How is defense a scoring criteria?

[CubanGuyNYC]

If both fighter land about the same amount of effective punches it doesn't seem reasonable or fair even to give 1 fighter a 10 and 1 fighter a 9 based on a couple of slick evasive movements, I would just go with an even round personally because its really about landed punches.

It is primarily about landed punches. The generally acknowledged scoring criteria recognize other, lesser factors. They might not be as important as punches landed, but they can and do influence scoring. If it were only about landed punches, we might as well forget about judges and stick to "compubox".

[Spray_resistant]

It is primarily about landed punches. The generally acknowledged scoring criteria recognize other, lesser factors. They might not be as important as punches landed, but they can and do influence scoring. If it were only about landed punches, we might as well forget about judges and stick to "compubox".

Compubox cannot account for effectiveness or damage.

[THe TRiNiTY]

Truthfully, it's fairly easy to score.

If you can keep your opponents connect percentage low while they throw punches, that's a positive. While judges don't see something like CompuBox, it's fairly easy to see a fighter is missing when you're a decent judge.

Also, if your defense keeps a usually-busy fighter from taking so many chances, this is easy to score. You're clearly slipping punches or blocking punches and making them pay. Easy to score.

Another thing is the simplist of all. If you throw several more punches than your opponent, but rarely get hit, you're scoring effective punching and defense at once. Offensive is obvious. Defense is there because you're not being made to pay the price for your activity.

The busier fighter shouldn't always win an otherwise even round, however. Busy doesn't mean effective and I don't give much credit for a busy fighter. The easiest way to score a round is use two key systems.

1. If the fighter lands more and hurts his guy, chances are he deserves the round. You'd rather be in his shoes for a reason in this case and there isn't much questioning involved in that.

2. Punch-by-punch basis. If the fighters don't really stagger or stun eachother, you simply count punches. On a 2 point system. If the punch is clean and a big shot, give it two points. If it's a solid shot, give it 1 point. If it's a jab that wasn't the best or a smaller, quick shot, give it half a point. You do this for both fighters, with both fighters starting at an even 0 to start the round. Then, at the end of the round, whoever has the point swing going in their direction wins the round.

I bring this up for two reasons. It's better to let people know how you score rounds, so that they know where you're coming from. Two, this also involves scoring for defense without you realizing it. The person who doesn't get hit with those big shots, clearly has the better technique and defense in the fight.

[-KPB-]

If the offense is behind it but just can't see preventing damage and thus scoring alone as a reason alone why someone would win a round over another fighter if its that close.

IMO, if two fighter both landed the same amount of meaningful punches...but fighter A had to throw 30 more punches to land the same amount as fighter B, because fighter B was slipping/ducking those extra punches...I would give the round to fighter B, because he showed better ring IQ, i.e...he was better at seeing shots coming towards him and incorporated more aspects of boxing (defense)....

[Heeb]

In a very simple explanation, defense makes you have to score less because your opponent scores less. If you have a bad defense, you have to make up for it with more offense.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Compubox cannot account for effectiveness or damage.

Agreed. But my post was in response to your exact words: "It's really about landed punches."

[Spray_resistant]

IMO, if two fighter both landed the same amount of meaningful punches...but fighter A had to throw 30 more punches to land the same amount as fighter B, because fighter B was slipping/ducking those extra punches...I would give the round to fighter B, because he showed better ring IQ, i.e...he was better at seeing shots coming towards him and incorporated more aspects of boxing (defense)....

I would have just scored it even because why should it matter how you got the same results?