Reminder - Clinching is illegal

I don't know why boxing fans have so readily accepted clinching as part of boxing. It's not. It's tolerated by refs because they can't distinguish between an accidental one and a deliberate clinch.

It's also open for abuse. Khan gets deducted a point against Peterson for it, whilst Ruiz and Horn made a career out of it.

It makes fights extremely boring. It allows fighters several levels below others to get by and even "win" by hugging their way through it. Refer to Ruiz and Tyson's taller opponents.

IMO, rules are rules. Enforce them all equally. A clinch to me is equivalent to a low-blow or a rabbit punch. It's illegal. Go wrestle elsewhere.

When I boxed Ams, I'd be embarrassed and would get told off by the ref after initiating a clinch twice in a round. Fighters these days get away with bloody murder.

The Marquess of Queensberry rules are as follows:

1. To be a fair stand-up boxing match in a 24-foot ring, or as near that size as practicable.
2. No wrestling or hugging (clinching) allowed.
3. The rounds to be of three minutes duration and one minute’s time between rounds.
4. If either man falls through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unassisted, 10 seconds to be allowed him to do so, the other man meanwhile to return to his corner, and when the fallen man is on his legs the round is to be resumed and continued until the three minutes have expired. If one man fails to come to the scratch in the 10 seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee to give his award in favor of the other man.
5. A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be considered down.
6. No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds.
7. Should the contest be stopped by any unavoidable interference, the referee to name the time and place as soon as possible for finishing the contest; so that the match must be won and lost, unless the backers of both men agree to draw the stakes.
8. The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality and new.
9. Should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referee’s satisfaction.
10. A man on one knee is considered down and if struck is entitled to the stakes.
11. That no shoes or boots with spikes or sprigs be allowed.
12. The contest in all other respects to be governed by revised.

 

This equivalent to saying “watch Judah’s low blow game, it’s an art form”. “Watch mcgregor’s hammer fists on Floyd, it’s an art form”. “Watch floyds bending below the waist, it’s an art form”. “Watch this guys sucker punches, it’s an art form”.

who gives a fk if it’s an art form. It’s illegal, it’s against the rules. All rules should be enforced equally. You don’t get to low blow someone because you’re about to get ktfo and that’s how you survive. You don’t hug someone cos you’re about to get ktfo to survive either, it’s against the rules.

Put it this way, a hugger wouldn’t get away with 1/4th of their hugs in their opponents territory, if their opponent is not hugger. The arbitrariness of which this rule is enforced shows that it’s one of the loopholes open to abuse, much like corrupt hometown judging.

 

So if u low blow defensively to stop yourself from getting KO’d and keep your opponent off you, it’s the same?

logic. Not even once.