For players who wanted realistic boxing, the patch was a godsend.

Pre-102, the counter window was instantaneous. The 102 patch added a 6-frame delay to counter animations. This meant that if you blocked a punch, you couldn't instantly launch a KO hook. You had to reset your feet.

This single change elevated the game from a reflex-based fighter to a strategic chess match. It made the "Inside Fighter" archetype viable again because you could no longer be instantly erased for throwing a combo.

No patch is perfect. The 102 update left a few exploits intact: