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

[IamInuit]

Ricky Hatton came to the US to fight Floyd Mayweather, even though the fight would have filled a stadium in England.

Joe Calzaghe had to go to the US to fight Bernard Hopkins, even though the fight would have attracted far more fans in Wales.

Mikkel Kessler had to go to Oakland to fight Andre Ward, even though Mikkel was the titleholder and the fight would have filled a stadium in Denmark.

When some people in the US complain about protected UK and mainland European boxers, it seems to me like a double standard. What about these pampered American fighters who demand home advantage for every fight against a decent opponent?

I blame PPV and HBO like monopolies. Floyd could fight in the local gym and pull in 10 mil. And lets face it, it's all about the money. I think it all started with Leonard. I mean I watched Arguello/Pryor on Wild World of Sports. Jones never went to the Uk to fight Eubanks, Collins or Benn. They never agreed to come to this continent either.

[beenKOed]

Almost everyone agrees that things are not equal the way they are. There is so much money, national pride, stubbornness, greed and so many egos involved I doubt we'll ever see this puzzle solved. It's a shame, money talks and everyone listens.

[Althugz]

Because they arnt real champions! Real champions and legends go abroad and fight the best in there home countries and lose!
That's what a champ does.

The Lineal supermiddle weight champ Ward, and of course the HoFer Mayweather and Hopkins aren't real champions?

Exactly. Real champions like Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard travelled around the world defending their titles...

Ward most definitely and even Mayweathers legacy will be compromised if he never fights out of the USA. Las Vegas was not always boxing's Mecca and the added kudos and fame aquired by travelling and fighting abroad, secures legacies and makes superstars. To non boxing fans FMJ is not a superstar and never will be. That is something he could rectify but probably never will. In the long run the echoes of his fame will diminish more quickly because of it.

I love you lots and lots like Jelly Tots, Beanz but that is utter nonsense. After the Hatton fight, almost everybody at the gym I worked at knew who he was, boxing fan or not. He won't have as big an impact as Ali globally (obviously) but he is THE boxing superstar of our generation.

[Althugz]

I see. That's why Ali fought Frazier in Manila, and fought Foreman in Africa.

Ward-Kessler was not PPV in the US, neither was Ward-Abraham.

And PPV's don't necessarily make the most money. Wladimir Klitschko makes more money than any American boxer except for Mayweather.

You're talking about fights that happened in the 70s, man.

Lol exactly - and furthermore what difference does it make to your point, Freedom, that two Americans fought each other in Africa or the Phillipines??