Petition to the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO

Boxing fans, fighters, and the entire sporting community deserve transparency and fairness in professional boxing. The recent fight between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor has once again highlighted the need for better oversight and accountability when it comes to judges' decisions. Amanda Serrano appeared to have won the fight based on objective metrics, including the number of punches thrown and landed. Despite this, the decision was given to Katie Taylor, even after point deductions. This is just one example of many controversial outcomes that have frustrated both fans and fighters.

We Demand the Creation of a Boxing Appeals Commission (BAC)
We are calling on the four major sanctioning bodies — the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO — to establish a Boxing Appeals Commission (BAC) to review contested decisions and ensure that fights are scored accurately and fairly. Here’s why this change is necessary and how it could work:

1. Instant Replay Review
   Modern technology makes it possible to review a fight within 15-20 minutes. An appeals process would allow for a rapid replay review of punch statistics, foul assessments, and other critical aspects of scoring. This would provide a fair evaluation when a decision is disputed.
2. Authority of the Boxing Appeals Commission The BAC should have the power to:
   1. Overturn or amend decisions if there are clear errors or inconsistencies.
   2. Deduct points for missed violations, ensuring that fouls are appropriately accounted for even if they were not penalized during the fight.
   3. Declare a new winner or call for a rematch if necessary in cases of extreme controversy.
3. Clear Appeals Process
   Corners should be allowed to appeal a decision if they believe the outcome was incorrect based on:
   1. Significant discrepancies in punch statistics (e.g., punches landed vs. thrown).
      Point deductions or fouls that were not reflected in the scoring.
      Close decisions (e.g., split decisions) where the margin of victory is heavily contested.
4. Accountability for Judges
   Judges must be held accountable for their scoring. Consistent errors or controversial decisions should result in:
   1. Fines or suspensions for judges who fail to meet a high standard of accuracy and fairness.
   2. Mandatory retraining or additional certification for judges whose performance is found lacking.
5. Transparency with Fans
   The BAC should provide transparent explanations for any decision changes or upheld rulings after review. Transparency is key to restoring trust among fans and the broader boxing community, who are frustrated with decisions that seem to defy objective analysis.

Conclusion
The establishment of a Boxing Appeals Commission is essential to modernize the sport, ensure fair outcomes, and protect the integrity of boxing. We have the technology and resources to implement this change. It’s time to act now and prevent questionable decisions from overshadowing the hard work and skill of our fighters.

By signing this petition, you are standing up for fairness and transparency in boxing. Let’s come together to demand accountability from the major boxing organizations and ensure that every fighter gets the fair decision they deserve.

Sign this petition to call on the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO to establish a Boxing Appeals Commission!