BoxRec

When did refs start using the"Walk here" or "Walk to the left" BS after the 8 count?
Ref just count to 8 and get on with the fight, it's like a long count now with all the instructions, and it's just buying seconds for you the ref to not make a decision.
Anyway that's my toys out the pram.

It's the 'referee gait test' in the ABC manual for referees. It's to recognise concussion and prioritise boxer safety in case they appear more conscious than they actually are. Not sure when it got introduced though.

I do think there needs to be some standardisation though. Like it’s a bit unfair that people get extra time.

I guess the answer is 10-15 every time you make someone do it, even on a flash knockdown. Kinda makes it a 15 count but eh. You can’t have so much room for variation.

I've also seen moments where a guy clearly took a shaky first step when asked to, and was allowed to continue anyway. That's pretty much what happened recently with Andy Ruiz and Damian Knyba, at the end of that 7th round Ruiz was about as out on his feet as it gets for a few moments there.

There’s also plenty of times where the refs asked boxers to walk towards them and then stopped it because they have stumbled.

Obv, a-side boxers get special treatment.

They could be crawling towards the ref and they’ll continue the fight.

I reckon maybe last 20-30 years this became a thing for some refs to do. Hard to make standard practice as all fighters react or look different when hurt and each ref will have a different view on what they see in front of them at that time.

Seems to be a device employed to give strategic long counts to A Sides in peril. That's the pattern I've noticed.

Would be interesting to trace its evolution. You don't see it in 90s boxing.

overhand_right wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 07:25 Seems to be a device employed to give strategic long counts to A Sides in peril. That's the pattern I've noticed.

Would be interesting to trace its evolution. You don't see it in 90s boxing.

Exactly and it's used the opposite way too, not giving the B side any time. Look at Meldrick Taylor vs Chavez.

overhand_right wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 07:25 Seems to be a device employed to give strategic long counts to A Sides in peril. That's the pattern I've noticed.

Course it is. Standard process when the A side goes down is:

- ref picks up count late and extremely slowly
- when fighter staggers up, ref asks him to put his gloves up, then makes him walk around for a bit, then talks to him for a while
- ref then goes to the neutral corner to warn the B side to stay back, even if he was already doing so
- ref goes back to the A side and makes him confirm again that he’s ready to fight, then gives the go-ahead even if he gets a poor response

And the standard process when the B side goes down is:
- count to 5 and then wave it off regardless

Obviously I exaggerate for comic effect, but it’s the basic pattern for sure.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 08:58

overhand_right wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 07:25 Seems to be a device employed to give strategic long counts to A Sides in peril. That's the pattern I've noticed.

Course it is. Standard process when the A side goes down is:

- ref picks up count late and extremely slowly
- when fighter staggers up, ref asks him to put his gloves up, then makes him walk around for a bit, then talks to him for a while
- ref then goes to the neutral corner to warn the B side to stay back, even if he was already doing so
- ref goes back to the A side and makes him confirm again that he’s ready to fight, then gives the go-ahead even if he gets a poor response

And the standard process when the B side goes down is:
- count to 5 and then wave it off regardless

Obviously I exaggerate for comic effect, but it’s the basic pattern for sure.

No that's basically it. Only note from me is that the B Side doesn't even need to go down to be stopped.

overhand_right wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 09:04

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 08:58

overhand_right wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 07:25 Seems to be a device employed to give strategic long counts to A Sides in peril. That's the pattern I've noticed.

Course it is. Standard process when the A side goes down is:

- ref picks up count late and extremely slowly
- when fighter staggers up, ref asks him to put his gloves up, then makes him walk around for a bit, then talks to him for a while
- ref then goes to the neutral corner to warn the B side to stay back, even if he was already doing so
- ref goes back to the A side and makes him confirm again that he’s ready to fight, then gives the go-ahead even if he gets a poor response

And the standard process when the B side goes down is:
- count to 5 and then wave it off regardless

Obviously I exaggerate for comic effect, but it’s the basic pattern for sure.

No that's basically it. Only note from me is that the B Side doesn't even need to go down to be stopped.

You may have been exaggerating for comic effect, but, unfortunately, we've all seen scenarios that played out quite close to the ones outlined, including the B side still throwing the odd-out punch when fight's waved off.

Any experienced ref can see whether a fighter is ready to carry on with these walk here BS.

And they just need to keep a close watch when the action resumes.

Sat on the fence , with this one , if it safes a fighter from that one punch to many , i'm all for it , if its used to give the hme boy extra time , i'm against it , but its the sort of thing that is here to stay ,

Remember when they cut rnds down from 15 to 12 , a lot were against it , don't think you would find too many now a days against it though

MPW wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 11:36

overhand_right wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 09:04

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 08:58

Course it is. Standard process when the A side goes down is:

- ref picks up count late and extremely slowly
- when fighter staggers up, ref asks him to put his gloves up, then makes him walk around for a bit, then talks to him for a while
- ref then goes to the neutral corner to warn the B side to stay back, even if he was already doing so
- ref goes back to the A side and makes him confirm again that he’s ready to fight, then gives the go-ahead even if he gets a poor response

And the standard process when the B side goes down is:
- count to 5 and then wave it off regardless

Obviously I exaggerate for comic effect, but it’s the basic pattern for sure.

No that's basically it. Only note from me is that the B Side doesn't even need to go down to be stopped.

You may have been exaggerating for comic effect, but, unfortunately, we've all seen scenarios that played out quite close to the ones outlined, including the B side still throwing the odd-out punch when fight's waved off.

A particular favourite of mine is when the B-side fighter is looking highly likely to beat the count. But must be stopped!

So in response the referee launches at him with a bear hug, knocking him off balance while waving and shaking his head rather than actually finishing the count. Often to the incredulity of the B-side guy who is likely ahead in said fight.

Extra points if the round has already ended!
Bonus points if a title is on the line!

My favourite example of this was Wilder v Ortiz II. They really didn't want that old man derailing Wilder v Fury II.

coneye wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 19:04 Sat on the fence , with this one , if it safes a fighter from that one punch to many , i'm all for it , if its used to give the hme boy extra time , i'm against it , but its the sort of thing that is here to stay ,

Remember when they cut rnds down from 15 to 12 , a lot were against it , don't think you would find too many now a days against it though

Does it save a boxer from one punch too many?
Take the recent Andy Ruiz fight , he suffered a heavy knockdown he got a 8 count , for me he looked gone at this point and I'd have no argument if the fight was stopped. The ref then did the gloves, the "Walk this way" bit , talked again to Ruiz . In all giving him 15-16 seconds from the knockdown in those extra seconds Ruiz kind of cleared his head a little so the ref let it continue.
Ruiz then took an extra 2 rounds of punches before losing on points, so by the ref giving Ruiz too much grace with all the post count instructions he extended the damage accumulated by Ruiz.

Old bones Ian wrote: ↑15 Sep 2026, 01:32

coneye wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 19:04 Sat on the fence , with this one , if it safes a fighter from that one punch to many , i'm all for it , if its used to give the hme boy extra time , i'm against it , but its the sort of thing that is here to stay ,

Remember when they cut rnds down from 15 to 12 , a lot were against it , don't think you would find too many now a days against it though

Does it save a boxer from one punch too many?
Take the recent Andy Ruiz fight , he suffered a heavy knockdown he got a 8 count , for me he looked gone at this point and I'd have no argument if the fight was stopped. The ref then did the gloves, the "Walk this way" bit , talked again to Ruiz . In all giving him 15-16 seconds from the knockdown in those extra seconds Ruiz kind of cleared his head a little so the ref let it continue.
Ruiz then took an extra 2 rounds of punches before losing on points, so by the ref giving Ruiz too much grace with all the post count instructions he extended the damage accumulated by Ruiz.

Like i said , i;m sat on the fence on this one , If it relied on me to make the discision wether or not this should be allowed , , , don't think i could, i'd change my mind daily

And my weekly moan this week is ref that say something to a boxer who's looking on the way out during the action.
"You got to show me something"
"You need to punch back"

They don't say to the aggressor boxer
"Punch him harder" or "Throw it all at him"

coneye wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 19:04 Sat on the fence , with this one , if it safes a fighter from that one punch to many , i'm all for it , if its used to give the hme boy extra time , i'm against it , but its the sort of thing that is here to stay ,

Remember when they cut rnds down from 15 to 12 , a lot were against it , don't think you would find too many now a days against it though

15 rounds really separated the men from the boys didn’t it? Get why it was reduced tho

Steveh583 wrote: ↑20 Sep 2026, 09:08

coneye wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 19:04 Sat on the fence , with this one , if it safes a fighter from that one punch to many , i'm all for it , if its used to give the hme boy extra time , i'm against it , but its the sort of thing that is here to stay ,

Remember when they cut rnds down from 15 to 12 , a lot were against it , don't think you would find too many now a days against it though

15 rounds really separated the men from the boys didn’t it? Get why it was reduced tho

It Certainly did them last couple rnds were killers , remember quite well at the time , sort of agreeing whole heartadly with it , then the next day disagreeing , i feel the same about this one , If it saves honest hard working blokes trying to feed there familly and live there dreams , , Anything that saves them from that one last damaging punch is worth a go

coneye wrote: ↑20 Sep 2026, 11:47

Steveh583 wrote: ↑20 Sep 2026, 09:08

coneye wrote: ↑14 Sep 2026, 19:04 Sat on the fence , with this one , if it safes a fighter from that one punch to many , i'm all for it , if its used to give the hme boy extra time , i'm against it , but its the sort of thing that is here to stay ,

Remember when they cut rnds down from 15 to 12 , a lot were against it , don't think you would find too many now a days against it though

15 rounds really separated the men from the boys didn’t it? Get why it was reduced tho

It Certainly did them last couple rnds were killers , remember quite well at the time , sort of agreeing whole heartadly with it , then the next day disagreeing , i feel the same about this one , If it saves honest hard working blokes trying to feed there familly and live there dreams , , Anything that saves them from that one last damaging punch is worth a go

It was good for the less skilful toughies who could outwill slicksters when they were tired in the last 3. Not that he’s unskilled, but I always thought froch was made for 15s

The other things that boxing refs do that are annoying is taking time to wipe the gloves after a knockdown… Like as if that makes any difference - what exactly are you wiping off to make the fight safer? A waste of time.

And when the gumshield comes out - the refs stop the action, pick up the gumshield, go to the corner and get it washed down and put back in their fighter’s mouth. Why bother? Whats gonna get on the gumshield from just falling on the canvas? Or at least the ref should have a small bottle of water and wash it himself. All that palova of going back to the corner etc takes time. In bareknuckle BKB the ref just puts it back in and straight back to the action.

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑20 Sep 2026, 13:54 The other things that boxing refs do that are annoying is taking time to wipe the gloves after a knockdown… Like as if that makes any difference - what exactly are you wiping off to make the fight safer? A waste of time.

Isn’t that a throwback to the old days when rings had resin coating or something which could scrape onto the gloves? No idea why they still do it though.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑20 Sep 2026, 14:16

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑20 Sep 2026, 13:54 The other things that boxing refs do that are annoying is taking time to wipe the gloves after a knockdown… Like as if that makes any difference - what exactly are you wiping off to make the fight safer? A waste of time.

Isn’t that a throwback to the old days when rings had resin coating or something which could scrape onto the gloves? No idea why they still do it though.

Exactly. It’s historical but not relevant to modern boxing. I mean when has anyone had an injury from not having their gloves wiped???

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑20 Sep 2026, 14:20

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑20 Sep 2026, 14:16

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑20 Sep 2026, 13:54 The other things that boxing refs do that are annoying is taking time to wipe the gloves after a knockdown… Like as if that makes any difference - what exactly are you wiping off to make the fight safer? A waste of time.

Isn’t that a throwback to the old days when rings had resin coating or something which could scrape onto the gloves? No idea why they still do it though.

Exactly. It’s historical but not relevant to modern boxing. I mean when has anyone had an injury from not having their gloves wiped???

You have ring girls, managers, promoters, doctors, hangers on, fighters and the referee entering the ring. Unless they give the ring a thorough sweep and mop between rounds, and have the referee and fighters don their boots in ring at the start of the bout. Wiping the gloves after a knock down seems like the lesser of two evils and takes a second or two at most.