From WBC President Dr. José Sulaimán: The World Boxing Council ratified during its 49th Annual convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, in December 2011, the highly successful open scoring rule, which has been working efficiently around the world since 2006. This rule has been used in the USA only a few times, once in Arkansas, several times in Puerto Rico, and this year the State of Texas has used it in two WBC championship fights..
The WBC adopted a resolution to accept optional forms of open scoring, including the notification of the official scores after the 4th and 8th rounds only to both corners, which was precisely the procedure that Texas adopted during the Chavez vs. Rubio fight and the Morales vs. Garcia fight.
The WBC has always respected the laws of its 165 affiliated countries and the autonomy of all the boxing federations and local commissions, as the regulations and policies of the local commissions where the fight takes place are the ones that rule on that specific event.
Over the years the WBC has instituted many innovative reforms that, as many new things, were initially controversial. Most, if not all of them, have gained acceptance and are currently viewed as improvements to boxing. The most notable WBC initiatives that fit that description include, but are not limited to: (1) reduction of all championship bouts from the historic 15 rounds to 12 rounds; (2) having the official weigh-in one day before the fight; (3) establishing 30 and 7-day weight limits to prevent precipitous and excessive last-minute weight loss; (4) anti-doping testing; (5) the fourth ring rope; (6) the attached thumb gloves; (7) mandatory annual exams; (8) pre and post fights medical exams, and many more.
The WBC, as a historical leader in instituting innovative reforms in boxing, recognizes that: (1) the Association of Boxing Commissions has a position on open scoring, as set forth in a recent e-mail from the ABC President to the ABC membership; (2) each commission, as the representative of a sovereign jurisdiction, has the ability and responsibility to undertake and conduct an independent examination of a proposal such as open scoring in boxing and then act according to their policy decisions; and (3) open scoring is an issue regarding which the opinions of reasonable people can vary.
The WBC has a long list of anecdotal evidence, including quotes from fighters, managers, trainers and commissioners from around the world, including many from the U.S., who fully support some form of open scoring. The following are some of the most notable quotes received on March 26, 2012:
“I’m all for it! It would help me out if I knew how my fighter was doing while the fight was still going on. I can’t tell you how many times I thought my fighter was doing enough to win but the judges see it otherwise. By the time they announce the scores it’s too late. I think open scoring is a real good idea.” – Floyd Mayweather, Sr., trainer.
“I think open scoring is a great idea, why not? Especially the way the judges are now a days. There are so many fights that seem to have an obvious winner but then the judges go the other way. I think open scoring would really help fighters during those kinds of matches. I would support the decision to bring open scoring into a match with any of my fighters.” – Miguel Diaz, cutman and trainer.
“I’ve got no problem with it. It’s a lot better than being surprised. It would really help out with my fighters if I knew what was going on. Actually, you know what, the more I think about, open scoring could become a valuable tool to me as a trainer. I think it’s a good idea.” – Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, trainer and manager.
The WBC will send a representative to the upcoming ABC annual convention who will be available to present important information and data compiled since it has been using open scoring all over the world. Further, the WBC will issue periodic updates on the WBC’s continuing efforts to implement and test its open scoring program internationally and in the U.S., and on the program’s results.