Why restore 15 rounds?
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 04 Mar 2025
WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza.
Korean fighter Kim Duk Koo was only 27 when he died from injuries five days after suffering a 14th round knockout loss to Ray (Boom Boom) Mancini in a WBA lightweight championship bout in Las Vegas in 1982. Kim had lost only once previously and his 17 career wins included victories over Filipinos Tony Flores, Jun Escalera and Flash Romeo.
The tragedy sparked a rethinking of how long a fight should be without unnecessarily endangering a boxer’s life. There were reports that mentioned after 12 rounds, the brain would be more susceptible to damage and a fighter more vulnerable to injury because of fatigue and dehydration.
A month after Kim’s death, WBC decided to limit fights to 12 rounds and made it effective January 1, 1983. WBA followed in 1987 and IBF, 1988. WBO was established in 1988 and never sanctioned more than 12 rounds. WBA president Gilberto Mendoza recently suggested to restore the 15-round distance only for unification title matches. WBO superlightweight champion Teofimo Lopez backed the proposal, saying “When you’re fighting for undisputed status, how about making those fights 15 rounds … let’s add three more rounds and then we’ll find out who the real champion is.”
Those backing Mendoza’s suggestion point to several instances where outcomes were reversed after the 12th round. Examples were Joe Louis knocking out Billy Conn in the 13th frame and would’ve lost on points if the limit was 12 in 1941, Rocky Marciano sweeping the last three stanzas to beat Ezzard Charles and would’ve lost the decision if it was a 12-rounder in 1954 and Sugar Ray Leonard stopping Tommy Hearns in the 14th and would’ve lost the verdict if it went up to only 12 in 1981.
WBC ratings committee member and one-time world title challenger Mig Elorde said he’s not in favor of bringing back 15 rounds. “Yung 12 rounds mahirap ng tapusin, paano pa yung 15,” he said. “Sa training pag 15 rounds, mas tataasan ang sparring at mas mabubugbog ang boxer. Sparring in almost all gyms ay three times a week kaya delikado.”
The risk of fighters sustaining life-threatening damage in the ring is a constant concern. Even with a limit of 12 rounds, there is always the danger of death or permanent injury. The risk is heightened when a fighter has to lose pounds drastically in order to make weight and is unable to rehydrate enough to protect the brain from trauma caused by punches. A referee's decision is critical when to stop a fight in protecting a boxer from absorbing severe punishment. Sticking to 12 rounds may be the prudent thing to do in the wake of suggestions to extend the limit to 15.
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