Among boxing fans, there is an unfortunate and widespread flaw: considering their own judgment as an absolute truth. As a result, after every highly competitive match, those who saw the loser as the rightful winner cry robbery, conspiracy, and corruption. We recently witnessed this in the aftermath of the two thrilling showdowns between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol, followed by baseless controversies from those unable to accept their favorite’s defeat. More moderation and open-mindedness are needed because scoring a boxing round has a degree of subjectivity. Here are 10 decisions that, in my view, are unjustly condemned!
Gennady Golovkin vs Saul Alvarez 2 (Alvarez wins by Majority Decision)
The truly frustrating and questionable aspect of the official scorecards in this fight was the choice by judges Dave Moretti and Steve Weisfeld to award Canelo the final round, which was clearly in Golovkin’s favor. However, an objective assessment of the fight as a whole does not justify cries of scandal. The balance was evident: Golovkin clearly won rounds 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12; Canelo took rounds 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8, while rounds 1 and 5 were tough to call. A razor-thin victory for either fighter was acceptable.
My personal scorecard: 114 – 114
Kid Gavilan vs Billy Graham 3 (Gavilan wins by Split Decision)
This decision has gone down as one of the most controversial in history, but in my opinion, this is largely due to judge Arthur Schwartz’s deathbed confession that he scored in Gavilan’s favor only because he was intimidated by his entourage’s threats. However, watching the fight footage, it’s clear that Graham was extremely passive in the first half of the match, leaving too many points on the table. His furious late rally may not have been enough to secure the victory.
My personal scorecard: 143 – 142 for Kid Gavilan
Devin Haney vs Vasyl Lomachenko (Haney wins by Unanimous Decision)
The public often remembers only the most exciting rounds, and there’s no doubt that Loma, by shaking his opponent in the tenth and eleventh rounds, left a stronger impression on those watching live. However, Haney’s less eye-catching bodywork throughout the fight should not be overlooked, and he deservedly won the final round on all scorecards. Many rounds were extremely tough to judge, and those who saw Lomachenko winning have a valid perspective, but this was no robbery.
My personal scorecard: 115 – 113 for Devin Haney
Eder Jofre vs Fighting Harada (Harada wins by Split Decision)
Brazilian great Jofre, one of the best bantamweights of all time, was convinced until his death that he was wronged the day Japanese challenger Harada took his world title in Nagoya in 1965. However, while the challenger was overall less talented than the legendary “Galo De Ouro,” his style proved difficult for Jofre to handle. Harada neutralized Jofre’s strengths with incredible reflexes and lightning-fast combinations. It was a razor-close battle and the winner didn’t steal anything.
My personal scorecard: 143 – 142 for Fighting Harada
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns 2 (Draw)
The claim that this fight was a robbery was reinforced by Sugar Ray’s remarkable sportsmanship, as he admitted that he and Hearns were “1-1” in his eyes. However, in my opinion, this fight was not as clear-cut as many claim. Several rounds were highly debatable (often, Hearns dominated the first half, while Leonard mounted a strong comeback), and a couple of rounds could reasonably be scored 10-8 for Sugar even without knockdowns. It’s no surprise that The Ring magazine agreed with the draw at the time.
My personal scorecard: 113 – 112 for Thomas Hearns
Larry Holmes vs Tim Witherspoon (Holmes wins by Split Decision)
Holmes was not a widely beloved champion during his long and glorious reign. So, whenever he won in less dominant fashion, many were quick to contest the decision. Witherspoon certainly fought a great fight and seriously hurt the champion in the memorable ninth round, but his moments of brilliance were too sporadic to declare him the undisputed winner. That said, judge Chuck Hassett’s 118-111 card for Holmes was truly disgraceful.
My personal scorecard: 114 – 114
Chris John vs Juan Manuel Marquez (John wins by Unanimous Decision)
Reporters who attended the fight live in Indonesia (both Asian media and The Ring’s Scott Mallon) considered the judges’ decision fair. However, when watching the footage later, many Western analysts and fans were outraged, claiming Marquez was robbed. I align more with those who were there: I’ve rewatched the fight multiple times and felt that Marquez’s aggression and John’s accuracy were evenly matched. The two-point deduction for Marquez, though perhaps a bit harsh, make the difference on my scorecard.
My personal scorecard: 114 – 112 for Chris John
Montell Griffin vs James Toney 1 (Griffin wins by Majority Decision)
I’ve always had immense respect for “Big” George Foreman, but his commentary for this fight seemed off. Foreman refused to credit Griffin with even a single round and, upon hearing the verdict, launched into a bitter tirade against the judges. Personally, I believe Toney struggled against his opponent’s unorthodox style, jab, and constant movement. “Lights Out” landed the flashier shots, but Griffin’s higher work rate made the judges’ decision reasonable.
My personal scorecard: 114 – 114
Oscar De La Hoya vs Felix Trinidad (Trinidad wins by Majority Decision)
The immense love for De La Hoya led many to view this fight with bias. The “Golden Boy” certainly executed the more technically impressive moves, and his mid-fight in-and-out tactics were a delight to watch, but Trinidad started stronger and finished much stronger. DLH should blame his corner rather than the judges, as they misled him into believing he had the win secured, causing him to coast through the final rounds.
My personal scorecard: 114 – 114
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 2 (Taylor wins by Unanimous Decision)
As sometimes happens, expert analysts and casual fans were sharply divided on this fight. Most professionals found the judges’ decision reasonable, while a majority of casual fans cried robbery. I believe Serrano’s relentless aggression misled many into overlooking Taylor’s cleaner and more precise shots, which were fewer in number but of higher quality. There were so many razor-close rounds that any result would have been justifiable.
My personal scorecard: 95 – 94 for Katie Taylor