Arum: Let boxing fans see scoring after every round

Thursday, March 18, 1999 | 10:22 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Promoter Bob Arum wants boxing fans to be able to see after each round how judges are scoring a fight.

Arum said Wednesday he will propose to Nevada boxing officials that the scoring of the May 8 WBC super bantamweight title fight between Erik Morales and Wayne McCullough at the Las Vegas Hilton be announced at the end of each round.

"People should know how a fight is being scored as it goes along," Arum said. "Boxing is the only sport that doesn't reveal the score as it happens."

The Nevada State Athletic Commission would have to approve the proposal before it is put into effect. Commission executive director Marc Ratner said if Arum files a formal proposal, it would be put before the commission.

Arum's proposal comes in the wake of Saturday night's controversial draw in New York between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis in a fight Lewis appeared to dominate.

"If it doesn't work, it doesn't work," Arum said. "I think we need to find out."

Arum conceded that judges could be influenced by the scoring of other judges if it is put up after every round. But he said that could actually help even out the judging.

"If two judges are scoring a fight one way and one the other way, I think the official would figure out he or she was doing something wrong," Arum said.

* A New York grand jury is investigating the Lewis-Holyfield fight. The panel will issue subpoenas and hear testimony about the judging of Saturday night's bout at Madison Square Garden, a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said. State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer canceled a public hearing for Friday involving many of the principals in the fight Lewis was widely believed to have won.