Yes, if the ref rules a knockdown then the judge is supposed to score a knockdown whether he thinks it was one or not.
Only the ref is empowered to score KD's and take points away. But it doesn't stop them scoring KD's on their 'opinion' and taking points away when the ref never called for an infraction. (Micky Vann in Whitaker/Chavez).
My memory is hazy but Vann caught at lot flack at the time for alledgedly deducting that point because as a judge he wasn't supposed to be allowed to do so without th ref calling it? Then he denied having made the deduction?
"Duva sent a letter of complaint to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which oversees boxing in the state, because judge Mickey Vann of England was quoted in Monday's edition of the London Daily Star that he "took a point away from Whitaker in the sixth round for an appalling low blow." Duva said only the referee, Joe Cortez, had the authority under WBC rules to deduct points for low blows or illegal tactics. Vann and Switzerland's Franz Marti judged the fight a 115-115 draw; judge Jack Woodruff of Dallas scored it 115-113 for Whitaker. James Lawton, writing in the Daily Express in London, quoted Vann as saying,"The referee didn't take off a point, but I thought it had to be done." Vann, speaking by telephone from England, told The Associated Press he did no such thing. "I deducted no points on any round and I told no one that I deducted a point," he said. "I gave it an even fight [115-115]. Mr. Marti scored it an even fight. If Mr. Woodruff had given Chavez just one other round, he would have had it an even fight. That's how close it was."" Texas boxing official Rick Valdez also labeled the quote "bogus." Vann, in turn, was publicly admonished by the British Boxing Board of Control for having talked to the media.
Looks like either Vann took the point or was misquoted by the Daily Star but, either way, he wasn't authourised to take a point without the refs say so.
Froch lost it due to his non-existent guard. I thought his gloves had canvas burns on them at one point. Kessler definitely won however my memory grows ever bleak.
Not wanting to be a pedant but thats not altogether true...a challenger has to win outright to take the title whereas the champ only has to avoid defeat to retain it....there is a difference.