USA Boxing Turns to Esports for Training, Engagement

USA Boxing is looking to esports for its next potential engagement with fans and as a training tool for amateur and elite athletes alike.

The national governing body has announced that Golden Gloves VR, a virtual reality boxing game created by Tulsa-based tech company Engine Room VR, is now the NGB’s official esports boxing game. Under a partnership agreement through 2028 announced by USA Boxing Executive Director Mike McAtee, the organizations will explore the application of virtual boxing for adaptive, fitness and competition boxing.

In 2021, the International Olympic Committee announced a dedicated agenda to encourage virtual sports and engage with gaming communities. Last year, the IOC established its Olympic Esports Series, with the first event held in Singapore to showcase various forms of virtual sports or esports competition.

“The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris represent the 120^th year that the sport of Olympic-style boxing has been a part of the Olympics,” said McAtee. “Esports is such a rapidly growing area with huge potential. We believe it’s important to explore this space and the possibilities it holds for the future of Olympic-style boxing. Our coaches see the potential for this as a training tool for their boxers, as well as an avenue to expand the reach of our sport in so many other areas, such as adaptive sports, esports competitions and fitness boxing.”

Golden Gloves VR has finished initial testing of multi-player/PVP, a feature that allows two human players to compete via their avatars in the same virtual game environment. Open beta testing will be available in the game beginning June 1. Amateur boxers from across the world, including members of the 2024 USA Boxing Olympic Team, recently had the chance to demo the game and the multiplayer feature at the 2024 USA Boxing International Invitational and World Boxing Cup held in Pueblo, Colorado.

The company operates out of the Engine Room boxing gym in Tulsa.

“USA Boxing and Golden Gloves VR will be establishing an official ranking system for e-boxers based on online game play and tournaments,” said Aaron Sloan, a USA Boxing-certified coach and owner of Engine Room VR. “Qualifying players will be invited to compete at USA Boxing National Championships and at Golden Gloves of America’s National Tournament of Champions right alongside our real-world boxers. Our e-boxers will box live in virtual reality and be awarded their own rankings and titles.”