Is the UK the most insular big boxing nation?

Just watching Briton Ola Afolabi fighting for K2 in Germany annd it got me thinking about other nationalities fighting here. It seems that Germany attracts Brits (Hide, Ola), Armenians, Ukrainians and lots of others to fight in Germany. America is an open playground for all the best boxers in the world to base themselves there. Why is it that, aside from the very odd exception, we don't seem to get good international fighters basing themselves here?

 

Japan?

 

IMO, it's mainly because promoters want ticket sellers and in Britain it's going to be British fighters that sell tickets.

In America, HBO provide the money. Someone like Paul Smith sells more tickets than Andre Berto or Sergio Martinez. Yeah, really.

Germany? I dunno. It must have a large immigrant population. Look at their football team for example.

edit: Frank did have Denis Lebedev until very recently even though he didn't headline any cards. Warren also said he was interested in signing Povetkin when he turned pro.

 

Iv'e seen some decent Eastern European fighters here down i Cardiff mate , that kid who sorted Lockett out on the Brewer card back in 02 is just one example .

 

Probably because Britain has enough fighters already for a country of its size. Germans are obviously fans of boxing but they have **** all good fighters. There is only so much boxing you can put on that people are going to attend.

 

The germans do good promo to get the fans behind 'foreign' boxers. Our promo's can't do the same. Look at poor Choi, his biggest mistake was coming here. Should have gone to Australia or somewhere and made his fortune.

Years ago Maloney tried it with Sugar Kumar (HW from India who was seriously cack), he was just too shite to do anything and did not even attract many Indians to his shows.

 

Harry Simon fought here quite a lot - he's the only recent example I can think of who went on to a major title. Not sure how he got involved here though.

 

Winky Wright and Barrera had a few fights in Britain, didn't they? As did John Mugabi in the 80s.

 

Winky and MAB both came in as opponents to fight local guys.

 

Lennox Lewis..

 

martinez,choi and shinaay disagree

 

Probably if you look at the likes of Canada, Mexico, United States, Germany, Australia they all have a lot of foreign fighters based there, only Japan comes close to the UK but even they have had Valero and Linares recently.

 

Good foreign fighters cant seem to get the fights here. jackson asiku was another good fighter like choi who wasted alot of time coming to the UK

 

Munyai got two good wins and was then matched with a fighter two divisions above his weight. Says a lot about the Boxing business in this country.

 

Miranda had a scrap here didn't he