Clinching is an important aspect in boxing. Whether or not it's a bothersome to the viewers/fans. Post exile Ali mastered the art of clinching.
I watched that fight as well. The point deduction was way to early. Lewis summed it up well, saying that holding is a part of boxing and some refs just don't like it. Of course most fans don't want to see holding especially excessive holding. Though it did stop the holding early and made it a better fight. It could be argued that it favored Collazo way to much. He removed a point and took away part of Berto's style of fighting. I still think that Berto should loose some muscle mass and drop down another weight class, he would be devistating at Jr Welterweight.
Queensbury rule number 2 NO wrestling or hugging is allowed. Notice how the wording says none is allowed. Not some, not only if the fighter is hurt. NONE
When the holding starts to affect the flow of the fight than warnings should be issued, and than points. I'm all for working on the inside and holding when hurt, but constant grappling and wrestling can turn what should be a great fight into something absolutely ghastly. Referees instead of breaking them up so much should tell them to work out of it. If they decide not to, issue both a warning and than start taking points. The Referees are the cause of excessive holding as well. You can't let the fighters get away with it.
You should be allowed to hold if hurt...... berto at the moment holds more then hatton.....hatton didnt do much holding in his last 2 wins against lazcano and paulie.....people that have followed hatton's carear know he didn't start the holding till the tszyu fight...
Punch and hold for no reason is too much, it's NOT a way to survive unless you're stunned/hurt yet still the ref needs to separate immediately. There is a major difference between in-fighting and holding/rabbit punching. Hatton/Tszyu, Lewis/Tyson and many other fights are perfect examples of excessive holding.
Same goes for Sloppy Joe in the Bika fight. He was holding like hell against shot to hell Charles Brewer as well.
Holding excessively ****ing disgusts me. Learn to fight on the inside or get the **** out of the ring! Using it as a constant stategy is also not only disgustsing, but also flat out WRONG as it unfairly keeps the inside fighter from getting his work done when in close. As far as how much is too much, I'd say more than 3 or 4 a round deserves a stern warning or points being deducted. Refs should be a lot harder on it that they are, but it's been like that since before I was born... refs just tolerate it way, waayy, WAAYYY too much.
SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHY HALF THE POSTS IN HERE INCLUDE THE WORDS "ALLOWED IF YOU ARE HURT" in what part of any other sport do the rules change in the middle of an event. I admit that it has become an accepted form of self preservation but why has it become accepted. In boxing it is cheating if you are breaking the rules and holding the other fighter. I was hurt - so i kicked him in the nuts, thats allowed right? I was hurt so i head butted him, thats allowed because i am hurt right? I was hurt so gave him sweet chin music because Shaun Michaels was in my corner and he said to do it, thats allowed right? The rules dont change jut because a fighter is hurt
Exactly. A guy like Ruiz should have been disqualified in virtually every fight he had against top competition.:yep When holding is used excessively to make up for lack of skill like that, to prevent opponents from using their superior abilities to win within the rules, then it's clearly too much.
