Boxing judging under fire: is AI the answer after Shittu 'robbed'?
A controversial decision in a boxing final has reignited calls for AI-assisted judging. Dimeji Shittu believes he was 'robbed', while others demand more objective scoring criteria.
Boxing is facing renewed scrutiny over judging after Dimeji Shittu lost a final despite appearing to dominate. Shittu won the first round on all five judges' scorecards, but the fight turned in the second round when three judges awarded it to his opponent, Ankush, even though Shittu seemed to land more punches. A harsh point deduction for dipping his head put the Englishman behind, and a second penalty in the final round effectively sealed the result.
Commentators Richard Woodhall and Dave Farrar were scathing, with Woodhall describing the scoring as "absolutely terrible" and "shocking," insisting it was not sour grapes. Delicious Orie, England's superheavyweight champion from the 2022 Commonwealth Games, said the referee had "stripped the medal" from Shittu and suggested that artificial intelligence (AI) could improve judging.
Orie argued that AI would make boxing an objective sport, and he would prefer following a clear rule book to someone's opinion. The idea is already being explored; AI was used behind the scenes during Tyson Fury's fight with Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. World Boxing, led by Gennadiy Golovkin, has begun investigating the implementation, though nothing is imminent.
Traditionalists, however, may argue that subjectivity is part of the sport. Questions remain about whether AI can accurately gauge punch power or whether all punches are equal. While change is not immediate, the debate over technology in boxing judging is far from over.
