Is it best for a world champion to defend his title all over the world?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Richard M Murrieta, Feb 24, 2021.



  1. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,760
    27,305
    Jul 16, 2019
    Muhammad Ali in his first title reign from 1964-1967 did defend overseas, in Canada for George Chuvalo, in England for both the second Henry Cooper bout as well as the fight with Brian London. The title defense against Karl Mildenberger was in Frankfurt, Germany The rematch with Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson were stateside.
     
    The Fighting Yoda and Fergy like this.
  2. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    24,825
    28,303
    Jan 8, 2017
    Yes, that was another great thing about Ali, he opened himself up to the world.
     
    Richard M Murrieta likes this.
  3. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,760
    27,305
    Jul 16, 2019
    I do think that a champion should show his skills to the rest of the world. I do understand the monetary reasons not to in some cases. But if you have confidence in your skills and have trained properly, then there should not be a problem. Traveling is a good thing, you pick up some more fans that have only read about you, And remember you are a world champion, not a champion from just the city that you reside in. Maybe the tax bracket at some venues are rather steep. Carlos Monzon defended his title once in New York against Tony Licata in 1975, but from what I understood, the taxes were kind of high. He never returned, instead continued to fight in Monte Carlo, Monaco and Paris, France. But defending around the globe shows fortitude, let the world see you. Eusebio Pedroza was another classic example, he believed in his skill.
     
    Pepsi Dioxide likes this.
  4. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,760
    27,305
    Jul 16, 2019
    He had many fans the world over.
     
    KidGalahad and Fergy like this.
  5. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    24,825
    28,303
    Jan 8, 2017
    Certainly did Richard. Not sure we'll see his like again, least not in our lifetime.
     
  6. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,147
    6,349
    Jul 17, 2009
    I agree,Fergy. It's good that a world champion travels the world defending his crown. More and more people have an opportunity to meet him for a start.
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2021
    Fergy and Richard M Murrieta like this.
  7. META5

    META5 Active Member Full Member

    1,087
    1,235
    Jun 28, 2005
    In the words of Sullivan, "I can lick any sonofab%$£* in the house" - champion should welcome all legitimate challengers to the crown. Ali took it around the world where genuine excitement and fight build up and lack of social media allowed promoters to generate big revenues.

    With social media, multiple belts and ability to make a lot of money by sticking to the mandate of unprogressive promoters, there's no push for fighters to be road warriors once they win a title, unfortunately.

    Get back to one title per weight class and 15 round fights and you might see credible p4p fighters facing each other - whether they travel to other countries to do so, it depends on the economics.
     
    Richard M Murrieta likes this.
  8. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,760
    27,305
    Jul 16, 2019
    I do agree my friend, sad thing is, that very greedy promoters might not allow different venues to host these fights. 15 rounds for me, it has nothing to do with safety, fighters have been fatally injured in 12 rounders. Benn vs McClellan was 12 rounds, Gerald did get badly hurt,
     
  9. META5

    META5 Active Member Full Member

    1,087
    1,235
    Jun 28, 2005
    If modern fighters weren't ridiculously weight draining to gain a perceived fight night weight advantage from rehydration techniques that don't prepare the body for the drastic change in physiology and its impact, then a 15 rounder should in theory be no more of a risk than a 10 or a 12 rounder for the elite fighters.

    Prime Roy, Floyd, Toney, B-Hop, Calzaghe, Ward, Usyk, Wlad, Loma, GGG, Canelo and others would all be capable of boxing 15 rounders. For me, when you have the elite versus the elite or in any head to head hypothetical, the fight is always a 15 rounder. You find out what the fighter's really made off in the last 3 rounds.

    15 rounders, same day weigh-in, 8 weight classes and one belt per weight class - return to that and I'm a happy fight fan.
     
    Richard M Murrieta likes this.
  10. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,066
    6,626
    Sep 11, 2018
    Yeah, part of my thinking. It’s also not just the advantage on potential scorecards, and referees but also the way things around the event are done. Your two examples have the commissions in their pockets and they are heavily invested on those fighters coming back over and over again.

    I do hold some of the past greats in a higher regard because they went to unfamiliar places to face their top contenders, or even fellow greats. That’s without knowledge of how they’ll be treated, rules, regulations etc; that’s risk taking.
     
    Richard M Murrieta likes this.
  11. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,719
    4,471
    Jun 24, 2017
    Nah not in 1967 he didn’t. Cmon man let’s be honest here and stop the Ali worshiping for a moment.He only went around the world cos he was public enemy number one in the US at that time with all the black Muslim stuff and the draft dodging. You could even say that people outside the US only wanted to see him because they wanted him to lose but yeah that still counts as popularity, I suppose.
     
  12. djanders

    djanders Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,065
    6,796
    Feb 21, 2009
    Agreed! That's why they're fighting in the first place.
     
    Richard M Murrieta likes this.
  13. C.J.

    C.J. Boxings Living Legend revered & respected by all Full Member

    45,739
    15,060
    Apr 14, 2009
    Show any pic of Ali & people the world over would know who it was. Name me one other fighter who would be instantly recognized? He never draft dodged. It he wanted to just avoid the draft he'd have done what Clinton did & left for England. Though you may not agree with his religious choices but you've got to respect his sincerity. He stayed right here prepared to face the consequences
     
    Richard M Murrieta likes this.
  14. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,760
    27,305
    Jul 16, 2019
    Agreed, we had no business in Vietnam. Muhammad Ali was not treated right here, so why should he satisfy a war mongering president. That conflict was for economical purposes as well as political, those people over there did not appreciate us anyway. I support Ali for standing up for his beliefs, we were not attacked, instead we burned up families in villages, because they believed different from us. I do not support communism, but everybody should believe what they want. Ali was a great champion and human being.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2021