The world's first boxing tournament for robots, inspired by the movie "Real Steel," took place in China

What features do fighter robots have? Which company creates them? And how did their training with live people go?

I don't think I'm the only one who thought that the report from the Chinese CCTV channel looked like scenes from a sci-fi movie. In Hangzhou, the company Unitree Robotics organized what can be called the future of sports: real humanoid fighters entered the ring.

And no, these aren't actors in costumes, but metal robots with fists, depth cameras, and combat mode. The tournament was named "Iron Fist King," and it's already been dubbed the real-life version of the movie "Real Steel" (2011).

On the left: a fighter robot in red gloves stands in the middle of the ring, raising its fists. On the right: actor Hugh Jackman with a remote control and a robot standing behind him — Fighter robot from Unitree Robotics and a scene from the movie 'Real Steel'

In that film with Hugh Jackman, the main character and his son find an old robot named Atom, repair it, and start participating in fights. They control the robots through movement. In China, things are simpler for now, but the resemblance is undeniable.

In the Hangzhou arena, Unitree G1 robots fought, equipped with 3D LiDAR sensors and cameras for vision. Control is through gamepads and voice commands. The fight conditions? Just like real boxing: if a robot falls and doesn't get up within 8 seconds, it's a knockout.

The metal boxers still have room for improvement: their reaction speed and stability need work. But this is no longer just a concept. It's a tournament. And the next one, as promised by the organizers, will take place in December 2025 in Shenzhen and will be even bigger.

Robot boxing match at the 'Iron Fist King' tournament

The winner of the May meeting was a robot developed by Unitree itself—the same company that once captured the market with its quadruped androids like Laikago and the ultra-fast H1.

It's not quite "Real Steel" yet. But it seems to be on the way. And the future, as always, arrives unexpectedly—somewhere between code, voice command, and the sound of metal striking metal. Previously, we at zoomboola.com reported on businesswoman Kim Kardashian, who organized a photoshoot with a humanoid robot and a car of the future.