Unitree Robotics organized the first robot boxing competition. The Iron Fist King tournament looked like scenes from the movie Real Steel, as the participants were controlled by their developers – though with controllers, not a motion-replicating system.
Iron Fist King aired on Chinese television and ended on May 25th. Each contestant’s goal was simple: knock out their opponent (victory is achieved if the robot fails to rise within eight seconds). All “fighters” were equipped with sophisticated sensor systems, as well as wireless and voice control.
For example, the Unitree Robotics “athlete” weighs 35 kg and is 132 cm tall. It has lidar, time-of-flight (ToF) cameras, and a smooth motion control system. According to the company’s marketer Chen Xiyun, the mechanical participants in the competition can perform straight, side, and circular kicks, as well as get up after falling.
The next tournament will be held in December 2025 in Shenzhen.