THE introduction of a new scoring system by the WBA caused confusion at last weekend's WBA Pan African minimum-weight title fight when Siyabonga Siyo beat Siphamandla Baleni on points in East London.

Judge Carlos Sucre Jr from the US scored the bout 116-115.5; while East Londoners Siphiwo Mbini and Sheshe Dunywa scored it 117-113.5 and 117-116, respectively.

Fans and media were confused by the half point.

Sucre, the originator of the half-point system, explained yesterday that he and Stanley Christodoulou - who is WBA advisor for regional development - had conducted a one-day seminar on the half-point system with judges in East London.

"It was successfully applied and it showed how closely contested the fight was," he said.

"He said the objective was to reward boxers in very close rounds.

"The typical score is 10-9.

However, a difference should be established by scoring 10-9.5 when the round was indeed very close."

Sucre, who has officiated in WBA fights over 30 years, added: "When we encounter a round so narrow that it could be called even (10-10), there is a possibility of a slight edge, then the half point could help to pick a winner," explained Sucre.

"In both situations it is very frequent to have the following scores by the judges: 10- 9,10-9 and 9-10." Sucre said the 10-9, 9-10 creates a two-point difference that results in an iniquity and grievance to the boxer.

"By using the half point, this unfairness could be eliminated or at least minimised," he said, adding that the origin of the half-point appears to be in California during the 1950s.