Is Floyds Defense illegal?

I disagree with people saying that Floyd turns his back. He just twist his body side ways and rolls the punch. There's nothing wrong or illegal about it. Plus, its not like Hatton was fighting so legal. All he does is run in full speed and wrestles. There's a reason why all his fights are like this. I thought Hatton's lateral movement was supposed to be so great that he could easily step from side to side and land blows when Floyd does that. Every fight people question wether it should be legal for Ricky to hold and punch like that. He holds you everytime your about to punch and then he lets his hands go. Now those same guys who always defend Hatton are the one's complaing about this?

Floyd made plenty of illegal moves against Hatton. I think Cortez was paid off, to be honest. I hope your joking. Hatton is the king of dirty fighting ask Kostya. Floyd beat Hatton at his own game.

I agree that Hatton should have been deducted a point for that punch but for the remainder of the fight he was scared to throw the right over the top during the clinch. He could not throw his left because Floyd was holding it. Should MW be deducted points for holding if not for turning sideways? Another thing I noticed was MW's forearm being pushed into Hatton's face throughout the fight and nothing was said or done about that either. One thing's for sure.........Floyd whooped Hatton and finished him with one of the best shots I've seen in a while. This was one of his best performances without a doubt

I honestly don't think Rick intended to make an illegal move, it was probably just a reflex. Plus the "punch" was absorbed mostly by the rope, by the looks of it. Floyd shouldn't have turned his back, but both fighters were in the wrong. If you watch it again, Hatton actually shoved Floyd thru the ropes. It was fairly obvious. And you're right about the ropes absorbing most of the blow, but thats beside the point.

Ricky was penalized for hitting Floyd in the back of the head when he was falling thru the ropes. It was a blatant foul and anyone would've been penalized. The 3 or 4 times Hatton did it in the course of the action, he was only warned. There was no excuse for him to try hitting an opponent in the back of the head while he was defenseless. That was dirty. I honestly don't think Rick intended to make an illegal move, it was probably just a reflex. Plus the "punch" was absorbed mostly by the rope, by the looks of it. Floyd shouldn't have turned his back, but both fighters were in the wrong.

Yeah, I think "crossing the line" is accurate. Or maybe "borderline illegal".

No doubt. Except Rick was penalized for it and Floyd wasn't. Ricky was penalized for hitting Floyd in the back of the head when he was falling thru the ropes. It was a blatant foul and anyone would've been penalized. The 3 or 4 times Hatton did it in the course of the action, he was only warned. There was no excuse for him to try hitting an opponent in the back of the head while he was defenseless. That was dirty.

And vice versa. No doubt. Except Rick was penalized for it and Floyd wasn't.

tills9191 -- does it aggravate you? It's certainly frustrating to watch. The worst fight I've seen was on the undercard last night, with the dude who fought Ponce De Leon. Sorry, I can't remember his name. All I know is it's bloody annoying and the ref did nothing about it. The guy was ducking and staying down almost every time De Leon came in close, yet the ref was telling him off for hitting him on the back and behind the head. There was nothing the poor guy could do, though.

Floyd made plenty of illegal moves against Hatton. I think Cortez was paid off, to be honest. And vice versa.

He goes in that sideway stance when fighters swarm him and try to smother his shots. You have to switch the angle to hit him. Only problem is he digs to the body well and throws a mean right counter. To add on to that When an opponent is in close and throws a right over the top, Floyd tries to roll with the punch and duck his head below his shoulder. Sometimes it doesn't happen that way and he gets hit toward the back of the head.

I agree . A lot of fighters turn their back because their defence is too weak, or they can't handle the onslaught.So they turn their back . It's happend to me in the ring boxing. Because I hit hard, people turn their back to me.

Floyd made plenty of illegal moves against Hatton. I think Cortez was paid off, to be honest.