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Tips: Andre Ward on how to score in Olympic boxing
By Andre Ward // April 21, 2004
United States boxer Andre Ward knows what it takes to win in the ring. Riding an unbeaten streak since 1998, Ward has dominated opponents in the middleweight and light heavyweight classes. The Oakland, Calif. native won the U.S. middleweight title in 2001 and the Under-19 U.S. light heavyweight title in 2002. Ward is known for being a tireless worker and for his unique ability to adapt in the ring to any style necessary to beat his opponent. Ward, who wears a picture of his late father on his boxing shoe during bouts, is expected to be a medal candidate at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
The official rules for Olympic boxing are set forth by the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and are explained here.
How to score in Olympic boxing
Tip #1 - Out point your opponent
There are five judges around the ring with computer scoring. They have a red button and a blue button (each color represents one competitor). Three judges have to score (push the puncher's button) within one second of each other to record one point (for the puncher). It's like a video game. The most points wins the bout.
Tip #2 - Score with the white part of the glove
That's the tip of the glove. Punches must be very sharp, very crisp for the judges to see.
Tip #3 - Head first
With amateurs, punches to the head tend to score more. When you go for the head, make sure the punches are straight and crisp.
Tip #4 - Quantity over quality
It is a combination of both really. But, this is what they tell us - they say if you knock a guy down that's no different than a good jab. So, I guess it's quantity over quality in amateur boxing.
Tip #5 - Leave it out of the judges' hands
There is a lot of stuff out there that happens in amateur boxing that has you scratching your head. There is no telling why this score looked like this when it really should have been like that. Therefore, try to be spectacular in every fight and take it out of the judges' hands. Give them no choice but to give you the victory. Everybody in the stands should know who won the fight even if the judges don't.
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