In major championships, fighters’ (and judges’!) hometowns are taken into consideration to avoid bias. So in a fight between an American and a Frenchman, you probably won’t see an American judge—they might select English judges instead. In non-championship matches, there may be just a single judge deciding the outcome. But in most cases, 3 are needed. While judges assign scores, refs officiate the match and decide when something is a foul.

If one fighter gets a “knockdown”, at the end the result will be “10-8”. If that same fighter gets a second “knockdown” in the same round, the result will be “10-7”. And, if that same fighter gets a third knockdown in the same round, the result will be “10-6”. “6” is the minimum score he can get. [5] X Research source If both fighters get a “knockdown” in the same round, their deductions will cancel each other out, meaning that the end result could still be “10-9” (not “9-8”).

This may happen when both fighters had knockdowns but one fighter’s knockdown was interrupted when the round’s time expired (meaning that they might’ve gotten lucky—with more time, they may have faced a full KO).

A fighter’s fouls can also be incidental. Though they won’t lose a point for this the first time, if they repeatedly log accidental fouls (especially for the same offense), the referee could still choose to deduct a point.

Plus, they can actually hurt their opponent’s “effective aggression” evaluation—because if the other fighter lands less punches, they’re less effective.

The sound isn’t enough to determine whether a punch was hard and clean. When glove strikes glove, that can make a loud noise—but it isn’t a clean punch. One of the best ways to tell if a punch landed flush is by where it hits. If it lands in an effective spot (squarely on the chin or cheek, for example), that’s a sign that it landed flush. Then, the opponent’s reaction is a good sign as well. If they wobble, fall, or stagger backward, there’s a good chance that the punch landed flush, too. If you want to be a good boxer, you should look at details of previous fights and take notes on wins and losses that you have had. Have a strong support system, such as teammates, friends, or family. Besides this, you should have good coaches and work ethics. [12] X Research source

Unanimous decision: All 3 judges had the same fighter earn the most points, and that fighter wins. Split decision: 2 judges had one fighter earn more points, and the last judge had the other fighter earn more points. The fighter with 2 judges’ support wins the match. Majority decision: 2 judges had one fighter earn more points, and the last judge had the match as a draw. The fighter with 2 judges’ support wins the match. Draw: When 2 judges rule the fight a draw, the match’s result is a draw. Majority draw: When one judge favors one fighter, another judge favors the other fighter, and the final judge believes the match was a draw—the match’s result is a draw.