I was re-watching Roman Gonzalez vs. Francisco Rodriguez Jr. and Rodriguez is deducted a point in Round 6 for stiff-arming. Frankly, if your opponent wants to keep his face on your extended arm that's their problem, right? What do you think? Gonzalez-Rodriguez Jr (good fight): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa19fcIJGKA
Tommy Hearns did it alot. Though he was warned by the refs not to do it many times, I dont believe Hearns was ever deducted points for using such tactic. The rule against stiff arming is there for a reason, otherwise tall fighters with a sizeable reach would just stiff arm opponents and use that as defense.
The only reason I want to see an arm extended is for the purpose of throwing a punch. I can't stand when fighters stiff arm, not only is it always a taller fighter trying to get a further advantage through stiff arming but, it is also prevents action, similar to holding.
It's also called "measuring your opponent". I seem to remember Ali doing it quite a bit (and never being called for it). I'd say it's considered a foul because it's not a blow.
i notice alot of amateurs use a style like roy jones that holds one hand in a pawing motion (always the lead hand it seems) and they kind of do a more sneaky way of stiff-arming
That point deduction was silly. Golovkin does it all the time. No reason clinching should be legal but having a hand out shouldnt. If his arm is in your way, slip by or under it. No reason you should be required to keep your glove in close, block their vision, tap em back, control their head.
Canelo likes to do it Mayweather will do it before throwing a right hand. He will do it then throw a straight, do it then throw a looping right around their left hand. I have no issue with it if it is used in a way to punch. Kind of like how I am fine with clinching as long as it leads to a way of landing a punch.
I have no problem with it. They can't simply do that all night or the other fighter can slip it and knock them out in a pretty embarrassing fashion. Most tall fighters just use it the same way as a lazy jab, to keep their opponent at bay while physically feeling where their head is, hence the nickname "measuring". It's not really a defense. Have a buddy with good upper body movement bob and wave while you try to keep your fist on his forehead... Not easy. It's useful for feeling which direction they're about to move though.
May also does something a bit more controversial which is almost "elbow posting", pushing his opponent's head back with his elbow at close range the way thaiboxers do.
From the many fouls I see in fights, it's one of the things that bothers me the least. Elbowing, pushing, holding/hitting, you name it. It's a trick to use when you have reach advantage over your opponent, and it has been used troughout boxing history. Like already mentioned, the one many call a goat, Ali used it in a lot of his fights. There are also enough tricks to take away that arm if your opponent does that, and if you get a bit lucky you can even take out the extended arm completely.
That ref must have gotten paid or something. Instead of using his hand to push his opponents head around he could have used it to deliver punches. Way I see it using that tactic wasn't even in the guys favour.
I only have a problem with it if they do it excessively or unnecessarily. Or if they do it to the extreme like pushing the fighters head way back. Otherwise, I could see a fighter using this technique on someone who's roughing you up inside and you're trying to get some space.