How much of a home advantage do U.S fighters get?

Unfortunately (in sporting terms) money rules, and you rarely see the real 'big' fights happening any where other than the US. Especially if it's a US fighter.

On the evidence of last nights Froch-Bute demolition, the venue probably wouldn't have made a whole lot of difference to the result, but in my opinion Froch definitely gained an advantage from fighting in front of a partisan crowd. Not only that, but he said himself he was only 10 minutes from the gym in training, and the comforts of home were certainly of benefit to him.

Is it fair that US fighters always get home advantage?

Would many of the excellent US fighter's records be as good if they were forced to take their game on the road, and face an intimidating atmosphere, loss of the luxuries of home, and being away from their families?

The rest of the World's fighters have to do this.

If Pacquiao was fighting Mayweather tomorrow, my money would be on Mayweather. However, if the fight was happening in Manila, I would have no hesitation in backing Pac.

The elite US fighters only fighting on home soil is a bit like Barcelona only ever playing matches in the Camp Nou. Or Man United only ever playing at Old Trafford.

In most sports there's an equal distribution of venues, you usually got a 'home' and 'away' fixture each year. Now whilst I appreciate boxing is different in that you don't face the same opponents twice a year, every year, I do feel it would be better for the sport as a whole if there wasn't such a concentration of elite fights happening in the backyard of the fighters from the US.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to discredit any American fighters at all, I just think I'd rate them a bit more if they also had to uproot and get out of their comfort zone occasionally.

 

I agree.

I'd love to see Mayweather - Pac in Manila.

I think it would be a completely different story to Vegas or somewhere.

 

Well, you're still talking within borders there, and whilst I appreciate that the US is a big place, you can't compare it to fighters and their fans crossing continents and multiple time zones.

Using the Pac/Floyd example again, do you think Floyd would have a tougher task fighting in Manila?

 

But you're only talking about fighters who are based in the US.

I'm talking about the rest of the planet, and the upheaval needed to fight continents away.

How about my Floyd question there?

If the answer is "yes, it would be tougher for Floyd to fight Pac in Manila" then, by definition, Mayweather will get an advantage by fighting in the US.

ANYWHERE in the US.

 

I'm saying I'd rate Floyd more if at least 1 of his 43 fights were outside of the US.

 

This is not about Floyd anyway, that was just an example.

This is about the lack of away wins for American fighters, because everything's on their doorstep.

 

Pacquiao is only based in the US because that's the only place the big fights will happen due to money.

I bet he'd love a fight at home, as would the 40,000 screaming fans that would affect the visiting Floyd.

Regardless of north/south/east/west US, the fact is, foreign fighters fighting in the US are at a disadvantage due to upheaval, and not having their "true" fans with them.

I'd just like to see a redressing of the balance.