Boxing is a sport where the difference between victory and defeat can come down to the opinion of three people sitting ringside. And yet, how many of them have ever actually taken a punch?

Walk into any boxing gym worth its salt, and you’ll see them. Sun-faded, tattered at the edges, but still standing proud—posters of the all-time greats. Ali and Frazier glaring at each other in the legendary Thrilla in Manila artwork, Foreman and Ali frozen in history before the Rumble in the Jungle, Tyson’s menacing stare, Mayweather’s cocky smirk, Pacquiao’s quiet intensity.

Boxing is a sport built on moments—the punch that changes everything, the split-second decision that seals a legacy. But too often, those defining moments aren’t determined by the fighters themselves, but by the ones with the scorecards and whistles. Judges and referees hold immense power in this sport, yet unlike fighters, promoters, or trainers, they rarely have to explain themselves.

Let’s get straight to the point—boxing is a global sport with heroes hailing from every corner of the planet. Yet, the most prestigious honor in the sport, induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, is overwhelmingly US-centric. Sure, the Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York, has celebrated some of the sport’s international greats, but the fact remains: many fighters from outside the US are often overlooked.