Gamers that are boxing fans know there hasn’t been a good realistic boxing game with real pro fighters in almost a decade. Fight Night Champions was outstanding, probably the best boxing game of that type, but it was released in 2011. Microsoft has even disabled the server, so gamers can no longer challenge each other online. There are so many great boxers today that have never been in a game, and I’m sure there are hordes of gamers that can’t wait to play as or fight against them.
There appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel however. Steel City, A British game developer, is developing a new game, eSports Boxing Club, that may very well take the crown. They have support from the WBC, the IBF, Ring Magazine and BBBofC. According to press releases the player will be able to win titles from all of those organizations in game and compete in ten different weight classes.
They’ve also announced the game will feature the ability to create a fighter and there will be an RPG style single player experience.
In addition, they’ve included a deep online multiplayer game mode. You will be able to play against opponents and even participate in online tournaments in different weight classes. This strikes me as the kind of game that could eventually become a spectator friendly eSport with professional players, tournaments, and prize money. Steel City has already announced they will broadcast tournaments and award an actual eWBC World Title Belt.
The roster recently got a big upgrade by the name of Smokin’ Joe Frazier, of Thrilla in Manilla fame. By the way, if you haven’t seen the trilogy with Frazier and Muhammed Ali, look it up. They are three of the greatest fights of all time, and they’re all on Youtube.
There are 50 different fighters available. In addition to Frazier, there are some other legends like Ricky Hatton and Arturo Gatti. However, there is still no Canelo Alvarez, Lomacenko, Inoue, Crawford or Pacquaio. They are expected to announce many more names before launch though, fingers crossed. The current roster also includes real-life commentators and cutmen.
Rather than making the game an annual release it seems they are looking to release seasons. I like this approach, because if the game becomes popular enough some of boxing’s biggest stars may be more inclined to sign on and this may allow them to do so without the player having to start over with a new game.
At present there is no official release date, but it seems they are shooting for an early PC release in December of 2020, a Q1 2021 release for X-Box One and a Q1 or Q2 2021 release for PS4. They are also planning to release the game for the next gen consoles and the Switch at some point down the line.
Full Roster Announced So Far
Fighters
- Arturo “Thunder” Gatti (Super Featherweight (130lb), Light Welterweight (140lb), Welterweight (147lb))
- “Smokin'” Joe Frazier (Heavyweight 200+)
- “Irish” Mickey Ward (Light Welterweight (140lb))
- Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (Welterweight (147lb), Light Middleweight (154lb), Middleweight (160lb))
- Frank “The True Brit” Bruno (Heavyweight 200+)
- Ricky “Hitman” Hatton (Light Welterweight (140lb), Welterweight (147lb))
- Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor (Light Welterweight (140lb)
- Javier “El Abajon” Fortuna (Featherweight (125lb), Super Featherweight (130lb); Lightweight (135lb)
- Jeison “Banana” Rosario (Welterweight (147lb), Light Middleweight (154lb), Middleweight (160lb))
- Nigel “The Dark Destroyer” Benn (Middleweight (160lb), Super Middleweight (168lb))
- Dalton “Thunder” Smith (Light Welterweight (140lb))
- “Sugar” Shane Mosley (Middleweight (160lb))
- Jono “King Kong Celtic Warrior” Carroll (Super Featherweight (130lb), Lightweight (135lb))
- Conor “The Destroyer” Benn (Welterweight (147lb))
- Jordan “The Thrill” Gill (Featherweight (125lb), Super Featherweight (130lb), Lightweight (135lb))
- “The Beast from the East” Anthony Yarde (Light Heavyweight (175lb)
- Chris “The Dragon” John (Featherweight (125lb))
- Anthony “Million Dolla” Crolla (Super Featherweight (130lb), Lightweight (135lb))
- Scott Quigg (Super Bantamweight (122lb), Featherweight (125lb))
- “The Entertainer” Johnny Nelson (Cruiserweight (200lb), Heavyweight (200+))
- Herol “Bomber” Graham (Light Middleweight (154lb), Middleweight (160lb), Super Middleweight (168))
- Andres “Cisa” Campos (Flyweight (122lb))
- Robin “The Reaper Man” Reid (Super Middleweight (168lb))
- Joe “Juggernaut” Joyce (Heavyweight (200+))
- Enzo “Big Mac” Maccarinelli (Light Heavyweight (175lb), Cruiserweight (200lb))
- Ryan “Spice Boy” Rhodes (Light Middleweight (154lb), Middleweight (160lb))
- “Lightning” Lee McGregor (Bantamweight (118lb))
- Michael “The Problem” McKinson (Welterweight 147lb))
- Kid Galahad (Super Bantamweight (122lb), Featherweight 125lb))
- “Showtime” Sunny Edwards (Flyweight (112lb), Super Flyweight (115lb))
- Terri “Belter” Harper (Super Featherweight (130lb), Lightweight (135lb))
- Hopey “Drago” Price (Super Bantamweight (122lb))
- Charlie Edwards (Flyweight (112lb), Super Flyweight (115lb))
- “The Baby Face Assassin” Shannon Courtenay (Super Bantamweight (122lb))
- Patrick “The Patriot” Rokohl (Super Middleweight (168lb))
- Mark Reyes Jr (Welterweight (147lb))
- Sophie Alisch (Featherweight (125lb))
- “The Smooth One” Jason Moloney (Bantamweight (118lb), Super Bantamweight (122lb))
- “The Nordic Nightmare” Robert Helenius (Heavyweight 200+)
- George Davey (Super Welterweight (154lb))
- Damien “Chambo” Chambers (Cruiserweight (200lb))
- Lerrone “Sniper” Richards (Super Middleweight (168lb))
- Rosendo “El Bufalo” Alvarez (Super Lightweight (130lb))
Promoters
- Lou Dibella