Scoring a boxing fight inherently involves a subjective component that cannot be eliminated. Despite efforts to introduce clear and unequivocal guidelines for judges, a closely contested round can never be assigned with scientific rigor and unanimous consensus. As a result, there will always be fights where the identity of the winner will divide judges, fans, and experts. However, there have been cases where the judges’ decisions have scandalized and horrified almost everyone, perhaps due to simple incompetence or, hopefully not, bad faith. Here, in no particular order, are ten examples of verdicts that boxing fans struggle to understand.
Timothy Bradley defeats Manny Pacquiao by SD (06/09/2012)
The poor commentary by HBO, which emphasized Manny’s every punch while culpably ignoring many of Bradley’s actions, made this verdict seem worse than it was. Nonetheless, Pacquiao had won rather clearly, and the interpretation of two out of three judges left fans quite perplexed. Pac Man would, however, make up for it in the two subsequent encounters.
Silvio Branco defeats Glen Johnson by UD (04/15/2000)
Fighting continuously abroad is a sign of courage but also a cause of unfavorable verdicts. The “Road Warrior” Glen Johnson knows this well, having been deprived of several clear victories. Particularly bizarre was the verdict of this fight in Padua, loudly booed by the audience. The Barbarian from Civitavecchia, shaken several times by the opponent’s rights, benefited from an inexplicable unanimous decision.
Shannon Briggs defeats George Foreman by MD (11/22/1997)
It’s a shame that Big George’s long and magnificent career ended with a loss invented by the judges. Despite the age difference, Foreman fought a very proactive match, systematically closing the distance and completely neutralizing Briggs’ right hand, his best weapon. Like a gentleman, the defeated did not make a fuss, while the winner was “punished” a few months later by Lennox Lewis’s blows.
Shane Mosley defeats Oscar De La Hoya by UD (09/13/2003)
DLH had some help from judges in his career, like in the fights against Ike Quartey and Felix Sturm, but also some injustices. If in their first bout, Shane Mosley had given him a lesson by skillfully eluding his sterile aggression, in the second, Oscar adopted a perfect strategy, leaving the initiative to Sugar and constantly outpacing him from a distance. Mosley’s late reaction earned him some points, but to see him as the winner…
Paul Williams defeats Erislandy Lara by MD (07/09/2011)
Having little media presence can be a curse for a boxer. With his reserved character and highly cerebral boxing, the Cuban Lara never excited the US crowds, and juries often followed popular sentiment. If the loss to Canelo was controversial, the one to Paul Williams was simply outrageous: the Guantanamo southpaw landed hundreds of clean lefts but returned home empty-handed.
Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield: DRAW (03/13/1999)
If one wants to open a debate on a verdict between Lewis and Holyfield, it might be over the second fight, which was more balanced, though deservedly won by the Brit. The first encounter, however, was dominated from start to finish by Lennox’s jab and long punches, with a lackluster Evander never getting into the fight. Giving him a draw and allowing him to remain champion was a big gift; fortunately, the rematch set things right.
James Toney defeats Dave Tiberi by SD (02/08/1992)
What made this verdict even more shocking was that the two responsible judges, as later emerged, did not even have a license to judge fights in New Jersey. The IBF’s shortsightedness, which refused to annul the official result, and the boxing world’s unwillingness to reform drove Tiberi to hang up his gloves.
Joe Louis defeats Jersey Joe Walcott by SD (12/05/1947)
The great Louis, after a decade of supremacy in the heavyweight division, began to feel the toll of battles when the elegant Walcott put him in trouble. The Brown Bomber hit the canvas twice and was so disappointed with his performance that he tried to leave the ring immediately, being restrained. He later corrected the injustice by winning the rematch by KO.
Muhammad Ali defeats Ken Norton by UD (09/28/1976)
Norton was a real nemesis for Ali. The first time he broke his jaw and defeated him on points; the second he was narrowly subdued thanks to an exciting final round. The third encounter, which took place when The Greatest was in clear decline, was marred by a poor decision from the judges. Norton relentlessly attacked his rival and was the better man for large portions of the fight, but this wasn’t enough to convince the jury.
Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez: DRAW (09/10/1993)
Perhaps Whitaker’s loss to Ramirez was an even worse robbery, but we prefer to list the fight against the great Chavez due to the stature of the protagonists. The Mexican, who was on the decline and not comfortable at welterweight, found no countermeasures to Sweet Pea’s speed and barely won three rounds out of twelve. The jury did not want to give him his first professional defeat and declared an inexplicable draw.