Unanimous Decision is a term used in combat fighting, such as kickboxing, Muay Thai, boxing, and any other sports that involve striking and submission. In boxing competitions, the winning of a boxer should depend on the three judges, who will count the punches landed and thrown. The difference of the unanimous decision is looking at the outcomes and percentage of the player’s performance, including stoppages.
How Did Unanimous Decision Start?
Back in the early days, the only way where people can judge the winner in combat fighting is when the other person can’t continue the fight. This is where the National Sporting Club took action and introduced boxing officials and judges to determine the winner of the fight. They began to develop a scoring system and the number of rounds and minutes per round.
How the Boxer should be Judged?
Each of the judges should be experienced in boxing, so they could record the boxer’s score accurately. They have to keep the score round by round, and carefully take note of the punches landed to the head or the body of the opponent. A unanimous decision is often confused with the majority decision.
Controversial Unanimous Decisions in Boxing
In March 1987, Mike Tyson and James Smith faced each other in the ring. What made it controversial is when the referee took 2 points away from Smith twice. Although Smith was at his best offensively as he managed to land his right hand to Tyson’s head. Tyson had won the match by winning all of the scorecards in every round.
Another controversial match was Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao’s fight in May 2015. Although this became one of the most viewed fights in history. At the end of the match, Mayweather defeated Pacquiao via unanimous decision, 118–110, 116–112, 116–112. Fans around the world reacted to this because Mayweather kept on running around the ring and complained that Pacquiao should win the match. Even Pacquiao thought of the same thing but was humble enough to accept the decision.
You can watch the full video of their fight here: