beterbiev
Jaron “Boots” Ennis
Gervonta Davis
Recent 2026 rankings consistently place names such as Inoue, Usyk, Stevenson, Rodríguez, Canelo, Bivol and Ennis near the sport’s elite, although their exact order varies by publication. (Bleacher Report)
Current-era essential additions
Junto Nakatani
David Benavidez
Devin Haney
Teófimo López
Tyson Fury
Anthony Joshua
Daniel Dubois
Agit Kabayel
Jai Opetaia
Kenshiro Teraji
Oscar Collazo
Janibek Alimkhanuly
Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Bakhram Murtazaliev
Sebastian Fundora
Brian Norman Jr.
Keyshawn Davis
Abdullah Mason
Moses Itauma
Ben Whittaker
A boxing game should not use current rankings alone. Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Gervonta Davis may generate more fantasy-matchup interest than some boxers rated above them.
Female Boxers
Women’s boxing cannot be divided into identical historical decades as neatly as men’s boxing. For much of its history, women encountered licensing restrictions, limited sanctioned competition, poor record preservation and fewer professional opportunities. A historically responsible game should therefore create a Pioneer Era, followed by modern decade rosters, rather than pretending that every earlier year contained ten equally documented elite professionals. (Women Boxing)
Women’s Pioneer Roster: Before 1990
Barbara Buttrick
JoAnn Hagen
Marian “Lady Tyger” Trimiar
Cathy “Cat” Davis
Jackie Tonawanda
Graciela Casillas
Sue Fox
Gwen Gemini
Yvonne Barkley
Sondra Clayton
These boxers should receive historically researched entrances, equipment, venues, rules and presentation. They should not be treated as novelty characters. Buttrick, Trimiar, Casillas and other pioneers are recognized within the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame’s historical archive. (IWBHOF)
1990s Women
Christy Martin
Lucia Rijker
Regina Halmich
Laura Serrano
Deirdre Gogarty
Jane Couch
Sumya Anani
Mia St. John
Marcela Acuña
Isra Girgrah Wynn
Essential additions
Laila Ali, Ann Wolfe, Bridgett Riley, Bonnie Canino, Valerie Henin and Angelica Martinez.
Christy Martin versus Deirdre Gogarty should be represented as an important historical rivalry. Lucia Rijker should have elite counterpunching, balance, combination power and kickboxing-influenced athletic traits without turning her into an arcade character.
2000s Women
Laila Ali
Ann Wolfe
Lucia Rijker
Regina Halmich
Holly Holm
Cecilia Brækhus
Mary Jo Sanders
Ana María Torres
Jackie Nava
Susi Kentikian
Essential additions
Christy Martin, Layla McCarter, Chevelle Hallback, Marcela Acuña, Jelena Mrdjenovich, Anne Sophie Mathis, Mia St. John, Carina Moreno and Naomi Togashi.
Ann Wolfe should have some of the most dangerous single-shot power in the women’s roster, but that power should come through technique, leverage and timing rather than exaggerated arcade ratings.
2010s Women
Cecilia Brækhus
Katie Taylor
Claressa Shields
Amanda Serrano
Delfine Persoon
Layla McCarter
Jackie Nava
Mariana Juárez
Jessica McCaskill
Nicola Adams
Essential additions
Holly Holm, Savannah Marshall, Natasha Jonas, Jelena Mrdjenovich, Yesica Bopp, Delfine Persoon, Christina Hammer and Érika Farías.
This group would give developers a wide stylistic range:
Taylor’s fast entries and combination exits
Shields’ athletic adjustments and combination boxing
Serrano’s southpaw pressure and body attack
Brækhus’ controlled long-range boxing
Persoon’s physical volume and disruption
McCaskill’s aggression and awkward rhythm
Adams’ amateur-influenced speed and precision
Current-Era Female Top 10: 2020 Through July 24, 2026
Claressa Shields
Katie Taylor
Amanda Serrano
Gabriela Fundora
Alycia Baumgardner
Chantelle Cameron
Mikaela Mayer
Savannah Marshall
Lauren Price
Mizuki Hiruta
ESPN’s recent 2026 women’s pound-for-pound ranking placed Shields, Taylor, Fundora, Serrano, Cameron, Baumgardner and Mayer among its leading names. Mizuki Hiruta also received major recognition for her 2025 performances. (ESPN)
Current-era essential additions
Ellie Scotney
Seniesa Estrada
Natasha Jonas
Jessica McCaskill
Dina Thorslund
Caroline Dubois
Beatriz Ferreira
Skye Nicolson
Tiara Brown
Yokasta Valle
Yesica Nery Plata
Marlen Esparza
Ebanie Bridges
Raven Chapman
Sandy Ryan
Stephanie Han
Ginny Fuchs
Ramla Ali
Terri Harper
Imane Khelif
Some of these boxers would rank lower pound-for-pound but remain important because of division coverage, national following, stylistic identity or rivalry potential.
The 20 Absolute Roster Anchors
A developer unable to license everyone should begin with these twenty historical anchors.
Male
Muhammad Ali
Sugar Ray Robinson
Joe Louis
Roberto Durán
Sugar Ray Leonard
Marvin Hagler
Thomas Hearns
Mike Tyson
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Manny Pacquiao
Female
Claressa Shields
Katie Taylor
Amanda Serrano
Christy Martin
Lucia Rijker
Laila Ali
Ann Wolfe
Cecilia Brækhus
Regina Halmich
Holly Holm
That would not be a complete roster, but it would establish the historical backbone.
Why “Top 10” Is Not Enough
A hardcore boxing game cannot only license champions and celebrities. Every major boxer needs the opponents who made the boxer historically meaningful.
Examples:
Ali needs Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Liston, Shavers and Holmes.
Leonard needs Hagler, Hearns, Durán and Benítez.
Barrera needs Morales, Hamed, Márquez and Pacquiao.
Taylor needs Serrano, Cameron and Persoon.
Shields needs Marshall, Hammer and Gabriels.
Brækhus needs Mathis, McCaskill, Reis and Lauren.
Without rivals, contenders, spoilers and dangerous challengers, the roster becomes a collection of famous names instead of a living boxing world.
The Correct Game-Roster Structure
Each decade should receive:
10 anchor male boxers
10 anchor female boxers where historical depth permits
20–40 additional champions and contenders
Rivalry groups
Regional legends
Cult favorites
Journeymen and gatekeepers
Multiple versions of historically changing boxers
Era-specific rules, gloves, rings, officiating and broadcast presentation
The full game should ultimately target approximately:
| Category | Recommended number |
|---|---|
| Historical male boxers | 250–350 |
| Current male boxers | 125–175 |
| Historical female boxers | 75–125 |
| Current female boxers | 60–100 |
| Licensed roster total | 510–750 |
| Creation/download capacity | Thousands |
The top ten of each era should serve as the foundation, not the entire representation of that era. Hardcore fans would expect Armstrong’s pressure, Pep’s movement, Toney’s inside defense, Foreman’s framing, Whitaker’s evasiveness, Taylor’s combination entries and Shields’ adaptability to behave differently, not merely display different faces over the same universal boxing system.
Sponsors, DLC, and Advertising Could Help Fund a Much Larger Roster
The best answer is not to make SCI pay every boxer’s full licensing fee upfront from the development budget. That would place too much pressure on an independent studio and could divert money and staff away from gameplay, AI, modes, animation, testing, and the Creation Suite.
The strongest approach would be a Boxer Licensing Fund supported by several revenue sources:
Publisher and investor funding for the core roster
Sponsor-funded free boxer additions
Properly structured paid expansion packs
Revenue-sharing agreements with boxers and estates
Group licensing through promoters, managers, estates, and rights agencies
Authentic in-arena advertising rather than disruptive ads
SCI has already demonstrated pieces of this model. It raised more than £15 million before the original game’s full launch, had backing from Novator Ventures and London Venture Partners, partnered with Riyadh Season, used paid fighter packs, released some boxers for free, and incorporated branded content such as the DAZN Stadium and DAZN Creation Suite items. (BusinessCloud)
The problem is that these pieces need to be organized into a more deliberate and consumer-friendly system for the sequel.
The Best Overall Model
1. The Publisher Should Finance the Foundation Roster
The base game should contain enough major boxers that it feels historically complete without requiring immediate DLC purchases.
A reasonable target would be:
100–125 licensed male boxers
30–50 licensed female boxers
Strong representation across every important era
Enough contenders and rivals to support meaningful career and historical modes
Deep Silver, SCI’s investors, and SCI itself should fund this core roster because recognizable boxers help sell the base game. The boxer roster is not merely additional content. It is part of the product’s primary commercial appeal.
SCI reported selling one million copies shortly after the original game’s full release, and in April 2026 the company said it had reinvested its earnings, grown to nearly 100 staff, expanded to three offices, and built a roster exceeding 100 boxers. That does not mean SCI has unlimited money, but it shows the franchise has already established commercial value that can be used to secure stronger financing for a sequel. (Game Republic)
The base roster should prioritize:
Essential all-time legends
Current champions
Historically important women
Major rivals
Representatives from every division
Boxers with unique styles and gameplay identities
The publisher should not expect DLC to finance practically every famous boxer after launch.
2. Create an Official Boxer Licensing Fund
SCI, Deep Silver, investors, and participating sponsors could establish a dedicated fund that is legally separated from ordinary gameplay development spending.
For example:
Proposed funding allocation
| Funding source | Recommended share |
|---|---|
| SCI and publisher roster budget | 40% |
| Major sponsors and boxing partners | 25% |
| DLC and expansion revenue | 20% |
| Investors and strategic partners | 10% |
| Collector’s editions and licensed merchandise | 5% |
These percentages are a proposed structure, not SCI’s current financial arrangement.
The important point is that the money intended for boxers would not repeatedly come out of the combat-design or gameplay-development budget.
The fund could cover:
Boxer licensing guarantees
Estate negotiations
Face and body scanning
Motion-capture sessions
Voice recording
Historical research
Alternate versions
Signature entrances
Trademark and tattoo clearance
Authentic trunks, robes, gloves, and corner teams
Royalty accounting
Contract renewals
That would make roster development a planned business operation rather than a series of emergency negotiations.
3. Sponsor-Funded Boxer Packs Would Be Extremely Useful
Sponsors could pay all or part of the costs of adding particular boxers, eras, divisions, or events.
Example: Riyadh Season Legends Expansion
A Riyadh Season-supported expansion might include:
Roberto Durán
Sugar Ray Leonard
Thomas Hearns
Marvin Hagler
Aaron Pryor
Alexis Argüello
Wilfred Benítez
Salvador Sánchez
Historic arena
Era-specific broadcast presentation
Classic robes and equipment
Documentary-style career challenges
Riyadh Season would receive appropriate branding and cross-promotion. The players would receive a substantial historical expansion. SCI would receive funding without carrying the entire licensing burden.
Because Riyadh Season already entered into a partnership with SCI, this would be an extension of an established commercial relationship rather than an entirely new concept. (Saudi Press Agency)
Other possible underwriting partners
DAZN
ESPN
Netflix
WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO
The Ring
Matchroom Boxing
Queensberry Promotions
Golden Boy Promotions
Top Rank
Premier Boxing Champions
Zuffa Boxing, where rights permit
Everlast
Winning
Cleto Reyes
Rival
Grant
Adidas
Nike and Jordan Brand
Major boxing museums and halls of fame
However, the contracts must clarify that sponsoring an expansion does not give that company control over boxer ratings, rankings, gameplay balance, or historical presentation.
A sponsor could help finance the boxer. It should not be allowed to make the boxer unrealistically powerful.
4. Sponsor-Funded Free Boxers May Be Better Than Constant Paid DLC
Some boxers should be released free because they improve the entire game’s ecosystem.
SCI previously released boxers such as Antonio Tarver, Billy Dib, Jake LaMotta, and Skye Nicolson through free updates. That proves the studio can combine free roster additions with paid content. (Play Undisputed)
A better sequel program could say:
“This month’s free Historical Boxer Drop is presented by Everlast.”
The sponsor pays part of the license and production costs. Every player receives the boxer. SCI receives revenue. The sponsor receives exposure.
That is better for the community than placing every new boxer behind a paywall.
Ideal candidates for sponsored free releases
Historically important pioneers
Missing opponents for existing legends
Women’s boxing pioneers
Regional champions
Lower-weight legends
Recently retired boxers
Boxers tied to a major upcoming event
Boxers added to strengthen Career or Universe Mode
A sponsor might be more willing to fund a boxer if the release coincides with:
A major fight
A boxing anniversary
A documentary
A Hall of Fame induction
A live broadcast
A rematch
A championship tournament
5. DLC Would Help, but It Must Offer Real Value
DLC can finance boxer licensing because part of each sale can be returned to the participating boxers, estates, and rights holders.
But SCI should avoid tiny, disconnected packs that make players feel they are being charged repeatedly for names that should have been in the base game.
Weak DLC model
Four boxers
A few cosmetic items
No new mode
No historical presentation
No connected rivals
High price
Strong DLC model
8–12 boxers
Complete rivalry groups
One or more arenas
Era presentation package
Historical rules
Commentary additions
Career and Universe Mode integration
Authentic equipment
Historical challenges
Multiple versions when justified
Example: The Four Kings Expansion
Sugar Ray Leonard
Marvin Hagler
Thomas Hearns
Roberto Durán
Wilfred Benítez
Iran Barkley
John Mugabi
Davey Moore
Pipino Cuevas
Roberto Durán at lightweight, welterweight, and middleweight
1980s broadcast package
Historic Caesars Palace setup
Rivalry scenarios
15-round option
Players would understand what they were buying. The boxer licenses would be connected to meaningful gameplay content rather than presented as isolated character purchases.
6. Use Revenue Sharing to Reduce Upfront Costs
SCI could offer some boxers:
A reasonable signing guarantee
A royalty for each DLC pack sold
A bonus after specific sales milestones
A share of related cosmetic sales
Additional payments for scans, voice work, and promotion
This can reduce the initial cash burden while allowing the boxer to benefit when the content performs well.
Illustrative contract structure
A participating boxer might receive:
A guaranteed licensing payment
A per-unit royalty after the expansion recovers agreed production costs
A sales bonus at predetermined milestones
Separate compensation for scanning and promotional appearances
Renewal options for sequels and future updates
The terms would vary because Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, an active champion, and a regional contender would not command identical compensation.
The important principle is:
Do not ask boxers to appear for “exposure,” but do not require SCI to assume every dollar of financial risk upfront.
Image and personality rights must be properly licensed because athletes and estates generally control commercial use of names, likenesses, voices, personas, and related identifying elements. (WIPO)
7. Group Licensing Would Reduce the Most Stress
Money is only one part of the problem. Negotiating separately with hundreds of boxers, estates, lawyers, managers, and representatives can consume years.
The best operational solution is group licensing.
Group licensing allows multiple participants to authorize certain commercial rights through one coordinated agreement. (Knight Commission)
Possible group agreements
SCI could negotiate with:
A promoter for a group of contracted boxers, where the promoter actually controls the required game rights
A boxer-management company
A historical licensing agency
A family or estate controlling several related rights
A national boxing federation
A women’s boxing licensing collective
A retired-boxers association
A purpose-built Independent Boxer Licensing Association
SCI would still need to verify who owns each right. A promoter does not automatically own every boxer’s video-game likeness. But when rights can legally be bundled, one agreement could add ten, twenty, or more boxers.
The long-term answer: Boxer Licensing Association
Boxing lacks the centralized team and player structures found in leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and MLB. A voluntary licensing association could allow participating boxers to pool limited video-game rights while retaining individual ownership.
The association could:
Maintain boxer and estate contact information
Establish standard contract language
Negotiate group minimums
Distribute royalties
Clear historical photographs and references
Coordinate scans and interviews
Maintain approved name pronunciations
Help verify records, equipment, trunks, and tattoos
Resolve renewal and estate issues
That could reduce SCI’s administrative stress more than advertising alone.
8. Ads Could Help, but Only the Right Kind
Advertising could generate meaningful supplementary revenue, especially because boxing naturally contains commercial signage.
Good advertising
Ring-canvas sponsors
Ring-post logos
Turnbuckle branding
Arena signs
Broadcast overlays
Weigh-in backdrops
Press-conference boards
Boxer robes and trunks, where authorized
Gym equipment
Career Mode sponsorship contracts
Authentic broadcast partners
Sponsored tournaments
Branded historical or current venues
This type of advertising can enhance authenticity rather than interrupt gameplay.
SCI has already incorporated DAZN-branded venue and Creation Suite content, showing how commercial branding can be integrated into the boxing environment. (Play Undisputed)
Bad advertising
Unskippable commercials before fights
Full-screen menu advertisements
Ads inserted into offline modes after purchase
Dynamic ads that require constant internet access
Pop-ups during Career Mode
Advertisements covering statistics or menus
Ads that interfere with historical venues
Gambling advertising aimed indiscriminately at younger players
Replacing authentic presentation with unrelated products
Players who pay full retail price should not feel as though they purchased an advertising platform.
Best advertising principle
Make the advertisement part of the boxing world, and use part of its revenue to fund free boxer additions.
SCI could publicly label certain releases:
“The addition of Salvador Sánchez was supported by our Historical Boxing Partners and is free to all players.”
That would show fans exactly how sponsorship improved the product.
9. Cosmetics Can Subsidize Boxer Licensing
Cosmetics are safer than selling every boxer individually.
SCI could sell optional:
Historic robes
Alternate trunks
Walkout apparel
Training gear
Gloves
Boots
Corner jackets
Anniversary outfits
Era broadcast overlays
Venue decorations
Collector posters and digital museum items
Part of cosmetic revenue could be placed into the Boxer Licensing Fund.
However, the game should provide each licensed boxer with at least one authentic standard outfit. Players should not have to buy the boxer and then separately buy the boxer’s basic trunks.
Alternate outfits, rare robes, and recreated fight-night appearances could reasonably be premium cosmetics.
10. Live Boxing Events Could Cross-Fund the Game
The game should be connected more directly to live boxing.
Example event partnership
Before a major fight:
The two boxers are added or updated in the game
A limited-time fight week begins
A sponsor funds the scans and licensing
Players predict the result
The live broadcast promotes the game
The game promotes the broadcast
Authentic weigh-in, ring-walk, and arena assets are added
A portion of promotional revenue supports future boxer licensing
This could work with:
Riyadh Season cards
DAZN events
ESPN cards
Netflix boxing events
Major title fights
Hall of Fame weekends
International tournaments
The boxer benefits from additional exposure and royalties. The broadcaster receives interactive promotion. SCI receives funding and current content. Players receive timely roster additions.
11. Historical Boxers Need a Dedicated Heritage Program
Deceased legends present different challenges:
Estate rights
Name and likeness ownership
Historic equipment
Photographer and archive rights
Tattoos and artwork
Surviving family approval
Conflicting representatives
Limited footage
Multiple career versions
SCI should create a Boxing Heritage Licensing Program with museums, historians, estates, archives, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Rather than approaching an estate only to request a signature, SCI could offer:
Historical consultation
Revenue sharing
A digital biography
Career timeline
Archival photographs where licensed
Educational documentary segments
Preservation of the boxer’s style
Family approval of the final character model
Memorial or charitable contributions where appropriate
That could make estates more willing to participate and reduce disputes over how a boxer is represented.
12. Do Not License More Boxers Than the Game Can Reproduce Properly
Funding 500 licenses would not help if the boxers all shared generic movement, punch, defense, and AI packages.
Every license creates additional production work:
Research
Modeling
Scanning
Animation
AI tendencies
Ratings
Commentary
Testing
Career integration
Alternate weights
Southpaw and orthodox behavior
Signature punches
Ring walks
Contract renewals
SCI itself said in April 2026 that it had nearly 100 staff and was redirecting its resources to a sequel built on new architecture. That makes disciplined scope especially important. (Play Undisputed)
The correct target is not:
“How can SCI collect the largest number of boxer names?”
It is:
“How can SCI finance the largest number of boxers it can reproduce authentically?”
A roster of 250 deeply researched boxers would be more valuable than 500 boxers using nearly identical gameplay templates.
My Recommended SCI Funding Structure
Base game
Funded by:
SCI
Deep Silver
Existing investors
New strategic investors
Includes:
150–175 boxers
Male and female divisions
Major legends and current champions
Complete rivalry groups
No immediate dependency on DLC
Year One
Four sponsored free roster drops
Each contains:
2–4 boxers
Sponsor-backed licensing
Gameplay updates
Career and Universe integration
Three paid era expansions
Each contains:
8–12 boxers
Arena
Presentation package
Historical challenges
Commentary
Multiple divisions and rivals
One free community-selected pack
Funded by:
Sponsor revenue
Cosmetic sales
A portion of season-pass revenue
Players vote from a pre-cleared list of boxers whose rights are genuinely available.
Final Judgment
Sponsors would help considerably. They are probably the best method for financing free boxer additions and event-connected roster packs.
DLC would also help. It is appropriate when it contains substantial, connected content and shares revenue fairly with boxers. It should supplement a strong base roster, not repair an intentionally empty one.
Advertising could help modestly. Authentic arena and broadcast advertising is useful. Intrusive commercials and menu ads would likely damage player trust.
Group licensing would reduce the greatest administrative pressure. Instead of negotiating hundreds of completely separate arrangements, SCI needs standardized contracts, coordinated rights holders, and an external licensing operation.
The most effective formula would be:
Publisher-funded base roster + sponsor-funded free boxers + substantial era DLC + boxer royalties + group licensing + authentic in-ring advertising.
That model could help SCI build a roster representing every era without forcing its combat, AI, animation, and mode-development teams to pay the price.
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