If you could change one rule about boxing what would it be?

Lineage is in many cases just as bad as anything else. Winning against the lineage holder is not in all cases equal to being the best.
The ranking idea is the best when done by an good open, known algorithm like elo-ratings. Then like with all other options, the relevant fights have to happen.

 

Sometimes lineage fights only happen for legitimacy but have no real value. I heard Tyson beating spinks was mostly done because of lineage and it was one of his easiest wins ever. Had he not fought this meaningless fight, someone else would have been linear champion... The man who beat the man sounds good but often it is the man who beat the old man ..

 

A lot of things that I don't like about boxing today revolves around the scoring systems and judges. I think there must be way more accountability for the scorecards judges come up with including:
1. On demand judges must be required to give detailed round-by-round explanation why they scored the fight the way they did, and this must be done publicly.
2. There must be some sort of committee who would enforce some sort of punishment to judges who fail to provide valid explanations for their decisions.
3. Also, I believe there should be a procedure which will enable the committee to overrule the fight result in exceptional cases.

I could go further - there are many things to add and fix; but no one seems to be interested in that.

You can be corrupt and incompetent, and the worst that can happen to you is that you'll face some public outcry (which is not that bad, considering judges are not public figures).

 

When you say that boxing's hierarchy is an illusion created by gloves, what do you mean?

 

12 rounds - needs to be 13.

 

Heavyweights cannot weight more than 240 lbs. Fighters can only gain 5% of the division weight after official weight in.

 

I want more lenient refs. Don't immediately break clinches if the hands are free, let fighters work out of the clinch and make the clinch dangerous again. Clinching is good and so is inside fighting.

 

Treat clinching the same as taking a knee.

 

Stop male boxers wearing skirts.

 

Just one!? Make heavyweight title fights 15 rounds again. Other than that there seems to be an issue with current weigh in systems. Sports science and training is ahead of boxing currently as reflected by the profusion of so called weight bullies these days. Almost seems like we need to go back to 8 divisions.

 

Huge Kudos? Is that what you call your angry dragon?

 

This is a real problem in boxing, it’s slowing down the sport. Not what you want these days.

 

Harsher and more aggressive penalties for clinching.

If Turki is getting bored of runners, this should help solve the issue somewhat.