So now clinching is becoming part of the sweet science

For some reason Cintron's sh*t pissed me off more. I mean, he wasn't even inside when he started holding, he was just jumping in and grabbing Angulo's shoulders from range. He also wasn't holding as part of any kind of strategy either outside of simple survival. That kind of garbage warrants a hard warning and eventually a deduction.

 

There is no difference. Boxing is the art of the fist not the art of the hug.

Both great technicians and more flawed fighters use the illegal tactic of excessively clinching to gain an advantage over their opponent to either negate their ability to fight on the inside, or to break up their opponent's rhythm, or both. It's a dirty practice and should not be allowed in boxing as much as it is.

 

Eh, Cintron only held during the last 3rd of the fight and he wasn't even holding the clinches all that well as Angulo was allowed to bang on the inside from time to time. So that **** didn't bother me all that much.

Berto on the other hand was grabbing like hell from the 1st round to the last. And it got annoying by about the 2nd round.

 

You're probably right.

I think I'm done discussing anything about Cintron. I try my damndest to be objective on here, but this guy's entire career just disgusts me beyond belief.

 

Clinching has largely always been around.In the old days it was called tying an opponent up and they were all at it.Robinson,Armstrong, Dempsey,Ali,Frazier it was a legitimate tactic.Anyone who moans about it knows nothing about boxing.

 

Clinching has been a part of boxing since boxing was formed.

 

Correct.Like it or hate it,that is the truth.Read Eliot Gorn's "The Manly Art".

 

It's a strategy to keep stronger fighters away....nothing wrong with using your brain.

 

There's a difference between clinching and excessive holding. Refs must make the distinction clear.

 

Exactly. Occasional use of this in situations that warrant it is one thing, but to use this throughout a fight is a another matter. It should be penalized.

The fact that decent fighters are now starting to use these sorts of disreputable tactics that were once the province of talentless slugs like John Ruiz is a very disturbing development.

 

What would you call what Berto was doing last night? Hugging?

 

As much as the fighters are to blame so are the refs. The ref in the berto urango fight was absolutely putrid.

 

Mosely/Margarito was an exciting fight and Shane clinched at the end of almost every exchange when he was not "running" away.:huh

 

I'd have had no problem with the ref taking a point from Berto.