OLYMPIC OFFICIATING AN INSULT TO BOXERS... AND US!

[DIRT SUGAR]

Like any decent fan worth his salt I'm pulling for all the Team GB lads to do well but find the judging/refereeing in the amateur game a total insult to the level of dedication these guys have put in to get to Beijing.

I watched an Irish lad this morning land a huge right hand on his opponent. The ref gave the obligatory standing count but did his punch count?

The only punches that are guaranteed to score seem to be counter punches. Jabs and bodyshots don't seem to score and there's no points for affective aggression and likewise counterpunching or boxing on the move. I can't bare it.

I never thought I'd watch a game of badminton over an Olympic boxing match but that's how bad things are.

I got out of amateur boxing because of the politics and pompous, self-important officials and that was at club level, so suppose at Olympic level the goings on are taken to an different level.

On plus note, I've seen a couple of lads who I will look forwards to seeing in the pro game, where of course fair play and good will to all men is rampant;-)

AND TO TOP IT ALL: And I can't stand listening to Richie Woodhall and Jim Neilly rambling on... they're a nightmare (and Richie's no doubt a top fella and as an Olympian and former world champ does know his stuff and is a credit to the sport but just can't handle listening to his commentary!).

[dondada]

You're right, Dirt.

I've also seen a few slaps for which the ref has stopped action and warned the fella...and these slaps HAVE scored.

If Yafai only landed three scoring punches this morning, then I'm a chinaman.

How could the system be improved though?

[DIRT SUGAR]

There's the rub. I'm not involved in the sport (boxed a few times and was a qualified coach once) and can only say that watching yesterday my father, not a big fan, was actually laughing at some of the scoring and I was sat there just fuming at the injustice of it all. The guys who get screwed are the guys AIBA should be protecting and allowing to showcase all the hard work they've put in to get to Beijing and give them a fair shake of the stick.

I don't know how hard this scoring thing is, but I think maybe there should be a longer gap, maybe two seconds, in which the judges can score. I just don't see how current system allows for judges' reaction times. It gives a bit of time for a judge to say 'yes I'll give him that one!'

I know that amateur boxing is about he who scores most wins, but that's just not happening in the bouts I see and to see a guy go four rounds, fight his heart out and be told he's only landed one scoring shot! That's just extracting the urine.

[Asterix]

I was watching earlier today and some really nice, crisp shots weren't being scored, yet a wide, swinging hook that glanced over the opponent's head did. I try not to complain about things, but I agree that the judging is terrible.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Amateur boxing is shit, the scoring is ridiculous and it is too far removed from the professional code, it's not even the same sport any more, it's fencing with gumshields.

They need to get rid of that stupid computerised scoring immediately, and go back to normal judging. At the end of the day, you cannot legislate for bias, whether you use buttons, or a piece of paper and a pencil, it's the same outcome, if a judge wants to be crooked, he can do it.

I'm not even going to bother watching the olympic boxing, except maybe Price.

[SticknMove]

I have to agree with all of the above.

This computerised points scoring system is an absolute disgrace. It has totally ruined the amateur format. The amount of crisp clean body shots that haven’t registered is beyond a joke. The system is geared towards cat and mouse single counterpunch picking and running.

Amateur boxing needs to change back to 3x3s, scrapping the computerised scoring and leave the 5 judges at ringside to give their interpretation.

Amateur and pro boxing are two completely different sports at the moment.

[lefthook82]

Its bad for both sides

Regardless of points, how many fights have you watched where you thought the loser should have won

[Loftgroov]

I agree the judging has been shit - bt for both boxers.

I'm not having our fornicating amateurs claiming their piss shit performances have been down to poor judging.

[Carbo]

When I wrote on this issue for David's blog I was concerned I might be swimming against the current. I was out for lunch with my boss around a week ago, and he, as a non-boxing fan, said he had really enjoyed the Olympic boxing, and liked the scoring system. As far as he was concerned, the Amateurs were faster, threw more, the match was over quickly, and he could immediately grasp the scoring and see who was winning the fight.

Perhaps that's what we're up against. Fans like us hate it as a bastardisation of the sport we love; laymen love it as an easily accessible entry to boxing? Perhaps. All I know is that I agree with the general sentiment expressed here.

Anyway, here's the blog entry for David.

http://boxingwriter.wordpress.com/2008/ ... mpic-ring/

[DavidPayne]

I watched a bout the other day, it would seem the same one as Steve Kim who used it to make the same point, between a Brazilian and a fellow from Ghana, one of the lighter weights. I swear the Ghanaian landed numerous body shots which went unscored.

I guess with 5 points of view, body shots are very much harder to see than a head shot.

Buit it really frustrated me.

"gloved fencing".

[E]

Scoring should be done from camera - maybe overhead camera. At the moment at ringside is very difficult to see some punches land.

[KateMossTurdStain]

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