Roy Jones Jr. scored a bizarre seventh-round stoppage victory over professional bodybuilder 'NDO Champ' in the world's first Metaverse boxing match on June 30. The fight was marketed as a "clash in the Metaverse," and it was certainly... something:
Jones Jr. and Champ actually boxed at an unrevealed location, and they were tracked using motion capture technology to render them as though they were in a video game. The fighters were placed in a virtual arena surrounded by prop spectators.
As can be expected from an exhibition fight, neither man stepped on the gas and the boxers weren't trying to hurt each other. Despite this, Jones Jr. managed to pull off the TKO finish in the seventh round when Champ couldn't defend any longer.
Whether this Metaverse "boxing match" was a success or not remains to be seen. Given the nature of the product, neither boxer had any physical presence in the ring, the impact of punches went unheard, and the absence of a live audience significantly dampened the overall atmosphere.
It does raise the question of why choose to replicate a mundane boxing ring? Why not opt for the summit of a mountain or an ancient colosseum? Imagine a fight taking place in outer space or on the deep ocean floor. Envision sparks emanating from the fighters' gloves upon impact like a Tekken game, showcasing the boundless possibilities that technology can offer.
Perhaps these are the sort of questions that Meta will address, and they might unveil a product that fully justifies a transition to virtual reality sports.
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