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.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – MAY 18: Tyson Fury lands punches on Oleksandr Usyk during the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Undisputed Heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk at Kingdom Arena on May 18, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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.”
WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.
Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”
WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.
Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.
As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.
However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.
Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.
Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.
Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.
Deontay Wilder has not retired from boxing at the age of 39, and the former WBC heavyweight champion has not issued any official statement.
World Boxing News can confirm that reports circulating on social media are false and originated from a imitation account on Up-to-date Year’s Day. As of January 2, 2025, WBN has had no word from Wilder that he plans to hang up his gloves.
As usual, WBN also asked Shelly Finkel for comment. However, Finkel has repeatedly said in the past that Wilder is not retiring. This case seems to be no different.
The last time Wilder spoke publicly was while promoting a mental health app, the Brown Bomber was unveiling plans to return to the sport.
He said: “The push-up protocol has been disabled. Strengthen your body and train your mind; no paid subscription required! It’s not about money. It’s about a mission to strengthen mindsets and improve mental health for all. To everyone: operate your services and achieve greatness.
“There will be people who tell you, ‘No, you can’t.’ [No] People trying to stop you or putting up stop signs. [No] People who want to bring you down and keep you down. But you can’t give up.
“No matter how many times you fall, no matter how many times you get knocked down, it’s a resilient mind, a confident mind, a powerful mind that gets back up and keeps moving forward to achieve your greatness.
“Apply your service. Achieve your greatness,” he added.
Deontay Wilder could announce his retirement tomorrow if he changed his mind, but at the time of the report, there was no truth to it.
When Zhilei Zhang knocked him out on June 1 in Saudi Arabia, the formidable top-flight contender needed time to assess his situation. WBN understands that Wilder has received offers, including contact from Francis Ngannou, regarding a possible boxing match with the MMA star.
The Wilder vs. Ngannou fight only makes sense for an American his age. Many voluntary positions [of which Wilder is WBC number 13] are occupied by threatening opponents who would start each clash as favorites.
Meanwhile, the Ngannou fight is winnable with less risk and more rewards, meaning Wilder can still earn a significant payday before hanging up his gloves for good.
Rising Irish boxing star Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, 11 KO), the current World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight continental champion, had to withdraw from his scheduled December “stay busy” fight due to a minor injury but now is preparing to fight his biggest rival in what may be the most anticipated Irish boxing match in history.
The All-Ireland fight between Donovan, who fights in Limerick and trains in Dublin, and Lewis “The Croc” Crocker (20-0, 11 KO) of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is scheduled for March 1. “Point of Pride” will headline the Matchroom Boxing card, which will be broadcast live on DAZN from the SES Arena as part of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title eliminator. Just two fights away, Donovan could win a world title if he defeats Crocker as the IBF mandatory challenger.
“There is something different about a good Irish fighter and I believe I will be next,” Donovan declared. “I think turning pro at 19 and now 25 has required a lot of life changes since I turned pro. What matters most is what I learned in the gym, because it was the ups and downs in life – being a husband and father, losing loved ones – that helped me improve. I improved as a person, which helped me become a better fighter.”
A true fighter from the past, Donovan is currently rated by three of the four major sanctioning bodies: WBA No. 5, IBF No. 6 and World Boxing Council No. 14. He has dreamed of being a world champion since he was seven years senior.
“I’m in an amazing position, so I thank God for that and my team, Andy Lee (head coach/co-manager) and (Up-to-date York lawyer) Keith Sullivan (co-manager),” Donovan noted. “It’s great to be ranked so highly at this stage of my career, but I’m where I need to be. To be ranked so high on three major sanctioning bodies is great. I know I won’t stop until I become world champion.
“I’m always at the gym thinking about the next challenge. I say it’s time. I love what I do. I am very grateful to God for being in this situation. I believe in God’s plan for me to become world champion.”
“It’s definitely going to be an explosive fight,” commented Up-to-date York attorney Keith Sullivan, who co-manages Donovan with former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, who is also Paddy’s head trainer. “Two tough, resilient Irishmen who have a lot to prove to the world. We were worried about the injury, but we are sure it will not be a problem during the March 1 battle. Paddy is locked down and training difficult under the watchful eye of coach Andy Lee.
Donovan has dedicated several of his recent fights to Pieta, using his boxing platform to promote the suicide prevention charity, which provides mental health services across Ireland. Paddy lost two relatives to suicide. The Pietra Crisis Helpline, at 1-800-247-247, offers crisis intervention support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm, as well as support for those grieving as a result of suicide.
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