China pits rival humanoids against each other in world's first 'robot boxing tournament'

Two Unitree G1 humanoid robots competed at a boxing tournament in May this year. (Image credit: CMG)

Lifelike humanoid robots took part in the world's first humanoid robot combat competition, where four teams from China pitted their advanced fighting machines against each other.

The China Media Group (CMG) World Robot Tournament — Mecha Combat Arena took place in Hangzhou, China on May 25 and was broadcast nationwide on state-run science channel CCTV-10. During the tournament, viewers were treated to the first-ever sparring of Unitree’s G1 humanoid robots, including punching, kicking, and dodging attacks.

The tournament featured four teams—black, pink, green, and red—each using unique tactics to control their robots. For example, the green team, led by electrical engineer Hu Yunqian (nicknamed the “Guardian of Power Core”), used a strategy of “constant pressure, inch by inch” to defeat their opponents.