I will defer to Tony Myers, Liam Robinson, Richard Wain, Dean James, Darren Philips, etc. (all excellent judges as I've seen in person or on video or through personal communication). But perhaps I can help to anwser in part.

In theory, all weapons have the potential to score equally, but in practice, they often don't. The best scoring techniques are those that show the most effect. Meaning they not only hit the target cleanly, but cause the opponent to lose position, grimace, cover and not immediately fight back.

Therefore, punches do have the same potential to score as kicks/knees. For a punch to score it has to land on target and show a visual effect. Generally, clean kicks/knees to the body are considered to be more effective than a cleanly landed punch *unless* the punch shows real effect.

So in scoring more weight or more important factor for winning a round is the greater amount clean blows hitting the target with accuracy & power. That can be punches and low kicks. Case in point, Anuwat has incredibly hard punches that show effective, hit cleanly, cause loss of position, covering, shelling up and not countering. And his low kicks are often thrown when that opponent covers, hitting cleanly, accurately, powerfully and showing effect.

He also has an incredibly high knockout ratio therefore when he has lost from what I've seen, his losses have gone the distance and he is the less effective fighter, being kicked, or kneed and outscored. Watch his fight with Jomthong.

But I think it's a valid question you've raised Steve.