BOXING SHOULD EMBRACE THE PARTIAL OPEN SCORING RULE

The World Boxing Council ratified unanimously the implementation of the partialopen scoring rule to be used in WBC-sanctioned bouts. The rule allows the announcement of the official scoring of the judges after the 4th and 8th rounds.

The WBC has used open scoring for 6 years all around the world. The results have been extremely positive without a single incident that would have compromised the integrity of the sport or the bout. To the contrary, the use of the rule has providedthe fans at the arena and TV spectators great drama in the last 4 rounds. Moreimportantly, the use of open scoring has given both fighters the fair opportunity to adjust their strategy during the fight.

The boxing community in general, but especially the fighters and trainers who have experienced the open scoring rule, are overwhelmingly in favor of its use

The WBC Board of Governors also approved the option to use a limited form of open scoring. Under the limited rule, only the corners would receive the official scores after the 4th and 8th rounds. The limited rule intends to cover instances whenthe jurisdiction does not permit the announcement of the scores to the public.

The WBC would like to work with the Association of Boxing Commissions in the U.S., and with the commissions of every U.S. jurisdiction toward the implementation of some form of open scoring during WBC-sanctioned fights.

The State of Arkansas used open scoring during the Jermain Taylor versus KassimOuma fight on December 9, 2006. More recently, the State of Texas used the limited open scoring rule during recent Chavez Jr. versus Rubio WBC Championship fight.

“I am very happy with this practice; I thought I was winning with a clear advantage but in reality the judges had a much closer fight, so I gave it all in the last 4 rounds and I was victorious”. (Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.)

“It is a wonderful rule; I had used it in Mexico before and it helped my strategy tremendously in this fight against Chavez” (Hector Sanchez, trainer of Marco Antonio Rubio).

The links immediately below include Sugar Ray Leonard and Lennox Lewis’ very positive statements about the open scoring rule upon being asked about it.

http://vimeo.com/37327389  (Sugar Ray Leonard)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoZVcv46uII  (Lennox Lewis)

The WBC respects the authority and jurisdiction of each country, state and local commission, and it will work together with those agencies to try to establish the open scoring rule in the U.S. The WBC believes that the rule is a great tool for fighters to strive toward a just result. It also allows the fighters to act and react based on accurate and non-speculative information about the judges’ scores while the fight is still ongoing. In short, the open scoring rule prevents the surprise and shock that can come with learning that the actual scores are totally different from what each corner thought they were.

Source:  wbcboxing.com/wbcVersEng/index.php