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Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 Will Experiment With an AI Judge
In a groundbreaking move, the upcoming rematch between WBC, WBO, and WBA heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will be judged by an artificial intelligence (AI) system. This innovative approach is set to take place at the Saudi Arabia bout on December 18th.
The AI judge’s scores will not affect the official decision of the fight, but its role is crucial in addressing the concerns surrounding bias and human error in professional boxing. The experiment aims to bring transparency and definitiveness to the sport.
This bold move comes as part of Saudi powerbroker Alalshikh’s first Ring Magazine branded initiative since acquiring the publication from Oscar De La Hoya in November. It will be fascinating to see how this technology is implemented, and whether it will become a staple in combat sports.
For decades, human judges have been criticized for their subjective scoring, which has led to numerous controversies throughout boxing history. The use of an AI-powered judge could potentially eliminate bias and ensure fairer results. This could revolutionize the sport by giving fans definitive answers about the outcome of matches.
I’m a proponent of open scoring, but even that’s not the same as having AI judges reveal scores after each round. If fighters, trainers, and promoters can learn the AI judging criteria, they will be able to prepare their athletes accordingly, leading to more effective training strategies.
Furthermore, integrating AI into boxing could lead to unprecedented transparency in the sport. The technology already exists, making it plausible that we may see AI judges become the norm in the near future.
The identity of the AI firm or company developing and operating the judge remains undisclosed, but it’s possible that Jabbr, a well-known provider of AI-powered combat sports stats, could be involved. Alternatively, it might come from a different company or an independent developer within Alalshikh’s team.
As the event unfolds on December 18th in Riyadh, all eyes will be on the scores delivered by the AI judge. I hope that these scores remain secret until the conclusion of the main event, and then are shared, allowing fans to compare them with Chris Mannix’s unofficial tally during the fight.
Source: www.forbes.com
