The Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk rematch is probably the biggest showdown left as the year comes to an end. As a result, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the bout is as fair, transparent, and non-controversial as possible. How will they achieve it? With the help of AI, of course! After taking over multiple industries across the globe, AI is now making its way into the world of boxing. Thanks to the Saudi Royal, the first major test of this technology is on the Usyk-Fury rematch, the highly anticipated unified title match on December 21, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

Boxing has long been criticized for flawed judging and scoring, with numerous instances where the judge’s decision has been called into question, sometimes even deemed unjust. However, the introduction of AI to the sport can be a potential game-changer. But is this a legitimate innovation or just another gimmick? To shed light on this groundbreaking development, Dan Canobbio, the host of Inside Boxing, recently shared his insights on X.

Is AI Ready to Call the Shots for Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk?

A few days ago, HE Turki Alalshikh shared the news on X, revealing, “For the first time ever, an AI-powered judge will monitor the fight 🤖. Free from human bias and 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 🥊. Don’t miss history in the making 🔥.”

Commenting on this development, recently, boxing insider Dan Canobbio reflected a balanced mix of excitement and skepticism about the introduction of an AI-powered judge in boxing. He recently posted a video with a caption that read, “A fourth “AI powered judge” will be used in the Usyk-Fury rematch 🤖.

In the video, Dan Canobbio acknowledged the importance of this innovation. He believes that this technology can minimize human biases and errors in the sport. However, further commenting on the metrics that the AI will be analyzing, he queried, “Punches thrown, punches landed, and aggression, as you know, there are more ways to score a fight other than punch stats.” He also pointed out that CompuBox stats, a well-known source for tracking punches in boxing, will not be used for this system.

Moreover, Canobbio raised important concerns about the limitations of such a system. Boxing is a sport that goes beyond mere statistics; it involves intangible elements like ring generalship, defensive strategies, and a fighter’s overall control of the match. He questioned whether the AI can effectively account for these nuances, as he stated, “How is this AI model going to judge things that you can’t account for with numbers?”

As much as Canobbio is intrigued about this experiment, he also expressed caution. The introduction of this AI judge is undoubtedly an exciting development, but its success will depend on how well it can interpret the complexities of the sport.

How is AI going to change boxing?

The upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk rematch may revolutionize boxing with the introduction of AI-powered punch analysis. Former boxer and sports broadcaster Radio Rahim recently discussed the use of AI in monitoring punches, marking the first time such technology will be applied to a major fight. Unlike traditional systems like CompuBox, which relies on human operators to manually track punches, the AI system aims to automate and enhance the accuracy of punch counts, tracking not just the number of punches but also their impact and quality.

This new technology is driven by companies like Jabbr, which has already tested its AI system, DeepStrike, in amateur boxing gyms. This system can analyze over fifty different parameters, including strike accuracy, impact, and even generated automated fight highlights. Rahim suggests that the AI’s involvement in major fights could improve the sport’s transparency and potentially eliminate corruption, though the effectiveness and reliability of such technology in a live, high-stakes event remains to be seen.

Do you think AI can truly capture the nuances of boxing and shape the outcomes of a high-stakes match like Usyk-Fury 2?