You have a good point there my man and one that I probably agree with... but now watch those who are sympathetic to holding jump all over you. It's just become too much of an accepted part of boxing. The entire idea of holding whenever you want has become too accepted in boxing and that's why you have guys telling you "holding is apart of boxing" as if we should just ignore the fact that it's against the rules simply because so many get away with it. :verysad It ain't right man no matter what era you're in.
According to this thread we have a load of posters who hate Ali's style as a fighter. Of course Pep, Hopkins, and Floyd could be added to that list too.
Watch Bute/Andrade and you will see the perfect example of a fighter holding almost everytime another fighter starts to come inside. I thought it was a disgrace on Bute's and the refs part for letting it happen. No point was ever deducted.
JCC, MAB and Morales all held too much. I guess they were scared to fight like real men. A reasonable amount would be Ruiz, Berto or Henry Akinwande.
Fair call and i admit alot of fighters with HOF crdentials have been guilty of holding. I am not saying the fighters are in the wrong here. They fight the way the referees police the rules. Referees and governing bodies are responsible for maintaining the rules not the fighters. If the fighters are holding for a reason and they are not punished - good for them My point is that at no time is holding legal in a boxing match.