His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s latest announcement seems to have unleashed a new twist in the plot. Just a few days ago, with its return to a printed edition, the Riyadh Season head breathed new life into the century-old ‘Ring’ magazine. In a latest development, he had an intriguing update to share. The upcoming mega-event on December 21 featuring the rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will have an artificial intelligence (AI) judge reviewing the fight. The announcement has sparked widespread interest and debate in the boxing world.

While technology has already made its way into several sports, its entrance into boxing is a fresh and significant development. There’s one point on which fans and experts seem to share a unanimous opinion. Judging in boxing has long been a subject of controversy. Scorecards often leave both fans and fighters frustrated. Hence, the introduction of AI is bound to raise questions—whether this technology could provide a fairer, more objective way of judging, and addressing issues of bias and inaccuracies. For one, AI has the potential to improve data precision for future analysis, offering a clearer view of decisions and match outcomes.

The Rise of AI in Sports: A New Era for Boxing

First, let’s check what HE Turki Alalshikh said about AI’s involvement in the upcoming title fight. “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,” said the Riyadh Season head. He emphasized that this AI’s judgment would not affect the official match decisions. It would merely serve as a ‘groundbreaking experiment’, something fans and experts can look forward to with great anticipation.

Details about who will provide the AI technology remain unclear. A story in Forbes speculates that it could be Jabbr, a company specializing in AI-backed statistics for combat sports. However, this is still unconfirmed, and another company might be involved.

One question may nevertheless occupy many minds. How exactly AI will be used during a match? Will it act like the fourth official in soccer or the Television Match Official (TMO) in rugby, who is designated to offer insights on whether points are scored or fouls committed?

The role of AI will be closely watched. Many will start wondering how it would assist the official judges in making more accurate calls.

The dilemma of inconsistent rulings

Perhaps what may have roused excitement across several corners is the sheer thought about the role AI could play in the future. Boxing is replete with instances where incongruous scorecards left not only the fighters and their teams but also several fans and followers deeply perplexed. It’s been some time since demands to fix the issue came into sight.

To cite a few examples, one may review the July 6 title defense between O’Shaquie Foster and Robson Conceição. Despite delivering an underwhelming performance, the bout at Newark’s Prudential Center ended in Conceicao’s favor, leading to a widespread outcry and censure. Finally, it took a rematch to settle the matter for good.

Then there’s the latest instance that drew instant attention. The title defense between Liam Paro and Richardson Hitchins unfolded in San Juan, Costa Rica. It ended in favor of the American challenger. Nonetheless, one of the scorecards favored Paro, who had been clearly outboxed, 117-111.

With these examples in mind, the question arises: Can AI eliminate these issues? Fans and analysts have long called for a fairer, more accurate judging system, and AI could be the answer. However, challenges remain.

Challenges in Implementing AI in Boxing

One has to understand how AI will integrate with boxing. In soccer, for instance, rules are quite straightforward. So you have the ‘automated offside decisions’ that can easily judge whether a player has broken the ‘offside’ rule or not. But a similar level of ease may be unavailable in boxing.

There’s an inherent challenge within the sweet science. A lot of things, such as the intentions of a fighter, his style, and his tactical approach, are hugely subjective matters. So AI will have a tough time analyzing those elements in a nuanced sport like boxing. The chances of the decision-making process ending up cumbersome are high. AI may fail to account for intangible components, such as aggression, which, incidentally, remains one of the scoring criteria.

There’s also a problem with AI feedback. Typically, the technology depends on human interference. It guides AI on how to react to each situation. Depending on what has been fed, there’s a chance an AI judge may show preference for a particular boxing style. What will happen if the AI is trained with more data on aggressive brawling vis-à-vis technical counter-punching? Will it end up favoring one style over another?

The Need for a Balanced Approach

A piece on TechRadar suggests a potential workaround. Perhaps to resolve the integration conundrum AI could be used to assist human judges. It will study the scorecards for errors or discrepancies. This would help reduce scoring inconsistencies and bias without completely removing the human element from the process.

In this scenario, AI could act as a safeguard. It can ensure more accurate and fair decisions without overstepping the role of human judges. Who knows, such an approach will mark the beginning of a more balanced and transparent future for boxing.

Since you’ve heard the story, what are your views on the arrival of AI in boxing?