Sould fifteen round championship fights make a return?

[holmcall]

Duk Koo Kim was fatally injured at the hands of "Boom Boom" Mancini in 1982, and what followed was an outcry for reform. That fight is often cited as the reason for the reduction of fights from 15 rounds to 12. Medical officers and studies claimed that a boxer is more susceptable to damage in the later rounds, and that a reduction of the fight distance would make the sport safer.

Sure, a fatigued fighter is more vulnerable, but damage can also occur in rounds two, three, and four. The distance doesn't arbitrarily prevent fatalities. Each round is dangerous as the recent Matagwa-Villa fight showed and even the Haye-Barrett bout.

I have not been totally convinced that 15 round fights more dangerous; heck, all fights are potentially dangerous. But maybe capping 140 and under down to 12 rounds(because these smaller guys tend to last longer and take more accumulated punishment over the course of a fight. But above that, 15 rounds might not be more unsafe. Getting iced from a clean shot from Tyson in round one is less dangerous than being pummeled for nine rounds like Matagwas and Villa IMO.

Some say the REAL reason for the change to 12 round fights is that such bouts fit better into a one-hour slot on television. Interesting notion because they do fit perfectly into a one hour slot. Given the swarmy nature of the boxing busines, this is not a bad notion.

What do you think? I go back and forth on this one, but now lean towards 15.

[Kel]

Just this last 2 weeks or so I have been asking myself the same question.

Some great fights go the full 12 and you know both guys still have the stamina to go another three and you just don't want it to stop.

On the other hand many fighters would struggle, get too tired and take shots they are unable to react to(defensive wise) due to lack of stamina which highlights the possability of serious injury you mention, but that can happen in a 12 round fight anyway, some fighters have better stamina than others.

I personally can't decide which I favour.

[yvonne]

I was thinking of this a few months ago!I dont think the boxing board would ever change now!It does stand true that there is more of a chance a fighter could sustain more damage as the fight progresses.At the end of the day what the main aim is in the pro game of boxing is to cause maxium damage to your opponant.12rounds are spot on!Like you mention its a hour of pure action,thats enough time to enjoy a fight!!!

[CGM]

IMO the decision to go from 15-12 was somewhat of a kneejerk decision made to satisfy the general public that something was being done. I don't think a whole lot of thought went into the decision, for starters I really doubt they did research to determine the proportion of fatalities that resulted from injuries suffered in rounds 13-15 of title fights. And I rather doubt that this decision saved many lives. Probably there is proportionately more serious injuries and fatalities in non-title fights.

[holmcall]

I was thinking of this a few months ago!I dont think the boxing board would ever change now!It does stand true that there is more of a chance a fighter could sustain more damage as the fight progresses.At the end of the day what the main aim is in the pro game of boxing is to cause maxium damage to your opponant.12rounds are spot on!Like you mention its a hour of pure action,thats enough time to enjoy a fight!!!

Well said!

[Andre]

I think it would be more interesting if like in the case of a draw like
Marquez /Pac if the ref goes to each corner and asks both sides if they want to go the fifteen.

[bikersk]

I've been wondering about this too just this year. 15 rounds brings another dimension to a fight i reckon. Fighters pacing themselves is far more important in the 15 i would think. However if there was a change certainly the medical boards etc would be up in arms and if there was an injury or god forbid a death in a 15 rounder then the organisation who sanctioned the fight is open to all sorts of trouble..

[Kel]

I think it would be more interesting if like in the case of a draw like
Marquez /Pac if the ref goes to each corner and asks both sides if they want to go the fifteen.

That would be great but would never happen

[Spicoli]

Count on a yes vote from Librado Andrade

[Spicoli]

Really though I think it just would not be practical....Too many Indians and not enough chiefs running the organizations today to resist and disagree,Not to mention the Medical officials.Fighters are trained and conditioned now a days being a bit more Clock conscious and timing out rounds....well some at least.As for a punishment/damage factor I just don't see it being that different.Damage is accumulative down the stretch but Some might just compensate with not just the first round being the "feeling out round" but adjust to 1,2 or more serving that purpose to reserve strength in the late rounds??May sound far fetched but It's possible. I'd stick with 12 max.

What I ask is why pick 12 in the first place.Even number as opposed to 15 making Draws seem more possible...at least mathematically without KD'ds and point deductions.I have heard of Tie breaker rounds,Don king floated that idea I think along with that stuff about open scoring,Ugh! Really,If they want to reform and/or make changes...Let them start with some type of insurance/unified body for fighters once they have exited the sport?

[XaduBoxer]

I'm in favor for a change but not to 15. My idea is to have an odd number of rounds, maybe 11 or 13 rounds. This is to minimize a "draw" verdict. I pity those boxers fighting their hearts out and the fight just ended in a draw...
.

[brucelee]

I'm in favor for a change but not to 15. My idea is to have an odd number of rounds, maybe 11 or 13 rounds. This is to minimize a "draw" verdict. I pity those boxers fighting their hearts out and the fight just ended in a draw...
.

Well said...

[Gandalf]

World title fights should be 15 rounders. Absolutely.

Twelve rounds is too short, especially when you get a great fight that is close.

Seperate the boys from the warriors.

[C-Lo]

Some people can barely last 12 let alone 15.

They should have all alphabet title fights go 12 rounds. But the RING Magazine title (the only one that matters) should go for 15 rounds. Then they would be able to bring back the term "championship rounds" some substance.

[holmcall]

They often fight 11 rounders in Thailand.