That one Klitschko fight, and who was at fault

[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)