Scoring Professional Boxing - How Do They Do It

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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. A fighter might be getting cooked for dinner inside the ring during a round before he happens to land a big punch and score a flash knockdown to steal the round by getting awarded more points due to the knockdown.

Unlike the amateurs, each punch doesn't count as a point; instead, the professionals use what is called the 10 point must system, which scores a fight round by round giving the perceived winner of the round 10 points, and the perceived loser of the round 9 points. The round could be scored 10 all if a clear winner of the round doesn't emerge.

But the scoring for the professional ranks doesn't end there. If a fighter does all but knock their opponent down and easily wins a round in dominating fashion, then the round may be scored 10-8. If they knock their opponent down, they will win the round by a 10-8 margin. If they knock their opponent down twice, they will win the round by a 10-7 margin. Or if the three knockdown rule isn't in effect and a fighter drops their opponent down three times, it's scored as a 10-6 margin and so forth.

Referee deductions also play a part in the overall end score if the fight makes the distance. Close fights in the past have been won and lost due to a penalty deduction caused by illegal moves or the refusal to comply with the referees instructions. At the end of the bout, the three judges scoring ringside hand their scorecards in to be announced.