I mean it happens quite often that farangs start in the countryside or on the islands before ending up in the big stadiums. How many farangs do you have fighting in Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, etc.? Or even on smaller orgs like Max Muay Thai ? Even the names like Skarbowsky who were European champions when they moved to compete in Thailand started outside Bangkok to build up a name before fighting in Lumpinee and Raja.
You also have to think that usually those farangs who end up fighting the big Thai names have already established their names in the West, they're usually already some kind of champ in their country and at the top of their division there.
I think it's also a bit harsh to say that Haggerty was "handed" a belt against "old undersized" Sam-A. Not many would have beat Sam-A even at the time the fight happened. Sam-A was knocking out all the farangs he fought around that time and many thought Haggerty would have no chance. I'm pretty sure Haggerty is the only farang Sam-A lost to ever actually. Then the same thing happened with Nong-O who was on a tear and on a 5 KO win streak against the likes of Saemapetch, Rodlek, Liam Harrison, etc. Pretty much everybody wrote off Haggerty and said he was gonna get destroyed but then when he finishes Nong-O then suddenly Nong-O is "old and undersized". Are people ever going to respect Haggerty's accomplishments?