Why do Hopkins, Ward, and Mayweather refuse to fight overseas?

[beenKOed]

I didn't read a single word anyone posted on this thread. My first reaction is to say, they don't have to because there is plenty of money to be made in the USA. They are also thinking about the home field advantage, the importance of which can't be denied and the potential impartiality of foreign judges. The number one reason, I'm my opinion, is that they don't have to. I don't like the idea of staying at home, yes the fans in the USA have a better chance to see a fight in person, but it adds to the argument they are being protected. After a fighter reachs the top, every third fight should be on foreign soil. In the end, it's all about money, protecting what you already have and making more.

[Freedom]

I didn't read a single word anyone posted on this thread. My first reaction is to say, they don't have to because there is plenty of money to be made in the USA. They are also thinking about the home field advantage, the importance of which can't be denied and the potential impartiality of foreign judges. The number one reason, I'm my opinion, is that they don't have to. I don't like the idea of staying at home, yes the fans in the USA have a better chance to see a fight in person, but it adds to the argument they are being protected. After a fighter reachs the top, every third fight should be on foreign soil. In the end, it's all about money, protecting what you already have and making more.

What I object to is the American fans complaining over the years about Hatton, Dariusz, Calzaghe, Cleverly, Ottke, Sturm and others fighting in their home countries, when Ward, Mayweather and Hopkins and other Americans refuse to fight overseas.

[ruthless rocco]

why travel to fight if you don't have to? you end up in less than perfect conditions, jetlagged, eating food you're not familiar with, being led around places you don't know, possibly getting screwed by people you don't know. why not stay at home where you can control most of these intangibles?!

save traveling for vacations... so if you end up with diarrhea it doesn't cost you your title.

and yes your foreign opponents have to deal with the same risks coming to america...but thats the benefit to being top dog. you call the shots.

[Spicoli]

I think it's as simple as being the top dog. Guys seek exposure and when your on top you set some terms. I don't lump Ward in that Hopkins or Mayweather class yet, chalk it up to top promotion, who knows. Hopkins traveled on three days to get his first trinket and found himself in the toughest fight of his career to that point.

Look at a Roy Jones jr who at top dictated terms and could-should have traveled out to meet bigger legit threats but would have none of it, didn't 'need' but honestly cannot say 'he fought the best'. Now that he's blown to bits and grasping at shadows he cannot board a plane for BF Siberia fast enough.

[shza]

Quick pop-quiz for the genius who started this thread:

In what country did Bernard Hopkins fight his two most-recent fights?

(Hint: not the U.S.)

[ruthless rocco]

Quick pop-quiz for the genius who started this thread:

In what country did Bernard Hopkins fight his two most-recent fights?

(Hint: not the U.S.)

actually... his last two fights were in the usa... but the previous two were in quebec.

[Freedom]

Quick pop-quiz for the genius who started this thread:

In what country did Bernard Hopkins fight his two most-recent fights?

(Hint: not the U.S.)

In the USA.

Quick pop-quiz for the genius "shza" - what does "overseas" mean?

[Master]

There are different reasons why fighters fight abroad, Ricky Hatton had conquered the UK and became the legitimate world champion here. However in order to break into the US market he has to fight over there. To maximise his money.

Joe wanted to fight in MSG which is a dream come true for most fighters or Las Vegas.

Ward can dictate where he fights, so he will choose where he is comfortable, the same with Floyd because it allows him to use injections in his hands.

The Klitscko are earning sufficient money and have more than enough popularity to not worry about breaking the US market.

Steve Cunningham basically had to fight in Europe to earn a living as he was not appreciated in the US.

[Memphis]

Quick pop-quiz for the genius who started this thread:

In what country did Bernard Hopkins fight his two most-recent fights?

(Hint: not the U.S.)

In the USA.

Quick pop-quiz for the genius "shza" - what does "overseas" mean?

Beanz wheres your post of the week thread? This is it.

[shza]

Quick pop-quiz for the genius who started this thread:

In what country did Bernard Hopkins fight his two most-recent fights?

(Hint: not the U.S.)

In the USA.

Quick pop-quiz for the genius "shza" - what does "overseas" mean?

Sorry, it was the two fights before those that were in Canada. If you were actually using "overseas" literally, rather than just to mean "in a foreign country that is the home country of your opponent," you'll have to explain why that distinction makes any difference whatsoever to the point you're trying to make.

[Bobthepen]

I didn't read a single word anyone posted on this thread. My first reaction is to say, they don't have to because there is plenty of money to be made in the USA. They are also thinking about the home field advantage, the importance of which can't be denied and the potential impartiality of foreign judges. The number one reason, I'm my opinion, is that they don't have to. I don't like the idea of staying at home, yes the fans in the USA have a better chance to see a fight in person, but it adds to the argument they are being protected. After a fighter reachs the top, every third fight should be on foreign soil. In the end, it's all about money, protecting what you already have and making more.

What I object to is the American fans complaining over the years about Hatton, Dariusz, Calzaghe, Cleverly, Ottke, Sturm and others fighting in their home countries, when Ward, Mayweather and Hopkins and other Americans refuse to fight overseas.

It's about who you fight, not where. Hopkins and Mayweather have glittering resumes without traveling, Sturm, Calzaghe, Dariusz and Ottke's resumes suffer from not fighting stateside.
The brothers K don't get accused of being stay at home fighters because wherever they have fought, they have cleaned out a division. The whole stay at home thing is used when there are fighters that have been avoided.