Boxing and 15 Rounds

I think 15 rounds should be an option for big fights -- maybe the rule could be "title unifications only" and only if both camps agree. Tragic injuries and deaths are rare but they're even rarer at the elite levels of the sport when you're dealing with two top-notch, highly-skilled, superby-conditioned athletes. Plus major title unifications are usually on pay-cable or PPV so that whole "12 rounds is good for keeping the sport TV-friendly" doesn't apply because they don't need to fit the event into a 1-hour time block

Their have been deaths to fighters within 12 rounds too. I wasn't defending it...only explaining how the change came to be. But I think the quote below raises a valid point. It'll never happen...Now a days with such a big focus on concussions they will never add another 3 rds. Just look at American football they're so focused on injuries and concussions that they're changing all the rules, at this rate in another 15yrs football may be a non contact sport

Nope. 12 rounds is fine, less injuries, best time managment for tv, and fights can get dull and will bored the fvck outta people. Figures a guy who describes himself as a member of Team Cotto would be opposed to 15 rounds, lol Sorry, I had to do it ... you served up a softball :rofl:

Fatigue and inability to protect an exhausted fighter, id rather not see it. The body of a boxer takes enough beating as it is. Anyone here that spars knows how hard it is I get fits going 3 rounds lol, ****e stamina That's why you train for 15 rounds. These are professional fighters who train hard and this would only be for championship fights. There have been fights were they fought 60 rounds, an extra 3 rounds isn't much to ask for.

Fatigue and inability to protect an exhausted fighter, id rather not see it. The body of a boxer takes enough beating as it is. Anyone here that spars knows how hard it is I get fits going 3 rounds lol, ****e stamina

After the death of Deuk-Koo Kim who was stopped in the 14th round in what was a brutal fight (Deuk-Koo Kim vs Ray Boom Boom Mancini) the decision was made to reduce the championship fights to 12 rounds by the WBC...the other sanctioning bodies would do the same over the next few years. It was believed that it would be safer for the boxers. Deuk-Koo Kim's mother flew in from South Korea and had him removed from life support. I saw an interview with Mancini several years ago about it...It had a very disturbing impact on him and his career. It was also very disturbing for fans. It may have been an attempt or answer by boxing to deal with the tragedy and make the fans feel that they had taken appropriate measures to ensure that the sport was safe. In the early days of bare-knuckle boxing there was no limit on the number of rounds...Simon Byrne vs James Burke (1833) lasted 3¼ hours. Their have been deaths to fighters within 12 rounds too.

It'll never happen...Now a days with such a big focus on concussions they will never add another 3 rds. Just look at American football they're so focused on injuries and concussions that they're changing all the rules, at this rate in another 15yrs football may be a non contact sport

The last three rounds were cut out bc of the injury reason. I don't remember the exact statistic but studies showed guys were taking way more damage in those 3 rounds than they were in the earlier rounds. I'm not sure the reasoning that this was happening but I definitely know that injuries were the reason for the change. After the death of Deuk-Koo Kim who was stopped in the 14th round in what was a brutal fight (Deuk-Koo Kim vs Ray Boom Boom Mancini) the decision was made to reduce the championship fights to 12 rounds by the WBC...the other sanctioning bodies would do the same over the next few years. It was believed that it would be safer for the boxers. Deuk-Koo Kim's mother flew in from South Korea and had him removed from life support. I saw an interview with Mancini several years ago about it...It had a very disturbing impact on him and his career. It was also very disturbing for fans. It may have been an attempt or answer by boxing to deal with the tragedy and make the fans feel that they had taken appropriate measures to ensure that the sport was safe. In the early days of bare-knuckle boxing there was no limit on the number of rounds...Simon Byrne vs James Burke (1833) lasted 3¼ hours.

How so? What about when it was 20 rounds? Wasn't THAT the true championship distance? I see nothing special about 15 rounds at all tbh. The more rounds, the less about boxing and athleticism it is and more about "stamina management". Were fights like Ali-Fraizer, Hearns-Leonard, Pryor-Arguello, and a ton of other classic 15 round fights all about stamina management?

fighters aint the same, 15 rounds, imagine watching the likes of Mayweather, Andre Ward, Hopkins, Broner, etc. for 15 rounds? Uhhh...

15 rounds is the true championship distance. How so? What about when it was 20 rounds? Wasn't THAT the true championship distance? I see nothing special about 15 rounds at all tbh. The more rounds, the less about boxing and athleticism it is and more about "stamina management".

It would be cool if championship fights were 15 rounders, separate the boys from the men.

15 rounds is the true championship distance.

I say add 1 rd . 13 rds total 4 min rds And have 4 judges and ref as 1 judge as well. Have open scoring for major fights. Pac vs bradley, floy d vs maidana and super fights of coarse like kovalev vs hopkins You cant go wrong

I would like it if boxing had 13 rounds there would be less draws in boxing. Yes I agree.

The move from 15 to 12 rounds was one of the best things that ever happened in boxing. It made for somewhat faster, more powerful and explosive boxers, It led to less fatigue/injury, health problems. And it still allowed full strategic boxing plans (like working the body for the later rounds etc) to be played out. Most of all it concentrated the contest more on boxing ability, more than simply trying to outstaminize the opponents. The last 3 rounds of a 15 rounder were nothing more than who could withstand fatigue or who held back the most during the rest of the fight. The quality of boxing picked up and became more professional in conjunction with the move to 12 rounds. These are all good points. Still would like 15 rounds though.

I would like it if boxing had 13 rounds there would be less draws in boxing.

Does anyone else think Championship fights should be moved up to 15 round bouts like the good ol' days? I think that 15 round fights would truly separate the men from the boys and real champions from pretenders. As many know, the great Rocky Marciano ending up finishing his career undefeated and became one of the greats in the process. But what many might not know is that if it were not for the 15 round fights, he may not have retired undefeated. Example, when Rocky fought Jersey Joe Walcott, he was trailing on all three scorecards after the 12th round. Eventually Rocky lands a right hand in the 13th and puts Walcott on his a$$ to win the fight. Joe Luis known for his historic championship reign lasting 140 consecutive months, during which he fought in 26 championship fights, would only have lasted around 48 months if it were not for 15 round fights. Joe Luis fought Billy Conn in 1941 and was trailing on the score cards after 12 rounds. In the 13th round Luis landed a combination to finish off Conn for the victory. The fight eventually ended up being fight of the year. Now, if it were not for 15 round fights these historic accomplishments MAY have not been witnessed. Some will say that if the fighters know it was 12 rounds they might be more aggressive rather then pacing themselves more for 15 round fights. This may be true but 15 round fights will truly separate real champions from the rest anyhow. Boxing smart, pacing yourself, endurance, stamina, and heart are just some of the factors 15 round fights would bring out in fighters. What if we got to see Trinidad/DLH go another 3 rounds? Or if JMM/Pac went 3 more rounds in their first 3 fights? How about DLH/Mosley, and trilogies like Morales/Barerra and Ward/Gatti among many other great fights going only 12 rounds. 15 round fights should come back to boxing so we don't miss out on the Truly championship rounds. Anyone else agree? The move from 15 to 12 rounds was one of the best things that ever happened in boxing. It made for somewhat faster, more powerful and explosive boxers, It led to less fatigue/injury, health problems. And it still allowed full strategic boxing plans (like working the body for the later rounds etc) to be played out. Most of all it concentrated the contest more on boxing ability, more than simply trying to outstaminize the opponents. The last 3 rounds of a 15 rounder were nothing more than who could withstand fatigue or who held back the most during the rest of the fight. The quality of boxing picked up and became more professional in conjunction with the move to 12 rounds.

That's understandable but you have the ref, fighters corners, and doctors present during fights. If there's any issues with the fighters its there job/responsibility to call the fight off. Atleast add an additional round to avoid a 6/6 fight. Its impossible to know brain damage after the fight, so you could look ok, and 3 days later have lingering effects. And wtf with 6-6? It doesnt matter ho many rounds, fights can end up in draws anyways!

It's an entertainment business and I think there are too many dull fights to go back to 15. For every fight you wish went on longer there's another you wish was a 6 rounder.