Jermain Taylor v. Allan Green

[Fenster]

We can agree to disagree.

Basically, it comes down to name recognition and notoriety versus having a belt (which I may add, was not taken from a champion, but won after it was vacated). You feel the belt should compel fighters to travel to you; I feel name recognition and notoriety are more important (At least given that the belt was just recently won and it was a belt vacated, not taken from a champion).

Take the current Calzaghe situation. Presently, he has people lined up to travel to Wales (Chad Dawson, Glen Johnson, and Bernard Hopkins have offered to travel there), let alone the UK, to fight him after he thoroughly dominated Roy Jones and beat Bernard Hopkins in the US. Because he has name recognition. Speaking of Calzaghe, why hasn't he fought Froch? Because even with a belt who the Froch is Froch?

However, my point wasn't Froch's need to travel outside the UK. Winning in fights outside your home country may be overrated. Froch can fight in the UK, without any criticism, as long as he has the draw and the leverage to compel big-names and worthy challengers to travel to the UK to fight him. More power to him if he can be a champion and compel everyone to come to him.

Would I expect him to travel to the US for an Allan Green or an Andre Ward fight? No way. Like you said he has the belt. But, in terms of notoriety, Jermain Taylor ain't no Allan Green or Andre Ward.

I don't think Froch's status as a NON american is the reason he has to travel. It is a lack of name recognition.

You never said that earlier -

Froch should travel to the US to fight the Allan Green's/Andre Ward's of the 68' division for less money and build his franchise.

I never said Froch shouldn't travel because he's champion. But give me some examples of the champion travelling to the challengers backyard?

Taylor is the bigger name. That's why he will get a significantly bigger purse. The problem is he REFUSES to travel whatever the circumstances. It takes two to tango.

Looks like it's happening now anyway

But I was coming from different angles. The second angle was, should Froch be compelled to have to travel to the US to fight the Green's of the division? No way. With a belt he has the leverage.

The first angle was if I was Froch and wanted the name recognition, what I would do for my career.

My point was that, if I were Froch and I wanted to increase name recognition, I'd suck it up and go to the states and fight whomever so people would recognize me as the man at 68'. After winning a couple of tough fights, I'd fly back to Nottingham and let people come to me because I'd have the leverage.

Why the Froch defense anyway?

I'm not really defending Froch. I think it's hypocritical that he's EXPECTED to face Taylor in the States, at any cost, even though he's the champion, yet Taylor can REFUSE to even consider leaving his backyard.

What are the other champs at 168 doing - Kessler, Bute and Balzsay? Taylor isn't being matched with these guys.

Froch seems to be TRYING to make a BIG fight at the very least. And bear in mind MOST people think Taylor will thrash him.