Aug-boxing

Augmented Boxing or more commonly known as Aug-boxing, Stahl Kunst, Metal Martial Arts, or any other number of names is a relatively new combat sport that has its roots in the . The exact definition of Aug-boxing varies from league to league and even from competitor to competitor, but a number of ground rules exist no matter where one goes. Naturally, both competitors must be physically cybernetically augmented in some manner. While most aug-boxers have limbs replaced in order to compete, this is not necessarily the case for all leagues. Some permit the usage of rudimentary exoskeleton augments rather than full cybernetic replacements. Secondly, the power and capability of aug-boxing augments are strictly regulated on a league-by-league basis to ensure a level playing field and the safety of both fighters. The referee in any official aug-boxing match has the authority to deactivate the augments of a competitor they deem to be using ‘excessive force’ during the match.
While Aug-boxing has its roots in the Outer Colonies, the sport has become remarkably popular among the too, with millions upon millions tuning in to watch favorite fighters fight in the ring. The most famous of these fighters also have long plotlines and rivalries that see their conclusions in the ring. After the conclusion of the and the defrosting of Human and alien relations, aug-boxing has slowly but surely spread into space, with a small but growing fanbase for the sport sprouting among the likes of the and the . 
While Aug-boxing is a martial art in its own right, it has no official schools and few teachers. Instead, anyone intending to learn Aug-boxing is encouraged to learn another martial art, and then apply those techniques into aug-boxing. This is often easier said than done, as the addition of an augment into these techniques complicates them. 
== History ==
Thanks to the nebulous nature of aug-boxing, it is difficult to determine when it was first developed. All evidence points to the first instance of organized aug-boxing was in the late 2300s, on the hollow asteroid colony of Mercy-2. Asteroid mining was an exceptionally dangerous profession, and as a result many of the inhabitants of Mercy-2 had at least one form of cybernetic limb. Boxing and other forms of recreational mixed martial arts were popular amongst the workers here, and it didn’t take long for a nascent form of aug-boxing to take shape, with rudimentary rules and simple augments, workers had flocked from all across the asteroid to watch the bouts. The earliest of these bouts resembled conventional boxing and MMA more than modern aug-boxing, as these early augmentations were only somewhat more capable than the average human arm.
News of the sport had spread from Mercy-2, passed by word of mouth as outsiders had visited the asteroid. Many larger MMA organizations had simply derided this sport as a fad on a backwater colony, claiming that the cost of augmentation would be too large a barrier of entry. Contrary to the beliefs of the establishment, footage of these rudimentary bouts were compelling enough to draw larger audiences on the asteroid, and eventually, beyond. The fighters on Mercy-2 were unprepared for the sudden influx of popularity, but many established MMA fighters were willing to offer their experience to support the fledgling sport and assist in training.
It took several years for aug-boxing to find a footing in the terrestrial spheres of the UNSC, and while it never would overtake preexisting combat sports in popularity, it would gain a small but loyal fanbase. The first official aug-boxing league that had gained widespread fame in the colonies was established on , known simply as the Ballast Cybernetic Martial Arts League. As was the case on Mercy-2, the world’s heavy industry workers had served as the backbone of this league. Additionally, a large number of former UNSC military personnel had come to Ballast, many of them bearing cybernetic limb replacements and other augments. While the fights prior to the BCMAL’s establishment were near indistinguishable from mixed martial arts, the BCMAL had allowed for somewhat more exotic implants and reinforced limbs to be employed in their fights. Reinforced armatures and enhanced reaction modules had made their debut in the BCMAL’s rings, wowing audiences with the strength of their strikes and bouts of seemingly superhuman reaction times. While many within the audience had cried foul and claimed that these enhanced augmentations had gone against the values of the sport, the participants had adapted quickly to the new situation, oftentimes with a combination of advanced training regimens and augmentations of their own. Ultimately, these augmentations had proven to be accessories to a fighter’s skill rather than replacements for them as was predicted. The BCMAL had quickly risen up the ranks in terms of viewership, with millions upon millions tuning in to watch the main events of high profile fights. After the booming success of the BCMAL, aug-boxing had skyrocketed in popularity, with smaller leagues mirroring the BCMAL sprouting up across various worlds. 
== Aug-boxers of Note ==
One of the oldest and most renowned aug-boxers in the scene, Jotaro “Two-Step Jo” Ueshiba was once an asteroid miner working on Mercy-2. Like many of his fellows, Jotaro had lived a humble life, doing the same work that his parents had done. While their lives weren’t particularly comfortable, they had never wanted for anything either. A freak accident had resulted in the loss of both of his arms, which were promptly replaced by civilian grade cybernetics. These were enough to get him back to work but little else. Many had advised that he participate in aug-boxing to better acclimate to his new cybernetics. He had risen to fame in the early days of the sport due to his lightning fast reaction times and finesse. Even with the rise of advanced cybernetic enhancement, Jotaro’s agility was still able to outmatch them. 
A newer aug-boxer who’s made a splash on the scene in the six months she’s been competing, Andrea Cassidy is one of the most popular boxers currently competing in the BCMAL. Andrea had served in the UNSC military during the waning years of the Human-Covenant War, participating in many critical battles at the tail end of the war, including the and the . She had served with distinction during both of these battles, but was critically wounded following the fighting on the Ark, losing the usage of an arm and a leg to a detonation. Following her retirement from the armed services, Andrea was left listless and bound from job to job until she settled on Ballast, quickly gaining a knack for aug-boxing.