The only time a big fight happens anywhere else besides the USA is when a local fighter fights there these days Where as the US its international. They pay to get the best over there.
I just don't understand all the hysteria about Ward "ducking" Bute. Give it some time......like a month or something.
Do you think with how Taylor couldnt beat Pavlik, Froch or Abraham at SMW that he would beat Andrade or Bika?
I admit I should have been clearer. I know Ward hasnt reached Ottkes level yet, but there is still time for him to do so
Depends on the fighter. Some do, some don't. Kessler was also inactive for a long stretch.....might that have had something to do with it, no? Is it a stretch to move an active fighter who's beaten another highly ranked fighter up a step or 2 over a guy who was inactive? Ward and Bute were leapfrogging each other when they fought. Seems like an awful lot of planning ahead and guessing, don't you think? All that would require them to have planned this out for Ward before the tourney even started. Say what? Show you the example of the thing you posted an example of? I don't follow.....are you saying that all of the above were better fighters than the guys that beat them? Those are isolated incidents from a long time ago with 2 camps that were already known for having problems. By and large, American fans don't travel...... I highly doubt Ward would have had the support Froch had in A/C, if the fight had been in Nottingham, or anywhere in the UK. It ouwld have been almost 100% for the hometown fighter. What I think you fail to realize is that a US fighter could cross the country or travel a few hundred miles and have almost no support from the local fanbase. I've seen it time and again. Just because a US fighter fights in America does not make it a slam dunk hometown fight. This is even when fighting a fighter from another country. Can the same be said in any European nation, or Canada? I think the point is that other nations back their fighters far better than the US backs theirs. From what I've seen, the whole prefight show, the fireworks, the video's, etc... it's about the fighters and their relationship to the fans. You don't really get that here. I never said anything of the sort. What I did say is that there is a double standard, and that there is a reason for it. A fighter cannot fight exclusively in Germany and avoid the stigma of being a stay at home fighter. Same goes for pretty much everywhere......except for the US. Is this not true? When they start saying if you don't make in Germany, you haven't made it, then we can revisit this. It's not an insult to Germany or the UK or Canada.
I'm not talking if a Welshman were to come into London to fight a local fighter.... If a non-UK fighter came anywhere into the UK, would the fighter from the UK have marginal or disinterested support? Would it be even remotely close in terms of fan support? Even at HW, the Klits tried to make their bones in the US. I don't know how many times they fought here, but each was more than once. Its not just patriotism. It's not perception. It's the reality of the situation. You can't fight exclusively in any other country and expect the same.
The only time a big fight happens anywhere else besides the USA is when a local fighter fights this is all there is to it. The states is where the best go to compete. Can you imagine lets say Pac vs Hatton in germany ?
If a welsh boxer fought Hatton in Manchester - sure he would be the "local enemy", but so would a guy from London Lets not dress it up into something it isnt