The new rule of Boxingscene:

[GooGoo]

Three guys sitting on three different sides of the ring can conceivably come back with three different scores. I remember being close, maybe third row, when Sechew Powell fought Ishe Smith in New York City. I remember thinking Ishe Smith was landing the cleaner shots and had a scorecard that had Smith winning 97-93. When they gave the fight to Powell, I thought it was a clear hometown decision.

Then I watched the fight on HBO and was amazed at the difference between what I was viewing and what I remembered first hand. Powell was winning the fight clearly and Smith's punches weren't even landing. They were flashier with the arc and made a better sound, but Powell's punches were much more effective. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Watching a fight ringside, there are so many things going on around you. The ropes obstruct your view. If they fight on the other side of the ring, you might not be able to see what is going on over there. There isn't instant replay live as there is on TV. I can understand when there is a situation when a few judges will disagree on a few close rounds. But when judges score fights like the one who gave Taylor-Spinks to Spinks, those guys should be held over the weekend in lockup awaiting a court date.

Then again, most people calling robbery are JMM fans, the same who spoke hypothetically in saying that Juan Diaz would've won if not for the cut.

This can be true, if only you're not paying attention to the fight and looking at all the pretty girls or if you're sitting 100 feet away from the fight, also if you listen to the biased crowed. I've seen fights live and I've seen the same fight on TV and my scores didn't change.

When I go to a live fight, I pay attention to the fight, I don't look at the pretty girls or listen to the biased crowed.

[bestboxingonly]

People who have little experience in boxing, never trained or been a trainer, have watched on TV for two years . . . . suddenly they watch a fight on a 3 x 3 screen on their computer and complain that professionals sitting RINGSIDE couldn't "get it right."

And the same factors are always in play, the same shortcomings in the ring being misinterpreted by message board posters. It's always the less aggressive, flashier guy who did less damage getting "robbed" in the eyes of people who don't know what they're doing and are watching a sopcast

If you frequently disagree with official scores, it's probably BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SCORE FIGHTS, and you should probably WATCH WITHOUT KEEPING SCORE

One word: ditto