In boxing, a “split decision” refers to a specific outcome of a match in which the judges do not unanimously agree on the winner. Instead, two judges score the fight in favor of one boxer, while the third judge scores it for the other boxer. This type of decision indicates that while the majority of the judges saw one fighter as the better performer, there was enough disagreement for the match to end without a unanimous verdict.
The scoring in boxing is typically done on a 10-point must system, where the winner of each round is awarded 10 points, and the loser receives a lower score (usually 9 points or less, depending on the performance). When a fight goes the distance and ends without a knockout, the judges’ scorecards are tallied, and the fighter with the higher total score is declared the winner.
A split decision can reflect the competitive nature of a match, suggesting that both fighters performed well and that the outcome was close. It can also lead to discussions about the judges’ scoring and the subjective nature of boxing judging, as different judges may have different interpretations of the action in the ring.