Scoring from the judge’s chair vs. scoring from the sofa

Judges often say that fights are much different in person, and that accounts for the differences and controversies in the game. There are some key differences between the live judging experience and watching from home on your 55-inch 4K screen.

That said, I think claiming that fights are totally different on TV can be a cop-out. There are differences, but I’d argue those differences are more nuanced than pronounced.

Let’s take a look at the differences:

Being close to the best fighters in professional boxing is a privilege. Seeing the finest in the game up close is something I never take for granted. However, the angle of view isn’t always ideal for catching all the action—especially when the fighters are across the ring. One fighter might have their back to you, and when the two boxers are primarily infighting, it can be challenging to catch everything.

In these situations, television usually switches to a camera on the ring apron for a better view. I wish judges could get that! When the action is far away and a fighter has their back to you, it can be difficult to evaluate what’s happening.

Refs have a tough job, and ensuring the safety of the boxers is their top priority—not avoiding obstructing the views of three judges seated around the ring. I would much rather they focus on the boxers’ safety, keeping the action legal, and ensuring knockdowns and cuts are correctly noted.

Still, I sometimes find my view obstructed by a referee’s position. Television, on the other hand, can easily switch angles to give viewers a better perspective. Some referees even attempt to officiate from the ring side without a judge, pacing only that side of the ring, but that’s an awful lot to ask.

You can miss a critical shot because of a referee’s positioning—there’s just no way around it. Judges might shift in their seats to improve their view, but sometimes it’s simply impossible.

Announcers can help viewers keep up with the action when it’s fast or hard to follow. They act as another set of eyes, sharing their interpretation of what’s happening. Most of them split their attention between the monitor and the ring, juggling multiple demands.

However, viewers are often subject to the commentators’ interpretation. If you’re watching passively, their opinions may seep into yours unless you actively focus and form your own evaluation.

Judges, on the other hand, don’t have monitors or someone whispering in their ear to explain what happened.

One of the biggest surprises I encountered when I began judging televised bouts was how difficult it is to assess power through the two dimensions of a TV broadcast. Early in my career, I judged a close fight and gave significant credit to a boxer for his bodywork. But when I watched the recording, those punches, which seemed hellacious in person, appeared average on screen. I learned that power isn’t always as obvious on TV.

I’ve had the privilege of judging great body punchers like Miguel Cotto and Gennady Golovkin. At ringside, their punches looked so devastating I thought, “If I ever took a shot like that, I’d never go to the bathroom right again.” On TV, those same punches looked like solid body shots, but their true power wasn’t as apparent.

Headshots can be easier to evaluate on TV, as good ones often make the head move. A particularly hard shot might visibly affect the fighter. However, the sheer resilience some fighters display when absorbing those hits is awe-inspiring. Watching live, it’s impossible to ignore.

Every arena has unique stools for us to sit on, and the rings vary in height, which affects how the ropes are positioned. Sometimes, you spend the evening hunched over, peering through the bottom two ropes; other times, you lean back to look through the top two. It’s far from ideal.

Some judges stand and move around, but I avoid that. Fans who’ve paid good money to sit ringside deserve an unobstructed view. Besides, moving around can be its own distraction.

Recently, a broadcast team positioned a camera behind us to show viewers what it’s like. Let’s just say it didn’t become a fan favorite.

At home, you miss the chaos and excitement that occurs live: fights breaking out in the audience, camera operators squeezing past to film a corner between rounds, or ring card girls climbing through the ropes. Depending on your seat, you might even overhear the announcers’ commentary.

Harold Lederman, one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, used to announce his scores loudly every three rounds—it was hard to ignore. Fans can also be quite vocal, cheering wildly for every blow their fighter lands, even when the punch is blocked. The sound of wet leather slapping gloves might excite the crowd, but a blocked shot isn’t a scoring blow.

Cornermen are rarely silent. While some keep their shouts to simple encouragement, others seem to use it as a tactic to influence judges. “There you go!” or “He didn’t like that!” might be attempts to sway us, but you don’t hear it as clearly on TV.

All in all, watching on TV is fairly close to the in-person experience—not the same, but close. Some fights are razor-thin in margin, and in these cases, the difference between TV and live viewing might be enough to cause a disparity.