should we dumb down the sport?

No, just get rid of decisions in world title fights.
Let them fight to a finish.

That will make it much much harder for fraudulent fake matches to be passed of a world class fights.

 

Clinching is already a foul, because this is boxing, not wrestling. Boxing is a sport that emphasizes striking with fists. We don't use our feet either because it's not kickboxing. If you desire a more natural fight then you should watch UFC or National Geographic.

There is already a rule that the referee is supposed to break up clinches and penalize holding, but it is rarely enforced. A change to the rule that stipulates a point should be deducted every five clinches or so would probably do the trick and is specific enough that a referee won't screw it up with his own interpretation.

Also, who says those boxers haven't been beaten? Wlad got knocked out three times and Mayweather has some very controversial decisions on his record.

 

They should just do it like rockem sockem robots, stand in place and trade hooks.

 

Lots of fighters have been disqualified for clinching.
Still not enough probably.

In the old days, if fighters weren't fighting hard the referees would often just throw them both out of the ring and call it a "no contest".

If the action is so tame and slow that's exactly what should be done.

I think the FANS were better in those days though. These days fans don't even want to see a bit of violence. They prefer a few light slaps and no one gets hurt.

 

The most skilful will always win because they adapt to whatever rules are in place.

 

Fighters today clinch less than they did a century ago. Watch the old footage. Rule changes resulted in more jabbing, combinations, and less holding. This would continue that trend. The idea was to make boxing less like wrestling and to speed up the action to be more audience friendly.

 

Fans were way better in the old days. You don't even see fights in the crowd anymore.

 

Ban idiot trolls like you.

 

No but I think the aggressor should be favoured instead of the runner which judges seem to favour today.