WBC reform welcome
Nov 19, 2006
BOXING and controversy have been long-time sparring partners, with the sport’s scoring system standing out as a big black spot.
JAMES BAKAMA - I SAY SO
BOXING and controversy have been long-time sparring partners, with the sport’s scoring system standing out as a big black spot.
So, when the World Boxing Council (WBC) recently came up with an innovation, where the scores are displayed after the fourth and eighth rounds, there were sighs of relief.
Currently, a three-judge panel declares the winner at the end of a 12-round contest.
This format has on numerous occasions ambushed, not only fight fans, but also boxers with questionable results.
The new move, according to WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman, is aimed at reducing controversial decisions and keeping fans updated throughout the fight.
The middleweight world title fight between Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright that recently ended in a draw is a classic example. Most people thought Wright had beaten Taylor only to be shocked by the scorecards.
The amateur version of the sport was faster in moving towards transparency. It adopted computer scoring which has scores displayed throughout the fight.
Changes in amateur boxing were made after the 1988 Seoul Olympics scandal. Hosts South Korea, determined to strike gold in boxing, had their light middleweight Park Si-Hun make it to the final with a string of four controversial victories.
In the final, Park faced a slick, 19-year-old American named Roy Jones, Jr. Jones dominated all three rounds, landing 86 punches to Park's 32. Yet three of the five judges awarded the decision to Park, who won the gold medal. Park himself apologised to Jones.
Kassim Ouma is one of those celebrating the WBC innovation.
His fight against Taylor in Arkansas on December 9 will be one of the first fights in the US to be officiated under the new format.
Ouma’s gaiety is understandable, especially after the Taylor versus Wright controversy.
Who wouldn’t want a transparent system, especially when he is on his opponent’s home ground?
But isn’t it time sanctioning bodies like WBC went even an extra mile by having results displayed after every round?
It is only such moves towards transparency that will have the sport wriggling out of its sparring embrace with scandal.
jbakama@newvision.co.ug
BOXING and controversy have been long-time sparring partners, with the sport’s scoring system standing out as a big black spot.
So, when the World Boxing Council (WBC) recently came up with an innovation, where the scores are displayed after the fourth and eighth rounds, there were sighs of relief.
Currently, a three-judge panel declares the winner at the end of a 12-round contest.
This format has on numerous occasions ambushed, not only fight fans, but also boxers with questionable results.
The new move, according to WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman, is aimed at reducing controversial decisions and keeping fans updated throughout the fight.
The middleweight world title fight between Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright that recently ended in a draw is a classic example. Most people thought Wright had beaten Taylor only to be shocked by the scorecards.
The amateur version of the sport was faster in moving towards transparency. It adopted computer scoring which has scores displayed throughout the fight.
Changes in amateur boxing were made after the 1988 Seoul Olympics scandal. Hosts South Korea, determined to strike gold in boxing, had their light middleweight Park Si-Hun make it to the final with a string of four controversial victories.
In the final, Park faced a slick, 19-year-old American named Roy Jones, Jr. Jones dominated all three rounds, landing 86 punches to Park's 32. Yet three of the five judges awarded the decision to Park, who won the gold medal. Park himself apologised to Jones.
Kassim Ouma is one of those celebrating the WBC innovation.
His fight against Taylor in Arkansas on December 9 will be one of the first fights in the US to be officiated under the new format.
Ouma’s gaiety is understandable, especially after the Taylor versus Wright controversy.
Who wouldn’t want a transparent system, especially when he is on his opponent’s home ground?
But isn’t it time sanctioning bodies like WBC went even an extra mile by having results displayed after every round?
It is only such moves towards transparency that will have the sport wriggling out of its sparring embrace with scandal.
jbakama@newvision.co.ug