1980s unification fights

[Ezzard]

Okay, we got

Leonard-Hearns
Spinks-Braxton
Curry-McCrory

but we missed out on a lot more than we got... here's a few worth mentioning... step in with your own and share your thoughts on the outcomes...

HW
Holmes-Witherspoon II
Holmes-Thomas

154
McCallum-Hearns

135
Chavez-Whittaker (I know they fought but this would have been the bestw eight for the fight and the best time in their careers)

126
Sanchez-Pedroza
Nelson-McGuigan
Nelson-Mitchell

118
Pintor-Chandler (often overlooked as a great matchup)

[bennie]

I was really looking forward to the Matthew Saad Muhammad-Eddie Mustafa Muhammad light-heavyweight unification showdown at MSG in early 1981, when the whole show was scuppered by promoter Harold Smith's arrest.

[bollox]

I'm of the opinion that Nelson would have beaten both Mitchell (UD) and McGuigan (late rounds stoppage)

[Ezzard]

I was really looking forward to the Matthew Saad Muhammad-Eddie Mustafa Muhammad light-heavyweight unification showdown at MSG in early 1981, when the whole show was scuppered by promoter Harold Smith's arrest.

Eddie had a lot of talent but seemed to have that 1980s boxing bug of not always been focused. Would have been a great fight.

[observer1]

misunderstood the thread.

but should Tyson-Spinks be up there?

[Ezzard]

misunderstood the thread.

but should Tyson-Spinks be up there?

you could say that it was

[Flump]

Holmes - Coetzee was scheduled for 1984 in Las Vegas but Coetzee pulled out injured I think then lost to Page. Can't see Coetzee doing very well even with a over the hill Holmes, and if they had fought that might have spared us the Page-Tubbs/ Tubbs-Witherspoon blubberfests.

Though to be fair some recent heavyweight title fights have made the above look like Dempsey-Firpo in comparisan.

[Ambling Alp]

I agree that Coetzee wouldn't have had a good chance Holmes even at that stage of Holmes career. Page may have beaten him though.

As for the earlier fights that didn't happen:
Holmes/Witherspoon II -This time Witherspoon wins a close one.
Holmes/Thomas-If this is after the Witherspoon fight (1983) then Thomas. 1980-1982, Holmes wins a clearcut decision, possible late round stoppage.

McCallum/Hearns-Hearns outboxes McCallum and wins a decision.
Chavez/Whittaker-Whittaker wins close decision.
Sanchez/-Pedroza-Sanchez by late round stoppage.
Nelson/McGuigan-Neslon by late TKO.
Nelson/Mitchell-Nelson by decision.
Pintor/Chandler-Very tough to call. Almost anything could happen. Going with Chandler by decision.
Saad Muhammad/Mustapha Muhammad-My heart says Saad, but Mustapha Muhammad would probably win a decision.

It's not hard imagining almost any of these fights going either way. A lot of great fights that were missed.

From a business standpoint, Pintor-Chandler would have made the most sense of happening. Big money fights in the bantamweight division are pretty rare. They each probably could have made several times the $ fighting each other than fighting anyone else.

[p4p1]

i read that sanchez had no intention of ever inifying because he believed the wba had no major significance as it was only affiliated with 14 country's compared to the wbc 63

[funso banjo baby]

surely history shows that Coetzee and Page would have been beateb by holmes if these fights had happened.

why is there still such an ibeabucchi aura behind greg page ?

he had his chance and blew it like all the lazy HW's of the WBA era

[Nile4000]

surely history shows that Coetzee and Page would have been beateb by holmes if these fights had happened.

why is there still such an ibeabucchi aura behind greg page ?

he had his chance and blew it like all the lazy HW's of the WBA era

In all honesty, Greg's heart probably wasn't into fighting, which would explain most of his performances.

[Ambling Alp]

For whatever reason, he was an up and down fighter. Sometimes he would have some fire in him, other times he was pretty listless. He had some good skills. Of course you could say the same for most of the top heavyweights of his era (Tubbs, Dokes, etc.)

I don't think there is an "aura" about Page. Are there people out there that are making ridiculaus claims about how great he was? He would have had a serious chance against an declining Holmes (1983-1985) but of course a lot would have depended on which Page would show up.