Originally Posted by
marbleheadmaui
Despite all the squabbles in the 168 tourney about where fights should be held and willingness of chowderhead fans to acquiesce when their favorite fighters refuse to fight under adverse circumstances, boxing is replete with men who sought out the toughest fights, did what they had to do to arrange them, and in the immortal words of Sam Langford "Brought their judges with them."
Here are some of them.
Joe Gans-The Old Master fought the following fighters in their hometowns. HOFer Frank Erne, Rufe Turner, Sam Langford...in Boston...the day after fighting HOFer Dave Holly in Philly (think about that for a second) and Jimmy Britt. Partial list of course
Archie Moore-In their hometowns, Ezzard Charles, HOFer Harold Johnson (twice), Yvonne Durelle (twice).
Dick Tiger-One of boxing's very best men. He came out of Nigeria so he was always on the road. In other's hometowns, Pat MaCateer, Wilf Greaves (twice), Hank Casey, Joey Archer, HOFer Joey Giardello, Hurricane Carter.
Danny Lopez-Little Red fought most of his fights in Southern California, it is one trip he took that we shouldn't forget. Ghana David Kotey had taken the lineal featherweight title from ATG Ruben Olivares 30 months before and he offered Lopez a shot...in Accra! Lopez at the time was trained by a 72 year old who was unable to make the trip. So Lopez went ALONE! Not just without a trainer, but ALONE. In front of 100,000 Ghanian's and even with some funny business with round times Lopez took the crown.
Alexis Arguello-El Flaco Explosivo was exemplary. Ernesto Marcel in Panama, Leonel Hernandez in Venzuela, Royal Kobayashi in Tokyo, Alfredo Escalera in PR (twice), Bobby Chacon in Inglewood, Jim Watt in London and James Buscemi in Beaumont.
Eusabio Pedroza-El Alacran's schedule has to be seen to be believed. Here are his title defenses...Panama (home), PR, Tokyo, Panama, Houston, Papua New Guinea, Tokyo, Panama, South Korea, Atlantic City, Panama, Venezuela, Atlantic City, Panama, Charlotte, Rome, Rome, Venezuela, Panama, London.
Azumah Nelson-The Professor was a go anywhere, fight anyone kind of guy. Bazooka Gomez in PR, Pat Cowdell in the UK, Danilo Cabrera in PR, Jim McDonnel in UK, Jeff Fenech in Australia, JJ Leija in San Antonio (twice).
Carlos Ortiz-The PR legend fought HOFers Laguna, Locche, Loi and Elorde all in their hometowns as well as ranked guys Teo Cruz, Dave Charnley and Arthur Persley in theirs. That's ten fights, seven nations across four continents.
Brian Mitchell-The South African 130 lineal champion had to fight on the road due to the boycotts against the apartheid South African government. Mitchell defended almost always on the other guys turf. Here's a list of locations. PR, France, Italy, Panama, Spain, London,, US and all of those more than once.
One of the great other sides of the coin was light heavy James Scott, a convict in New Jersey's Rahway State Prison who beat a series of ranked 175's in the early 1980's. All the fights were held in the prison. A very strange home court.
So pardon me if I have little patience for fighters or fans who use fight location as an excuse not to fight. Negotiate all you want, but fight the damned fights!
