If there's a sport tailor-made for the virtual reality experience, it's boxing.
Imagine feeling every feint, jab and grapple that boxers experience while trying to assert their position during a prize fight. Well ... imagine no longer.
That's because NextVR is bringing the virtual reality treatment to this Saturday night's Premier Boxing Champions lineup on Fox, headlined by undefeated Danny "Swift" Garcia (31-0 with 18 knockouts) going up against former three-division champion Robert "the Ghost" Guerrero (33-3-1, 18 KOs) live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
To deliver the virtual reality experience, NextVR will set up several cameras around the ring to fully capture the action in total immersion, high-definition virtual reality.
"This is the latest example of NextVR's commitment to bring the most compelling live content to sports fans in virtual reality," Brad Allen, executive chairman of NextVR, said in a Fox press release statement sent to Tech Times. "We strive to deliver a great virtual reality experience and the key is great, exciting content."
This doesn't mark the first time that boxing has been given the VR treatment, though. This past December, Showtime's Battle For Brooklyn bout between Daniel Jacobs and Peter Quillin was put into virtual reality, but it wasn't much of an experience, as the match ended just 25 seconds into the first round via a technical knockout (TKO).
Let's hope this bout lasts longer.
Samsung Gear VR headset owners can watch the livestream of the boxing card in virtual reality by downloading the NextVR app.
Last year, NextVR partnered with Fox Sports to put NASCAR's Auto Club 400 race in virtual reality as well.
