The much-anticipated rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, unifying WBC, WBO, and WBA heavyweight titles, is set to break new ground—not just in boxing, but in technology. For the first time in history, an artificial intelligence (AI) judge will be used to score a professional boxing match, albeit without affecting the official decision.

This technological innovation is spearheaded by Saudi powerbroker Alalshikh, who is leveraging the newly acquired Ring Magazine to promote the initiative. According to Alalshikh, the AI system aims to be “free from bias and human error,” a bold promise in a sport historically plagued by controversies surrounding judging.

How the AI Judge Will Work

The AI judge will evaluate the fight using advanced algorithms to analyze punches landed, ring control, and other key metrics. While the AI’s scores will not count toward the official decision, they will provide real-time feedback and transparency into the scoring process. This experimental step could pave the way for broader adoption in the future.

Addressing Bias and Controversy in Boxing

For over a century, boxing has been dogged by allegations of corruption and bias in judging. Egregious scorecards have led to public outcry and tarnished the sport’s credibility. Introducing an AI judge could serve as a counterbalance, offering an unbiased and data-driven perspective.

If successful, this innovation could add a layer of definitiveness and fairness to the sport. The AI system aims to focus purely on measurable performance metrics by eliminating human judges’ subjective interpretations.

Implications for Fighters and Trainers

One potential outcome of AI judging is that it could revolutionize how fighters and trainers prepare for bouts. Once the criteria used by the AI judge are well understood, boxers can tailor their strategies to ensure they meet the specific requirements to win rounds definitively.

Furthermore, introducing open scoring—where fighters and fans see the scores after each round—could complement the AI system. Open scoring combined with AI judging would remove much of the guesswork currently inherent in boxing, leading to more transparent outcomes.

Could AI Judges Be the Future of Boxing?

The Fury-Usyk rematch may be the first step toward a larger shift in how boxing matches are scored. With technology already in place, future bouts could rely entirely on AI judges, offering live updates after each round. This evolution would not only enhance transparency but also potentially restore public trust in the integrity of boxing.

While AI judges are unlikely to replace human judges in the near term fully, their role as supplemental tools could become a staple of the sport, much like video replay and VAR in other sports.

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