The correlation between the rise in "Boxing skill" and the decline of Boxing itself.

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Killer Instinct, Mar 7, 2015.


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  1. Killer Instinct

    Killer Instinct Be formless, shapeless... Full Member

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    Whilst i appreciate many aspects of the sport needs reviewing, I believe the contribution a referee has in influencing and ultimately in many cases, determining the outcome of a fight is paramount to change, if boxing is to regain it's identity.

    In this, it is becoming more and more common for fighters who hold significant reach advantages over their opponents, absolutely abusing the clinch and more often than not, referees turning a blind eye.

    When you have a fighter that holds a significant reach advantage and opts to stay on the outside utilising the jab and if the opponent does get within punching range they negate offense through excessive clinching, I refuse to acknowledge this as "boxing skill". In addition, pot shotting an opponent and then following this up with a clinch to nullify any response, should be also punished.

    I realise this may make me sound like a blood thirsty, rock em, sock em, toe to toe type of fan but nothing could be further from the truth. What I do appreciate is true boxing skill, which in my opinion is utilising the full mechanics of the body by weaving, ducking, sliding and rolling with the punches with both defense and offense working in perfect harmony. I find it amusing when certain fighters who utilise the excessive clinching style are lauded for their defensive ability, whilst others who do exactly the same, receive wide spread condemnation.

    In closing, there really does need to be a clear understanding and consistent approach when it comes to excessive clinching, otherwise the sport will continue to decline as this ugly and illegal style becomes more and more popular.
     
    Killer Instinct, Mar 7, 2015
    Killer Instinct, Mar 7, 2015
    #1
  2. Killer Instinct

    Killer Instinct Be formless, shapeless... Full Member

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    I totally agree. He is probably one of the first "new school" guys who spring to mind.
     
    Killer Instinct, Mar 7, 2015
    Killer Instinct, Mar 7, 2015
    #2
  3. theword

    theword Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I think you meant to type: Wlad
     
    theword, Mar 7, 2015
    theword, Mar 7, 2015
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  4. The Masked Man

    The Masked Man Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Lol. Boxing skill hasn't gotten better, it's mutated. Punchers don't know how to box, boxers run instead of box, and with only a very few who can do a bit of both.
     
    The Masked Man, Mar 7, 2015
    The Masked Man, Mar 7, 2015
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  5. Killer Instinct

    Killer Instinct Be formless, shapeless... Full Member

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    Again, I agree but Wlad is not praised for his "defensive ability".
     
    Killer Instinct, Mar 7, 2015
    Killer Instinct, Mar 7, 2015
    #5
  6. Killer Instinct

    Killer Instinct Be formless, shapeless... Full Member

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    Gone are the days when boxing produced fighters like Roberto Duran, James Toney and Erik Morales etc.
     
    Killer Instinct, Mar 7, 2015
    Killer Instinct, Mar 7, 2015
    #6
  7. fruitpunch

    fruitpunch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Totally agree

    Excessive clinching is illegal and happens way too much

    Refs must be strict about this

    They should not be hesitant to take away points for clinching
     
    fruitpunch, Mar 7, 2015
    fruitpunch, Mar 7, 2015
    #7
  8. fruitpunch

    fruitpunch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I like Wlad but he relies on the clinch just as much as anybody else and is very often praised for his abilities
     
    fruitpunch, Mar 7, 2015
    fruitpunch, Mar 7, 2015
    #8
  9. Jennifer Love Hewitt

    Jennifer Love Hewitt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Refs are not doing their job about this. They allow to much holding and leaning and stiff-arming. They need to start taking points away right off the bat. If a fighter knows they may lose points, they will do it less.

    Refs also break up clinches when a fighter has a free hand. Fighter's assume that once they clinch, the ref will rescue them and break it up. This might stop if the cliched fighter is wailing away at him with his free hand.

    Mills Lane was right when he DQed Henry Akinwande for holding. More of that type of reffereeing needs to go on.
     
    Jennifer Love Hewitt, Mar 7, 2015
    Jennifer Love Hewitt, Mar 7, 2015
    #9
  10. theword

    theword Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I don't disagree with you but...

    There might be another side to this. Refs that will DQ a fighter probably get less work than those that let a fight go on.

    There's money at stake and a paying / viewing crowd to consider. The audience would be ****ed if a fight gets cancelled and the commission would probably catch heat from the promoters. Which might mean that said promoter is less likely to book a show in that state/city...which means less money

    This is speculative on my part but seeing how boxing is a messed up in general I wouldn't rule out the idea that a ref might be "encouraged" from not DQing fighters for excessive clinching.
     
    theword, Mar 7, 2015
    theword, Mar 7, 2015
    #10
  11. Jennifer Love Hewitt

    Jennifer Love Hewitt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    You are probably right about that. Maybe they could just keep deducting points. Fighters will lose rounds and fights for abusing the rules.
     
    Jennifer Love Hewitt, Mar 7, 2015
    Jennifer Love Hewitt, Mar 7, 2015
    #11
  12. theword

    theword Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I can get behind that. I think most of the fans would also (since no one really likes to see excessive clinching.) And if all the refs agreed to enforce it than there would be a sea change in the way fighters fight. Which of course leads to the next question (sorry to get off topic) but...

    Is there even a governing body for refs? Some sort of school/training/QC process? These people have tremendous responsibilities and it sometimes seems like they're just "a guy that knows a guy on the commission."
     
    theword, Mar 7, 2015
    theword, Mar 7, 2015
    #12
  13. The Masked Man

    The Masked Man Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Long gone. No Robinson, Hagler, Hearns, Leonard, Benitez, Arquello, Monzon, Napoles, DeJesus, Chavez, and all the guys in between who were good enough to be in the top 10
     
    The Masked Man, Mar 7, 2015
    The Masked Man, Mar 7, 2015
    #13
  14. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

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    I hate that

    I think either a ref has to insert himself and end the bs like in the Ward vs Rodriguez fight where he yelled at both fighters and the fight got cleaner or a ref needs to step back and let guys work their way out of a clinch rather than wait to be seperated
     
    KO KIDD, Mar 7, 2015
    KO KIDD, Mar 7, 2015
    #14
  15. Gneus7

    Gneus7 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I agree. There's too much clinching, it should be punished more.
     
    Gneus7, Mar 7, 2015
    Gneus7, Mar 7, 2015
    #15
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