Sky Sports - Summer Olympics - Beijing 2008 - Sponsored by Puma

Normally my column is directed only towards professional boxing but I felt the need to write a piece about amateur boxing -namely at the Beijing Olympics.

During the first week of the Games there was a lot of controversy over the system. It was not a favourite of mine when I fought as an amateur either but there really was no surprise at some of the bad decisions being handed out because not many people understand the way the computer scoring works - including me!

In my opinion, computer scoring has to go because it just isn't working. It really has no place in amateur boxing and has taken all the joy out of watching the sport during these Olympics for me.

Technically it isn't done by a computer. Five human judges sit at computer systems to score a fight. Three out of the five judges must push the red or blue button (for the appropriate fighter) at approximately the same - within one second - before that shot registers in the computer.

If the judges take longer than a second, the shot doesn't count. If less than three of them push the button at the same time, the shot doesn't count. They also can't score combinations because the computer can't register more than one shot at a time.

The only blows that register are straight shots that land with the white part of the amateur glove. There are no points for good solid body blows unless you really hurt your opponent and very rarely are hooks to the head scored either.

These were my favorite shots as an amateur - and still are today - but I knew to succeed I had to change my style to make the computer work for me. It didn't always happen as I was the victim of bad decisions on several occasions, but sometimes it did.

Discrepancies

Computer scoring has been used in the Olympics since 1992. I took part in those Games and proudly came away with a silver medal.

During the tournament I registered 31 points in one fight - the most for any fighter in the entire competition, so you're probably wondering why I would complain about the scoring system!

Well, during one fight I scored 31 points and in another I only score 10 points - I'm sure I threw about the same amount of shots in both fights and landed pretty much the same so I couldn't understand the difference in points. It is so random.

I personally have never agreed with using it. I believe it has changed the style of fighting for a lot of different countries. As these Olympics have shows there have been several discrepancies - bad decisions, points not being scored that landed, points being scored that didn't land. Something needs to be done about it.

I'd had enough during the first week but more so when a USA fighter named Raynell Williams fought in his second fight. He lost the fight on a ridiculous score of 19-7. This, for me, was the worst decision I have seen in a very long time.

Williams looked like the clear winner and was landing combinations of three and four shots at a time but it was clear they weren't being scored by the judges. Going into these Games he may have been thinking of going pro but I'm sure this decision will sway his decision to head towards the paid ranks.

Favouritism

There were some fighters in these Games that clearly got their dreams snatched away from them and it's really unfortunate that the governing body don't seem like they want to do anything about it. Judges' reflexes could be slow, there could be politics involved or just plain old favouritism.

It would seem that each Olympics from the computer scoring onset has had it's fair share of controversy. It's not just a case of getting used to it or working out the kinks, something is seriously wrong - and it could eventually ruin amateur boxing.

What kid wants to fight his whole life to go to the Olympics and have his dream destroyed by a judge who can't push a button quick enough or a computer that can't register his punches quickly enough? It will force more young boxers into the pro ranks earlier.

Another thing I hate about the new system is allowing the fighters and their team see the scoring during the fight. This helps the fighter who is ahead know he is winning and then, most of the time, he takes off running.

I say bring back the old scoring system where fights are judged on different things like scoring shots, including body punches and hooks, knockdowns and ring generalship - not just straight punches to the front of the torso.

And keep us in suspense with the scores until the final bell has rung!

Do you agree with Wayne? Has the scoring system spoilt the boxing in Beijing? Should it be scrapped? Let us know by filling in the feedback form below...