The super fight is upon us. It’s what we’ve all been waiting for. In a few days, the highly anticipated boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao will finally take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. These are two of the most polarizing figures in the sport and it is bound to be one for the ages. But before this fight, boxing had remained relatively quiet. The sport’s popularity has been on the decline for quite some time and with the UFC trending upward, boxing may become irrelevant in the near future. So how could the sport attract more viewers and ultimately revive itself?
“Striketec” sensors are the newest wave of technology to hit the boxing market. They track every movement a boxer’s hands are making and they indicate the speed and force of the punches thrown. Not only are you able to track your progress to get the best results, but you are also able to share workouts and progress via email, Facebook and Twitter. This product is primarily used as a fitness tool, but if it were implemented during televised boxing matches, then it has the potential to bring forth a new interactive viewing experience to the sport.
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Another company that has used sensory technology in their products is “Welltec.” They have created gloves and shorts that measure a fighter’s performance as well as the details of their punches, including angle, velocity and impact. The speed of this data is processed within milliseconds. Two accelerometers and a magnetometer are installed in the gloves that can produce broadcasting data at a rate of 800 hertz per second. That is enough to provide roughly hundreds of thousands of data points per fight. The company is also working in a way to apply to real-time on-screen visuals, which would give the viewers an in-depth look at what is going on during the fight.
This is just the type of technology that needs to be implemented in boxing. Much like baseball, boxing has not changed that much ever since it was created. The rules have relatively remained the same and the broadcasting has not changed much either. If the sport is to increase its appeal, then these products must be implemented as soon as possible. “BKB” has already endorsed the “Striketec” sensors and hopefully the product gains enough momentum so that professional boxing will use it in the near future. Fans are always looking for the most interactive experience, and the function of these products definitely brings that about. These types of innovations certainly appeal to a younger audience, which is what the sport has always been lacking.
Boxing is always looking for the next big fight to peak public interest. But how many fights are there going to be that match the magnitude of a “Mayweather vs. Pacquaio.” These are two of the best fighters in boxing and both of them are getting old. After them, the sport does not have that many players with the same stature. How long is the sport going to wait for the next era of superstars? The sport needs to make a move before it becomes and extinct, and this sensory technology may just be exactly what they are looking for.