By Shaun Brown
WHEN KAMRAN MAHROOF first noticed Anthony Joshua walking into the ring against Andy Ruiz six years ago looking “not his normal self”, it sparked an idea that has quietly evolved over the past two years into a potentially revolutionary tool for combat sports.
What started as a curiosity about eye tracking and AI technology is now being developed as a mobile application designed to safeguard athletes, monitor concussions and ultimately make contact sports safer.
Dr Mahroof, who leads the University of Bradford’s Applied Artificial Intelligence programme at the School of Management, alongside Irfan Mehmood, Associate Professor in Business Data Analytics, began exploring the possibilities of eye-tracking algorithms outside traditional lab settings.
“Our algorithm can accurately track eye movement and spot subtle abnormalities that may signal a concussion,” Dr Mehmood adds.
Unlike many existing technologies that rely on expensive or bulky specialised hardware, the duo’s focus has been on making their solution easy to use.
“The biggest problem is that no one wants to carry around additional gadgets when they already have a mobile phone in their pocket,” says Dr Mehmood.
“I kept asking myself – why can’t we design an eye-tracking system that works on any device, without the need for anything else?”
The algorithm can work through a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, detecting whether a person is tracking objects correctly without requiring dedicated equipment.
It accounts for variable lighting, different settings, and even glasses, all while respecting privacy: “Even if you cover your face, the algorithm still can just detect the eyes and then analyse and do the training. It has nothing to do with personal identity.”
For Dr Mahroof, the breakthrough came when they began thinking about practical applications.
Initially, discussions revolved around playgrounds and children, but usability proved limited.
The team then looked to older age groups and eventually pivoted to combat sports after observing Joshua.
“I thought, OK, this maybe is concussion he’s picked up in training,” says Dr Mahroof.
“Although boxers go through checks before entering the right, we thought maybe more can be done to safeguard a fighter during training and sparring leading up to a fight.
“During a boxing fight, there are also doctors ringside with a small flashlight to help quickly assess brain function through pupil response, which isn’t always practical during training.”
The app, still in trial phases, allows coaches and clinicians to quickly assess fighters after sparring.
“There were those who were health-conscious, but others thought, ‘Oh, but what if he says I’ve got concussion – it means I can’t fight’. But for us, it’s less about the commercial side for boxers, more about the health side,” Dr Mahroof explains.
Health, he insists, must come first: “Ultimately, it’s combat sport, with a lot at stake.
“Can we make it safer? And that’s where things took off.”
The feedback has been largely positive, though not without challenges.
Some athletes worry about being sidelined; others are concerned about the technology’s accuracy. But resistance has been less than expected.
“Some of the boxers were open to the idea,” says Dr Mahroof. “I genuinely thought there would be more resistance.
“What was surprising was how some of the boxers were reading around what this could do for them.
“The obvious one was up-and-coming fighters, selling tickets – you can’t suddenly pull out of a bout. I completely get that side.”
The app provides objective guidance rather than rigid rules: “If you’re not in sync with the patterns of the eye tracker, no heavy sparring, focus on pad work, giving yourself a break.
“Just like if you have a little niggle on the arm, you’re not going to go in heavy on the bag or in sparring.”
Currently, the app is being used primarily in gyms and controlled trials, but the vision could extend to competitive bouts.
“The referee could have an application to say, right, stop, let’s have a look at this,” says Dr Mahroof.
“It gives a score, a dashboard – green, amber, red – tracking that.”
Dr Mehmood compares it to cricket’s decision-review system: “If a doctor says a fighter isn’t fit, the coach could request a review, and the app would give a clear, objective explanation to back up that call.”
The tool is designed to empower, not replace, medical professionals.
“It’s not replacing the doctor, it’s allowing the doctor to utilise and validate and triangulate the findings,” he says.
“Suddenly, you’re using evidence-based approach to validate what you’re actually saying.
“This objectivity is crucial in high-stakes fights where split-second decisions can impact careers.”
Beyond boxing, the app could have wider applications.
Kamran envisions usage across other sports, including football, where concussions are a growing concern.
The team is exploring partnerships with governing bodies and hopes the public exposure from media appearances – most recently the BBC’s Tech Now – will help attract interest.
“We’d like to discuss this with the British Boxing Board of Control or GB Boxing and really use that as a segue to promote this,” Dr Mahroof adds.
But obstacles remain, both technical and cultural.
The algorithm requires robust, validated datasets, especially from athletes with prior concussions or eye abnormalities.
“Collecting data for healthy participants was easy. Collecting data where participants had issues was challenging,” Dr Mehmood says.
Dr Mahroof adds: “On the adoption side, some coaches may resist integrating technology into their routines. Gyms and coaches not open to trailing new practices will always be sceptical, and that’s fine.
“But those who are forthcoming and innovative will view innovations such as this in a positive light.”
Endorsement by the medical community is essential.
“It has to be endorsed by the medical community – just how a doctor would say you’re not fit to fight,” he says.
“They would need to use this algorithm as a means and basis to agree that the fighters shouldn’t be going into the ring.”
Support from clinicians, pharmacists, and researchers ensures the app is both accurate and trustworthy.
Sceptics of technology in combat sports acknowledge the potential benefits.
“Even those who were critical said if it adds longevity to a fighter, so we can be entertained by them in future years, then why not?” Dr Mahroof says.
“The overarching goal is simple: protect fighters, extend careers, and integrate health into a sport that thrives on intensity.
The app, which has yet to receive an official brand name, is expected to roll out in gyms by early next year, with ongoing trials refining its algorithm.
For now, the focus remains on accuracy, usability, and education.
“More clinicians will have given input and validation to the model, so you’re becoming more objective by bringing in perspective from more clinicians and machine learning than just one doctor,” Dr Mahroof says.
From playgrounds to gyms, from trials to televised exposure, what began as a computer vision experiment has transformed into a potential gamechanger for combat sports.
For Dr Mahroof and Dr Mehmood, the journey is far from over.
Their ambition is clear: to provide a tool that ensures fighters can leave the ring with their health intact, ready for another day in the sport they love.
As Dr Mehmood notes: “Our goal is to make this technology simple, accessible, and usable on everyday devices – no special hardware needed” – a principle that may define the future of sports safety technology.
In a sport where split-second decisions can mean the difference between career and catastrophe, an app that monitors the eyes may one day be just as essential as the gloves themselves.
