So now clinching is becoming part of the sweet science

Very true. However, one of the most crafty boxers I have seen in my life time has been one of the ones who has used it a lot...... The one who many people LOVE and HATE...... Cassius Clay/Mohamed Ali.

One of a few boxers and probably the only one I have seen that comply with the name of "sweet science" is "The Untouchable" Nicolino Loche...... RIP

 

I have to admit that Berto's clinching was a bit excessive and at times made me cringe. I just came from the fight and a lot of fans were getting annoyed with how repetitious the clinching became. Berto did however show his ability to slip punches and bring the fight to the middle of the ring. I wish he did it more often to substitute the amount of holding that he was doing.

 

holding should be penalized more often. That would fix the problem. HBO have boring fights. elite fighters trying to prevent a loss. Shobox is much more entertaining.

 

Clinching has always been part and parcel of the sport...Broughton Rules, London Ring Rules and Queensbury Rules. Clinching is fine, holding isn't (there is a distinct difference)

 

This was worse then ward miranda, I agree WAY to much holding, referee shoud have taken at least a point, would not have really mattered though.

 

Yup.

People who think clinching shouldn't be in boxing don't actually like boxing.

They should go watch something else for meatheads, like monster trucks.

 

Clinching is part of infighting. Or more to the point it neutralises good infighters. It's a legit way to force a break and get back to the distance you prefer.

However, there is a point where it gets excessive, and the ref should start penalising.

A good ref makes all the difference. If they are proactive then they can keep the fight flowing much more freely.

What it seems like people are saying here is that if someone is a better infighter then you that you can't do anything about it but take punishment until you are beaten, cause that is seen as courageous.

What next? Ducking and weaving also seen as being cowardly? Real men don't care how much they get hit?

 

Rush you are on point, but would you have taken a point away from Berto, ESPECIALLY when he was dominating AND clinching/holding! This fight reminds me of Wards last fight, WAAAY to much holding for my taste, with the referree not being more stern.

 

Generally I'd like to see refs be harder on clinching, and consistent across the board. Some refs do the right thing. Some seem to be brought in to certain fights just because they are soft on clinching.
Look at the RJJ vs Ruiz fight, and then the Tszyu vs Hatton fight. The ref just about decides who is going to win by how they treat clinching.
I think it is the inconsistency between refs that pisses me off the most.

 

Clinching has always been a part of boxing. Not that I condone Andre Berto's abuse of that technique last night.

 

Go watch some old fights from the early half of the century. All those muther****ers did was clinch. Clinch throw a bomb. Clinch throw a bomb. ect

 

Boxers w/ limited skills resort to it. Hatton is one of them, btw.

 

Clinching and holding is pathetic. There comes a point when even the first should be looked at by the ref as it spoils a fight entirely. Ruiz and Hatton first...and now Berto continuing this proud tradition.

I'm disgusted.

 

no they didn't.

 

Agreed. Cintron didn't start all that **** till later in the fight which made for some sloppy, akward action, but overall he fought a decent fight.

Berto on the other hand was just plain awful. Using clinching as a strategy to keep Urango from working on the inside all night is nothing short of cheating. He tried the same **** with Collazo, but the ref put a stop to that with an early point deduction. The ref here should've done the same.