You get the odd fight where it's a big issue or certain fighters that abuse it and it's definitely annoying, but I don't see many fights being ruined by too much clinching except in HW. Refs should penalise the hugging though, especially running hugs
Like Fury did in his rematch with Wilder. Got a point taken away. Kept clinching and headlocking. Pathetic. Should have been disqialified.
I don't mind it unless it's excessive. But that's the problem isn't it, one ref won't allow it at all, another will allow it to happen constantly, there is no consistency in enforcement and it effects the outcome of fights. I guess it comes down to what you call excessive, some people have no problem with how much Wlad held Povetkin others are outraged by how much he held. There needs to be a clear and enforceable policy resulting in automatic point deductions.
I don't see a problem with a clinch every now and then but excessive holding is incredibly annoying and fighters should get penalized for it, they do sometimes although it doesn't happen enough. It happened in Lewis vs Akinwande, not only did Akinwande get points taken off, he was disqualified. Excessive clinching doesn't really happen too often though
Not in all episodes clinch had been initiated by Wlad. Some from these clinches had been initiated by Povetkin to avoid beatup from Wlad. Ofc it is good to claim that this fight was only some bad uncle in Wlad dirtyboxe. Povetkin also had questionable stoppage win vs Wach. Yeah, he had won vs Wach on cards for sure but stoppage here__________lol. Questionable win on cards vs Huck, then bulked up CW boxer in approx 209 lber.
I like inside fighting and except for all time classics like Vazquez Marquez 1 inside fighting will lead to some amount of clinching. What I really want is for referees to judge if the fighter intends to do anything besides clinching or if it's situational, that's a lot to ask though.
Duran didn't lock the other guy's arms in place. If it is possible for the other guy to free his arms then it is alright. Compare Duran vs Leonard to Ward vs Bika.
Fighters should learn real inside fighting then, if they have a problem with clinching. Inside fighting is sadly a lost art.
There a lot of business impact too might happen. A side lad clinches : nothing wrong if this is good for his situation in this moment, B side guy if this is good for him, might get ref intervention pretty soon. Biased refs and A/B sides in boxing is curse for this business like strange judges cards. Okey, if they doesn't do rabbit punches and low blows etc ****, I think they might clinch and fight in clinch.
It's a foul. First gets a warning. Second a point. Third two points. Fourth disqualification. This isn't wrestling or mma.