Is clinching excessively and using as a tactic considered cheating to you?

It's not cheating. Actually, excessive clinching only really disrupts the flow of a fight when the referee jumps in every two seconds to break it up (Mayweather/Hatton). I don't mind seeing two fighters work way on the inside. Fighters like John Ruiz take it too far, but it's not cheating. It slows down action, which is necessary for some fighters against others who are too fast for them. They TKO'd a fighter because he was excessively clinching Marquez! I don't even know how that works, it should have been a DQ! Since the ref stopped it because of the clinches in the 12th round, not because the other fighter took too much punishment! I believe it was that fighter Howard who was fighting Marquez.

It's not cheating. Actually, excessive clinching only really disrupts the flow of a fight when the referee jumps in every two seconds to break it up (Mayweather/Hatton). I don't mind seeing two fighters work way on the inside. Fighters like John Ruiz take it too far, but it's not cheating. It slows down action, which is necessary for some fighters against others who are too fast for them.

I don't think it's cheating, but it's cheap and not at all entertaining.

Wow, it's 50/50! I say no because that's all part of boxing, the other guy needs to not get clinched, the onus is on him i say. If a fighter is clinching excessively, the ref will penalize or he will lose the round. If he is clinching and winning the round then all gravy.

it's not really cheating, but it's it definitely bullshit. i hate these types of fighters.

I would love this rule to actually get enforced. A fighter should win or lose on the basis of talent, skill, intangibles, and game planning, instead of an illegal tactic. Not to mention it makes fights a lot more exciting. Do you think Berto-Collazo would have been as exciting if he was allowed to hold every time he wanted to (which is every time he's on the inside, where Collazo did most of his damage)? Holding is worse than Ryu's Aduken, Scorpion's "Get over here", and Sub Zero's icing put together.

Its cheating when its Ricky Hatton but its a science when its Bernard Hopkins. exactly... screw joe cortez...

It's clear that cheating cowards like Hopkins and Ward use this tactic. But unfortunately it's not illegal. They stopped a fight of Marquez's because the guy kept clinching him and rarely threw any punches. It has to be illegal to some extent. And the funny thing is I can't find it as a DQ listed on Marquez resume so they must have listed it as a TKO for whatever reason that would be. It was in the 12th round and I think it was that howard guy. I saw a youtube video of it awhile back!

me personally i think clinching is a bitch move...

Its cheating when its Ricky Hatton but its a science when its Bernard Hopkins. Thats what golden boy Richard Schaefer says too!

Its cheating when its Ricky Hatton but its a science when its Bernard Hopkins.

It's not cheating really, but it can make things really boring. I suppose if guys actually work inside a clinch or use it for some purpose as oppose to doing it to catch a breather or because they are scared to get hit. For example Hatton used clinches to make you feel as if he was constantly on you, if he wasn't punching you to the body or head he'd be closing the gap and clinching so you don't catch a break. Berto on the other hand can use it excessively when he can easily use his atheletic talent to break down a fighter,

worst part about boxing is clinching

if it was illegal...bernard hopkins wouldve lost half his fights by dq qft..........

No, excessive clinching is illegal.Not according to Queensberry rules.

I think excessive clinching is cheating. Like the bull rush technique Dirrell used on Froch. That was cheating.. On another note, Dirrell still won the fight hands down regardless of the excessive clinching.

No. Not if the ref breaks it. If the fighter continues after the ref breaks it or excessively does it then they will probably lose points or get DQ'd anyway. Henry Akinwande style. lmao, aint heard that name in years. he was a bizarre fighter. he wasnt bad at all until he started cuddling people instead of fighting...

Nope. Excessive is an objective term. If the ref deems what a figher is doing 'excessive clinching' then he'll enforce the necessary rules. If he doesn't then the fighter isn't doing anything that could be called cheating. yea, i've always wondered what is considered "excessive."

Someone posted that Marquez fight before where the ref stopped the fight because the guy was clinching so much! Post it again! And I didn't even think that guy clinched nearly as half as some other boxers out there did! Maybe it wasn't ruled as a DQ, but it was ruled as something and the fight was stopped in the final round I believe.

It's not cheating whatsoever. It's annoying, it's wrong but it's not cheating. I don't like making generalizations but anyone that says it's cheating has never been in a boxing ring before. It's like using your elbows, a little headbutt, or punching on the side when the ref says break it up, if you don't get caught doing it it isn't cheating. This isn't badmitten, this is boxing, it's rough, it's mean, it's unforgiving. That's why I ****ing love it. there aint nothing mean or ruff about hugging your opponent to stop him from hitting you. but if your hurt and trying to survive its ok.