Rounds Reduced After Tragic Fatality In The Ring<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Duk](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Duk_Koo_Kim_vs_Ray_Mancini_ticket.png\")
The tragic battle between Ray Mancini and Duk Koo Kim proved to one of the most significant fights in the sport\u2019s history. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe number of rounds were taken down from 15 to 12 mainly due to one hugely significant fight<\/a> in boxing history. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBack on November 13, 1982, the brutal encounter\nbetween Ray Mancini and Duk\nKoo Kim ultimately forced an overhaul in the sport\u2019s\nlength and rules in a bid to help boost safety of combatants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Korean warrior Kim collapsed and was taken\nto hospital immediately after being stopped in the 14th and penultimate\nscheduled round of a truly gruelling meeting with American \u201cBoom Boom\u201d, having\nboth gone toe to toe throughout proceedings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He had to undergo emergency brain surgery but tragically passed away from his sustained injuries<\/a>, with his death eventually being pivotal in the decision to reduce the number of rounds in championship bouts. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile tragedy is sadly a risk associated with\nprize-fighting, those in the sport\u2019s hierarchy opted to make this massive\nreform of the rules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Changes In The Rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy 1988, all major world title fights had been\ndecreased from the long-standing and standard 15 to 12. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following year the first ever heavyweight\ntitle showdown under the new shortened distance took place, with Larry Holmes\nand Lucien Rodriguez colliding across a scheduled 12 rounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notably, there was a difference of opinions\nbetween the sport\u2019s belt organisations during this tractional period of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The WBC almost immediately altered their rules<\/a> in light of the tragic Kim bout but others took longer to follow that same path. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Muhammad](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Photo_dune_affiche_de_Mohamed_Ali_et_George_Foreman-787x1024.jpg\")
Many of the greatest fights in boxing history were contested over 15 rounds before the eventual change in rules. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThe WBA<\/a>, who had not yet separated from the WBO<\/a>, eventually changed their rules and voted to reduce their championship distances to 12 rounds in 1987. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile the IBF<\/a>, which had also recently broken away from the WBA, maintained the standard 15-round clashes as they claimed there was no documented medical evidence that the extra nine minutes were more dangerous. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, in 1988 they too ultimately changed\ntheir stance though, reducing their governed fights to 12 rounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
American superstar Mike Tyson was involved in the final scheduled heavyweight 15 rounder, when he stopped Tyrell Biggs inside seven to retain his WBA, WBC and IBF crowns in October 1987.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Old School Days Are Gone<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn recent times there have actually been several\ncalls from certain fighters and their teams to return to the old scheduled\ndistance of 15 rounds, in a bid to improve overall standards again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, a look back in history and it\u2019s evident\nthat a lot of the most iconic boxing moments would never have occurred if not for the\n15-round limit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Joe Louis knocking out Billy\nConn in the 13th round to defend his heavyweight crown (1941).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Joe Frazier\u2019s devastating and\ndecisive left hook on Muhammad Ali in the 15th round of their \u2018Fight of the\nCentury\u2019. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Sugar Ray Leonard\u2019s late rally\nto halt Thomas Hearns in the 14th round of their anticipated welterweight clash\n(1981). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Muhammad](\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Muhammad_Ali_and_Henry_Cooper_following_their_fight_on_June_18_1963.jpg\")
Muhammad Ali was involved in many gruelling 15-round fights throughout his illustrious career. [Image: Wikimedia Commons]<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhile there have also been arguments in the\nother instance that famous results would\u2019ve differed in the longer format,\nincluding Marvin Hagler\u2019s high-profile and controversial defeat to Sugar Ray\nLeonard over 12 (1987) and Jermain Taylor\u2019s middleweight victory over Bernard\nHopkins (2005). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Would Leonard have been able to withstand\nHagler\u2019s pressure for a further three rounds? Could a tiring Taylor have had\nenough left in the tank for nine more minutes? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Questions like this are often asked in the\nmodern era under the 12-round limit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before retiring, former heavyweight kingpin Larry Holmes once stated:
\u201cIt will cut down on injuries for a lot of fighters but it will take away from the true champions. A true champion can go 15 rounds.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nBut reverting back to the past ruleset is highly\nunlikely of ever coming to fruition after so many years, with there having been\nmany studies to highlight the damaging effects on combatants during the longer\npast format. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Safety The Top Priority<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nSome reports have previously concluded that the brain becomes more susceptible to damage beyond 12 rounds<\/a>, while others have argued that 15 rounds escalates the risk of dehydration and exhaustion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The number of rounds were taken down from 15 to 12 mainly due to one hugely significant fight<\/a> in boxing history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Back on November 13, 1982, the brutal encounter\nbetween Ray Mancini and Duk\nKoo Kim ultimately forced an overhaul in the sport\u2019s\nlength and rules in a bid to help boost safety of combatants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n South Korean warrior Kim collapsed and was taken\nto hospital immediately after being stopped in the 14th and penultimate\nscheduled round of a truly gruelling meeting with American \u201cBoom Boom\u201d, having\nboth gone toe to toe throughout proceedings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He had to undergo emergency brain surgery but tragically passed away from his sustained injuries<\/a>, with his death eventually being pivotal in the decision to reduce the number of rounds in championship bouts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While tragedy is sadly a risk associated with\nprize-fighting, those in the sport\u2019s hierarchy opted to make this massive\nreform of the rules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 1988, all major world title fights had been\ndecreased from the long-standing and standard 15 to 12. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The following year the first ever heavyweight\ntitle showdown under the new shortened distance took place, with Larry Holmes\nand Lucien Rodriguez colliding across a scheduled 12 rounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Notably, there was a difference of opinions\nbetween the sport\u2019s belt organisations during this tractional period of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The WBC almost immediately altered their rules<\/a> in light of the tragic Kim bout but others took longer to follow that same path. <\/p>\n\n\n The WBA<\/a>, who had not yet separated from the WBO<\/a>, eventually changed their rules and voted to reduce their championship distances to 12 rounds in 1987. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While the IBF<\/a>, which had also recently broken away from the WBA, maintained the standard 15-round clashes as they claimed there was no documented medical evidence that the extra nine minutes were more dangerous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, in 1988 they too ultimately changed\ntheir stance though, reducing their governed fights to 12 rounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n American superstar Mike Tyson was involved in the final scheduled heavyweight 15 rounder, when he stopped Tyrell Biggs inside seven to retain his WBA, WBC and IBF crowns in October 1987.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent times there have actually been several\ncalls from certain fighters and their teams to return to the old scheduled\ndistance of 15 rounds, in a bid to improve overall standards again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, a look back in history and it\u2019s evident\nthat a lot of the most iconic boxing moments would never have occurred if not for the\n15-round limit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there have also been arguments in the\nother instance that famous results would\u2019ve differed in the longer format,\nincluding Marvin Hagler\u2019s high-profile and controversial defeat to Sugar Ray\nLeonard over 12 (1987) and Jermain Taylor\u2019s middleweight victory over Bernard\nHopkins (2005). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Would Leonard have been able to withstand\nHagler\u2019s pressure for a further three rounds? Could a tiring Taylor have had\nenough left in the tank for nine more minutes? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Questions like this are often asked in the\nmodern era under the 12-round limit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before retiring, former heavyweight kingpin Larry Holmes once stated: But reverting back to the past ruleset is highly\nunlikely of ever coming to fruition after so many years, with there having been\nmany studies to highlight the damaging effects on combatants during the longer\npast format. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some reports have previously concluded that the brain becomes more susceptible to damage beyond 12 rounds<\/a>, while others have argued that 15 rounds escalates the risk of dehydration and exhaustion. <\/p>\n\n\n\nChanges In The Rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Old School Days Are Gone<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u201cIt will cut down on injuries for a lot of fighters but it will take away from the true champions. A true champion can go 15 rounds.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nSafety The Top Priority<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n