Props to Byrd, Props to Wlad, and some criticisms of Wlad

I looked for the rules on "holding", and found it more difficult than I thought it would be. I'm not going to spend all day looking for it, but I did find this in short order, "Holding, per se, is only really holding when a boxer goes in, holds, refuses to break when commanded and simply does so with no apparent effort to score points, get in position, etc." http://www.secondsout.com/RINGSIDE/scenes.cfm?ccs=357&cs=14394 According to this, I don't think Wlad wasn't holding. I call it clinching.

to pbds, i haven't seen too much of wlad, but to say tyson wasn't fast enough to hit biyrd with a right, are you kidding me? i can see rahman or maybe lewis(though lewis would have found another way to beat him) but tyson? byrd wasn't exactly moving around in that fight, tyson was a nightmare to people who stood right in front of him...and he would have kicked byrd's ass if he was moving around. you should watch some of his old videos.

It's a mirror Image of what Lennox used to do. if you guys watched FNF this week you would have seen a great example of why a fighter who cant fight on the inside needs to learn to tie up. taurus sykes was knocked shit senseless by derek bryant by an in close uppercut that he had been landing at will simply cause sykes lacked the experience and skill to tie up a fighter who was superior on the inside.

Ruiz is the master of clinching. He won many hearts by clincing, clinching, clinching, clinching, clinching, clinching, clinching, clinching, clinching, ... and clinching. The clinching was legal, but I really hate it. holding is not legal

It's reminiscent of what Lennox Lewis used to do. It's a mirror Image of what Lennox used to do. Never pay again for live sex! | Hot girls doing naughty stuff for free! | Chat for free!

I don't have any problem with Wlads tactical use of the clinch in that fight. I don't think it was excessive. He wasn't like John Ruiz or anything, he was protecting himself and I expect him to use that tactic for the rest of his career. It's reminiscent of what Lennox Lewis used to do.

Emanuel Steward Why the heck was Wlad holding Byrd? Wlad was holding the little guy there so many times! I was very upset at that and kept shouting "Stop holding him" during the middle rounds! I'm under the impression that Emanuel Steward has taught Wladdy to simply tie up inside, not to cover up or fight in there. Manny has a long history of teaching his tall fighters to do that. It's well known that he coached Lennox Lewis to hold Tyson early in their fight. I believe that long ago he coached Hearns in a similar manner, and also Milt McCrory. I'm not claiming that Manny Steward is a bad trainer, but he's a trainer that exploits a lax attitude on the part of many referees who tolerate a bit of holding from otherwise clean fighters such as Wladimir Klitschko. Holding, clinching , tying up inside has always been a part of boxing, and in fact the enforcement of the rule against holding is better today than ever before, but still not as good as it could be. If Manny Steward had been Wladdy's trainer before his fights with Brewster and Corrie Sanders there's a good chance that he never would have been knocked out by those guys. I might have hated him for doing it but Wladdy would in all likelihood have just held like crazy as soon as he got a little bit stunned, and never been hurt bad enough to get knocked out. Personally I think that holding on the inside ruins fights and makes me disgusted at the whole sport sometimes, but let's face it: if referees don't quickly warn fighters who do it and also take points away for holding, fighters will do it who either can't fight on the inside (Akinwande, Jermain Taylor, Fres Oquendo), or who feel that their chin is too fragile to take the heat in there (John Ruiz). As fans there's nothing that we can do about it except to support true warriors who have a complete set of skills including an ability to fight inside, and to shun fighters who don't. That's a little bit like what's happened to Henry Akinwande: http://boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=002011 who has only lost 2 fights but who few boxing fans know or care about. I don't think that will happen to Wladdy, but I can't in good conscience support a fighter who lacks such a basic skill, even if he's successful. If referees took the Marques of Queensbury rules of boxing more literally, fighters like Wladdy and trainers like Manny Steward would have to face up to the task of dealing with the inside fight game. http://www.answerbag.com/a_view.php/13242 : The Marquess of Queensbury Rules: 1. To be a fair stand-up boxing match in a 24-foot ring, or as near that size as practicable. 2. No wrestling or hugging allowed. 3. The rounds to be of three minutes' duration, and one minute's time between rounds. 4. If either man falls through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unassisted, 10 seconds to be allowed him to do so, the other man meanwhile to return to his corner, and when the fallen man is on his legs the round is to be resumed and continued until the three minutes have expired. If one man fails to come to the scratch in the 10 seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee to give his award in favour of the other man. 5. A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be considered down. 6. No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds. 7. Should the contest be stopped by any unavoidable interference, the referee to name the time and place as soon as possible for finishing the contest; so that the match must be won and lost, unless the backers of both men agree to draw the stakes. 8. The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality and new. 9. Should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referee's satisfaction. 10. A man on one knee is considered down and if struck is entitled to the stakes. 11. No shoes or boots with springs allowed. 12. The contest in all other respects to be governed by revised rules of the London Prize Ring.

Klitch needs to work on his english?..lol to the dude who posted that...the way the heavy weight division is going i dont think he will have to work on his english i think we r going have to learn to speak russian german and some other languages at the pace american fighters are getting their asses handed to em by fighter from eastern europe....damn american boxing is collapsing and its not that we dont have some talent its just everyone has caught us and passed us...American fighters better get some heart and these older american fighters better step aside and let some new blood take over for Usa cause it doesnt look good for usa in the future. Klitch will now hold the destiny of the heavy weight division in his hands until he retires...I think a Rahman klitch would be a good fight but if klitch wins that it will be over for american heavy weights holding any title fights for I would estimate a good 5-6 years!

lmao. that right hand is straight,,,quick and textbook beautiful. thrown with full leverage and is the biggest punch in the division today. clearly you know nothing about boxing and I sure as hell wouldnt want you on my side in a war of fists. you probbly slap like a bitch,,lol you not even a C fighter your on boxingscene, this is why I don't post often cuz of damn fools that can't see but think they can ,he throws it nice but its weak because he's left handed

lmao. I cant stand ruiz. hes not a fighter hes a mugger. Ive criticized him many times on here. clearly your a little low on the iq my friend Ok, fine. I am low on IQ, but you are one fucking moron. :)

whatever dude... i think you are a Ruiz admirer lmao. I cant stand ruiz. hes not a fighter hes a mugger. Ive criticized him many times on here. clearly your a little low on the iq my friend

no,,,ruiz's tactic was holding,,,not clinching. clinching is very brief and done to catch a quick little rest,,whereas holding is done to survive and stop the momentum of your opponent. unfortunately ruiz goes way too far with that technique whatever dude... i think you are a Ruiz admirer

That is a great pic of Byrd acting like a fool. Somebody should have told him that if he fights like a fool he will getting his head punched in. ...Yeah, I can't wait to add the pics of a beaten and bloodied Byrd to my sig.

Everybody knows Wlad has a stamina problem, i think it was good strategy to hold, so that he could slow the pace of the fight. Wlad deserves all the respect and there should be no criticism for now. Wlad haters should shut up for a 1 week atleast, because i think he did what no other h.w has ever done. what would that be?

....None of those guys were fast enough with it to land it on Byrd like that. That is a great pic of Byrd acting like a fool. Somebody should have told him that if he fights like a fool he will getting his head punched in.

Ruiz is the master of clinching. He won many hearts by clincing, clinching, clinching, clinching, clinching, clinching, clinching, clinching, clinching, ... and clinching. The clinching was legal, but I really hate it. no,,,ruiz's tactic was holding,,,not clinching. clinching is very brief and done to catch a quick little rest,,whereas holding is done to survive and stop the momentum of your opponent. unfortunately ruiz goes way too far with that technique

....Wlad does deserve a little criticism I suppose. He should work on his English a bit. I thought his English was perfect... LMAO :)

....Wlad does deserve a little criticism I suppose. He should work on his English a bit.

Byrd has shown an amazing heart. Wlad has done what noone else could do in the last 5 years -- to completely dominate and KO Byrd. That takes some huge boxing talent. Some criticisms are in order: Why the heck was Wlad holding Byrd? Wlad was holding the little guy there so many times! I was very upset at that and kept shouting "Stop holding him" during the middle rounds! Everybody knows Wlad has a stamina problem, i think it was good strategy to hold, so that he could slow the pace of the fight. Wlad deserves all the respect and there should be no criticism for now. Wlad haters should shut up for a 1 week atleast, because i think he did what no other h.w has ever done.

wlad fought a great fight beautiful jab and hook but his right hand is trash even tho it put byrd down..imagine if tyson rahman lewis landed that flush of a right hand.. on little bitty bryd who's really barely a cruiserweight.wlads obviously a converted south paw ....None of those guys were fast enough with it to land it on Byrd like that.