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Philippines, 14 Jan 2026 |
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Judging fights for unofficial boxing judges By Epifanio M. Almeda PhilBoxing.com Thu, 15 Jul 2010  ?The criticisms and disagreements make boxing more interesting and exciting. This makes guys like us glued to this sport?. So says boxing referee and judge, Atty. Danrex Joseph Tapdasan, as we discussed the now seemingly series of printed criticisms of the 97-93 turn out of my total score for Omar Soto in his 10 July 2010 split decision loss to Brian Viloria. Most of those who expressed agreement that Soto won the fight are non sports writers. Their approval would not see print. I see Ronnie Nathanielsz?s series of comments as fair since he presented overall a balanced view. Ronnie mentioned the concern of one of Brian?s cornermen, former super middleweight champion Frankie Liles, who egged on Brian to do more towards the end of the fight. Ronnie also questioned the other two judges? scores of 97-93 in Brian?s favor. Ronnie wrote in a follow up article, ?How anybody, least of all a judge could score the fight for Soto by a 97-93 margin is beyond comprehension as is the 97-93 margin of the judges who had Viloria the winner because it was closer than that. To have three judges watching the same fight come up with an eight-point swing tells us, something was wrong somewhere.? As I?ve previously written and I write again, scores do not necessarily indicate the fight closeness or the lack of it. A score of 100-90 is even possible in a 10-round close fight. I have written about this possibility in my 23 February 2010 philboxing.com article entitled ?Judges are judged?. The link is: http://philboxing.com/news/list.articles.php?aid=316&id=34743 I just wonder, though, whether veteran sports writer-critics and who may not have officially judged an actual fight would even care to read articles of newbie writers. To those who do, and the curious boxing fans who wonder how boxing judges judge, they might want to read on. Judges follow rules and criteria to come up with fair and just scores. Some of these rules are: ? Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate. ? Be fair. Always remember, justice in boxing is in your hands. ? Each round is a fight. Score the round as you see it. When scoring a round, don?t think of the previous round or the round ahead. ? Do not keep separate score cards. The boxing supervising commission will tally the scores. ? Don?t mind how the other two judges would score the round. ? When the two boxers climb the ring, forget their respective nationalities or flags, their reputation, their records, their trainers, their managers, their promoters. A boxer?s name is merely to remind you he comes from the blue or red corner inside the ring. ? In the 10-point must system, and depending on the number of knockdowns or dominance by one over the other, score the round 10 for the winner and 9 or 8 or 7, or 6 for the loser. If the boxers performed evenly based on the scoring criteria, score the fight 10-10. The criteria in scoring a round are, (some are excerpts from the WBC guidelines): Effective aggressiveness. The winner of the round lands clean punches with power, number and accuracy whether he is moving forward, sideward or backward or counter punching. Ring generalship. If the boxers are even using criterion #1, consider ring generalship. The boxer who controls the action with boxing skills gets the nod. Pure aggressiveness. If the boxers are still even, the one who goes decidedly after his rival and forces the action wins the round against the other who only runs away and does not stop to fight. Foul tactics. If still in doubt at the end of the round, the boxer who is using or resorting to foul tactics loses the round. Critics strongly call for reorientation and seminars for boxing judges when they disagree with a judge?s scorecard. This cry has been echoed even by some handlers whose boxers lose a close fight. The suggestion is well taken. Boxers, trainers, managers, and sport writers should be invited to attend seminars for boxing judges and referees. I would also add that boxing commissions, the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) in the Philippines, require promoters to place one video/audio camera at each of the three (3) judges? eye level seats. This way, a review of a judge?s scoring could be made and the judge?s performance fairly evaluated and discussed by the commission authorities with the judge/s concerned. In the first Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight, one judge scored it 115-105 Pacquiao while the other had it 115-105 for Marquez. A ten-point difference in scoring. Surprising? It shouldn?t be. The presumption of regularity in the performance of his duty should be on the side of the boxing judge. A judge scores what he sees. One judge sitting on one side would not be in the position to see what the other judges sitting on different sides see. A judge?s point of view right beside the ring would differ from a spectator?s who sits seats away and at another angle from the action. This spectator?s observation as to who won and who lost a close round is not a good gauge for him to criticize a judge?s score of that round. But criticisms would always be voiced. I hope some of the non official boxing judges in the Philippines now who have read this far have gotten interested in becoming official boxing judges. The GAB?s telephone # is (02) 810-5177. But always, ?The criticisms and disagreements make boxing more interesting and exciting.? I couldn?t agree more, Danrex. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Epifanio M. Almeda.  |
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