so when did this practice stop or does it still occur on certain levels? Just got done watching Carter vs Benton and Mercante scores the lone card for Benton. I like Mercante as a ref, but have not studied his work as a judge to have an opinion on it. So when and why did boxing go to 3 ringside judges? taking the vote from the ref who probably had the best and closest view of the action.
I think highly of Mercante and highly recommend his autobiography. However, I strongly disagree with scoring the third Muhammad Ali Ken Norton fight for Ali.
You see it fairly often in the UK, not in big fights, but even on the undercard of major fights. The controversial decision in the Tyson Fury McDermott fight was the ref's, and they since changed it to judging for English title fights.
I believe the referee should judge a fight along with two officials. Harry Gibbs; perhaps a (few) others (might) warrant a referee judging solely.
