Yes they can. They can also NOT award a 10-8 in a knockdown round if they feels the other fighter has done enough to offset the knockdown. What he's not supposed to do is give credit for a knockdown the ref rules a slip or not give credit where he feels the ref has given an incorrect knockdown.
I think Kessler won because he was at home, had Froch had been fighting in England he'd have won. Really close. I'd expect Froch to win if they fought again any time soon. Froch looked a bit awkward in there, balance looked off or something. Real lack of head movement.
Yeah, those bodyshots were so ineffective they had Carl visibly wincing, cut his workrate and changed the trajectory of the fight. Real insignificant.
Would any of those who are saying 'Kessler close but clear' etc. mind giving me a bit of feedback about my card after I watched the fight a few months back... Kessler-Froch Round 1 - Froch Round 2 - Kessler Round 3 - Froch Round 4 - Froch Round 5 - Froch Round 6 - Kessler Round 7 - Kessler Round 8 - Kessler Round 9 - Kessler Round 10 - Froch Round 11 - Froch Round 12 - Even Total - 115-114 Froch Anyone recall any rounds they had drastically different to mine? I hadn't scored the fight before and figured I would have it to MK by a couple. This is what I said in the WFDYSTT: 'Good fight but really hard to score. Majority of rounds were very close. My general feeling was that the battle of the jab was essentially even, Froch was landing the harder power shots early and in some of the later rounds too, whereas, Kessler was excellent to the body. Could not decide on the 12th as they both threw a lot, both missed a lot and were both knackered by the end.'
Edited: I understand and agree on your point Ice but a judge has to look at the title as vacant when scoring IMO. Just don't believe a challenger has to do extra's to win a title when there doing good enough to win rounds in a non title fight. Just my stance..
Al Bernstein / Showtime had Froch winning. Actually just checked - Bernstein had Froch, Tarver had Kessler. Both said it was close. Press row mainly had Froch.
Press row were mainly wrong. Too impressed by Froch's kamikaze attitude to the fight and not paying attention to Kessler out-working, out-landing and out-toughing the man.