Boxing Legends of the Ring lets you play as one of the following eight greats in your effort to become champion: "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler, Jake "The Raging Bull" LaMotta, Sugar Ray Robinson, Rocky Graziano, Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran, Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, and James "Lights Out" Toney.
Exhibition, Career and Battle of the Legends are the three game modes available, with Career Mode allowing you to create your own boxer and slug through six fights for the Middleweight Belt. Each boxer is rated in punch power, stamina and chin, depending on his style of fighting (street, military or Olympic).
After selecting a style, you'll receive ten strength points to divide among the three categories. For every fight you win, you'll earn two more strength points, while every loss will give you one point for experience. Career progress can be saved via passwords received after each fight.
The game features a perspective just over your boxer's shoulder as your opponent looks toward the screen. Moves such as jabs, uppercuts, hooks, blocks and ducks are all part of the fighting, as are clinches, allowing boxers to hug their opponents to regain stamina.
Other notable features include: super punches earned after each round or knockdown (up to three); optional "blackouts" causing the screen to go black after repeated blows to the head; adjustable exhibition rounds from two to twelve per match; instant replay letting you review each knockdown; and different skill levels for either Exhibition or Battle of the Legends game modes (from one to five). The 8-Meg Boxing Legends of the Ring is also available on the Super Nintendo console.