A split decision (SD) is a winning criterion in boxing, most commonly in full-contact combat sports, in which two of the three judges score one particular competitor as the winner, while the third judge scores for the other competitor.
A split decision is different from a majority decision. A majority decision occurs when two judges pick the same competitor as the winner, and the third judge scores the contest a draw (tie). The official result remains the same in both split and majority decisions, but the margin of victory is greater in a majority decision and less in a split decision.
Occasionally, the judges' final decision is a tie, because the first judge scores for one competitor, the second one scores for the other competitor, and the third judge scores the contest a draw (tie); so in this case the official result is a split draw.
Often, a split decision causes controversy due to its lack of unanimity. As a result, especially in high-profile or title fights, the victor may be encouraged or pressured to grant a rematch, in the hopes a return match-up will have a more decisive outcome.
| Date | Fight | Scorecards | Source(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 5, 1947 | Joe Louis vs. Jersey Joe Walcott I | 9–6 Louis | 8–6–1 Louis | 7–6–2 Walcott | [1] [2] |
| March 31, 1973 | Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton I | 7–4 Norton | 5–4 Norton | 6–5 Ali | [3] |
| September 10, 1973 | Ken Norton vs. Muhammad Ali II | 7–5 Ali | 6–5 Ali | 6–5 Norton | [4] |
| February 15, 1978 | Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks | 145–140 Spinks | 144–141 Spinks | 143–142 Ali | [5] |
| April 6, 1987 | Marvin Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard | 118–110 Leonard | 115–113 Leonard | 115–113 Hagler | [6] |
| May 5, 2007 | Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. | 116–112 Mayweather | 115–113 Mayweather | 115–113 De La Hoya | [7] |
| March 15, 2008 | Juan Manuel Márquez vs. Manny Pacquiao II | 115–112 Pacquiao | 114–113 Pacquiao | 115–112 Marquez | [8] |
| April 19, 2008 | Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe | 116–111 Calzaghe | 115–112 Calzaghe | 114–113 Hopkins | [9] |
| December 10, 2011 | Amir Khan vs. Lamont Peterson | 113–112 Peterson | 113–112 Peterson | 115–110 Khan | [10] |
| June 9, 2012 | Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley I | 115–113 Bradley | 115–113 Bradley | 115–113 Pacquiao | [11] |
| March 1, 2014 | Orlando Salido vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko | 116–112 Salido | 115–113 Salido | 115–113 Lomachenko | [12] |
| July 12, 2014 | Canelo Álvarez vs. Erislandy Lara | 117–111 Álvarez | 115–113 Álvarez | 115–113 Lara | [13] |
| December 10, 2016 | Dillian Whyte vs. Derek Chisora I | 115–113 Whyte | 115–114 Whyte | 115–114 Chisora | [14] |
| July 20, 2019 | Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman | 115–112 Pacquiao | 115–112 Pacquiao | 114–113 Thurman | [15] |
| November 9, 2019 | KSI vs. Logan Paul II | 57–54 KSI | 56–55 KSI | 56–55 Paul | [16] |
| August 29, 2021 | Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley | 77–75 Paul | 78–74 Paul | 77–75 Woodley | [17] |
| November 27, 2021 | Teófimo López vs. George Kambosos Jr. | 115–111 Kambosos | 115–112 Kambosos | 114–113 López | [18] |
| February 26, 2022 | Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall | 114–111 Taylor | 113–112 Taylor | 113–112 Catterall | [19] |
| April 30, 2022 | Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano | 97–93 Taylor | 96–93 Taylor | 96–94 Serrano | [20] |
| August 20, 2022 | Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua II | 116–112 Usyk | 115–113 Usyk | 115–113 Joshua | [21] |
| February 26, 2023 | Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury | 76–73 Fury | 76–73 Fury | 75–74 Paul | [22] |
In the Philippines, the term "split decision" is also used on GMA Network's reality television show The Clash , when two of the three members of the clash panel (Ai-Ai delas Alas, Christian Bautista, and Lani Misalucha) chose a clasher (among two) to advance to the next round, while the other clasher is eliminated. An example of it that Golden Cañedo won the clash against Fatima Espiritu via split decision. Cañedo was later the Clash grand winner of the show's first season.
Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. is an American boxing promoter and former professional boxer. He currently owns a team in the NASCAR Cup Series named The Money Team Racing. As a professional boxer he competed between 1996 and 2017, retiring with an undefeated record and winning 15 major world championships from super featherweight to light middleweight. This includes the Ring magazine title in five weight classes and the lineal championship in four weight classes. As an amateur boxer, he won a bronze medal in the featherweight division at the 1996 Olympics, three U.S. Golden Gloves championships, and the U.S. national championship at featherweight.
A majority decision (MD) is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking. In a majority decision, two of the three judges agree on which fighter won the match, while the third judge indicates that neither fighter won.
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A majority draw is an outcome in several full-contact combat sports, including boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), and other sports involving striking. In a majority draw, two of the three judges agree that neither fighter won, while the third judge indicates one fighter being the winner on his/her scorecard. Thus, the majority of judges see the outcome as even and the result is announced as such, although one judge gave a victory on his/her card to one fighter.
A unanimous decision (UD) is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and other sports involving striking and submission in which all three judges agree on which fighter won the match.
Lucas Martín Matthysse is an Argentine former professional boxer who competed from 2004 to 2018. He held the WBA (Regular) welterweight title in 2018 and the WBC interim super lightweight title from 2012 to 2013. Matthysse was known for his aggressive pressure fighting style and formidable punching power. He is the brother of former world champion Edith Soledad Matthysse and former professional boxer Walter Matthysse.
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Miguel Cotto, billed as Ring Kings, was a boxing super welterweight bout held on May 5, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Mayweather won the fight by unanimous decision in what was deemed to be a clear, but very competitive and exciting victory for Floyd.
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A split draw is an outcome in several full-contact combat sports, including boxing, mixed martial arts, and other sports involving striking. In a split draw, one of the three judges scores the contest in favor of one fighter, another judge scores it in favor of the other fighter, and the third judge scores the contest as a draw. The decision is announced as a draw.
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