BOXING RESULTS EXPLAINED

Boxing results broken down in our user-friendly guide, listing every kind of fight outcome.

What Do All the Different Boxing Results Mean?

Boxing Results Explained - Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler await their fight resultsIt’s true that boxing results can be more than a little confusing at times, mainly due to various factors – seemingly subtle – that determine a fight’s outcome.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

 

 

Unanimous Decision (UD)

All 3 ringside judges scored the fight in favor of the same fighter. Fighter A, for example. (see Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Marcos Maidana II)

 


 

Split Decision (SD)

The judges disagree on the fight’s victor. For example:

  • Judge 1 – Fighter A
  • Judge 2 – Fighter B
  • Judge 3 – Fighter B

Fighter B would be the victor of the fight as he received the nod from the majority of the judges. (see Saul Alvarez vs. Erislandy Lara)

 


 

Boxing Results Explanation - Lamont Peterson loses via Majority Decision, MDMajority Decision (MD)

Two of the judges scored the fight in favor of one fighter, while the other scored it evenly as a draw. For example:

  • Judge 1 – Fighter A
  • Judge 2 – Fighter A
  • Judge 3 – Draw/Even

(see Danny Garcia vs. Lamont Peterson)

 


 

Points (PTS)

Often confused with a Unanimous, Split or Majority Decision, and it’s easy to see why. Generally speaking, a Points decision is awarded from a single judge, that being the bout’s referee, who, in addition to refereeing the contest, scores each round (often using the same criteria of a three-piece judging panel). Usually Points judging is used in fights consisting of 8 rounds or less, particularly for up-and-coming fighters or those in the early years of their professional careers. For example, young prospects in debut fights or those with less than 10 professional fights. It is also widely used in non-title bouts in the UK.

 

 

Knockout (KO)

A knockout victory occurs when a fighter is knocked down and cannot rise to his feet in an upright-standing position before the referee has issued a 10 count. This may be due to disorientation/concussion from the blow/s received prior to the knockdown, or due to the fighter being ‘out cold’ due to a severe concussion. (see Gennady Golovkin vs. Marco Antonio Rubio)

 


 

Boxing Results Explained - Saul Alvarez captures TKO, Technical Knockout victoryTechnical Knockout (TKO)

Often confused with a KO, a technical knockout occurs not based on whether a fighter can beat a 10 count, but due to the referee’s discretion. In other words, a TKO occurs when the referee, out of concern for a fighter’s safety, stops the fight. The referee will usually signal this decision by crossing his hands. For example, fighter A may lose a fight by way of TKO if he is:

  • Knocked down, gets back to his feet before the count of 10, but appears to be seriously hurt; his legs may be shaky, eyes glazed, or is unable to respond to the referee’s instruction to ‘walk towards him’ (see Carl Froch vs. George Groves II)
  • On the ropes, appears to be hurt, and or defenseless, while returning little or no punches at Fighter B who is unloading a barrage of punishment the referee feels could seriously injure Fighter A (see Shawn Porter vs. Paulie Malignaggi)
  • Barely able to compete. Even though he appears somewhat mobile and able to punch, he has become heavily fatigued and or despondent due to an accumulation of punishment from Fighter B over the course of the fight. The referee therefore feels Fighter A is unable to properly defend himself and compete due to the visible attrition. (see Terence Crawford vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa)
  • Taking serious punishment from Fighter B; the referee sees Fighter B’s corner throw the towel in the ring and promptly halts the bout (see Andre Ward vs. Paul Smith)

 


 

Retired (RTD)

This is an outcome that often comes about due to a decision made in between rounds, generally when either a fighter decides he does not wish to continue the bout any further, or his corner, in consideration of their fighter’s safety, makes that decision for him (see Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Andrzej Fonfara)

 


 

Boxing Result Meanings - Lee Selby wins via Technical Decision, TDTechnical Decision (TD)

This occurs when an accidental foul has been committed which has caused the fight to be halted. As long as a minimum of four rounds have been completed, the fighter who has received the most points by the judges will be the bout’s victor by way of Technical Decision (see Evgeny Gradovich vs. Lee Selby). If four rounds have not been completed when the bout is halted, a No Decision is ruled (see below). If judges score the bout even, a Technical Draw is ruled – if at least four rounds have been completed (see below).

 


 

Technical Draw (TD)

Generally, a Technical Draw occurs when an accidental foul has taken place which has caused the bout to be halted; the bout’s outcome is then determined by the judges’ scorecards to this point as long as at least four rounds have been completed.

 


 

No Decision (ND) / No Contest (NC)

Generally, this is scored when an accidental foul, such as a head butt or low blow, or a bizarre/unusual event takes place before four rounds have elapsed. For example, Fighter A accidentally head butts fighter B in the 1st round, and the fight ends in the 3rd round due to the cut. Additionally, post-fight a bout’s outcome can be changed to a ND/NC; for example, the victor may have since been tested positive performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

 


 

Draw (D)

A Draw takes place when all three ringside judges score the bout dead even. For example:

  • Judge 1 – 114-114
  • Judge 2 – 114-114
  • Judge 3 – 114-114

This is very uncommon, however, as there is usually a slight discrepancy between scorecards. It is far more common for a Split Draw/Majority Draw to be announced (see below).

 

 

Understanding Boxing Results - Peter Quillin settles for Split Draw, SDSplit Draw (SD)

Essentially a Draw and may appear on some official boxer records as so. However, a Split Draw is realized when one judge scores the fight even and the other two disagree on the bout’s victor. For example:

  • Judge 1 – Even
  • Judge 2 – Fighter A
  • Judge 3 – Fighter B

(see Andy Lee vs. Peter Quillin)

 


 

Majority Draw (MD)

Again, essentially a Draw. A Majority Draw is reached when two judges score the fight even, and the other for one fighter. For example:

  • Judge 1 – Even
  • Judge 2 – Even
  • Judge 3 – Fighter A

(see Darleys Perez vs. Anthony Crolla)

 


 

Disqualification (DQ)

This occurs when a fighter has committed either a series of fouls or a single major infringement that has prompted the referee to stop the contest immediately, such as an intentional head butt which has opened up a severe cut. For example, a fighter may be Disqualified for throwing rabbit punches, low blows, intentional head butts, biting, using illegal use of elbows, thumbing his opponent’s eyes, hitting his opponent during a ‘break’, or intentionally after he has been knocked down or after the bell has rung to end the round. (see Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield II)

 


 

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