Only on some extend but not excessive like what is on the fight between Marcos and Floyd. Maidana was fighting against the promoter of the fight who definitely have a hand on the selection of referee and judges. You can expect favoritism.
Yes and no. See this is what makes me think Floyd pays the refs off...that or they're playing favorites (sorry if I sound like I'm getting carried away) but I remember Amir Khan got penalized for excessive holding (I think it was against Peterson) but Floyd does it almost as much and the refs never tell him anything.
Please define holding first.
With gloves on, fighters are incapable of holding with their hands. They can only use their gloved hands and other parts of their arns to apply pressure on or grab the arms of the other fighter to prevent him from throwing blows.Such is allowed in boxing as a defensive measure especially in close quarter actions which would put one at a disadvantage. Both boxers and punchers are allowed to resort to these prior to clinching. But for only a period allowed preceding the ref's call for them to break or disengage.and not in excess, of course .
If you mean clinching, then it's legal to an extent but obviously for only a few second and then the referee would separate the two fighters.
Those things are illegal according to the official WBC boxing ring rules:
1. Holding the ring ropes to hit with the other hand.
2. Excessive holding the opponent or maintaining a clinch.
3. Holding the opponent’s head or body with one hand while hitting with the other
Technically, no it is not legal to hold, but then again a lot of things are not legal and fighters do what is necessary to survive.
For a few seconds, yes, until the ref tells you to break it up.
I ask because I’m watching the Mayweather fight and he seems to hold as a rule, pretty constantly, but is rarely does he get even a warning.
