How Is Boxing Scored?

Modern boxing uses the 10-Point Must System. Here's a quick overview:

• 01 Each round is scored separately out of 10. The round winner gets 10, the loser gets 9 — a 10-9 round.
• 02 A knockdown or standing count costs that fighter a point. His opponent gets the 10, and normally that's a 10-8 round — but if the fighter who was dropped was otherwise clearly winning the round and only got caught by a flash knockdown, judges may still give him the 9, making it 10-9 instead.
• 03 Two knockdowns of the same fighter in one round makes it 10-7.
• 04 If both fighters score a knockdown in the same round, the deductions cancel out — usually still 10-9 for the better fighter.
• 05 A 10-8 can also be scored without a knockdown, for a truly one-sided round.
• 06 A completely even round can be scored 10-10.