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When it comes to video games, boxing fans can often be left on the canvass with a weak selection.
When you consider how popular boxing is, it’s a surprise there aren’t more games or even a single standout title for fans to enjoy. The same can be said for horse racing, another popular sport that simply doesn’t have the depth of video games for people to play.
It’s in sharp contrast to the popularity of the sport. Boxing Scene reveals more than 1.4m people viewed Tyson Fury’s second fight with Deontay Wilder here in the United States, whilst almost a million paid $80 for the third fight last October. That’s a figure likely to be beaten when the Gypsy King steps in the ring with Oleksandr Usyk, should the fight go ahead. Fury is the favorite to win that bout in the latest Ladbrokes boxing odds, but only if he doesn’t retire first. The eyes of the boxing world remain on him, but until the fight, fans have little to console themselves with.
This winter, the USMNT are outsiders for the World Cup, but at least soccer fans can play as their heroes on FIFA. The Carolina Panthers are unlikely to make the Super Bowl anytime soon, but their supporters can bring virtual success on Madden. So, why do boxing fans have such a small selection of games to choose from? There isn’t one on the market right now that gives them the chance to see Usyk beat the odds and down Fury. That could change; it’s widely reported a sequel to Fight Night could be landing in 2023, and if it does, expect to pull on the virtual gloves of any big-name fighter in the world. However, you’ll have to wait; details are still sketchy.
There are some games that pugilists can load up and enjoy right now; they might not feature the current roster of fighters, they might not play on current generation consoles, but they will give sluggers some fun. What games are they, I hear you ask?
Fight Night Round 4
A boxing game was once released regularly, as Madden or NBA2K does for football and basketball. It was called Fight Night, and until 2009 it was hugely popular. It featured a strong roster of 54 fighters, including Mike Tyson and Marvin Hagler, and benefited from a robust control system.
Each character had their skills and traits, which made them feel unique, and the updated physics system from the previous instalments made this massive fun to play. The next game in the series, Fight Night Champion, took a darker turn, and despite also being a solid game, it didn’t achieve the critical acclaim of Round 4, and the franchise was dropped not long after.
Punch Out!!
If you’re a gaming fan, who likes to sit with a controller in your hand, look away now; Punch Out!! is a Wii game that used motion as the core mechanic. It’s a reimagining of a classic arcade game, and therein lies the appeal of the 2009 classic. Arcade games are great fun in their own right, and that’s where this title excels; it is fun.
It won’t satisfy the purist boxing fan; the characters are fictional, and the graphics are a cross between cartoons and exaggerated Street Fighter II combatants, but it was a joy to play. The control system made full use of the extra buttons and sticks on the Wii controller, putting this above the other Wii boxing title that felt fun, Wii Sports Boxing.
Creed: Rise To Glory
Creed: Rise to Glory strays from the typical gaming experience; it is a VR title compatible with both Oculus Rift for Windows, the Oculus Quest, and the PSVR for PlayStation 4. Being newer on the list, it benefits from some great graphics and sound.
The game bridged the gap between two Creed movies, but with the weight of Hollywood films on either side, it stood up to the test. In a story-driven campaign, you play as Adonis Creed fighting a raft of AI fighters. There was a multiplayer option as well, but nowhere could you simulate knocking out Tyson Fury. For that, you’ll just have to wait until 2023 or for Usyk to do it for you.
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