That one Klitschko fight, and who was at fault

[El Kabong]

It was an ugly fight no doubt about it but that is what it looks like when the bigger guy is the bully in the ring. Wlad fought smart, Povetkin was still able to cause a few issues, but all that did was make the fight ugly it didn't help Povetkin win rounds or anything.

Evander Holyfield used tactics to make fights ugly on the regular because it benefitted his style, ditto Bernard Hopkins, ditto Mike Tyson. Only with the smaller statured fighters as a fan you EXPECT to see them make things ugly so they have a better chance of winning. When Lennox Lewis would grab on to an opponent and make a fight ugly in order to best utilize his style he typically won.

If the ref doesn't call it, it's not a foul. If the ref allows the clinching and holding, then a fighter is naturally going to push the envelope with those tactics if they feel it helps their cause. Referees can positively or negatively effect a fight for the fans and for the boxers. It's very important to know what type of ref you're dealing with in a fight, some are lenient, some are strict, and some are fucking clueless. This ref was very lenient, he let a lot go, but he did eventually deduct a point from Wlad in the 11th after the fight was well out of reach for Povetkin (on points).

Had Wlad been warned for excessive holding and had a point deducted earlier in the fight I believe the action may have been a little smoother, but in the end I don't think what the ref called or did not call helped or hurt Povetkin as he was getting hammered, down once in the 2nd, 3 times in the 7th...Povetkin just didn't have enough to beat Wlad simple as that.

[p4pking]

I agree Povetkin wasn't going to win, and he deserves some of the blame for accepting the clinches the way he started to, but it still could have been a decent fight if the rules were enforced at all. No two styles inherently make for something that ugly unless you are talking about shit fighters. Wlad hurt him quite early clean if I remember, I would have liked to see him keep Povetkin off with punches and fight with a little fire as he did against Pulev. Povetkin IS very good and probably the best infighter Wlad would have faced in a long time, but he didn't have to come up with any answers for that with what he was allowed to do in there. How could it possibly NOT have been a better fight if warnings were given or a point was taken when first warranted?

[ninjaspy3]

I agree Povetkin wasn't going to win, and he deserves some of the blame for accepting the clinches the way he started to, but it still could have been a decent fight if the rules were enforced at all. No two styles inherently make for something that ugly unless you are talking about shit fighters. Wlad hurt him quite early clean if I remember, I would have liked to see him keep Povetkin off with punches and fight with a little fire as he did against Pulev. Povetkin IS very good and probably the best infighter Wlad would have faced in a long time, but he didn't have to come up with any answers for that with what he was allowed to do in there. How could it possibly NOT have been a better fight if warnings were given or a point was taken when first warranted?

All valid points there.
I think maybe we just have to accept that a small-sized infighter is not going to fair well at all in less he has major speed and major power. But he would definitely need both.

Actually I take that back. A small infighter has no chance against Klitschko at this point.
To be honest, I think that this fight was a realistic example of what would happen to even Mike Tyson had he fought Klitschko at this skill level. Sure, Mike was fast and strong, but he was even shorter than Povetkin. That means his most effective range is also right where Klitschko would tie him up. I know Povetkin is no Tyson, but still, size and fighting style do matter a lot.

[Beanflicker]

I think your opinion on the fight is very accurate.

IMO Klitschko was responsible for most of the holding in the earlier rounds, but as the fight went on I saw Povetkin initiating more of the clinching. I think as the rounds wear on, a lot of Klitschko's opponents begin to initiate clinches, or at the very least begin to accept the clinches. Wlad is always dangerous at range and I think a lot of guys start getting happy to be held because it means they aren't catching jabs, right hands or left hooks for the moment.

All that being said, Klitschko is the #1, he's the draw, and it's literally his show. He is always the guy who is controlling the fight, so fair or not he will always catch the most blame for fights being boring and ugly. He did a lot of unnecessary clinching against Povetkin and deserves shame for it.

On the other side again, everyone who fights Klitschko knows his game. They know he's going to clinch on the inside and hold. I also think his opponents should prepare themselves better to deal with such tactics, because like it or not this isn't the amateurs and holding is a part of boxing. All the great HW's utilized holding to their advantage it seems.

[El Kabong]

Can't blame Povetkin much for accepting the clinch really because as the shorter fighter he needed to get inside, but once there if punches don't land then you have to have an exit plan which is either circle out (which requires a lot of leg work and thus saps your power) or tie up and wait for the ref to break.

Had Povetkin NOT held as well, then it's quite possible he would have been knocked out either due to being tired or due to Wlad just punishing him for going from INSIDE to out of range, which Wlad could have achieved by a pushoff, side step, and unleashing a 1-2 or (as he did with Pulev) a massive left hook.

Watch Tyson, he'd work in bobbing and weaving behind the jab and peek-a-boo defense, rip off some punches and either his opponent ran away and he'd reset his attack or he would tie up and either get in some dirty work (elbows and forearms to the throat) or walk his opponent into the ropes in hopes that his pressure would drive them into a corner where he could get in his easiest work (see Tyson vs Marvis Frazier)