At the WBC convention in Croatia, a limited form of open scoring was approved but it will be optional in future WBC title fights. The WBC Board of Governors voted to allow  the judges’ scores to be announced by microphone after the fourth and eighth rounds of the fight. However, the local commission in charge of the bout will have discretion as to whether or not the new rule will be used. The Japanese boxing commission immediately announced it will apply the rule in two WBC world title fights on November 13 in Japan when Hozumi Hasegawa defends his WBC 118-pound title and Eagle Kyowa defends his WBC 105-pound title.  The open scoring rule has its benefits, but the major drawback is that if a boxer knows he is comfortably ahead on the scorecards, he or she will be tempted into a safety-first style that can make for a boring ending to a fight. In other matters, a proposal to raise WBC female title fights from 10 to 12 rounds was not approved. WBC Female World Championship fights will remain scheduled for 10 two-minute rounds.