Scoring In Boxing - How Do They Do It?

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Scoring in boxing, both in the Professional and Amateur ranks has been subject to criticism for a long time now. It doesn't help when fight fans around the globe witness their favorite boxers getting robbed due to an incompetent or corrupt judge.

There are many variables to consider when viewing a judges scorecards as all humans think differently and look at different things. Some judges like aggressive pressure fighters; some like defensive counter punchers; some like pure boxers; and some even like the return airfares and accommodation, not to mention the pay check for an easy nights work that they receive from promoters.

There are many great judges in boxing that continue to do the correct thing by staying neutral and showing no favoritism to any particular fighters just because of who their promoter may be. These judges are the stand up ones that should be respected and commended. However, due to the powerful influences that are present; many judges think twice about scoring correctly so corruption is born and another knife is put into boxing's backside.

It's understandable that many judges make their living from scoring big fights and doing the wrong thing by a promoter may jeopardize any future assignments at the promoters events, but there comes a time when it's so ridiculously obvious that they just shouldn't go down the negative path.

For me personally, the worst scoring I've ever witnessed was at the 1988 Olympic games in Seoul, Korea when the officials robbed Roy Jones Jr out of his rightful gold medal. Jones Jr, who won the bout most definitely, only to be robbed blind, took home the silver medal and the Val Barker Trophy for being the Olympic Games most outstanding boxer. The officials, disgraced boxing, themselves and the Olympic committee who hired them.

Ok, now that we've established the good, the bad and the ugly with regards to scoring, lets look at how they score in both the Amateur and Professional ranks. Just click the links below to learn more about scoring in boxing...


How Do They Do It?

Scoring Amateur Boxing Bouts: Scoring Amateur boxing bouts is far different than scoring in the Professional ranks. Amateur boxing bouts consist of five judges that sit ringside with a four button electronic system. The electronic system consists of one blue button; one red button; and two warning buttons.

Scoring Professional Boxing Bouts: Scoring professional boxing bouts is much different to scoring an amateur boxing bout. There are so many variables to consider when scoring in the professional boxing ranks; such as power punches, point deductions and knockdowns.