Should there be a zero tolerance policy against clinching in boxing?

We want consistency that is all.

You cant let one fighter hold and next week someones penalized for it.

 

Zero tolerance is way overkill. And so is what Wlad did against Povetkin. The ref has to decide whether or not a fighter is getting by on clinches alone and deduct points up to disqualifying him when he won't stop. Wlad refused to fight inside because he can't and cheated his way out of his uncomfortzone.

 

Clinching and leaning is okay. Its okay for imposing your size or for holding on when you get caught. It isn't okay when you use it to neutralize every attack or to prevent any inside fighting. When that happens it becomes fouling and a point should be taken and a warning given. If Wlad does this against you then you have three options. 1. Lose in a snoozfest, 2. fall to your knees and then complaint to the ref or 3. hit him in the balls and then complaint to the ref. Id go for option three.

 

after seeing this last fight of wlad and all of wrestling that was allowed, i wouldn't be surprised if we get a lot more of pro wrestlers coming to boxing and beating a lot of good boxers. i dont think a boxer can beat a wrestler in a clinchfight.

zero tolerance and then you get real champs. no bullshitfights like wlads last 15 defences

 

Dug out an old thread with an article addressing just this issue, including referees commenting on it.

http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=1027

Interesting and pertinent is the last coupla paragraphs which basically say that if the fighter being clinched is trying to fight his way out or throw punches he leaves the ref no choice but to penalise the clincher, but if they are not being active, all the ref is required to do is break them.

 

Not a word about Vlad's cowardly clinging as.s..

That bi.tch is an insult to bi.tches.

 

you don't take the ATG list seriously because most of them don't look like youdeal:deal

 

its not illegal
otherwise you would see DQ's every night. whens the last time youve seen a DQ in the last 10 or 15 years? Akinwande vs Lewis? he was DQ for holding and also just not fighting period....

 

Personally I think the Sport as a whole needs to tackle the problem of clinching. From an entertainment perspective it's pure poison. If boxing wants to be a mainstream sport it has emphasize what makes it exciting, clinching is not it. I also thinking clinching and wrestling tires out the fighters and makes for a slower\duller fight never mind the fact that certain fighters can use their physical advantages re clinching to disproportionately exhaust their opponent.
I would suggest experimenting with different rules from simply directing Judges that clinching is a negative scoring move not a neutral one, I think that could make a positive impact to Wlad's style, he is certainly not the only offender the first time I watched the FOTC I was very disappointed with the amount of clinching.
If fighters can't maintain their stamina without clinching reduce the round time to 2 min or something.
Boxing needs to change or it's going to going to continue to drift toward being a fringe sport. It will never 'die' but if it keeps going the way it's going they'll be no money in it and consequently no GREAT athletes participating in it.

 

Well, maybe zero tolerance in terms of deducting points and keep deducting points for repeated offense, but not leading to a disqualification. This will send the message that holding is not wanted in a boxing match.