Eurogamer looks back at the era when boxing mattered both in the ring and on consoles, using Fight Night Round 3 as a touchstone for that lost moment. The writer recalls how the game's physical, thumb-cramping controls and relentless excitement made it unforgettable even two decades later, while also mourning boxing's diminished place in popular culture.

  • Fight Night Round 3 remains a standout memory for its tactile, intense gameplay that demanded skill and stamina from players' thumbs.
  • Boxing once drew national attention and communal viewing—simple moments like kids listening to a big fight on the radio are used to illustrate its cultural reach.
  • The piece contrasts those heavyweight moments with the modern scene, where celebrity bouts have shifted perceptions and sometimes overshadow traditional boxing.
  • There is a sense of loss for both the sport's mainstream prominence and for the era when boxing games felt like major releases in the gaming calendar.

Source: Eurogamer (https://www.eurogamer.net/whatever-happened-to-boxing-games-fight-night-round-3)

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