Open Scoring

Reading through some of the argument about NDs vs KOs on the Greb thread, it has become clear that one of the biggest things harming the sports interest is the scoring and corruption angle.

The whole business of having secret scoring really does leave it so open to corruption it isnt funny, and how unfair is it on a fighter to not know whether the type of fight he is fighting is impressing the judges or not.

And how much more exciting for the fans is it to actually know the real score and who is winning rather than just guess and hope that their are no surprises.

When i think back in history, i think how much more would it have told us if Jack Johnson had known going into down on points going into the last round of Johnson vs Hart. Would Fenech have changed something against Azumah Nelson, knowing that what he was doing wasnt scoring the points. Does Billy Conn try to knock out Joe Louis if he knows the how the scoring is going in their fight.

I think it is only fair that fighters know and are able to see in a fight what is working and how they are doing, so that they can adjust their strategies accordingly.

I think this would help the sport immensely, and to be honest, i find it absolutely astonishing that this system hasnt been trialled, at the very least, with all of the controversy we have had over scoring certain fights. To be honest, i also wouldnt mind seeing an increase in judges to 5, with something like scores being automatically changed if majority of judges have 10-9 and one has 9-10.

 

It's better than what we have now, for sure.

I'd prefer fights to the finish though.

OR ... (and I don't expect many to agree with me on this, it's too much of a paradigm shift) .... ALL distance fights being accepted as actual draws.

 

It is interesting to see the expressions of the Corner, when after telling a fighter he is ahead and got it in the bag , and to stay of of trouble and coast the last round - And he losses a split decision !

As i recall for the Ali Vs Shavers fight, Round by Round scoring was put up on the tV coverage after each round, Crafty Anglo Dundee had a runner going backwards and forwards to the dressing room at the end of each round to impart the current official scoring, he knew exactly what the picture was, and that their was in fact some Coasting Leeway.

I think many boxers might be encouraged to sit on a known lead ? and winde down the clock with a no risk policy, if a fighter is not sure of his standing on the scorecards it could, should act as an encouragement to maintain effort if not increase it ?

I have no qualms with getting rid of Bad Judges or incompetent Referees or at least sending them back to the training Academy.

 

Rules should be carry on until someone gets stopped or until one quits.

 

:good

I think that would work for experienced fighters.

For novices, I say 6 or 8 rounds, and call it a draw if it goes the distance.

This would eliminate all scoring controversies.