15 rounds....Should it come back?

[jizzle]

Watching the Froch/Kessler fight made me wish that there were another three rounds to go...

I know the safety element (and that TV prefers 12) but would people like to a return of these rounds?

Thoughts on a postcard.

[Chris W 1982]

Id like nothing better.

[alexpaterson]

No I think 12 rounds is good.

[Finch]

Watching the Froch/Kessler fight made me wish that there were another three rounds to go...

I know the safety element (and that TV prefers 12) but would people like to a return of these rounds?

Thoughts on a postcard.

If 15 rounds had been scheduled for last night, do you really think the 12th would have panned out like it did?

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

No - and I will go one further, I think 10 rounds is a good championship distance. It is a few countries
around the world whose national belt is over 12 rounds. I think the UK, NZ, South Africa and the USBA are
the only national sanctioning bodies that have 12 rounds fights these days. One of the best things the
WBC ever did for boxing is implement 12 round championship distance.

You'll get more action in a 10 rounder and if you look at cards these days - how many time do you see
an eight rounder which was so common just 15 years ago - now most undercard fights are 4/6 rounders.
Four rounders were for novices not that long ago whereas now you even get championship calibre fighters
taking part in them.

One thing boxing has learnt from MMA (I hope...) is that 'less is more'

[n1ebf]

No. Referees can't see what's happening inside people's bodies. Sometimes they can't see full stop. Fighters...trainers...cornermen, they have their own agendas and all judge fights differently, sometimes incorrectly, with tragic consequences.

What I'm saying is it's dangerous, 12 rounds, 36 minutes, it should be enough time to each competitor to do enough to win. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen fights, or particular 12 round fights and thought.......fck me......15 years ago there'd have been 3 more rounds, an shuddered at it.

[Datsue]

Watching old fights with my girlfriend I often have to explain that perceived lulls in the action are due to the rigours of the fifteen-round distance.

The public today wants a blur of motion & action from the first bell (hence I believe at least some of the reason MMA is popular) & I don't think people have the patience to appreciate old-time approaches to negotiating the championship distance.

[Datsue]

Sorry missed this post so I'll reply here...

What I'm saying is it's dangerous, 12 rounds, 36 minutes, it should be enough time to each competitor to do enough to win. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen fights, or particular 12 round fights and thought.......fck me......15 years ago there'd have been 3 more rounds, an shuddered at it.

Hahahaha! Damn straight. I've often thought that Ottke in his younger days would've been a good fifteen round fighter; then I have to resist the notion to go & score some mind-altering drugs to scour my brain-pan clear of the vile thought of actually watching the git!

[AntonS]

Many of the guys that fought 15 rounds are punch drunk these days

[Hagler2002]

Many of the guys that fought 15 rounds are punch drunk these days

Did the 12 rnds before have no effect on them

[Hagler2002]

I'd like to see it return, medical facilities are far better now so I say give it a go, won't ever happen mind.

[TheCobra]

No - and I will go one further, I think 10 rounds is a good championship distance. It is a few countries
around the world whose national belt is over 12 rounds. I think the UK, NZ, South Africa and the USBA are
the only national sanctioning bodies that have 12 rounds fights these days. One of the best things the
WBC ever did for boxing is implement 12 round championship distance.

You'll get more action in a 10 rounder and if you look at cards these days - how many time do you see
an eight rounder which was so common just 15 years ago - now most undercard fights are 4/6 rounders.
Four rounders were for novices not that long ago whereas now you even get championship calibre fighters
taking part in them.

One thing boxing has learnt from MMA (I hope...) is that 'less is more'

These are my thoughts also.

I think 10 rounds would be enough for most championship fights, lending itself to the boxers laying it on the line more as there would be not quite as far to go, giving boxing a more exciting edge to compete with 15 minute wonders like UFC.

15 rouns is both dangerous and many times would be boring.

[Andy]

Would've enjoyed another three rounds of Small - McDonagh
Truthfully, it's not very often going into the twelfth that I find myself wanting to see another three after that.

[AntonS]

We would've got our $$$$ worth if Hopkins/RJJ was over 15

[Undefeated]

The reduction by three rounds wasn't a carefully thought out move designed to make the sport safer, it was a knee jerk reaction to a ring fatality. As mentioned, 15 round fights were fought at a much slower pace, the reduction to 12 rounds meant that increasingly fitter athletes can now cram more punches into a shorter time period. So you can make the claim that even more punishment is now given out over an intense period.

As for guys being more punch drunk back then. Is this solely down to the fifteen round championship distance, or the fact that they fought more often, against a higher level of opposition, in most cases, and often without a long three month recuperation period between fights? Was Howard Clarke sercretly fighting 15 rounders behind closed doors?

If we reduce to ten round we may as well call it a day and start to follow another sport. That is the worst suggestion I've ever heard, no offence to ya Carlos!

We can't sit here blabbering about protecting the fighters by reducing rounds then post, 'Check out this fight, over a 1000 punches thrown over 12 rounds, F yeah!'

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

The reduction by three rounds wasn't a carefully thought out move designed to make the sport safer, it was a knee jerk reaction to a ring fatality. As mentioned, 15 round fights were fought at a much slower pace, the reduction to 12 rounds meant that increasingly fitter athletes can now cram more punches into a shorter time period. So you can make the claim that even more punishment is now given out over an intense period.

As for guys being more punch drunk back then. Is this solely down to the fifteen round championship distance, or the fact that they fought more often, against a higher level of opposition, in most cases, and often without a long three month recuperation period between fights? Was Howard Clarke sercretly fighting 15 rounders behind closed doors?

If we reduce to ten round we may as well call it a day and start to follow another sport. That is the worst suggestion I've ever heard, no offence to ya Carlos!

We can't sit here blabbering about protecting the fighters by reducing rounds then post, 'Check out this fight, over a 1000 punches thrown over 12 rounds, F yeah!'

But in a lot of countries - it has already happened Terence - as the BBB of C and the EBU are part of the WBC - they will sooner rather than later adopt 10 rounds for all their title fights (like the NABF has done) - I don't think a boxing nut like you will give up on the sport if and when it does happen either! :geek2:

As an aside - I always remember Frank Bruno arguing for 10 rounds as a championship distance saying he would have been world heavyweight champion back in 1986! 10 rounds wouldn't have done him any good against Tyson though.

[johnswan1]

A 12 round format is perfect. 15 is too many, 10 too few.

[Datsue]

to see who can give the best break down of the first chapter of Anarchy, State, and Utopia. A safe, albeit dull, evening will be had by all.

Howsabout that it's a boring Libertarian tome whose doctrine could only be applied -- & this is the fundamental problem dogging all Libertarian tracts -- if everyone in the world lives in a geographically isolated community with people exactly like them, which can only work if you're an inbred guns'n'God Septic living in a survivalist compound in the heart of Montana.

Do I win £5?

[Asterix]

After looking at the championship boxer's faces at post fight interviews, I would really not like 15 rounds to come back to boxing. It's dangerous enough at 12 rounds, but to add another 3, fatigued, rounds is not a good thought for me. A boxer is at his most vulnerable when he is fatigued (as well as dehydrated).

[Jeff Thomas]

Hmmm I'd prefer the tradition of one champ per weight.

[Asterix]

After looking at the championship boxer's faces at post fight interviews, I would really not like 15 rounds to come back to boxing. It's dangerous enough at 12 rounds, but to add another 3, fatigued, rounds is not a good thought for me. A boxer is at his most vulnerable when he is fatigued (as well as dehydrated).

Ali didn't have many marks on his face after the 15 rounds with George Chuvalo but was said to be pissing blood after allowing George to punch his ribs inside. Perhaps our criteria for deciding these things should be a bit more advance than, "Ouch! That looks sore!"

The problem wasn't the 15 rounds, it was the whole approach to the weight, same day weigh ins, and the lack of medical adequate facilities.

McClellan was relatively unmarked when he broke down. A reddening on the temples, sure, but Benn looked the worse for wear.

Obviously you're simplifying it. The outside damage helps to show the impact of the punches. That's the point.

[Night-Nurse]

yes!!!!!!!!

[Asterix]

Tua-Ike had one of the highest outputs in recent times but I recall that both Tua and Ike looked relatively unmarked. I guess the fight didn't do them any damage whatsoever and we'd have all welcomed another three rounds?

You're doing it again.

[Datsue]

We'll have to agree to differ. I'd have them fighting over 15 rounds with spiked gloves and one of those revolving floors from Flash Gordon.

Wrong Flash I know, but it was the best I could do at short notice.