Number of Punches Determines a Winner?

[Tony Trick-Pony]

In the case of Canelo vs Austin Trout, Trout edges him 154-124 in total punches. Now since Canelo scored a knockdown, I'd say there has to be a rule where a knockdown=say ten or fifteen extra punches landed. Extra credit must be givent to knockdowns naturally. Still, even in the case of fifteen for the knockdown, Trout would win 154-139. Many thought Trout did win this. Under the numbers game, they would have been correct.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Most would agree that mayweather defeated Cotto. The numbers agree. Mayweather landed 179/687 compared to 105/506 for Cotto. Once again, the total number of punches landed back up the result most agreed with. Only, the numbers give a concrete answer.

[ralex]

Quality of punches >>>> Quantity of punches


Canelo's power shots were much more impressive and effective than GGG's jabs

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Quality of punches >>>> Quantity of punches


Canelo's power shots were much more impressive and effective than GGG's jabs

That's an interesting opinion.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Most would agree that Mayweather beat Pacquiao and the punch stats back up that claim at 148/435 landed for Mayweather against 81/429 for Pacquiao.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

In Paul Williams' controversial decision win over Erislandy Lara, Williams landed 200/1047 while Lara landed 224/530. Nearly everyone thought Lara won the fight. With the punch stats system, Lara would have had his hand raised.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

In yet another example, Oscar De La Hoya would have not recieved his decision victory over Felix Sturm.

Sturm connected with 234/541 while De L Hoya only connected with 188/792 punches.

Clear win for Sturm when you just look at the numbers.

[TonyGe]

I think the biggest problem with the sport is that there is no real objective way to score a fight. It's all subjective and often in the end, like this weekend, divisive.

So why not let the number of punches scored win rounds and ultimately the fight itself?

Obviously extra points should be awarded for knockdowns and punch numbers should be lowered when deductions occur but at least, you could say guy A won because he outlanded guy B.

I think this might be harder to argue with than the old "I believe he won the fight" line.

What do you guys think?

Yay or nay?

Nay. Fights are scored by rounds and the scoring criteria is laid out. Thing is, do judges go to a school to learn how to apply them? Seems inconsistent. A fight isn't like a hockey game or other sport because at the end whoever gets the most goals wins. If a hockey game were judged by boxing standards it would be chaos and controversy after every match.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Nay. Fights are scored by rounds and the scoring criteria is laid out. Thing is, do judges go to a school to learn how to apply them? Seems inconsistent. A fight isn't like a hockey game or other sport because at the end whoever gets the most goals wins. If a hockey game were judged by boxing standards it would be chaos and controversy after every match.

Every single sport would be chaos if it were judged like boxing. In fact, I don't think they would survive. There are criteria but what concrete criteria are there and is the criteria stuck to? Often times, it is not. It boils down to the three opinions. Facts with the numbers are much harder to argue with. Sure, some people would still claim a fighter won if he landed fewer punches but at least you could say, "Well he landed more punches." You can give all kinds of reasons now but they don't mean much, can't be disputed and in the end, will never be reversed. You could actually argue punch numbers in a courtroom. But look at Pac-Bradley I. That ever get changed? Nope. According to the punch numbers, there would have been no controversy.

If people want to keep it the way it is, fine, but you will always have un-popular decisions this way. You know the next one is right around the corner.

[TonyGe]

Quality of punches >>>> Quantity of punches


Canelo's power shots were much more impressive and effective than GGG's jabs

See that's a matter of opinion. Joe Louis could land very hard punches that only traveled short distances They weren't flashy punches. Larry Holmes landed very hard jabs that really f___ed up his opponents rythum. A lot of people think a jab isn't worth counting as a real punch. So it's all in interpretation. What's impressive? Short punches that can really hurt and jabs that control a fight or flashy power punches that don't discourage your opponent. That's why boxing is so hard to score.