In
boxing history there used to be an ample number of fights
that ended in a draw. Rounds that weren't clear were
scored as even. In the last 10-20 years there has been a
call to eliminate draws. Some people suggest having an
odd number of rounds. Of course a knockdown or point
deduction totally kills that logic. There is also a call
for having no more even rounds, the rationale being that
no round can truly be even. That might be applicable if
the rounds were reviewed with selected replays by the
judges. However, the reality is that judges have only
mere seconds to record their decisions.
So what is so wrong about fights and
rounds being scored even? I know I've seen fights where a
draw was (or would have been) a very fair decision. If
the result is unsatisfactory, there can always be a
rematch to distinguish who is the better fighter.
Football and Hockey used to have ties. Paying fans wanted
more conclusive results so they invoked overtime to
separate the winners from losers. That doesn't change the
fact that the game was even when the regulation time
expired. Occasionally an extra tie breaking round has
been tried for boxing, but since boxing is unique it isn't
practical or fair to the participants, who are usually
removing their gloves and tape as soon as the fight ends.
Even rounds are also a reality.
Sometimes during an opening round almost nothing of note
occurs. Other times a round will be so frantic it is
impossible to distinguish who won without a review. If
you force a judge to pick he'll do one of three things.
He'll pick which fighter he prefers, or he'll pick the
hometown fighter, taking the safer route. Or he might
just guess. This isn't the way boxing matches should be
decided. What ends up happening is that a round with
little to choose from becomes the same score as a decisive
round that had no knockdown. Could you imagine if in
baseball they had to score innings which no runners
crossed the plate?
The popular saying these days goes "it
is what it is." I agree. If a round is even, score it
that way. If a fight is even, live with it.
Scott Sanders
11-01-2007 |