Would Boxing be better if Holding was much more penalized?

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Like say, if the first time a guy holds, the ref jumps on him with a warning and then just starts taking points and left and right. I mean, this never happens. Would this make for better fights?

[Vasyl’s dad]

Like say, if the first time a guy holds, the ref jumps on him with a warning and then just starts taking points and left and right. I mean, this never happens. Would this make for better fights?

Of course. More action, more punches, more knockouts. Why the refs let the illegal tactic continue for the entire fight puzzles me.

[mxtali]

Definitely. Mayweather Maidana 2 was hard to watch because of the incessant holding. And yes i know Maidana is a dirty Mfer.

[Skyway71]

It depends on the situation. If you are hurt and holding, you're trying to survive. If you're not hurt and holding the other fighter from throwing punches cause that other fighter was able to cut the ring off and get in range to launch an attack, it should be warned once or twice then points deducted there after.

[_Rexy_]

Warming and point the moment clinching gets excessive.

[YoungManRumble]

It should only be allowed after someone is badly wobbled IMO or let a huggy guy have 1 strategic clinch per round and then take points. A side B side Z side whatever. No special treatment.

[Boxing_1013]

Problem is sometimes it is hard to tell who is actually initiating the clinch...sometimes guys just come together and the natural motion takes them into the clinch...guys would be blaming the other guy all the time.

But yes it should 100% be more penalized...but would have to have good refs to implement it...the guys who do it all the time should be pretty clear targets to get warned/penalized...if you have 2 guys and 1 clinches all the time and the other doesn't, and they clinch...then yeah we should all be able to do the math on that.

Yes though the rules should be enforced on that...takes away from the fight when that happens

[Boxing_1013]

It depends on the situation. If you are hurt and holding, you're trying to survive. If you're not hurt and holding the other fighter from throwing punches cause that other fighter was able to cut the ring off and get in range to launch an attack, it should be warned once or twice then points deducted there after.

It should only be allowed after someone is badly wobbled IMO or let a huggy guy have 1 strategic clinch per round and then take points. A side B side Z side whatever. No special treatment.

For whatever reason...I agree...I never mind seeing a guy who is hurt trying to clinch and survive...for whatever reason it has never bothered me.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

All right, I have to say that this idea of clinching in trouble being allowed is ******. I could be hurt and go for a low blow to stop the action because I'm hurt. That doesn't make it right. A foul is still a foul. Period.

We just have refs who don't enforce the rules which is why we have the **** we have continue.

[saintpat]

Problem is sometimes it is hard to tell who is actually initiating the clinch...sometimes guys just come together and the natural motion takes them into the clinch...guys would be blaming the other guy all the time.

But yes it should 100% be more penalized...but would have to have good refs to implement it...the guys who do it all the time should be pretty clear targets to get warned/penalized...if you have 2 guys and 1 clinches all the time and the other doesn't, and they clinch...then yeah we should all be able to do the math on that.

Yes though the rules should be enforced on that...takes away from the fight when that happens

This.

I’ll use Wlad vs. Povetkin as an example. Povetkin would move in, get close and extend one or both arms under Wlad’s armpits. Which means he has to literally hold his hands above his head to avoid a clinch or he keeps them there and guess what, there’s a clinch.

That’s 100 percent on Povetkin yet the uninitiated wanted to blame Wlad.

And the sport would be better if guys used the free hand to punch. And kept their elbows and hands in tight inside — then the only way to clinch is to literally hug and it’s obvious who is doing the fouling. Most often both are at some degree of fault ... and sometimes guys are grateful to clinch (see Tyson vs. Bonecrusher, where Iron Mike seems quite comfy wading in, throwing two punches and then falling into a rest hold where both are safe.

Also, are we happy with a guy getting knocked down five times in a six-round fight winning because of taking away 2-3 points per round for minor clinching?