WBC to test video replays during fights

The World Boxing Council (WBC) will introduce video replays during fights on a trial basis and has urged all boxing commissions to utilise the technology to avoid mistakes.

The WBC approved the establishment of a three-person panel, comprised of a WBC official, a member of the local commission and a monitor supervisor, to use replays to rule on controversial incidents.

"This will be a great tool for fairness and justice in boxing," WBC secretary Mauricio Sulaiman said.

"It can help in cases when the audience in the arena and whole world is watching on television realises that something has happened that was not correctly called by the referee, who might have missed it, because his vision was obscured."

Sulaiman said replays could be used to determine if a cut or other injury to the face was a result of a punch, or other contact, such as a head butt.

It could also help with rulings on low blows or to determine whether a punch was thrown after the bell.