Boxing Legends of the Ring lets you control eight famous boxers: Roberto Duran, Tommy "Hitman" Duran, Jake "Raging Bull" La Motta, Rocky Graziano, "Sugar" Ray Robinson, "Sugar" Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and James Toney. You can either play an exhibition match or try to become the greatest of all time in career mode.
The game's punch set includes standard punches like jab, hook and uppercut, as well as a low blow that is not allowed. Each round and every knockdown you score on your opponent earns you a super punch, which can be almost unbeatable but also carries the risk of losing it for the next round.
During a fight, there are two main displays: a damage meter in the form of two boxing gloves, showing where each punch lands. The gloves also show the fighters' faces and bruises that accumulate as the round progresses. As the round wears on, the fighter's face may turn red when they're tired, making it an ideal time to land a super punch.
Another unique feature is the alternating view during each round, switching between looking over your shoulder and seeing yourself from your opponent's perspective.