http://www.boxingscene.com/uploads/90573/mayweather-pacquiao%20(24).jpg
I remember hearing that bending/leaning below the waist is illegal. is this another gray area in the ruling?
Here is the thing, clinching, bending are all defied as defense now, when they used to be called rule infractions. Defense should be used to set up your offense. Floyd uses his defense, but only throws one punch at a time, never combinations and he is rewarded for it. James Toney is the perfect example of how defense is supposed to work. He did not just use defense to run out the clock. He used it to set up counter punches, combinations and body punches. He stayed in the pocket in much the same way as Floyd uses his shoulder role, but he used his shoulder role to set off an explosive beautiful display of counter punches. That is the only way defense should be rewarded on the cards. Floyd is the antithesis of this and he is called great for it. Now if he used his shoulder roll to stay in the pocket and throw punches instead of spin out and run then and only then should his style and defense be rewarded by the judges.
Just look at Toney's fight with Iran Barkley or Vasily Jirov and you will see how defense should be used. BTW Toney is a much better counter puncher than Floyd ever could be. Floyd cannot be the best counter puncher ever if he does not throw combinations.
The punch to the back of the head is more of an issue. Also, you could argue that he's being pushed down in the particular photo.
Thats actually why its against the rules to duck below the waist, you present the back of your head as a target once the punches are in motion.
It's illegal, see point 6.
But it doesn't matter in this new age where cheating is deemed "veteran tactics"
http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rules_of_Boxing
knowing how to bend rules has always been a veteran tactic. gtfo ydksab, did you hear manny lost yesterday? 48-0 #tbe #tmt
It's illegal, see point 6.
But it doesn't matter in this new age where cheating is deemed "veteran tactics"
http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Rules_of_Boxing
pac seemed to have done it quite a bit as well in the fight. usually when floyd jumped in with the right hand. pac would duck mad low and floyd would end up on him and hold his head (also illegal). I think he said something to the ref about it once or twice