As a brit I'd agree we tend to follow our fighters almost blindly at times, even when we acknowledge that they aren't that good. Its that island mentality thing, a lot of Brits still view Europe as something apart from them. I can't think of a fight involving a British fighter where I wanted the other fighter to win. Maybe Eubank back in the day though I quite like him in retrospect. I was like 12 during Benn Eubank 2 and fell for his guy you love to hate persona completely. I'd say though we (apart from a few posters on here!) tend to be fairly liberal with giving credit where it is due. Without trying to start an argument, as a general rule it seems that Americans like to follow a winner, whereas we support our fighters even if they are average.
the social status of the fighter is quite important - someone very poor /humble beginnings strikes me as worth backing. That's explains my stake in GGG, and also Pacman. It also explains why I felt happy for Peterson beating Khan, until the PEDs thing emerged.
This isn't true on either side. You can find a lot of Americans (that know boxing) that will give credit to guys from other countries. You will also find a lot of Europeans that will give no credit at all to Americans. So to say Americans on average don't do this but Europeans do that is an outright subjective comment. I give the utmost respect to fighters of any different country when deserved. Will I always root for the American, for the most part yes, but I certainly give credit where do.
Not a big fan of this thread to be honest, but I will comment. I'm a fan of triple G however when I mention Ward would most likely win a UD if they faced each other GGG fans label me biased. Having a somewhat subjective view of your fav fighter or fighter from your country is natural though it sometimes reveals that ugly belief of inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture.
I am a boxing fan but I cheer for the local fighter, from my own country. Edit: except if he ****d minor girls.
Almost every country supports their stars, sometimes toa fault. I will root for the American when I don't have any other way of deciding who to root for. My favorite fighters, GGG Kova Froch, are not American.