THE LAST WORD
By Pat Coughlan
Boxing, a sport steeped in tradition and drama, has long been plagued by dodgy scoring decisions. The controversy was on full display during the recent Paris Olympics, where several matches were marred by judgments from judges who had previously been identified as making questionable decisions.
Fans and fighters alike were left bewildered by decisions in bouts such as the men’s featherweight final, where many felt the underdog from Team Ireland was unfairly snubbed despite a strong performance. Similarly, the women’s middleweight semi-final saw cries of foul play after a seemingly dominant fighter from Team Great Britain was handed a perplexing loss.
Inconsistencies and perceived biases in these scoring outcomes have reignited calls for a major overhaul of the system. With technology advancing at a rapid pace, there’s a growing belief that it could be the key to restoring faith in boxing round scores, ensuring fairness and transparency for future competitions.
Imagine a world where boxing scores are no longer a mystery. Technology could be the game-changer here, offering a level of precision and fairness that judges sometimes miss. With gadgets and gizmos, we could track every punch, every dodge, and every move with pinpoint accuracy.
This isn’t just about numbers – it’s about giving fighters the recognition they deserve and fans the transparency they crave.
By integrating tech into the scoring process, we could finally put an end to those head-scratching decisions and bring a new era of trust and excitement to the sport.
When it comes to football in the UK and Ireland, the introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) has been a game-changer. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly helped clear up some of those dodgy offside calls and penalty decisions. In the US, American football has benefitted from instant replay reviews that allow referees to make more accurate decisions on the field. Tennis, popular in all three regions, has Hawk-Eye, which has pretty much eliminated disputes over whether the ball was in or out. And let’s not forget basketball’s instant replay system, widely used in both the UK and US, which allows referees to review crucial moments in the game. These technologies have brought a new level of fairness and accuracy to their respective sports, offering valuable lessons that boxing could definitely learn from.
Imagine having the ability to track every jab, hook, and uppercut in real-time. With data analytics, this isn’t just a pipe dream. By monitoring punch counts, impact force, and fighter movements, we can achieve a level of scoring accuracy that judges alone might miss. This tech can provide instant feedback, ensuring that every hit is accounted for and every round is scored fairly. It’s like having an extra set of eyes in the ring, making sure that the fighters get the recognition they deserve, and the fans get the transparency they’ve been longing for.
Wearable tech is making waves in boxing, offering a treasure trove of data that could revolutionise scoring. Imagine fighters equipped with sensors that track heart rate, fatigue levels, and movement efficiency. These gadgets can provide real-time insights into a boxer’s performance, giving judges additional data points to consider.
It’s not just about counting punches anymore – it’s about understanding the quality and impact of each move. With this tech, we can get a clearer picture of who’s really dominating the ring, making the scoring process fairer and more transparent for everyone involved.
Imagine judges using their expertise to interpret the nuances of a fight, while tech provides real-time data to back up their decisions. This dual system could iron out inconsistencies and bring a new level of fairness to the sport. It’s not about replacing humans but enhancing their judgement with solid data
. The time break between bouts can be a benefit for judges to modify their instant scoring, ensuring they consider the finer details that may have been missed in the heat of the moment. By blending tradition with innovation, boxing could finally offer the transparency and reliability that fans and fighters have been crying out for.
