San Francisco, CA- People often say that the scoring of a boxing match shouldn?t require a PHD in pugilism. And while I feel that notion is correct, there are some people, regardless of how much training they?ve had, just can?t get the concept down. No, I?m not going to name names, but ?ineptness? as well as ?chicanery,? they are both alive and well in professional boxing better than a century after the Marques of Queensbury established organized prizefighting as we know it today. .
WHEN IS A ROUND SCORED 10-8?
A fortnight ago, I penned a piece describing the elements and criteria involved in scoring a professional prizefight. At the conclusion of the well-received piece, more than one person wanted to know exactly what goes into a two point or 10-8 round in boxing.
KNOCKDOWN ALMOST ASSURES TWO POINTS!
The easiest way to nab a 10-8 round if you are a fighter is to knock your opponent down. In the old days, prior to the 10 point must system, and the scoring by rounds system that was utilized in New York until the latter part of the 20th century, when a boxer scored a knockdown the round was over. Before we go any further, the current 10 point must system necessitates 10 points to the winner, 9 or less to the loser of a three minute session of battle.
10-7 & 10-6 ROUNDS ARE INDEED RARE
A few years ago in the first Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight, the Mexican warrior was dropped thrice in the opening round by the Filipino icon. This in my mind called for a 10-6 scoring of the round, a true rarity in prizefighting. Two of the jurists, Guy Jutras and John Stewart scored the round 10-6. The third judge was Bert Clements who scored the round 10-7. With his final tally being 113-113, the vociferous followers of Pacquiao were quick to point out that had Clements followed suit, the fight would have ended much like their rematch last month with a split decision win for Pacman.
KNOCKDOWN NOT A GUARANTEE FOR 10-8
All that being said a knockdown does not automatically mean a 10-8 score. If a fighter was winning the round for the most part and he gets dropped, a judge can and has scored the session 10-9. There are other instances in which a fighter gets pummeled for an entire round, and even though he isn?t rendered horizontal, a 10-8 score is applied seeing the drubbing he took for a vast majority of the round.
INTANGIBLES ALIVE AND WELL!
A fighter being penalized can often result in a 10-8 round, or a 9-9 round. The 9-9 scoring, another rarity, it applies when the man winning the round has a point taken away. Having been the victim of a number of split decisions, five of which I pitched a shutout on two of the five cards (amateur fights are usually scored by five judges), I have to tell you that I never felt secure in leaving the scoring up to the judges. In closing, a 10-8 round usually means one fighters dominance or a clean knockdown has occurred.
