Clinching discussion: Thoughts, opinions, when is it acceptable?

[Sugar Adam Ali]

I thought it says in the rulebook that 15 initiated clinches is a point deduction?

Or something close.

Not sure, honestly I have never heard of it.. Plus there is so many rule books.

Unified rules
WBC rules
Ibf rules
Wbo rules
WBA rules
State commission rules


In all honesty the only rules are what everyone agrees to that night, there is no consistency with rules from fight to fight

[Foreign Soil]

It's clearly not the same tactics, and also Floyd doesn't have a 10 year history of excessive clinching.

Floyd did that same reach out and hug someone maneuver Wlad did against Povetkin. It's no wonder that hardcore fans of both even had a hard time praising their performances those nights, citing age and talking about retirement.

[LacedUp]

Floyd did that same reach out and hug someone maneuver Wlad did against Povetkin. It's no wonder that hardcore fans of both even had a hard time praising their performances those nights, citing age and talking about retirement.

I didn't see Floyd perform one of these:



I only watched the Floyd fight once, so can't really say too much other than I didn't think it was THAT bad as I watched it.

Wlad's fight with Povetkin was completely different.

[Crazylegs77]

I didn't see Floyd perform one of these:



I only watched the Floyd fight once, so can't really say too much other than I didn't think it was THAT bad as I watched it.

Wlad's fight with Povetkin was completely different.

Yeah, although height difference lends itself to situations with the smaller guy under the bigger, this tactic by Wlad or other bigger guys is abusive. Some would say well its up to the smaller guy to avoid this but Id say if you are the champ or considered to be the best you draw more criticizm to yourself for not using you superior skills alone to win.

[Foreign Soil]

I didn't see Floyd perform one of these:



I only watched the Floyd fight once, so can't really say too much other than I didn't think it was THAT bad as I watched it.

Wlad's fight with Povetkin was completely different.

Oh, so Floyd possibly didn't push Maidana's head down, but he pushes it every other way with his elbow. That's clean. But I was talking about towards the end of the fight where Wlad did a lead clinch with no punch thrown. I remember Floyd doing the exact maneuver.

[The Gambler1981]

Not sure, honestly I have never heard of it.. Plus there is so many rule books.

Unified rules
WBC rules
Ibf rules
Wbo rules
WBA rules
State commission rules


In all honesty the only rules are what everyone agrees to that night, there is no consistency with rules from fight to fight

Every sport is kind of like that, it is down to how the ref or offical calls the game that day. How they do the job usually doesn't matter as long as the official is consistent with both sides.

This is not a boxing only issue, just boxing is extremely unforgiving with it's circumstances.

[The Gambler1981]

Would it be a good idea, even possible to have a number of permitted clinches per round?

Lets say fighters are allowed to have 5 clinches per round. Its then up to them to distribute the amount of times they clinch in a round if any. If they clinch a 6th time even if they're hurt they have a point deducted. Clinches are never carried over after a round.

This may be difficult for fighters themselves to actually count the amount of clinches but it makes it very easy for the ref have a clear guide in terms of policing clinches.

There would also need to be very explicit rules around what constitutes a clinch.

What do you think? Good or sheeyt idea?

I wouldn't say it is a terrible idea but do you trust the ref to keep track of that and everything else that is going on. It can be solved by bringing in an extra ref for that purpose. I think it would be tricky to implement and I am much more on the fighters deciding things than a ref being involved like.

Interesting Idea I certainly wouldn't call it bad

[-PBP-]

I wouldn't say it is a terrible idea but do you trust the ref to keep track of that and everything else that is going on. It can be solved by bringing in an extra ref for that purpose. I think it would be tricky to implement and I am much more on the fighters deciding things than a ref being involved like.

Interesting Idea I certainly wouldn't call it bad

Not only this but who do you blame? They guy charging in, smothering himself, swinging wildly and using his head or the opponent trying to protect himself and tame the wild animal.

A lot of times the guy being clinched is at fault for fighting like a caveman (see Porter vs. Brook). I like the rules the way they are. If you are good enough, clinching won't stop you.

[soul_survivor]

Most points that need to be made have already been made. End thread now. This is boring.

[bojangles1987]

Clinching is okay when an opponent is clumsily bullrushing a fighter, like Brook/Porter. I don't like it, but Brook has few options against someone who fought as wild as Porter, constantly in his face and swinging punches behind his head.

Clinching is NOT okay when a fighter is reaching out to clinch when there's no reason, like Wlad does against everyone and Mayweather did against Maidana.