Expert: Melanie Ley - 1/29/2009

Question
I plan to box as a master in the 2009 Ringside tournament.  I've only had one fight.  In that fight, my opponent seemed to land more punches, but my punches had more effect and were snapping his head back.  I won the fight.  What are the judges looking for when scoring the bouts?  I assumed, perhaps mistakenly, that the boxer landing more punches, regardless of effect, wins.  I must have been wrong.  Maybe my definition of what constitues a "landed" punch was wrong.  Any insight you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi Bill - the judges look for legal blows that land with the white knuckle surface of the glove in the scoring area.  The scoring area is the middle of the head, down the sides of the body and above the belly button.  Blows that land on the arms, or the back, are not legal.  "Slaps" (those punches that don't land with the white knuckle surface of the glove) do not count.  Since a judge cannot give you a point for a legal punch unless he/she SEES it land, you are better off in the middle of the ring, moving so a majority of judges can see your punches.  Stay off the ropes and out of the corners.  A "snapping head" doesn't mean a thing unless the judge can SEE that it is a result of a legal punch.  Hope this helps.