Boxing
The undisputed outsider who packs a punch no matter what his weight is
Published
3 months agoon
IT’S a classic boxing story. A plucky outsider, refusing to play within his perceived limitations, takes on a giant opponent (or, in this case, industry barriers) to rise to the top of his craft. Set to hit stores October 11th, Undisputed will finally fill a void in boxing games.
But there’s so much more to this tale of an outsider. This punching game is the brainchild and realization of a lifelong dream. Led by boxing enthusiast and dedicated gamer Ash Habib, Steel City Interactive keeps on punching to make sure every punch lands.
“Yeah, it’s kind of like an outsider story leading up to Undisputed, that kind of rise, really,” agrees CEO Habib, who founded the company in 2020 with his brothers Asif and Asad.
When the large release day arrives, while most weeks are hectic, Habib doesn’t complain. He’d rather be flying to live shows, discussing plans in online and live meetings, or getting back into the studio and doing motion capture than watching tumbleweed float past their Sheffield offices.
Growing up in a historic fight town like Sheffield, steeped in a mighty boxing heritage, the likes of Prince Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson and Herol “Bomber” Graham had the in-ring skills and lively off-the-rope personalities to entice any youngster into the game of pain, and Habib was quickly hooked.
“It was just a great time growing up, watching them. My oldest brother, Asif, was from the Four Kings era in the ’80s, and he told me about Hagler, Hearns, fighters like that. And then my parents, of course, go back to Muhammad Ali.
“I’ve always been around boxing. And I think back then, when it was on terrestrial television, it was simple to get involved.”
Those ITV days when Michael Watson, Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn went to war on UK TV screens seem like a lifetime ago now.
Kids jump into a playground fight on Monday morning after watching their national heroes compete in stadiums packed with tens of thousands of sports fans.
Like many of that generation, Ash Habib sat spellbound. While boxing interest simmered in the background, technology took over and gaming emerged. Dangling the carrot of an engineering or medical career, Ash and his brother convinced their father to invest in a Spectrum 48k.
While that console was primitive in retrospect, their first computer had already arrived and gaming life had really taken off. Add to that Barry McGuigan’s boxing, Frank Bruno’s punch-out equivalent, and the evolution into Knockout Kings and Fight Night. Apps improved quickly, but boxing games fell under the radar. Undisputed came along to fill the gap 13 years after the last major release.
“That was one of the most significant things I wanted to achieve with Undisputed, to make a large leap forward from the previous boxing games that had come out,” Habib explains, aiming for realism in the game.
“I’m a huge fan of Fight Night. I thought they set the benchmark for boxing games. And I think that’s probably why a lot of the large studios didn’t want to throw their hat in the ring, so to speak, because I think they felt like EA set the bar so high for boxing games.
“Maybe they didn’t want to take the risk of investing that much money into something that might cause some outrage and say, hey, this isn’t as good as Fight Night or something.”
Fight Night or not, Steel City had nothing to lose. As a petite studio, if the large boys weren’t coming back into the arena, why couldn’t they? What they lacked in budget and resources, they made up for in drive and innovation. Ironically, the lack of boundaries meant that the ideas could be huge. Leaning heavily toward gameplay, learning from mistakes, each failure brought moments of clarity.
Groundbreaking thinking combined with scanning technology has led to an ever-increasing roster of fighters and (currently) over 70 directional combat moves. Instead of button-mashing brawls, Undisputed turns to the intricacies of sweet science to triumph.
“You can fight on the front foot, you can fight on the back foot, you can pivot left, you can pivot right, you can do check hooks. It was almost like a boxing fan’s wish list.
“Some things were just complete failures that we threw away. That’s how I see Undisputed, differentiating itself from the boxing games that came before us,” Habib says.
Despite the narrow time and space to develop, Ash, an avid fighting game fan, wanted to see a few names included. While many previous fighting games had primarily catalogued American boxers, the current trend of British boxers dominating specific weight classes (such as heavyweight) meant that more than a smattering of non-American talent was needed.
“Nigel Benn had never been in a boxing game. Carl Froch had never been in a boxing game. And he even supported some of the juvenile, promising British fighters like Dalton Smith. It was nice to be able to showcase some of our boxers to players around the world. So the line-up is something we’re really pleased with.”
While the current crop of stars includes Fury, Canelo, Usyk, Wilder, Terence Crawford and more, fans of senior boxers need not worry. The wide selection, from Jack Dempsey to Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and even Sugar Ray Leonard, means all the golden eras are represented.
None of these options would have come to fruition had Ash Habib’s commitment and Steel City Interactive’s drive not captured wider interest, secured initial investment, and enabled the dream to become a financial reality.
Before the large Venture Capitalists noticed, a miniature team with no budget, no gaming experience, but with the outsider spirit, built on the foundations of a plan, was able to take risks and persevere. Momentum breeds momentum and soon the snowball started rolling and growing.
“This [approach] It worked for everything, not just investment. It worked for fighters. When I don’t have fighters in the game, I can’t just go to Muhammad Ali’s team and say, hey, we’d like Muhammad Ali.
“Having a plan B is never enough. You have to have a plan A, B, C, D, E, and F. Nine times out of ten, it’s plan F that gets you out of a jam.”
And thanks to that detailed alphabetical planning, Undisputed is just weeks away from hitting shelves. The Early Access version is available now on PC. The full releases for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X will arrive on October 11.
For the many fans waiting for a copy of the game, further improvements have been made in the meantime and the final version will be even more refined and modified.
“We’re still making improvements to the game. I think that’s one of the things that I’ve been very clear about in terms of the feedback we’ve been getting on Early Access. A lot of it [early access] issues we’ve fixed for when the game releases on October 11th.
“Even after October 11, we still have a plan for further improvements that we will bring to the game,” says Ash Habib in conclusion. This outsider never stops striving for something better.
“I think there are certain stories that are very relatable in boxing, in terms of a fighter who starts from nothing and becomes a world champion. So for us, I’d like to think we’re trying to do the same thing in the gaming space.”
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Boxing
George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team
Published
13 hours agoon
November 23, 2024Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.
Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.
The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.
Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.
The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.
“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.
“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.
“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”
Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.
“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].
Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.
“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.
Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.
“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.
Boxing
Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul
Published
2 days agoon
November 21, 2024One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.
WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.
“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.
“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”
Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.
Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.
Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.
Boxing
Lauren Price looks to win Jonas vs Habazin with an undercard victory
Published
3 days agoon
November 21, 2024Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.
Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.
Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.
Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.
Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.
Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”
BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.
There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.
Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.
McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.
English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.
Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.
Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.
After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.
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