(DEC 20) WBAN has received a
letter from Tim Lueckenhoff of the ABC Commission, in regards to
"open scoring". The letter is dated December 20, 2011.
Dear Members:
At a recent sanctioning organization’s annual meeting, it was
stated that open scoring would be used during championship
boxing matches held, regardless of the location of the contest.
The purpose of this writing is to remind our ABC member
commissions, that a committee headed by Jim Erickson (Mille Lacs)
studied this issue for an entire year while gathering
information from promoters, contestants, sanctioning
organization and other interested parties. The committee members
included Joe Mason (CO), Pat Pannella (MD) and Bernie Profato
(OH). After the committee's presentation of the information
gathered, open scoring was overwhelmingly rejected by the ABC
membership.
It should be noted that this vote marked the second time that
the ABC debated and then rejected the concept of open scoring.
It had been suggested at the aforementioned sanctioning body
meeting that the scores of each of the three judges were to be
announced after the 4th and 8th rounds of the bout. Further, it
was stated that if a commission refused to allow open scoring,
the sanctioning body's assigned supervisor would be instructed
to signal each corner and indicate the scores of the judges.
The ABC has multiple and significant concerns with regard to
open scoring.
Below please find a cursory list of examples;
1) Boxer A receives an accidental head-butt and (4) rounds have
been completed. Boxer A who received the cut knows he is ahead
on the cards so why would his corner persons try to fix the cut?
The corner person could just let the cut get worse causing the
referee or doctor to stop the bout and the injured boxer will
win.
2) Boxer A is well ahead in the bout it could turn into a track
meet with boxer A becoming very defensive. Any trainer who knows
his boxer is well ahead on points would always instruct his
boxer to use the jab and MOVE - do not engage - your opponent
needs a KO or at least a knock-down (to get a 10-8 round) to
win. O n the other side, would boxer B (knowing he can’t win
without a knock-down) chase him around the ring, throwing wild
punches in a desperate attempt to score a knock-out?
3) Boxer B is well behind so it’s possible he could just quit
because he would know he was well behind and there was little or
no incentive for him to continue.
4) Would the referee knowing one boxer is well behind on points
be more prone to stop a bout?
5) Fans that see a score could become very vocal or even worse
hostile and judges could be intimated to score a round in a
certain manner. This would be particularly true when the home
town boxer is behind and the crowd becomes increasingly loud and
hostile.
6) Fight strategy could be drastically altered after the scores
are given at the conclusion of the 8th round.
In conclusion, the ABC strongly encourages its member
commissions hosting championship contests to advise sanctioning
organizations that open scoring will not be used.
Notice should be provided prior to the weigh-in so there are no
miscommunications. Any representative of the sanctioning group
who attempts to provide the scores of the judges during the
contest should be immediately removed from the ringside area.
The ABC will invite each sanctioning organization to appear at
our annual meeting for further discussion of open scoring. The
ABC meets next year July 23 - 25, 2012, at the Hilton Clearwater
Beach Resort in Clearwater, Florida.
Tim Lueckenhoff
Executive Director
Missouri Office of Athletics
President, Association of Boxing Commissions
573 751 0243 Office
573 751 5649 Fax
