Do you think it’s a requirement, especially for non-US fighters, to be fighting in US soil constantly in order to reach ATG status? Just recently Naoya Inoue has responded to comments who criticize him for mostly fighting in Japan even though he has fought outside Japan a few times in the past. Understandably he gets paid more in Japan and the lower weight class gets more attention over there. Naoya Inoue Responds To Comments That Say He Needs To Fight In The US - Latest Boxing News
No. What matters is fighting and beating the best, which Inoue is doing, and with a more active schedule than anybody else right now. The people demanding that Inoue does something else are just being pathetic and petty. Mayweather criticized Inoue for not fighting in America, as if he is not willing to take enough risk. But Mayweather was always fighting in Las Vegas and with his own personal referee, but that was just him making ''smart investments''.
Who gives a fuck what porter says? If he was 122 lbs would sharkmouth rather fight inoue in Las Vegas for 500k or Japan for 4mill
I would say no. I think it used to be a big thing, but with boxing's decline in the States and with Saudi investing so much in boxing, it really won't matter tbh.
Not at all. Location means nothing. I could just as easily say any fighter who never fought in Zimbabwe isn't great. The US does have the most impressive fighters though, and that helps becoming great, but if you beat fighters just as impressive anywhere else in the world, what does it matter?
I am a sucker for atmosphere though, there's something special about a Vegas fight, and a big fight in the UK is always raucous. I am obviously pleased as a boxing fan that big fights are getting made, but it's obvious sportswashing from the Saudi side which sits really uneasy with me, and the crowds are mute, I find it shitty as a fan. It's the same with Japan, the crowd is so polite and it just doesn't work as a spectacle.
There's that notion because Vegas is the fight capital of the world. But generally, no. There's been plenty of international greats who never fought in the US.
No…you can fight exclusively in Japan, UK, Germany, etc as long as you’re fighting the best you will be consider a great. MichalShitski will never be great....
Exactly, yes often it's a prerequisite (since the money and best fighters are usually there) but this narrative is pushed by the stereotypical narrowminded American who doesn't know shit about the outside world
Competing at home is an advantage. It has been showed by numerous studies. So yes, it's a bit of a strike against him that he's mostly fighting in Japan
True, winning a big fight in front of an hostile crowd, away from home (and I'm not talking about hometown) is definitely a big plus legacy wise. Of course, it doesn't mean it have to be in the US. it's pretty shocking though to hear it from Floyd who, has Ioakeim mentioned, basically always fought in his (adopted) hometown with his personal ref to booth . I'd also argue his pathetic duck job of Pacquiao is much more damaging legacy wise than Inoue not fighting in the US... Furthermore, didn't Inoue already fought in the US??? I remember it was during Covid, so basically no crowd, but I'd bet he fought Maloney in the bubble. While it s not much it s already more than Floyd can claim
You used to need to fight greats to be great. The Americans used to be great and so you had to fight them. That usually meant fighting in America. That's simply not the case anymore.
I hate Mayweather as much as anybody, but Vegas is probably the most neutral venue in the world. Did PBF had the crowd adavantage against Cotto, Pacquiao, DLH and Hatton? I'm far from sure
But to be clear, the notion that Inoue has to fight in the US per say, in order to be great, is pretty much absurd.
As other have said it doesn't really matter if you're facing the best, but being the U.S. is still the boxing mecca it's certainly an enhancement if you have a big fight or two there. Generally speaking i think you have to go to the champ rather than vice versa, but if a boxer is not willing to fight anywhere but home it's hard to put a least a little pick of a knock on them particularly if they've benefitted from some good decisions or favorable refereeing.
agREED... A Fighter Doesn't Have to Fight in the States Consistently, But to Completely NEGLECT Fighting in the U.S. Altogether Is a Bit of a DISSERVICE...If for No Other Reason, the "International" Boxing Hall of Fame is Located in the States...It BEHOOVES Non-American Fighters to Make a CAMEO Appearance @ the Very Least, @ SOME Point in Their Careers.... REED
Americans with boxing are no different than the Brits with football. Brits: If they can't make it in the Prem they're not world class. Americans: If the fighter can't make it in Vegas or NYC he ain't world class.
Not for a diaper weight like Inoue. It would be completely anti-climatic since there would be maybe 5 persons in attendance
And its not like theres a ton of american fighters at those smaller weight classes. The majority are asian and mexican. So as long as hes fighting the best floyd is being petty. Just jealous of anyone who gets attention other than him.
