Could you support a foreigner against a home fighter? In what circumstances, if any?

I don't think there's an obligation to support anyone, regardless of whether they're good for boxing. If it's your fighter and you want to support him, go for it.

My objection was to your assertion that it's somehow unusual or unrealistic that a fan would root against his country's native fighter. It's very common here in the U.S.

 

To me it's unusual you feel the need to always root on your own countrymen, but that's probably because I come from a country that's a lot bigger than yours.

I could maybe agree if the fighter came out of the same city or immediate area, but besides that no, it doesn't come into play.*

*I'm going to steal Conteh's footnotes and say that the exception is when people drag it into a sort of country vs country thing... PBF vs Hatton was a good example of that. I think a fair number of Americans didn't really care about nationality and rooted on Hatton until they heard the anthem being booed. I'm not crying about that, but that's an example of when it becomes about nationality, before that I don't think for the vast majority of Americans it was about nationality.

 

Yeah, all the time. I could care less about Nationality, its the fighters I like I root for.

 

Well I can see how you might feel differently. If we had 300 billion trillion people, and a far bigger pool of talent I wouldn't give too much of a **** either I'd just support the guys I like to watch

But as it is, world champs of any sort don't come along frequently for us. We are in a golden period at the moment, but quite often there isn't much to shout about, so it feels natural to support our guys

 

Sure. Like many have said, its the fighters themselves, not where they are from or what they look like.

 

The Mayweather/Hatton fight is a good example of how it works. Fans decide they like one guy (Hatton) and dislike another (Mayweather), then hear Hatton fans boo the national anthem, and everyone starts rooting for Floyd.

That's how it was where I watched the fight. It was maybe 60/40 Hatton support prior to the singing, but after the anthems, the whole ****ing bar was pro-Mayweather. It was pretty funny.

 

I'm a very patriotic guy, I have a deep attachment to everything that is from my country (Québec), BUT if Miranda rips JEAN «THE MOUTH» PASCAL 's head off, well, I won't be crying wolf.
Let just say that action speaks louder than words, and we are still wating on him to put his money were is loud mouth is.....:fire

 

:happy

 

I really don't give a **** about nationality. I would love to see Calzage spank hopkins.

 

Good post...I like good boxers and good boxing!

 

Since hatton did not boo the anthem, I cheered for him any way (although I did not bet on him!)...Don't let idiots sway your opinion!

 

I'll be doing cartwheels when Calzaghe beats Hopkins into submission.

 

Patriotism is so overrated. I cheer for my favorites no matter where they are from.

 

Good point for your reasoning. As an American, it's been quite the opposite, so many champs over the years can make one complacent. I generally vote for who I like best based on the combination of skills and personality. Alexis Arguello is somone I always rooted for because of his skill but more for the respect he had for all of his opponents. Of course Foreman after the gold medal match in 68' carrying that litte US flag around the ring always makes me a bit patriotic.