In a groundbreaking move for the sport of boxing, the highly anticipated rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will feature an AI-powered judge for the first time in professional boxing history. This innovative experiment, set to take place on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marks a significant step towards addressing longstanding concerns about judging in combat sports.
For the first time ever, an AI-powered judge will monitor the fight 🤖 Free from bias and human error brought to you by The Ring. This groundbreaking experiment, which won’t impact the official results, debuts during the biggest fight of the century, #Usyk2Fury, on December 21 🥊… pic.twitter.com/RdslVlBLRC
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) December 17, 2024
The AI judge, introduced by Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, will monitor and score all 12 rounds of the heavyweight title fight. However, it’s crucial to note that the AI’s scores will not influence the official result, which will still be determined by the three human judges at ringside. This technological advancement aims to tackle two persistent issues in boxing: bias and human error. By utilizing an impartial, data-driven system, the hope is to provide a more transparent and potentially more accurate assessment of the fight.
The boxing community has long grappled with controversial decisions and questionable scorecards. This AI experiment could pave the way for a more reliable method of evaluating fighters’ performances. It may also offer insights into how technology can complement human judgment in sports officiating. While the AI judge won’t affect the official outcome of Usyk vs. Fury 2, its introduction raises intriguing questions about the future of boxing. Could this technology eventually become a standard part of fight scoring? How might it impact fighters’ strategies and training methods?
The fight never ended; it just took over their minds 🤯 #Usyk2Fury Reignited will settle the obsession once and for all 🔥🥊
🗓️ December 21
📍 Kingdom ArenaBuy your ticket now 👇https://t.co/2vj6OWlbHb#RiyadhSeason#BigTime pic.twitter.com/U3dtD73Pj9
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) December 1, 2024
The implementation of AI in boxing judging also sparks debates about the balance between technological precision and the human element that has long been integral to the sport. Critics may argue that boxing’s nuances and subjective aspects could be lost in a purely data-driven approach. As the boxing world watches this experiment unfold, it’s clear that the sport is entering a new era. The Usyk-Fury rematch, already a highly anticipated event, now carries additional significance as a testing ground for this cutting-edge technology.
Regardless of the outcome, this AI judging experiment represents a bold step towards modernizing boxing. It reflects the sport’s willingness to embrace innovation in pursuit of fairness and accuracy. As we approach fight night, all eyes will be not just on the fighters in the ring, but also on the performance of this silent, digital judge at ringside.
The results of this experiment could have far-reaching implications for boxing and potentially other combat sports. If successful, it might lead to wider adoption of AI-assisted judging, forever changing how fights are scored and potentially reducing controversies that have plagued the sport for decades.
As we stand on the brink of this new frontier in boxing, one thing is certain: the Usyk vs. Fury 2 bout will be remembered not just for the action in the ring, but also for this pioneering use of technology that could reshape the future of the sweet science.
