CONSIDERED JUGEMENT

CONSIDERED JUGEMENT
By James Blears

World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman is urging Judges in Las Vegas, elsewhere and everywhere to embrace a more comprehensive system, in order to minimize the risk of lop sided and incorrect scores.

He made these comments, as the controversy continues about the score card of Adelaide Byrd which indicted that Saul “Canelo” Alvarez won ten of the twelve  rounds in his challenge of WBC middleweight Champion Gennady “GGG”  Golovkin.  Gennady retained the title with a draw.

Mauricio stressed that Adelaide Byrd is honest and of absolute integrity. He further clarified this by saying:  Adelaide Byrd is a very decent honourable person, a Lady and I`m unhappy that she`s going through this very difficult moment. It was not a good night for Adelaide, and I`m very sorry that she has to go through this.

But, focusing on the overall issue rather than singling out an  individual, he insisted: “The Boxing Community must understand that we need to do something. It`s not enough to be angry and to speak out whenever there`s a controversy.  It happens over and over again.

“We have introduced a few options that address the matter. To have open scoring after the fourth and the eighth round. So at least the boxer knows how the fight is being scored and can try to adjust strategy.

“To have the Judges wear noise cancelling headphones. That was obviously a tremendous influence in this fight.  Twenty two thousand people screaming every time Canelo landed a jab, even if it was on the arms or the gloves, or not even connecting.  Golovkin would land…and there was not the same reaction. So it has an influence.  Also, the process of selection of Ring Officials. There should be a pool of the fifty best of the World.”

To be an effective and reliable Boxing Judge a person needs to be a safe pair of hands and have a cool head.  Mauricio explains: “You need to be able to take pressure, concentrate and to understand that when that bell rings to end the round, it`s over and then you go to the next round.  You  cannot carry on and carry over.  You give the first round to one fighter, then you think everything is going the same way and you carry on.”