Shittu 'Robbed' – Are AI Boxing Judges the Answer?
The reaction was immediate and damning.
"Shocking. Terrible. Totally robbed."
Former world champion Richie Woodhall did not hold back after England's Dimeji Shittu was denied Commonwealth Games gold by India's Ankush Panghal in one of the most controversial decisions of the Games.
Shittu, 24, had to settle for silver after being docked a point in both the second and third rounds. Yet even if those deductions had never come, he still would have lost on the judges' scorecards.
"The referee has cost Shittu the contest," Woodhall said on TNT Sports. "He has been robbed. I really feel for him."
The outcome reignited one of boxing's oldest and most enduring debates: can the sport ever eliminate controversial judging? And with artificial intelligence becoming increasingly sophisticated, could technology help deliver fairer decisions?
What happened to Shittu?
Shittu looked in complete control after the opening round.
He swept the first on all five judges' scorecards and even forced Panghal into a standing count after landing a clean scoring punch.
But the contest turned in the second.
Despite appearing to land the cleaner, more effective shots, Shittu somehow lost the round on three of the five scorecards. Moments later, the referee deducted a point for repeatedly dipping his head, leaving the Englishman trailing overall.
The pattern repeated itself in the third.
Shittu appeared to hurt Panghal as he searched for a decisive finish, only to be penalised again for the same offence.
"Do me a favour, referee," Woodhall exclaimed as the second point deduction was awarded.
"That is dreadful, absolutely dreadful," added commentator Dave Farrar.
Yet the biggest surprise came when the scorecards were revealed.
Four of the five judges awarded the final round to Panghal, meaning the point deductions ultimately made no difference. Shittu would have lost regardless.
"How did he win that last round, 4-1?" Woodhall asked.
"Absolutely terrible. Shocking. That is not sour grapes."
Whether the referee was right to penalise Shittu will remain a matter of opinion. The judges' scorecards, however, sparked far greater disbelief.
Once again, boxing found itself confronting the question that has lingered over the sport for decades: if human judging continues to divide opinion, is it finally time to let artificial intelligence lend a hand?
