Boxing: Scoring system under fire

Jimmy Vincent may now get a chance at revenge after losing one of the most controversial decisions ever seen in a British ring.

The Birmingham boxer lost on points in a British welterweight title fight at Goresbrook Leisure Centre, Dagenham, last month against Manchester's David Barnes and few people could believe the result.

There was outrage at ringside because Vincent appeared to have won nine or 10 of the 12 rounds, yet the referee, John Keane, raised Barnes' hand and set in motion a series of events that finally persuaded the British Boxing Board of Control to make Vincent the mandatory challenger for the title.

Part of the controversy surrounds the ancient ritual that British boxing maintains, involving referees only scoring fights. It is possible that the British board will at some point in the future start using three judges at ringside like the rest of the world.

"In an ideal world three officials would sit at ringside and never get it wrong," the promoter, Frank Warren, said. "The board have not ordered an immediate rematch, they have made Vincent the mandatory challenger and David's first defence will not be against him. I will sit down with David and we will look at all options."