Understanding the Ten-Point Must System

by Mike

The ten-point must system is used in nearly every professional boxing match as well as in many kickboxing and MMA matches.

Why is it called the Ten-Point Must system?

Because the winner must get ten points. It is possible for the winner to actually get less than ten points despite winning a round (for instance, if they were knocked down or penalized by the referee).*

The Ten-Point Must system is subtractive, that is, the winner gets the maximum number of points while the loser gets fewer.

Criteria for judging the winner of a round

The Association for Boxing Commissions' Regulatory Guidelines list four criteria for determining the winner of a round:

• Clean striking
  
  
• Effective aggression
  
  
• Ring generalship
  
  
• Defense
  

In theory, an equal weight is applied to each of the above criteria, but in practice, they seem to be ranked in order of importance.

Draws

Judges are encouraged to not score a round a draw, however, in the case that no clear winner could be determined from the four criteria, both fighters will be awarded ten points.

Ways to lose points

If the winner gets ten points, the loser automatically gets nine. Further points could be deducted for:

• Knockdowns - if a fighter is knocked down (not a slip!), one point is deducted from that fighter.
  
  
• Fouls - the referee may instruct the judges to deduct a point if a fighter commits a foul. Judges cannot deduct points on their own.
  
  
• If one fighter is severely outclassed by their opponent but still finishes the round, the judge may award the losing fighter less than nine points.

At the end of a round, the judges score the round and their cards are collected. Judges may not revise their scores after they have been submitted.

Outcomes

If the fight goes to the last round with no winner by KO/TKO, etc. the judges' scores are totaled and read. The total score determines the fighter that judge chooses (that is, the total number of points are irrelevant, only which fighter has the most points on that judge's card).

Possible results of the ten-point system are:

• Unanimous Decision - All three judges select the same fighter as the winner
  
  
• Split Decision - Two judges score the fight for one fighter and one judge scores the fight for the other fighter
  
  
• Majority Decision - Two judges score the fight for one fighter and one judge scores the fight a draw
  
  
• Draw - All three judges score the fight equally between the two fighters
  
  
• Majority Draw - Two judges score the fight a draw and one judge shows one of the two fighters winning

* MMA fans may remember Ortiz/Evans, where Tito was penalized a point for fence-grabbing. That deduction turned the fight from a unanimous decision victory to a draw.