Fighting abroad (in the other guy's backyard)

[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.

[Dia bando]

America is know longer the king pin in boxing fighters travel around the world challenging or defending titles.
Money is king and fighting is a business it seems strange people don't see the facts.
Fighters travel they take their chance win loose or draw or robbed but they get paid.
Lads bad dicisuions happen here it's part and parcel of boxing not good I no but what can you do.!

[Spicoli]

Tons of different variables with fighting abroad and there are times when a guy can cocoon into a local market and familiarity. Guys run up numbers in a comfort zone regardless of locale, in Mexico how many turned pro in mid teens. The glossy home brew numbers of Campas are what got him to the dance and let him co main Whitaker and Holyfield cards within 8 months. Be it a State or Country a solid fan base while holding gold and right promotion means you dictate some terms. If you can import co champs and contenders it's a no brainer. With Gushiken it's hard to find fault when you're basically the inaugural Lt fly champion in a division no one respected, knew and the major boxing rags and networks at the time didn't even list or recognize. Consequently it's the fans loss. From what I see in Japan gyms can be directly tied to high end media contracts and promotion and an equally rabid fanbase. Really nothing better than some obscure fighter coming into a champs ring and upsetting the program.

[TitoFan]

Tons of different variables with fighting abroad and there are times when a guy can cocoon into a local market and familiarity. Guys run up numbers in a comfort zone regardless of locale, in Mexico how many turned pro in mid teens. The glossy home brew numbers of Campas are what got him to the dance and let him co main Whitaker and Holyfield cards within 8 months. Be it a State or Country a solid fan base while holding gold and right promotion means you dictate some terms. If you can import co champs and contenders it's a no brainer. With Gushiken it's hard to find fault when you're basically the inaugural Lt fly champion in a division no one respected, knew and the major boxing rags and networks at the time didn't even list or recognize. Consequently it's the fans loss. From what I see in Japan gyms can be directly tied to high end media contracts and promotion and an equally rabid fanbase. Really nothing better than some obscure fighter coming into a champs ring and upsetting the program.

Some locales are more prominent at this type of thing than others, though. You mentioned Mexico. Be it for whatever reason, Mexican fighters seem to do this disproportionally more than other fighters. There seem to be more 40-0 and 50-0 fighters from Mexico that, upon further review, have amassed their 40 or 50 wins within a 5-block radius of their neighborhood. Only then do they venture out to Vegas, with a fat record and a whole nation behind them.

[Alpha]

Usyk is a boss.

Won the title in Poland
Defended it twice in the States and once in Germany
Then unified in Latvia
Note looks like fighting for the undisputed title in Russia