§ 21.5. Scoring system.
(a) The scoring in professional contests shall be on the basis of the ten points must system.
(1) Each judge in reaching a finding on each round of a contest shall award to the winning boxer ten points and to the losing boxer nine points or less and shall so inscribe the official score card immediately upon conclusion of the round.
(2) In the case of an even round, the judge shall award ten points to each boxer.
(3) At the conclusion of each round which has not been terminated by a knockout, a technical knockout or the disqualification of either boxer, the Executive Director or an inspector shall tally the points for each boxer and mark these scores on the official score card.
(4) If each boxer has been awarded the same total number of points, the vote of the judge shall be recorded as a draw.
(5) Each judge shall sign his name to his score cards.
(6) A boxer shall be declared the winner of a contest if he has received the winning votes of two or all of the judges.
(7) A contest shall be declared a draw if the votes of two or all of the judges shall so state, or if each boxer receives the winning vote of one judge and the vote of the third judge shall be for a draw.
(b) Examples of ten point scoring are as follows:
(1) 10-10. Indicates an even round. Neither boxer distinguished himself as being more effective than the other. In addition, the boxers appeared equal in the areas that may be used to break an even round, such as opponent control, ring strategy and overall conditioning and abilities as a complete boxer, with emphasis on overall ability.
(2) 10-9. Indicates one boxer distinguished himself as more effective during the round, as described in paragraph (1). This score is the most often used, and allows for a slight to considerable margin between the boxers. One boxer may have been only slightly better than the other or the boxer may have dominated the round without really stunning the other boxer, with no knockdowns.
(3) 10-8. Indicates a round in which one boxer was in constant control, and unquestionably outclassed his opponent. The boxer may also have obviously stunned his opponent, usually including at least one knockdown. If there were no knockdowns, there shall still have been enough contact done to indicate that at least one of these occurrences was imminent.
(c) Subject to the foul rule in subsection (d), if in a round a boxer is adjudged guilty by the referee of a foul or of a technical violation of the Athletic Code, the referee may penalize the offending boxer one point for each foul or technical violation. The referee shall immediately stop the contest and notify the judges of the number of points being deducted and provide for the innocent boxer to be examined by the ringside physician, if warranted. In each round when points are being deducted, judges shall score the round in a normal manner and mark next to the score the number of points being deducted for that boxer for the foul as indicated by the referee. If a boxer persists in the employment of foul tactics or in technical violations of the Athletic Code or if the boxer inflicts, by foul means, a crippling injury upon his opponent so that the latter is adjudged incapable of continuing the contest, the referee shall disqualify the offending boxer and shall award the contest to the innocent boxer. In determining the scoring of a round, a judge shall consider the following:
(1) Aggressiveness.
(2) Clean hitting.
(3) Cleverness.
(4) Defensive skill.
(5) Effectiveness of blows.
(6) Fouls and technical violations.
(7) Knockdowns.
(d) If a boxer in a contest scheduled for more than four rounds receives an accidental foul that renders the boxer immediately unable to continue and less than four rounds have been completed, the referee shall rule the decision a ‘‘no contest.’’ This rule does not apply in the case of accidental low-blow fouls as referenced in subsection (l). If at least four rounds have been completed, the boxer ahead on the scorecards shall be awarded the decision. If neither boxer is ahead on points, the contest shall be ruled a draw. The round shall be considered complete when the bell is sounded ending the round. Partial rounds shall be scored when at least four rounds have been completed.
(e) If a boxer in a contest scheduled for four rounds receives an accidental foul that renders the boxer immediately unable to continue and less than three rounds have been completed, the referee shall rule the decision a ‘‘no-contest.’’ This rule does not apply in the case of accidental low-blow fouls as referenced in subsection (l). If at least three rounds have been completed, the boxer ahead on the scorecards shall be awarded the decision. If neither boxer is ahead on points, the contest shall be ruled a draw. The partial fourth round shall be scored.
(f) If a boxer receives an intentional foul, the referee shall stop the contest and shall deduct one or more points from the offender. Point deductions shall be at the discretion of the referee based upon the severity of the foul. If the boxer who received the intentional foul is unable to continue the round in which the foul occurred, as determined by the referee or ringside physician, the referee shall stop the contest and the injured boxer shall have up to 5 minutes of recovery time. If after these 5 minutes the injured boxer cannot continue, the referee shall disqualify the offender. Point deductions and disqualifications are at the discretion of the referee.
(g) The referee shall have the authority to determine whether the foul is accidental or intentional and shall make his ruling known immediately after the foul has been committed. The referee shall notify the judges, Commission personnel and both boxers of his ruling.
(h) If an injury inflicted by an accidental foul later becomes aggravated by fair blows and the contest must be stopped in a round other than the one in which the foul occurred, the outcome will be determined by the scoring of all partial and completed rounds if at least four rounds have been completed. If less than four rounds have been completed, the outcome shall be ruled a ‘‘no-contest.’’
(i) If an injury inflicted by an intentional foul later becomes aggravated by fair blows and the contest must be stopped in a round other than the one in which the foul occurred (See subsection (e)), the injured boxer will win by a technical decision if he is ahead in the scoring.
(1) The contest shall be ruled a technical draw if the injured boxer is behind or even in the scoring.
(2) If a boxer injures himself while attempting to intentionally foul his opponent, the referee shall take no action in his favor, and this injury shall be treated the same as one produced by a fair blow.
(j) In a round when a boxer has been knocked down and that boxer has not risen at the end of the round, the count of the timekeeper shall be continued and, if the fallen contestant shall fail to rise before the count of ten, he shall be considered to have lost the contest by a knockout in the round just concluded. If the boxer does rise and the round has already ended, the timekeeper shall immediately ring the bell signifying the end of the round.
(k) The referee shall signal for a time-out when a boxer is knocked down as a result of an accidental foul or accident, as ruled by the referee. The boxer shall have up to 5 minutes of recovery time. If the boxer cannot continue after 5 minutes and four rounds or more have been completed, the winner of the contest shall be determined by the scores indicated for completed rounds on the scorecards. Partial rounds shall be scored when at least four rounds have been completed. If less than four rounds have been completed, the contest shall be ruled a technical draw.
(l) In the case of an accidental low-blow foul, the same procedures in subsection (k) shall be followed, except that if the boxer who is unable to continue is ahead on points, the contest shall be ruled a technical draw. If his opponent is ahead on points, he shall be awarded the decision.
(m) If a boxer is disqualified by the referee and that boxer is behind on points at the time of his disqualification, regardless of the round, that boxer shall lose by technical knockout (TKO).
Authority The provisions of this § 21.5 amended under the Athletic Code, 5 Pa.C.S. § 103(b)(1).
Source The provisions of this § 21.5 adopted March 11, 1946; amended through November 1, 1966; amended November 10, 1978, effective November 11, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 3094; amended April 10, 1992, effective April 11, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 1760; amended May 17, 2002, effective May 18, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 2443. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (242849) to (242851).
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 25.6 (relating to fouls).
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