The World Boxing Council has just publicized drastic new tactics so that the official judges’ scorecards are shown at different intervals during bouts. Under these new rules, the master of ceremonies will tell the audience who is winning after the fourth and eighth rounds.
This new system is to be used for the first time during two WBC title fights this November in Japan. WBC president, Sulaiman believes this new system will help retain the honesty of the, at the moment rather unlawful, sport of boxing. He said: “We have been doing so many clinics, basic guidelines, booklets and videos, but we still have a problem. I believe that this is gigantic in sports and will make the judges more conscientious of their responsibility. It will ensure the judges concentrate 100% and it will give them a sense of pride, because they have confidence in their scoring and themselves.”
But although the regulation was accepted by a majority vote from the WBC governors, it was decided that any national commission can decide not to use it if they wish not to. But it remains to be seen whether boxing other’s governing bodies, such as the WBA and IBA, will apply this new system themselves as they did when the WBC shortened the length of title fights from 15 to 12 rounds. But this concept is not entirely new to the sport as back in 1977 it was first used during Muhammad Ali’s heavyweight bout with Earnie Shavers at New York’s Madison Square Garden. I think this will be a big step forward for boxing and it is very much needed to help reduce corruption.
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