Quote Originally Posted by Beanflicker View Post
Yeah, people dog modern guys who hold, clinch, and foul but guys like Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson did that shit all time.
That's true! I think the average boxing fan of today is more knowledgable or, at least, wants to see a level playing field.
I think most of the excessive holding is do to piss poor refereeing. Ali used to hit and hold, hit and hold round after round and it did make me mad but I'd be just as disgusted with the referee.
Boxing is a brutal sport and protecting yourself by holding is something we have to put up with to a point. It's the referees job to hold it to an acceptable level.
Yes, Ali should have lost plenty of points for holding and I blame the referees for not taking them.