The sport’s inclusion in the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympics remains uncertain, and the current scoring system could be detrimental to its future.
Former Indian boxer and 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh expressed his frustration on social media following Dev’s defeat.
“I don’t know what’s the scoring system but I think very close fight..he play so well..koi na bhai,” Singh posted on X.
The controversy surrounding Olympic boxing scoring is not new. One of the most notable instances was Michael Conlan‘s loss in the 2016 Rio quarter-finals, after which he had a famous expletive-laden tirade against the judges.
Conlan, who turned professional after feeling “robbed” in Rio, has remained vocal about the flaws in the amateur scoring system. Commenting on the ongoing Games in Paris, Conlan has maintained his criticism of the system.
India’s iconic boxer, MC Mary Kom, faced a similar situation in the Tokyo 2020 Games. Despite leading in terms of rounds won, she lost her pre-quarterfinal bout against Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia due to the overall scoreline favoring her opponent. Mary Kom expressed her frustration, stating, “The worst part is that there is no review or protest.”
Controversial decisions in Olympic boxing date back decades.
In the 1988 Seoul Olympics, American boxer Roy Jones Jr. was controversially denied a gold medal despite dominating his bout against South Korea’s Park Si-Hun. The outcry led to the introduction of computer scoring in the 1992 Barcelona Games, aimed at reducing human error in judging. However, this system faced criticism for making boxers more defensive and limiting the variety of punches.
In 2013, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) adopted a professional-style 10-point scoring system. This system introduced subjectivity by considering defensive prowess, ring control, and overall aggression. Criticism of this system resurfaced during the 2016 Rio Olympics, when Michael Conlan publicly denounced the judges after his controversial loss.
An investigation commissioned by AIBA in 2021 revealed a system for manipulating results at the Rio Games, which led to the suspension of 36 judges. The names of these judges were never disclosed, continuing the opacity surrounding the scoring system in Olympic boxing.
Given these ongoing issues, the future of boxing in the Olympics hangs in the balance. The sport’s stakeholders must address the systemic problems in the scoring process to restore credibility and ensure fair competition. Nishant Dev’s experience in Paris is a stark reminder of the urgent need for transparency and reform in Olympic boxing.