BoxRec

If you used a different user name in past seasons, please let me know so I can link your names together for all-time stats. Thanks!

--- BEFORE telling me the scoreboard is not updated, do a HARD REFRESH of this page in your browser!!!



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This is a still a "free", come one, come all competition and is in its 10th year!

If you want to do me a favor, give my MMA site (that also hosts the scoreboard image) a look:



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PTBF 2014 OFFICIAL RULES
2014 season is for the entire 2014 calendar year

---- Changes in 2014 ----


*** CHANGE *** - Slight alteration to KO scoring - round sliding scale expanded.
*** CHANGE *** - An additional 20% is awarded for KO picks w/ exact round when user bonus is used. 5% when within 1 round.
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What is PTBF?

"Pick the Big Fights" (PTBF) is a boxing game featured on BoxRec housed entirely within the BoxRec forum that tests the knowledge of users, related to picking the winners of big and/or intriguing fights. The game was started by a BoxRec user, Rng Anncr, back in 2005, and has evolved drastically since then.

To play, simply read these rules, and make fight picks within the confines of the individual fight threads.



Pick-Related Info


PICK FORMAT

NICKNAME,WINNER*,RESULT,RESULT TYPE,2X/3X OPTION**

* = Winning fighter's last name
** = Type 2X or 3X if you want to use a double- or triple-down.
There are sample picks at the bottom of this post.

NOTE: Quoted picks will not be counted!


Valid RESULT choices

DECISION = Any type of decision

KO = Any type of knockout, technical knockout, or disqualification.


Valid RESULT TYPE choices

For a DECISION pick, the valid choices are CLOSE, WIDE, and DOMINANT. See the below sub-section for more information.

For a KO pick, simply type the round number in which you think the bout will end.


Decision Type

If you wish to choose a boxer by decision, you must accompany that pick with a decision type.

CLOSE = Fight's decision is a split decision, majority decision, or a unanimous decision where the total difference in points are 9 (7 for 10-rounder) or less for the winning fighter.

WIDE = Fight's decision is a unanimous decision where the total difference in points are between 10 and 21 (8 and 17 for 10-rounder) for the winning fighter.

DOMINANT = Fight's decision is a unanimous decision where the total difference in points is 22 (18 for 10-rounder) or more for the winning fighter.

REF PTS Note: If a PTBF involves a single referee scoring the bout, the score difference will be multipled by 3.


Technical Decisions

In the rare event of a technical decision where the scorecards are used, the UD cut-offs of CLOSE/WIDE/DOMINANT will be determined when standings are calculated.

Important Note: Bouts which end early in a no contest or technical draw w/o consideration of scorecards (Ex: Rob Calloway vs Ruslan Chagaev I) are VOID.


Double & Triple-Downs (2X / 3X Options)

Each competitor will have the option to "double down" or "triple down" on picks. Competitors will receive four 2Xs and two 3X in the 2014 season. The amount you have remaining will be listed in the posted standings. Doubling or tripling down doubles/triples the points you would've normally gotten had you not used it. Note: You cannot use bonuses on special props and can only use one bonus per fight.

If in the event you try to use a 3X, but have none left, I will use a 2X for you, assuming you have some of those left. However, I will NOT use a 3X for you, if you try to use a 2X and have none left.


Novelty Fights (0.5x)

A fight may be given novelty status if it is not generally considered a big fight, but is posted for other purposes, such as being a "special interest" bout for the forum, a prospect fight, or to fill a dry period in the schedule. In this case, all points will be halved (0.5x). You may use 2X/3X bonuses on these fights, but it is not recommended. Note: Half-points are rounded up to the next whole integer on a per fight basis.



Bonus Fights (1.25x/1.5x/1.75x/2.0x)

Fights that stand out from the typical big fight, will be considered "bonus fights". Major titles, competitiveness, Ring ranking, the "rematch factor" and "name power" are all considered. In addition to the fight bonus, you can utilize your 2X/3X bonuses to maximize your scoring potential. This "bonus fight" status will be noted in the PTBF schedule, but may be altered at anytime before the pick thread is posted. Note: Half-points are rounded up to the next whole integer on a per fight basis.




PTBF Base Scoring


Correct Fighter Only = 20


Correct Fighter & KO (DQs included in KO pick)

Not within 4 rounds = 25
Within 3-4 rounds = 27
Within 2 rounds = 28
Within 1 round = 29 (plus 5% to total fight score if 2X or 3X user bonus is applied)
Exact round = 30 (plus 20% to total fight score if 2X or 3X user bonus is applied)


Correct Fighter & DECISION

Missed Type by 2 (Close/Wide/Dominant) = 25
Missed Type by 1 (Close/Wide/Dominant) = 27
Exact Type (Close/Wide/Dominant) = 30


WRONG Pick = 0

Important Note: The fight's decision as of the Monday after the scoring will stand as the official PTBF decision, unless the next PTBF takes place before that Monday, in which case that PTBF's scoring will be the deadline. The scoring of fights with extremely controversial endings that may be possibly be overturned will be delayed and handled on a case-by-case basis. Typically, scoring for fights ending by a legal boxing move will not be delayed.


Fight Scoring Process

FightScore = Round(Round(BaseScore * FightBonus) * (UserBonus^ * AdditionalUserBonus^^))

^ = If used 2X or 3X. Not applied in draws unless last fight of season.
^^ = If used 2X or 3X, correctly picked KO and within 1 round.

- Above does not include "special theme bonuses" (eg: Multi-Fight Bonuses)
- Always round away from zero.



Miscellaneous Info

Draws

In the case of a draw, all participants will have any 2X/3X bonuses returned unless it is the last fight of the season, and will receive 10 points (* fight bonus). Should participants guess DECISION they will receive a base of 15, and DECISION/CLOSE, a base of 17.


Thread Creation Timing

The thread for a fight can be posted up until 120 hours (5 days) prior to the fight taking place.


Ranking Updates

The rankings will be updated on every Sunday, or Monday, following a week that contains a big fight.


Inactivity

Inactivity is not penalized, but players will be removed from the scoreboard if they have not made a pick in the last 60 days. Inactive players will retain their point total in case they pick again, in which case they will be placed back onto the scoreboard.


Pick Changes

If you want to change your previous pick, it is recommended that you ALWAYS create a new post and NEVER edit -- and in a combo thread, never include fights that have already started in your new post. You CAN opt to edit your original post, but in a combo thread, you may make a previously completed fight's pick INVALID if you edit after it started due to the "edit date". If you have edited a post after the fight start time, that was created before the fight start time, none of those picks will count -- this is to close off a loophole.

Please, do not EVER quote picks.


Past Corrections

If you notice a problem with your score, please let us know as soon as possible! Sometimes we make mistakes.... and ultimately, YOU are responsible for your scores.


Fight Selection

There is no set criteria on how fights are selected for PTBF. However, a fight that satisfies one or more of the following criteria will 100% definitely be included -- unless they are inadvertently missed:

1. "Big 4" Title unification bouts (in which each boxer has at least one belt).
2. Matchups between Top 10 Ring Pound-for-Pound fighters.
3. Matchups between boxers who are Top 3 in a Ring divisional ranking (Champ counts as 1).

Aside from the mandatories, bouts will be selected based on the quality of boxers involved, and intrigue of the match-up, which is often determined by many factors. Furthermore, if mandatory bouts "clog up" a given weekend, then it will be harder for a non-mandatory bout to make the cut.

The Ring rankings can change with time. Therefore, a fight's mandatory status may change. If it does, the fight may be removed from the schedule, but this is not a guarantee. A fight's inclusion is not final until the pick thread is posted.


Special Props

For ultra high-profile fights, we may make a special prop thread for making picks on special aspects of the fight. The following rules apply for props:

* Make all your prop picks in one post.
* All props are worth 10 points each, unless noted otherwise.
* You cannot lose points for picking incorrectly.
* You cannot use bonuses (2X/3X) on prop picks.
* Only Total Score & Avg Points Per Pick statistics are affected by props.
* In the case of a push, all participants will earn 5 points.

You must at least have picked one fight in order to participate in a prop.


End of Season Competition

If the competition is up for grabs in the last one or two picks, the PTBF committee (at its discretion) will allow those top competitors to private message their picks to a chosen member of the committee (one who is not in the top spots). After the deadline, the picks will be posted, for the review of all. This will be done to prevent "drafting" another member's pick in order to ride their position.


New Player Entry Within Season

New players can enter at any time! Simply make your pick in the official format.


Retroactive Fight Reordering/Deadline Change

Fights on the same day/night can be re-ordered if start times are available. This can affect streak stats and the usage of user bonuses.


Bad Pick Handling

If your pick does not match the required format, your pick may not be counted at all. If it is close to a valid pick, you will be given the least amount of points possible for a similar pick.


Pick Distribution Scoring (select fights only)

A multiplier will be applied if the less-picked fighter wins, based on how many posters picked said fighter. Multiplier set to a maximum of 2x. Example: If Fighter A wins and is picked by 25% of pickers, multiplier of 1.5 will be applied to all picks. If 10% picked this fighter, multiplier would be 1.8x.


DFTP

The DFtP ("Difficult Fights to Pick") is a metric that solely focuses on the ability to correctly pick difficult fights, while not incorrectly picking easy fights.
It is comprised of three columns:
- positive points for picking fights correctly,
- negative points for picking fights incorrectly,
- the sum of those two totals.

In short, each competitor is given points based on how the other competitors did for each fight and then these points are summed up, for display on the scoreboard. For each fight, a competitor can accumulate up to +100 points if they pick correctly, down to -100 points if they pick incorrectly. DRAWS are excluded.

Example:
Player A picks Fight 1 correctly, in which 80% of other players pick incorrectly. For this, Player A earns 80.
Player A picks Fight 2 incorrectly, in which 35% of other players pick correctly. For this, Player A earn -35.

Player A's positive DFtP is 80, negative DFtP is 35, for a sum of 45.



Sample Picks

We'll use my nickname and Jones vs. Trinidad for an example.


If I believe Jones will win by KO in 3

JCS,JONES,KO,3


If I believe Trinidad will win a close decision

JCS,TRINIDAD,DECISION,CLOSE


If I want to double down on a Trinidad KO in 12

JCS,TRINIDAD,KO,12,2X


If I want to triple down on a DOMINANT decision from Jones

JCS,JONES,DECISION,DOMINANT,3X

-+-



Career PTBF Metrics (2005-2014, unless stated otherwise)


Cumulative Sum of Score/AvgYearScore Avg result of Score/AvgYearScore (Minimum of 4 years played)
Sum Result of 10pts (1st place), 7pts (2nd place), 5pts (3rd place), 2 pts (Top 10 finish), 1 pt (Top 25 finish)

Average Finish Place - Minimum of 4 years played
Most Consistent Finisher - Last 3 years, average finish position of 50 or better -- Must have played in all 3 years



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I have a suggestion.

The winner of the next one should get a cash prize. Everyone who plays should pay $10, and then the winner gets the prize pool.

Thoughts?

Gimp Mask wrote:I have a suggestion.

The winner of the next one should get a cash prize. Everyone who plays should pay $10, and then the winner gets the prize pool.

Thoughts?

Been talked about. I'd be tempted to keep a small percentage for all the effort throughout the years though. I just don't want it to turn into a greed-fueled competition where people fume about fights that make it, don't make it, etc.

I think it would be perfectly fine for you to take a small percentage. It's well deserved with all the work you've put into this.

I find it hard to believe that people would bitch over a $10 contest. Surely we're all grown up enough to understand that things can't always go our way.

I'd rather not bring money into it personally. I just enjoy the fun of the competition and matching my ability to Pick 'em with the rest of the boys here on Boxrec. I can only do one notch better this year than I did last year, but I'm sure gonna be looking to do that.

BarryWashington wrote:More fights!

Just have certain fights be rated w/less points.

Yes, for example, interesting female fights! And no money! ONLY FOR THE FUN OF IT!

claudevsq wrote:

BarryWashington wrote:More fights!

Just have certain fights be rated w/less points.

Yes, for example, interesting female fights!

That's a terrible idea for me. I haven't watched a woman's fight in decades.

gilgamesh wrote:I'd rather not bring money into it personally. I just enjoy the fun of the competition and matching my ability to Pick 'em with the rest of the boys here on Boxrec. I can only do one notch better this year than I did last year, but I'm sure gonna be looking to do that.

Shouldn't be mandatory. If you wanna throw some money into the pool thats cool, if not thats cool too. Only the people in the pool could win any of the money though obviously.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:

claudevsq wrote:

BarryWashington wrote:More fights!

Just have certain fights be rated w/less points.

Yes, for example, interesting female fights!

That's a terrible idea for me. I haven't watched a woman's fight in decades.

Please Allah no wimmenz fights wtf maaaaaan.

I don't know, I'm bored with the free tournament. I like Reggie's idea. It doesn't have to be mandatory for everyone. We aren't talking a lot of money either. Who else is interested?

Gimp Mask wrote:I don't know, I'm bored with the free tournament. I like Reggie's idea. It doesn't have to be mandatory for everyone. We aren't talking a lot of money either. Who else is interested?

It'd be a tournament within the tournament... everyone participating would be 'tagged' with a dollar sign next to their name... and the best of those would get the payout.

The issue is the stuff you don't think about.. What happens if you (not saying you would, just an example) got yourself banned from the forum and were leading with two months to go. What then?

Or if someone in Germany throws a fit because I don't include Sven Ottke's comeback fight (kidding) and Emails Paypal (or whomever) saying that I'm running an illegal gambling ring.

Take a leap of faith. Let's try it out, and let's see how it goes.

JCS wrote:The issue is the stuff you don't think about.. What happens if you (not saying you would, just an example) got yourself banned from the forum and were leading with two months to go. What then?

The most logical thing here would be just getting some sort of contact info like an email or better yet just use their PayPal or w/e they used to send in the money to send them their winnings. Or you could get draconian & just consider them DQ'd.

Or if someone in Germany throws a fit because I don't include Sven Ottke's comeback fight (kidding) and Emails Paypal (or whomever) saying that I'm running an illegal gambling ring.

Lol.

Could use a cryptocurrency like Bitcoins. I don't think PayPal is super on top of gambling sh!t though cuz I used to send thousands back n forth purely for gambling & never had an issue.

JCS, do not make a mistake... It should stay what it used to be from the beginning: a free competition for all! No money involved! I'm sure we all wouldn't like the outcome, and, in the end, JCS would not do this comp anymore in 2015, and that's worst case scenario for me. I mean, like people who constantly entering typos, pleading to get them fixed, which should be excluded from this season on, imagine money in the bank?

I just had a look at the thread, and there's already one "barthelemmy", with two "L"... Plus, people don't seem to understand, with the exception of your own name, everything else should be CAPITAL LETTERS and NO SPACES between comma and next word. Is it really that hard, compadres?

claudevsq wrote:I just had a look at the thread, and there's already one "barthelemmy", with two "L"... Plus, people don't seem to understand, with the exception of your own name, everything else should be CAPITAL LETTERS and NO SPACES between comma and next word. Is it really that hard, compadres?

The worst screwup to make is to spell your own name wrong. My program matches the name in the pick to the name of the poster, so people don't make picks for others and things don't get mucked up when posters quote other posters.

Second worst is to not include the comma after the name.. sigh.

Another dufus one to pull is to edit your post for a combo thread after one of the fights has started.

People should stop quoting picks in a PTBF-thread anyway... Only makes it harder for JCS...

Have to kill or change the #11-25 previous year (checkmark) -- that shit is getting ridiculous for me as I can't get into the Top 10.

Hey, don't you take my checkmark away from me!

DD You could replace 5 green checkmarks by a golden one or so...

claudevsq wrote:Hey, don't you take my checkmark away from me!

DD You could replace 5 green checkmarks by a golden one or so...

Thought about that.. everything is so damn small though... will see. Removing those does make the scoreboard awful boring.

Shafikov is misspelled on the schedule (in case it makes any difference software-wise).

JCS wrote:

claudevsq wrote:Hey, don't you take my checkmark away from me!

DD You could replace 5 green checkmarks by a golden one or so...

Thought about that.. everything is so damn small though... will see. Removing those does make the scoreboard awful boring.

Right! And what about simply putting in a digit "5" (in your case) and one green tick (insread of 5)? >>>>> --> 5>

BTW, you could also name the scheduling part "2014" instead of "2013"...

Wow - I've never been in the lead before!!!!!

I know it's only one fight but I want a screen-copy of that bad boy

Great competition and thank you for the 15 minutes of glory.

Col/T.M.K

T.M.K wrote:Wow - I've never been in the lead before!!!!!

I know it's only one fight but I want a screen-copy of that bad boy

Great competition and thank you for the 15 minutes of glory.

Col/T.M.K

Don't get ahead of yourself, man. The decision will be changed.