Have 12 round fights resulted in more close decisions than those fought over15 ?

I think the reduction from 15 to 12 rounds was precipitated by the death of Du Ku Kim in 1982. I am sure that accommodating network requests for televised fights also influenced the decision makers and the proliferation of late round stoppage and injuries was another factor. History would record many older fighters winning if the championship distance had always been 12 rounds with Hearns surely beating Leonard and many others following suit. Yes there were plenty of draws and split decisions even over 15 rounds but my hypothesis is that many so called fitter or better conditioned fighters today would struggle over 15 rounds and be unable to box negatively for a draw. The extra rounds seemed to call for second, third and fourth winds, the mystic hinterland where greatness was often confirmed.Before boxings formalization people fought with no round limits with some bouts going in excess of 100 rounds. No gloves and clogs on your feet that some mental as well as physical toughness. The average marathon time is 4 hours 32 minutes so 45 minutes of boxing instead of 36 seems reasonable from an endurance point of view. The problem again i think comes down to dehydration with many fighters boiling down to weights unnaturally low for them. The extra 3 rounds then leaves brains in a dangerously unprotected position in a "dry" athlete and so 12 rounds it is.

This fight came to my mind with your post, the last 3 round's have taken there toll on many fighter some with there life as with Du Ku Kim.?
But with the best will in the world round 1 to 15 injury can happen in any of them,it's a sad fact?

Of course it has. It cannot possibly be otherwise. How many KO's used to happen between 13-15?

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Originally Posted by marbleheadmaui

Of course it has. It cannot possibly be otherwise. How many KO's used to happen between 13-15?

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Rocky, Leonard and many other greats would never have been champions.

I have watched some great fifteen round fights and watched some dull ones that made me wonder how I woke up finding myself soaked in beer and covered with chips. The good news is that there were not so many draws and back then, twelve round fights were elimination matches preparing a fighter for a beating or telling us that maybe we shouldn't buy so many sleeping pills if certain fighters got together. The other advantage is you have to train. There was no excuse for not being in shape but then again you may suffer more damage or boredom with three extra rounds as a fan. The WBC claimed after Mancini-Kim there was more damage as the fight went on after twelve and doctors were up in arms and now we have mixed martial atrs and there are no ten oiunce gloves or eight ounce gloves to contend with and you have more concussive power in your punches. Oh yes you can hit a man when he is down and they want to ban boxing? Get a friggin life assholes. I wonder just how long a prime is attained and lasts in that sport. Don't get me wrong, I watch those too occasionally but I love boxing and I can't watch enough of it. There used to be 40-50 rounds but some people had to go home to dinner.