It wasn't only clinching in the modern sense. A round would end anytime someone's knee touched the ground. So they would attempt to throw each other. Throws were allowed, but the were Greco in flavor as leg entanglements were not legal.
e kaye,
That is fascinating. But that sort of make my point as well as the point some others on this threat made...boxing has change over the years due to how the "game" is played (for lack of better words).
I do think many people would certainly get a better insight to boxing as a whole if they take into consideration the circumstance and situation behind the reasons why certain things were done the way they were.
Without a doubt it has changed. The rules are different and the equipment is different. Modern gloves and wraps allow a boxer to punch in a way and with parts of the hand that you simply cannot do ungloved.
ttt - cool thread!