How is each round scored in WKO Sanctioned Ringsports?

 

Bouts will be scored using the traditional "10-point must system," which is the most commonly used scoring system around the world for Boxing. WKO have formatted the system for use within WKO Sanctioned Ringsports, to incorporate the scoring criteria in consideration of both Rules requirements and contact levels of the different rules and styles.

 

At the end of each round, WKO Judges "must" award 10 points to the fighter who was more successful and won that round.

 

Losing boxers can receive anywhere from 7-9 points for the round, depending on the severity in which that boxer lost the round.

 

The most common score for the losing boxer is 9 points, which means most rounds will end with a 10-9 score. Each round must have a declared winner where possible, if a draw is scored judges are required to identify on the score card if one of the fighters stood out. They may also be requested give an explanation for why that fighter caught their attention more than the other. 

 

Judges are required to score rounds using the following system:
 

• 10/10: Round = Draw
  Both fighters land equal amount of clean shots and use of defensive skills and ringcraft.
  (Full Contact Only  Bouts: if both fighters incur an 8 count each in that round)
   

• 10/9: Close round = Winner of the Round
  One fighter landing more shots / more dominant (Light & Full Contact)
   

• 10/8: Clear winner = Winner of the Round
  An 8 count has occurred in that round (Full Contact Only)
   

• 10/7: Two 8 counts given or Total dominance = Winner of the Round
  Two 8 counts have occurred in that round for 1 fighter (Full Contact Only)
  (If two 8 counts were given to one fighter and one 8 count was given to the other fighter, this would be 10/7 as two 8 counts has been given and the round has been won)

 

Three judges sitting around the ring will be responsible for the scoring. At the end of every round, those judges have to input their scores on the official WKO Score Card. Judges are encouraged to avoid 10/10 scoring and if so Asterix the fighter that stood out in the round, and be prepared to give an explanation as to why.

 

At the end of the final round, each judge will add up their round-by-round scorecard to determine a winner.

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Unanimous Decision:

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If all three judges award the win to the same boxer, it's a victory by unanimous decision.

 

Split Decision:

 

If there is disagreement among the judges, it's considered a split decision. If a judge's scorecard ends up as a tie between both boxers, they may be asked to indicate who, in their opinion, is the winner of the bout. They will only be asked to select a winner this way if one of the following scenarios occurs:

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• The other two judges are evenly split in declaring a winner

• One other judge has it as a tie, and the other judges are not unanimous in declaring a winner

• 2 or more judges overall have it scored as a tie

• Both fighters have incurred an 8 count in the round

 

Scores Decision:

 

If a bout is declared a draw by In case of a draw, the points then get added up from the score cards, as often a winner can be found that way, for example:

• Judge A: Blue

• Judge B: Draw

• Judge C: Red.

 

That's a draw, the individual points are then tallied up. If a fighter has even only 1 point more than their opponent they have won by Scores Decision.

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Draws in this way are common in close fights which could have gone either way depending on which side of the ring the judge was seated. As the line of sight some shots were/were not seen depending if fighters had their backs to the referee when the shots landed.

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This is why there are 3 judges all at different angles.

 

What judging criteria is used in WKO Sanctioned Ringsports?

 

For majority of ringsports each judge will award scores to boxers based on the following criteria:

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• Number of clean/quality blows landed on opponent's target area/s (Light & Full Contact)

• Domination of the bout by technical and tactical superiority (Light & Full Contact)

• Competitiveness (showing initiative and a strong desire/will to win) (Light & Full Contact)

• Damage caused combination through combination of the above (Full Contact Only)

 

Sport- Boxing:

All of the above

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Thaiboxing:

All of the above but with a focus on damage caused and domination

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K-1 Rules:

All of the above but all strikes equal Kick, Knee or Punch to all legal scoring areas

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Kickboxing: 

All of the above but kicker being favoured over the puncher

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Low Kick Rules:  

All of the above but all strikes equal Kick, or Punch to all legal scoring areas

 

 

How do you win in WKO Sanctioned Ringsports?

 

As WKO Ringsports are Martial Arts based, in any rules set where kicks are required. There is NO minimum kick count in any WKO Rules. However the fighter attempting to have an even flow of Kicks and Punches will be favoured by all judges. The fighter not attempting to kick enough will not be scored as high by the judges unless scores an 8 count.

 

Terms and descriptions for the ways in which you can be awarded the win in WKO Sanctioned Ringsports:

 

1. Win by points (WP): At the end of a bout, each judge will determine a winner based on their total round-by-round scores for each boxer on their Score Card. The victory can either be awarded as a unanimous decision (all three judges agree on a winner) or a split decision (the judges disagree on a winner, or at least one judge scores it as a draw). If a draw is decided based on the Score Card decisions then the points can be accumulated from each judges score cards. If there is then a a fighters identified to have higher over all score they will be awarded the win via 'Score Decision'

 

2. Technical Knock Out (TKO): Referee stops contest if a boxer is unfit to continue the bout, or if he/she fails to resume boxing immediately after the rest between rounds, his/her opponent will be declared the winner.

 

3. Referee Stoppage (RS): A referee can also declare a victory by way of RS if it is determined that the boxer's opponent is being outclassed or receiving excessive punishment.

 

4. Referee Stoppage Injury (RS-I): If a referee determines that a boxer is unfit to continue a bout due to sustained or increased injury, the opponent will be declared the winner by RS-I.

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5. Abandonment (ABD): If a boxer retires voluntarily, their opponent is declared the winner. In addition, a boxer's corner can throw a towel in the ring, thereby surrendering victory to the opponent. (This is the derivation of the phrase "to throw in the towel.")

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6. Win by disqualification (DSQ): If a boxer is disqualified for any reason, the opponent will automatically be declared the winner. Reasons for disqualification include intentionally injuring an opponent, receiving a third warning during a bout, and unsportsmanlike behaviour (DQB). If both boxers are disqualified (BDSQ), then neither boxer will win, and neither boxer will advance to the next round.

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7. Win by knockout (KO): If a boxer is unable to resume the bout within 10 seconds after being knocked down, the opponent will be declared the winner by knockout. In the case of a double knockout (DKO), both boxers will lose the bout.

Can you knock an opponent out in WKO Sanctioned Ringsports?

Yes, a boxer can win a bout by knocking out their opponent. Once a boxer is knocked down, the referee will count to 10. If the knocked-down boxer fails to stand up and resume fighting, their opponent will be declared the winner by KO.

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8. Win by walkover (WO): If a boxer is present in the ring and their opponent fails to appear in the ring after being announced, and one minute after the bell has been sounded, the present boxer will be declared the winner by walkover. A boxer can also win by walkover if their opponent fails their medical examination or fails to make weight before the bout.

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9. Extraordinary rescheduling: A bout may be stopped by the referee before the scheduled time due to an incident outside the responsibility of the boxers or control of the referee, such as the ring being damaged, the failure of the lights, etc. If a minimum of two rounds have been completed, the judges will decide a winner by points. If the incident occurs before the end of the second round, the bout will be terminated and rescheduled.

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10, Three Knockdown Rule: The bout will come to an end if three 8 counts are given in a single round. The referee will complete the third and final count and assess the well being of the fighter, before declaring that the bout has ended and will classed as a TKO. 

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11, No Contest: Should the bout be stopped for anything other that KO or TKO before the end of the first round has been completed, there is not enough to be able to score the fight a Win or a Loss so will be declared a No Contest.
 

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