Showtime Championship Boxing is a fighting game inspired by the popular television boxing program airing on the US Showtime cable network. The game features fourteen heavyweights and welterweights, as well as four arenas to fight in: New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
The gameplay involves strategic punching, with a health meter that recharges when dodging hits for a period of time. Energy bars determine the effectiveness of punches, and too many punches can deplete the bar and affect a boxer's ability to get up after being knocked down.
The game offers various modes, including:
Single Fights (Quick): fight for only one round until one of the boxers is knocked out.
Single Fights (Regular): play for 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 rounds and choose to decide it by a KO, TKO or by points.
Points System: after each round each boxer is awarded points based on performance. At the end of a fight, or after a KO or TKO, the player with the most points wins.
Belts: series of three (Amateur), four (Contender) or six (Showtime) fights. Each fight lasts four rounds or three minutes and the aim is to win one of the belts.
King of the Ring: one boxer takes on all other boxers in his weight division in one long round.
Additional fighters are unlocked by winning competitions, and most modes can be played with two players through a wireless connection for the Wii console.