The roster for the upcoming Undisputed video game is already extensive. It includes superstars like Canelo Alvarez, brawlers like Eddie Hall, and even less-known fighters like George Davey.
From the start, Steel City Interactive has promised fans they would continue to add to the roster. I expect to see former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua as the next major name added to the Undisputed roster with Jake Paul not too far behind him.
Joshua is one of the biggest stars in the sport, which would make him a coveted addition to any boxing game’s roster. He’s also worked closely with Riyadh Season for his past few fights. Steel City Interactive also partners with Riyadh Season, whose logo is prominently displayed in the game’s release date announcement trailer. It only makes sense for the connection to be made between the mutual parties.
Along with Joshua, it stands to reason a good number of the heavyweights who have had a spotlight on them through Riyadh Season’s efforts to pump life back into the sport–and, more specifically, the heavyweight division–could be headed to the game’s roster. That could include Jared Anderson, who is set to face Martin Bakole on August 3 in Los Angeles.
Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov are the show’s main event, which will be the first-ever Saudi-backed card in the United States. However, the event will be another major showcase of the heavyweight division. In addition to Anderson-Bakole, former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz will face Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller. All of those heavyweights could easily be added to the roster.
The additions aren’t likely to happen at once. A lot of work goes into getting athletes scanned in for the game. If Joshua is part of an upcoming update for Undisputed, his render and inclusion will be prioritized. Joshua is set to challenge newly crowned IBF heavyweight champion Daniel DuBois for his title in September at Wembley Stadium.
There could be a push to have Joshua’s render ready to be shown in time for the fight, which would be in step with the hype. DuBois has been a part of the roster throughout the game’s early access on PC. Joshua hasn’t been involved in a video game since he and Fury were added to EA UFC 4. Joshua’s connections to EA may have prevented him from landing on the Undisputed roster, but we don’t know the restrictions of his deal with EA.
Joshua is also a huge world football fan, and there could be some hooks in EA’s soccer title, EA FC, formerly known as FIFA. Outside of the heavyweight division, it would be great to see Undisputed add Gervonta Davis, Errol Spence, Sebastian Fundora, Jaron Ennis, William Zepeda, and David Benavidez to the roster.
Paul’s addition seems like even more of a sure thing than Joshua.
I spoke with Paul in Puerto Rico in March about potentially being added to the Undisputed roster, and it sounds like it’s a matter of when, not if, he’ll be in the game.
While some purists may scoff at the addition, don’t be surprised if Paul is one of the game’s most used characters. Paul takes on Mike Perry on Saturday night in Tampa, but that may not be the right fight for the folks at Undisputed to latch on to when they unveil Paul.
I’d expect that to happen if and when Paul’s meeting with Mike Tyson happens in November. By then, the game will have been out for a month, and the additions of both Paul and Tyson could lead to tons of attention on Undisputed.
Stay tuned for more information on Undisputed as it becomes available. The game will be released on October 11 on all platforms (PS5, PS4, Xbox family of consoles, and PC).
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