That's because his is classed as ring generalship, unlike Ruiz or Hatton I take the point his actual boxing is better, but it's cheating all the same
The fundamental difference is Ruiz & Hatton have styles based around clinching where as Hopkins uses it as part of his style when necessary. A Hatton or Ruiz attack will inevitably end in a clinch whereas with Hopkins that is not always the case.
Semantics... Most boxers clinch, but for me there is a certain point at which it starts to get annoying as ****. All of them pass it with flying colours. They all use it for precisely the same reasons, they are all some of the biggest cheats around Cheating cnuts the lot of em
Yes, it started to become more prevelant as he stepped up the competition. He was really exciting as an upcomer Another explanation could be all those pints he's downing. He doesn't have the gas he once did, so he clings on for dear life
Just because you keep saying it's cheating doesn't make it true. It may annoy & anger you but it's not against the rules unless it's excessive. Hopkins will clinch Joe, possibly a lot, so get used to it.:good
Indeed he did far less clinching when he was fighting people he could get away with standing off from in between attacks. :good
I would be so pleased if someone steps up and invokes one boxing rule that rationally gives reason to penalize one given fighter for frequent clinches - and keep in mind it can't be inactivity b.c. others have had more inactive performances without clinching in boxing history.
Wlad. All he does since he got with Emmanuel is jab, jab, cross, clinch. I don't remember the last time I saw him throw a hook and you can completely forget about an uppercut! He is still fun to watch though just because his 1-2 is so powerful.
Were Hatton, Ruiz or Klitschko ever penalised for use of that tactic? And what were the referee's or analysts' explanations for that reason?
Helps if you have the power of Don King behind you to get that curiously hands off attitude from the officials. Notice how Ruiz has largely abandoned his excessive holding since King dropped him?? It's no coincidence. And it's also no coincidence he hasn't "beaten" a decent fighter since.