Fighting abroad (in the other guy's backyard)

[TitoFan]

I have the utmost respect for fighters who early in their careers venture to other countries to face good opposition, even challenging champions in their own backyard.
Let's say I have far greater respect for those fighters than those who never leave their own neighborhoods until they've had 30-40 pro fights.

Traveling abroad you face numerous challenges such as: hostile crowds, unfamiliar daily routine, biased judges, and others.
Usually when you're traveling early it means you're facing better opposition (though not always) than if you stay at home fighting taxi cab drivers.

I must say some of our local champs from the past, such as Wilfredo Vazquez, did an admirable job of traveling often and early.
His first 30 pro fights were split evenly between Puerto Rico and the States, fighting in Vegas, Atlantic City, and Miami.
He was then ready to fight for a world championship, and he went to Seoul, Korea to beat Chan Young Park and grab the WBA World Bantamweight title.
After that he rarely fought in Puerto Rico, traveling to Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Spain, France, and the UK.
They probably didn't have frequent flyer miles back then, but he sure made good use of his passport.

Wilfredo Gomez debuted in Panama and didn't fight in Puerto Rico until his 8th pro fight. How common is that nowadays?
Only 11 out Edwin Rosario's 53 professional fights were in Puerto Rico.

By contrast, a guy like Yori Boy Campas (who I was a great fan of, by the way) didn't venture out of Mexico until after 37 pro fights. By the time he faced Trinidad he was 56-0, with only a handful of fights in the States.
Canelo started with 22 pro fights in Mexico, ventured out into the States for 2 fights, then retreated to obscure Mexican towns for 8 more fights before he became a star and started having more fights in the States.
Even then, he never leaves the friendly confines of Vegas and Texas (little Mexico).
Even the great Julio Cesar Chavez started 33-0 totally split between Culiacan and Tijuana, Mexico, before crossing the border into Sacramento, California.
Another great Mexican champion, Carlos Zarate, was 30-0 completely in Mexico before fighting in nearby California.

Some great Japanese fighters haven't fared much better when it comes to that.

Hall of Famer Yoko Gushiken fought his entire career in Japan. I don't know, but there's something wrong with that.
Another HOF'er, Fighting Harada, had 62 pro fights, and a grand total of 3 fights outside of Japan.
There's more examples, but it's clear that the traveling Japanese champion is the exception, rather than the rule.


Translating that to today, it's why I'm keen on who's willing to travel abroad and who just wants to stay home all the time.
It's another measuring stick to me.

[Master]

Brian Mitchell was a super Featherweight champion who had to travel to defend his world title because he was from South Africa.

Joe Calzaghe mainly stayed at home until late in his career.

Carl Froch did not worry about home advantage whereas Ward did.

James Degale has not been a hometown fighter.

[TitoFan]

Sure, many fighters, especially if they've reached a certain level of greatness, want to go where the money and the exposure is. Traditionally, that had always been Vegas or New York. Now some other countries are providing that money and exposure. But it's still impressive to me when you have those fighters who don't have to amass a 40-0 record without ever leaving the house.

[Drago]

Lennox lewis fought in the enemies backyard many many times.

[Drago]

Lennox lewis fought in the enemies backyard many many times.

In fact he fought in USA litterally 50% of his fights (22 USA, then UK 17, other 5.

[TitoFan]

Lennox lewis fought in the enemies backyard many many times.

In fact he fought in USA litterally 50% of his fights (22 USA, then UK 17, other 5.

His 2nd pro fight was in Atlantic City, then after 15 or so fights fought mostly in the States. Clearly he wasn't fattened on exclusively local meat. (The local meat wasn't tainted, either).

[Memphis]

Back in the day it seemed like every other week a British middleweight was getting the piss beaten out of them by Sergio Martinez or Winky Wright. Slightly different scenarios I think, Martinez was just looking for work, Wright was defending a title, probably for the best money he could get against a few blokes who fancied themselves as World beaters. They weren't.

[Fenster]

Really it just depends how strong economically the boxing is where you come from. For instance - Roy, Floyd, Oscar, Mosley, Ward and the majority of great modern Americans spend entire careers with home advantage, never experience hostile territory, unfamiliar daily routine, home influenced judges, language barriers, problems with accommodation, unfamiliar rules of the commission, media and promotional commitments, food, etc.

Quite simply they never leave home because they don't have to, which is the same for the great fighters from Japan, UK and Germany, they earn fortunes so need a serious incentive to travel.

Just recently Ryota Murata, the WBA middleweight champion, got 17 million TV viewers for his latest defence. Juergen Braehmer, former lightheavy champ, along with several other German champs, regularly clock around 10 million eyeballs. And obviously they are fighting in packed venues, boxing is big business in these places.

Golovkin fought in 8 or 9 countries on his way up the ladder, moved his entire family to three different countries with completely different cultures and languages, it's something I think many fans overlook, just how big an achievement it is for fighters that literally have to travel the world to make it.