With Virtual Reality technology advancing rapidly many different fields beyond video games are utilizing it into their pipelines, from architecture to medicine to digital sculpting and many more.

So how will Virtual Reality impact combat sports such as boxing and kickboxing? And what would happen if you took a professional boxer and matched him up against a virtual opponent?

In the following video up and coming pro boxer Kalvin Henderson (4-0, 3 KO’s) of the Straight Right Boxing & Fitness club takes the HTC Vive headset for a spin to test out his boxing skills in the video game ‘The Thrill of the Fight’.

In the game Kalvin takes on ‘Ugly Joe’ and it doesn’t take long for Kalvin to outclass his opponent proceeding to knock him down several times, do an Ali shuffle and even cause the game to crash due to his much more advanced boxing skills.

Although video games like this are still in their infancy on VR, it’s only inevitable that a Fight Night style of game will become reality, and who knows maybe fighters will be able to download perfectly customized sparring partners to mimic their upcoming opponents.

Do you foresee this tech as a potential game changer? Check out the video below and decide.

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HTC Vive is a virtual reality headset developed by HTC and Valve Corporation, released on 5 April 2016. This headset is designed to utilize “room scale” technology to turn a room into 3D space via sensors, with the virtual world allowing the user to navigate naturally, with the ability to walk around and use motion tracked handheld controllers to vividly manipulate objects, interact with precision, communicate and experience immersive environments.

Unveiled during HTC’s Mobile World Congress keynote in March 2015, the HTC Vive has since been awarded over 22 awards in CES 2016, including best of CES. [Source: Wiki]