Is not clinching when hurt a weakness?

[Frank Ducketts]

Fighters move, clinch, parry with punches, take a knee, trade, etc.

[ROSS CALIFORNIA]

I hear this thrown around a lot but from experience and many years of studying footage I don't think it is a weakness. In some fighters, definitely.

But take for example Marquez or say Sergio Martinez, some maybe argue when they are hurt they are at their most dangerous!

A lot of times when you have a fighter hurt, you go in for the kill and neglect defense. The last thing on your mind is them throwing combinations back.

You have a guy hurt, on the ropes, honestly how many times/how many times do you jab your way in? How many times do you go for the kill? How many times do you think about keeping a tight D?
You're between their legs, they're squared up - do you take things for granted>

Bit drunk here just it came to mind and I feel its not actually your everyday convo if you get me. Hope you're all having a good Christmas!

I guess it depends on the fighter and if they can fight when they are hurt. Maybe it would be foolish not to clinch for certain fighters, because they may just get knocked out anyway. I think a fighter who fights back when hurt should have experience when doing so. I wouldn't recommend it to a young fighter. I think once you've been hurt a few times, you have a better idea of what you can do during that time without really risking getting ko'd. That's just a guess, I've never been a boxer.

[Mr. Ryan]

I'm not sure clinching would've been wise for Sergio against JCCj...clinching would've played right into JCCj's strengths.

I disagree, I think not clinching in the 12th round nearly ended the fight for him there. He's lucky he was fighting Chavez Jr. and not someone better there. Now, if Martinez clinched like Seth Mitchel did against Jonathan Banks, holding around the waist and not tying up the arms, that'd be an issue.

I think it's only acceptable to clinch when hurt, in fact, Emanuel Steward would implore fighters to clinch even if they have to drag the opponent down in the process when hurt.

Roy Jones' clinch/smother after he was dropped by Lou Del Valle is the perfect example of how to survive when you're hurt.