I do agree that Wlad's grabbery was a pile of BS. However, he's not the first nor the last to do this. Many greats have exploited this hole from Jack Johnson to Ali to Hopkins, to Ward etc. Nevertheless the fact remains that not all of his fights were boring to tears and that he adapted his style to suit opponents. The sad grabfest he put up vs Povetkin doesn't feature against guys like, say, Wach. If referees consistently penalised holding I'd be much happier for it.
AJ still has time don't forget Wlad got beat before Fury & AJ,with AJ the book still open where he ends up.
So be it, it’s simply not boxing and just an overlooked foul. If fighters lack an inside game that they need to hold, let that be exposed. Thats like saying x fighter would have lost most of his fights if he weren’t allowed free unpenalised low-blows. The true essence of boxing is hitting someone with your fists, you take away the clinches and it becomes just that.
Remember the Thompson fights as well or Mccline Wlad in his prime fought a lot of tall fighters without much holding.
I'm so glad this guy's not about to say **** like this now. Saying that Wlad has no Heart and Spirit is a joke
