How should holding be handled by officials?

I remember seeing fights where Mills Lane would forcibly free up one hand of the fighters then tell them to fight out of it. If they continue to clinch afterwards instead of fight out start deducting. Also if they lead with a hug.

 

Execution.

 

a) Allow for inside fighting if one fighter is willing to do so. Don't treat it as automatic break in action and space maker.
b) Take away points if necessary.
c) If used often, treat as lack of generalship/effective aggression for the opponent, as the clincher forfeits all initiative to stay safe.

 

I believe it was Carlos Padilla who did the same thing too.

 

Bone crusher Smith against Tyson was in my opinion a fight where warnings, and point deductions followed by disqualification should have been administered. There's nothing wrong with some strategic clinches and holding but whenever action begins you hold? No,,,,

 

Depends on the situation, imo. Some fights just come together with a lot of holding, without one fighter causing the problems. The other extreme is Wladimir/Povetkin, where Wladimir used clinches to smother his opponent and take all of the starch out of the fight. He should have been penalized early and forced to fight, or else get DQ'd.

 

Depends on situations. There are many fighters who are known to hold without throwing punches. There are fighters who punch then clinch.

Okolie is an known hugger who goes in for a hug without throwing any punches. He should get warnings right away and if keeps on nonstop clinching, he should be DQ'ed.

W. Klitschko become a punch and clincher after he got destroyed by Sanders. His fight with Potvetkin was awful and he should have been warned and had points taken away, if not DQ'ed if he didn't stop. The same thing goes for John Ruiz fights.

In a recent fight, Plant hugged Benevidez nonstop in fear of getting punched. Plant was not known as a hugger, but he employed the hugging tactic after it became clear that Benevidez was going to beat the crap out of him once he got in range. Plant should have been warned and had points taken away as early as the 6th round. If he didn't stop, the ref should threaten him with DQ.

 

Simple. The moment is obvious the guy is doing it intentionally, give him warning. Repeats 3 time totally, then deduct a point. One more warning after that, deduct a point. One more warning, then deduct 2 point finally. 1 more warning after he keeps doing it, and handle him DQ.

 

You have to let guys hold/wrestle for a few seconds, as they might break out of it (Unless someone is in something like a headlock). Worst thing that can be done is to call for an instant halt to the action and immediate intervention by the ref. And most times the ref needs to get involved he needs to give someone a hard warning, eventual points deduction and disqualification.

 

Holding when hurt is one thing. Holding as a strategy is cheating.

Fighters should be allowed to inside fight. If the fighters have a free hand, ref should let them punch and get out.
Fighter holds after getting hurt. Ref breaks it up. Gives a warning.
Fighter is offensively holding like John Ruiz or Wladimir Klistchko. Make it clear during the pre-fight instructions this won't be tolerated. Warn once, warn again, then a point deduction, a second point deduction. Then DQ the holder.

 

There's a lot to be said for working on framing. Don't let the buggers get the clinch.

 

A refs job is to enforce the rules, but trouble is too many refs like to make their own rules. They think theyre
Gods If a fighter is holding verbally warn him 3 times if he holds again deduct a point If he continues deduct another point Tell him do it again & youre DQ'd. Fights over

 

Bonecrusher managing to someway somehow go 12 rounds with Prime Tyson by any means necessary is an accomplishment on its own.