Quote Originally Posted by Spicoli View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Fenster View Post
Spicoli - the all-time-great, B-Hop, was knocked down twice and scraped a draw with a man who never got close to the top, before or after (nobody would ever believe Mercado not only beat Hopkins but stopped him). Imagine the stick Golovkin or Canelo would get for Mercado?

The very fact Hopkins dominated the rematch, back home in the USA, which he wouldn't leave again for 20 years, and the "excuses" for Ecuador were all about the "climate," alien conditions and surroundings is a perfect example of exactly why home advantage is so important to fighters.

Imagine if Floyd fought Castillo in Mexico? He'd almost definitely have one loss on his record, probably two. And would never have generated the stardom or money his "0" allowed them to exploit.
But honestly man, why leave for the sake of leaving if a guy is taking care of business and at the very top. As I said who was he to leave for as a multi champion. AJ wanted to introduce himself to a new market, new fans and expand upon future champs and threats he was already riffing with. Now he doesn't care to return once it went busto. Ah well.

I can't imagine GGG taking too much stick off a disputed rough draw had he gone onto a record title run. Not to mention then moving up in weight, reinventing his style and skill and competing beating some of the best there too. Fans put that into perspective over time. No one pretends Mercado was anymore than his shining night and was also the beneficiary of a missed call or two by the ref . Young Hopkins had a tough obscure fight in a Country that has only 2 title fights in it's history and dominated the championship rounds. Annnd brutalized Mercado if immediate rematch. Then he became legend.

On a side note Saudi Arabia is horrible. All about the bills and bank with that location and there will be many fans who miss it. Much rather across the pond or in the States but this is like pawning out a pristine attraction to someone who has no idea they have before them.
You seem to think i'm saying something i'm not, so just to be clear...

I replied to the notion that - home advantage isn't relevant and true champions fight anywhere. I used Hopkins, among other examples, to highlight greats who wouldn't leave home without good reason (the Mercado fight says it all). I agree that without reason there's no point for champs to give up home advantage, being the home fighter is obviously preferable, a privilege champions have exploited since the dawn of time.

1. I am not disparaging Hopkins in any way whatsoever.

2. I am not saying Golovkin or any travelling champion is better than Hopkins.

3. I am not saying stay at home fighters can't be legends.