Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-14
Must Tab All Points and
Help Referee Reach
Decision.
BY JIMMY DE FOREST.
Famous Trainer and veteran Handler Of
Fighters.


ARTICLE V-"The Judges"
NEW YORK, July I3.-The judges al
boxing contests as they are conducted
today do not have the cinch that spec
tators believe they have. 1t is not only
their duty to see the fight" but 1t is
their duty to watch continually the
contest they are Judging, make note
of the points in favor of and against
both contestants. and at the finish, II
the bout goes the limit number OF
rounds II is scheduled, TO sum up and
render decision.
Theirs is no easy job. for while, under
the rules and regulations laid down by
the various boxing commissions and also
by the National Boxing Association,
they may arrive at verdict which
gives the decision to the man who actu-
allv by count has piled up the greater
number of points. the crowd may look
at the thing entirely differently. and
then comes the avalanche of "boos'
that spoils the show.
The judges In way are auxiliaries
of the referee They are supposed to
help him arrive at a decision In case of
foul whether accidental or intentional.
and they also are supposed to direct to
the attention of the referee any points
they think he should know or may have
overlooked in the fight This, however,
they must not do until the end OF a
round
Cramped With Instructions.
Under the present rules the judges
are cramped with instructions as to
Just how they shall arrive at a decision.
There are eight directions which the
various commissions lay down for their
Judges to follow
The first Is to credit points for clean
forceful hitting on 'any vulnerable part
OF the body above the belt" the num-
Der of points to be credited In proper
ton to the damaging effect of the blow.
Here's the firSt step where the judges
may disagree. for one man may decide
the punch 10 have been very damaging,
whereas the other judge, seated on the
opposite side of the ring, may decide IL
was not so damaging.
Next comes aggressivenesS. Here,
again. there Is room for wide difference
of opinion, for mere rushing tactics and
blind attacking might be confused for
real aggressiveness. which Is clean lead
ing and forcing,
Third on the list comes defensive
work. the judges being directed that
points should be given for cleverly
avoiding or blocking blow. From this
alone 1t would seem that with one man
leading and missing, the other fellow
ducking and blocking. the man leading
and missing should be given the deci-
sion. although 1t might be possible that
not a single blow would be landed. the
reason being that aggressiveneSs ranks
above defense in awarding points.
GeneraIship n Factor,
No. 4 on the list OF instructions for the
Judges to follow In scoring night says
that points shall be awarded where ring
Is conspicuous, meaning
where fighter shows ability 10 grasp
quickly every opportunity and take ad-
of every opening.
The Judges are advised to deduct
points when contestant persiStentiy
DELAYS the action by clinching and lack
of aggreSsiveness" In their Nth instruc-
ton, and In No. 9 further deductions
are called for In case OF foul or low
blows. whether intentional or otherwise.
Seventh the judges are told TO credit
suitable points to contestant for
actions In the ring, and.
finally, they are told TO arrive at
true conclusion" by summing up the
total number of points. regardless OF the
number of rounds won or lost
Some months ago the New York State
Athletic Commission, which Is the box
Ing commissions official name. sent out
word to Its referees and judges that the
fighter winning the greater number OF
rounds OF fight should be declared the
winner. 1'his served only to mnddie up