Hi Gary, perhaps Rob may be able to clarify further. Until I go and see the application for myself and discuss it with referees in Thailand at length, I wouldn't wish to comment.

However, to get a feel for the rule change and how trainers have responded (which is new an perhaps needs time to take effect), I spoke to Pimu and he sort of confirmed what the referee said and what Rob has written. Pimu didn't seem to think it would require any major technical change in clinching at all, but seemed to suggest that boxers would get broken if not active and they if thy were constantly trying to hold without kneeing. Not sure if this will be the case or not. His words were.."you can still do everything only the referee will break when boxer stop kneeing". Currently (or rather previously in Lumpinee's case) getting thrown down in the last round can result in a boxer losing a bout he may otherwise have won...this appears to be something that the new rule changes but again this is only me speculating and I will have to wait until July to really make a informed opinion.