How is boxing scored?
B · Beginner · Scoring and how a bout is won · 1 of 7Five judges score each round on the 10-point must system. The boxer who won the round gets 10 and the other gets 9, 8 or 7, depending on the margin. At the end, each judge adds up their rounds and names a winner, and the majority of judges decides the bout.
How it works
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 10-9 | A close round |
| 10-8 | A clear winner |
| 10-7 | Total dominance |
- Every round must have a winner. No round is scored level, and 7 is the lowest score.
- Judges decide the round on three criteria, in this order: the number of scoring blows; technical and tactical superiority; competitiveness.
- The second criterion counts only when the blows are very close to equal, and the third only when the first two cannot separate the boxers.
- Each judge scores alone and enters the score within 5 seconds of the bell. It cannot be changed afterwards.
- Round scores are shown on a public display and to the corners, but not to the referee or the judges.
- Each warning from the referee takes 1 point off the boxer's total on every judge's card.
- The referee does not score.
Tricky cases
Does a knockdown automatically make it a 10-8 round?
No. A round can still be scored 10-9 even if a boxer was knocked down or given an eight count.
Can a round be a draw?
No. Every round must have a declared winner.
Does walking the opponent down win rounds?
No, not by itself. The rules say advancing forward does not automatically count as effective aggression or as competitiveness.
Why the rule exists
Scoring round by round means a boxer has to win most of the bout, not one burst of it. Five judges scoring apart dilute any one judge's mistake.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Boxing rules | As above | WB 7 |
| Professional boxing | Usually three judges and longer bouts; rounds may be scored level | C |
From the rule book
World Boxing Competition Rules, Rules 6.1, 6.2, 7 and 8.11.4. Approved November 2024. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Boxing Competition Rules (PDF).