You’re wandering through the Vatican, ducking into alleyways to avoid the gaze of some particularly grumpy Blackshirts, and you stumble upon a heavy wooden door. It’s tucked away, almost shy, at the bottom of a stone staircase. You knock. A tiny slide opens, a pair of eyes judges your fashion sense, and you’re told to beat it.
Welcome to the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle underground boxing ring.
Most players treat the combat in this game like a messy bar fight—lots of frantic clicking and hoping for the best. But these boxing pits are different. They’re a structured, high-stakes test of the game’s brawling mechanics that actually reward you with more than just a bruised ego.
If you want to clear these, you can't just swing wildly. You need a plan.
Finding the Ring: It’s All About the Clothes
Honestly, the hardest part of the boxing quest isn't the actual punching. It’s getting through the door. MachineGames really leaned into the "immersive sim" light elements here. You can’t just waltz into an illegal fight club run by the enemy while wearing your iconic fedora and leather jacket.
To get into the first pit in Vatican City, you need the Blackshirt Uniform. This isn't just lying around on a bench somewhere; it’s tied to your story progress. You have to play through the main quest until you meet Gina Lombardi at the Apostolic Palace. After that little meet-cute, you’ll find the uniform in a small, guarded camp at the south end of the Vatican.
Once you’ve got the threads, equip them from your satchel. Head back to that door between the Belvedere Courtyard and the Sistine Chapel. Knock again. This time, they’ll think you’re one of the boys and let you in.
There are actually three of these pits in the game:
- The Vatican: Requires the Blackshirt Uniform.
- Gizeh (Egypt): Requires the Wehrmacht Uniform.
- Sukhothai (Siam): Requires the Royal Army Uniform.
How to Actually Win Without Pulling Your Hair Out
The combat in the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle underground boxing ring can feel… clunky. If you’re playing on a higher difficulty, the second and third fighters in each ring will absolutely wreck you if you're just button-mashing.
Here is the secret: Stop moving.
Seriously. If you try to dance around like Muhammad Ali, Indy’s blocking becomes less responsive. Stand your ground. The rhythm of these fights is almost like a dance. Wait for them to swing, hit the parry button (LB on controller), and then immediately follow up with two quick punches.
The "Opposite Hand" Trick
A lot of players miss this, but there’s a nuance to the counter-attacks. If an enemy throws a right-hand punch and you parry it, counter-punching with your opposite hand usually deals significantly more stagger damage. It feels more like a real brawl and less like a rhythm game when you get that timing down.
Don't Ignore the Snacks
Look around the edge of the ring. It’s not just for atmosphere. There’s almost always fruit or bread sitting on tables. Eat it between rounds. More importantly, there’s usually a bandage dispenser nearby that provides infinite heals. If you’re entering the second fight with half health, you’re basically asking for a loading screen.
Why Bother? The Rewards Matter
Is it worth the hassle? Yeah, actually.
Each ring consists of three fights. Every time you drop an opponent, the bouncer at the table gives you a stack of cash. In a game where resources can feel scarce, this is a massive boost.
But the real prize isn't the money. It's the Adventure Books. Near the payout table, you’ll usually find a secondary table with rare books for sale. These are essential for unlocking high-tier skills that make the rest of the game—especially the forced combat sections—much more manageable. Finishing all three rings also pops the "Tour de Force" achievement, which is a nice little badge of honor for the completionists out there.
The "I Give Up" Strategy
Look, some of the later fighters in Gizeh are frustratingly good at countering. If you’re just here for the story and the collectibles, there is no shame in using the "Auto-Parry" setting in the accessibility menu. It doesn’t disable achievements, and it turns the boxing ring from a "Dark Souls" experience into a fun interactive movie scene.
You can also just dial the difficulty down for the five minutes it takes to do the matches and then crank it back up for the puzzles. No one is watching you. We won't tell.
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Essential Steps for Success:
- Progress the Story First: Don't try to find the Vatican ring the second you arrive; wait until you meet Gina so the disguise area is accessible.
- Check the Dispenser: Always grab a fresh bandage before the third fighter. They hit like a truck.
- The Heavy Punch: If an enemy is constantly blocking, hold the trigger for a heavy punch to break their guard. It drains your stamina, so use it sparingly.
- Watch the Feet: If the enemy starts glowing or winding up a massive swing, don't try to parry. Use the dodge button (A + Direction) to get clear.
The underground boxing rings are a great change of pace from the temple raiding and Nazi-dodging. They’re a gritty, sweaty look at the 1930s underworld that fits the Indy vibe perfectly. Just remember: keep your guard up and always, always wear the right outfit.
To maximize your character's potential, make sure you check the vendor tables immediately after your third win in each location. Those Adventure Books often contain unique melee upgrades that you won't find anywhere else in the world, and they significantly reduce the number of hits required to take down standard guards in the open-world sections.