Has fighting “in the pocket” become a lost art?

[sbbigmike]

Unfortunately your absolutely right
One big reason for that , imo ,is the refereeing
Refs are not taught to let fighters get out of clinch or chest to chest
They jump in to soon and recently it’s been happening more and more

Especially Floyd latter fights, and he was the best damn clinch fighter, and wanted to **** it out like he did vs Cotto, canelo, and maidana a couple of them other fights us fans was robbed in that regard

[LA_2_Vegas]

It's seems like a declining art

Definitely agree some of it is the refereeing

I remember Atlas often saying look these two guys are making the "silent agreement" that it's time to rest when in those close quarters and wait for the ref.

At the very least, I like to see some urgency in trying to stay out of a clinch and/or keep a hand free...

So much magic happens in fights where you have two guys who can fight inside and a ref that knows what's up. "Punch to get out" "hand is free" or just a slap on the back instead of a full break.

also unhooking the arms in a clinch is something I used to see. Some refs have off nights as well.

Seems like some of the old school trainers who taught those skills are aging/gone. I think about this issue quite a bit and I actually think something could be learned from MMA coaches who now teach "dirty boxing" - as it relates to balance and leverage

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Refs break so fast now and basically protect fighters from having to fight on the inside how the hell do we even know who is good on the inside and who is not in this ERA

The More popular Refs get way too involved and want to make it about them. Refs like Bayless, Reiss, Byrd, those guys break the action too much and too fast. Refs need to stay back sometimes and force guys to fight out. Stop Saving them from having to fight on the inside this happens too often and it is making the sport BORING because then guys will just tie up and clinch even more to take a break during the fight knowing that the refs are coming to break the action every time they tie/clinch

However if you stay back tell them to fight out and things get a little dirty on the inside, guys will have no choice but to continue to fight. Spence Jr vs Porter was a excellent fight because Reiss wasn't as involved that fight and he let them FIGHT on the inside...


Yeah Yeah he also let a few of Spence Jr Punches stray low as well but the point is, Refs need to let them fight out more often! Get The F^ck Out Of The Way!

Yes, Jack Reiss did well in this one. Lots of good close action. I would love to see this more often...

[fourtheboys96]

Canelo is a fantastic inside fighter...

Nope. He'll just throw a couple then back away.

Watch Roman Gonzalez, JLC.

[_original_]

Was just watching Duran-Barkley, even that old fat version of Duran was amazing on the inside and out. Nobody fights like that anymore.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

I watched the fight several times -- I told you, Gavril is Romanian (like I am) and I wanted him to win, of course... But Benavidez was better... Ronnie was promoted by Floyd (and maybe that's why he won on one of the score cards)...

Regardless who you thought won, you have to admit Gavril gave him big problems.

I had Gavril winning the first fight 115-112. The scorecards were horrendous IMO.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Nope. He'll just throw a couple then back away.

Watch Roman Gonzalez, JLC.

I’ve watched Roman Gonzalez live and in person from ringside. He’s my favourite active fighter.

If you don’t think Canelo is a great inside fighter you must have some sort of agenda.

[Lomadeaux]

Guys like James Toney and Roberto Duran were masters at this.

Aside from Canelo and Roman Gonzalez, I can’t think of many modern fighters who have mastered this technique.

This was probably one of the most impressive things I ever saw Mayweather do (and that's obviously saying something).

[GrandpaBernard]

This was probably one of the most impressive things I ever saw Mayweather do (and that's obviously saying something).

The irony our era’s master defensive wizards Floyd Ward Bernard were excellent infighters while the offensive machines can’t close quarters combat

[TonyGe]

I think taking the infighting out of boxing is losing a whole dimension to the sport. Infighting isn't clinching and smothering the other guy it's about manuvering the opponent around using your brain and landing clean hard punches to the body and the head. A short armed fighter is at a disavantage generally on the outside. Fair enough. The shorter fighter may be much more effective in the inside where he can use his ring IQ and strength to dominate the opponent. Except the referees tend to break things up too soon. It would be nice to see both fighters do what they do best.