Several years ago, the WBC instituted a rule where there would be an automatic point deduction in the event of a unintentional/accident foul - like a head clash or elbow.
Pursuant to the rule, the referee was bound to deduct one point from the uninjured boxer – if the unintentional/accidental foul would result in the other boxer suffering a cut, a significant abrasion or substantial swelling.
The WBC’s rationale of that rule was to even out the playing field due to the potential complications the injured boxer could suffer for the remainder of the bout.
While the WBC would push the rule in Mexico and several other regions – there were several jurisdictions, including two of the biggest boxing circuits, who rejected the WBC’s attempts to implement that regulation.
The commissions in the United States and British Boxing Board of Control were firmly opposed to that particular rule.
Because there was confusion due to the lack of uniform acceptance to the rule, the WBC’s Board of Governors recently voted in favor of abolishing the application of that point deduction rule in WBC bouts. Their decision is to take effect immediately.
The WBC is looking to remove any rule that is not universally accepted in every boxing jurisdiction.