The greatest fights to never happen

[Controversial]

I'm after examples of potentially great fights involving great or ATG fighters that were signed, close to signing (or even venues agreed and ticket sold) but fell through at the last moment for some reasons or other and never actually materialised.

[evrenb]

I'm after examples of potentially great fights involving great or ATG fighters that were signed, close to signing (or even venues agreed and ticket sold) but fell through at the last moment for some reasons or other and never actually materialised.

Tyson vs Holyfield 1991

[SaadOffTheDeck]

There was a whole card that dude Howard Smith tried to put together at MSG. I don't remember the exact fights but I think it was a Saad/Mustafa rematch, Gomez/Lopez, Cooney/Weaver & maybe Duran/Arguello. Then again, it might not be any of them. Whatever the fights were, I don't think any of them actually happened.

[evrenb]

I'm after examples of potentially great fights involving great or ATG fighters that were signed, close to signing (or even venues agreed and ticket sold) but fell through at the last moment for some reasons or other and never actually materialised.

Mayweather vs Pacquiao

[laye88]

aaron pryor vs alexis arguello

[gilgamesh]

I'm after examples of potentially great fights involving great or ATG fighters that were signed, close to signing (or even venues agreed and ticket sold) but fell through at the last moment for some reasons or other and never actually materialised.

Mayweather vs Pacquiao

^That's the biggest fight never to have happened in Boxing history in my opinion...or at least right up there, and surely would've made the most bank.

This one was cancelled the day before it and it broke my heart as I was really, really looking forward to it as I'm sure a lot of you were. Castillo-Corrales III.

[gilgamesh]

Cassius Clay vs. Wilt Chamberlin

Would have been the 'biggest event' ever.

But everyone knows,,,,,,, that Nate Thurmond would have beat both of them on the same night.

I don't think that would've been looked at as anything more than a novelty exhibition. I doubt very much it would've been the biggest event ever in Boxing.

Biggest exhibition ever, maybe.

[Controversial]

I'm after examples of potentially great fights involving great or ATG fighters that were signed, close to signing (or even venues agreed and ticket sold) but fell through at the last moment for some reasons or other and never actually materialised.

Tyson vs Holyfield 1991

They did end up fighting though

[Controversial]

Cassius Clay vs. George Chuvalo {late-1963}.

Bill Faversham agreed to this bout, but later realized that at the time the Canadian was
too rough for the 'boxer-stylist' youngster Mr. Clay, and then re-canted.

Negotiations for Sonny Liston - Cassius Clay 'Big Money' bout were already ongoing, and the risk
of losing to George Chuvalo was 'too high' on the chart.

They did eventually fight though, I'm after examples where the fight never happened

[Tomasino]

Hagler vs McCallum

[evrenb]

Okay....
Ali vs teofilio stevenson

Sonny.liston vs joe frazier in 1968

George foreman vs earnie shavers

Rocky marciano vs floyd patterson...

[pbchron]

Mike Rossman waiting in the ring for Victor Galindez to appear and Victor would not come in the ring. Rossman was never the same after that episode.

George Godfrey vs. Harry Wills. Wills refused huge offers to meet Godfrey from Philly promoters Herman Taylor and Bob Gunnis; he refused an offer from Tex Rickard in New York, and Los Angeles and San Francisco promoters tendered Wills large guarantees for the bout. Obviously Godfrey would have the handcuffs off and Wills' management wasn't interested.

[dr_devious]

Bowe v Lewis
Bowe v Tyson
McCallum v Leonard / Hearns / Duran
Pac v Mayweather
Pryor v Leonard / Duran
Jones v McClellan
Holmes v Foreman (1979)

[thunderfromdownunder]

Mosley v Trinidad, would have been a great fight

[Controversial]

Bowe v Lewis
Bowe v Tyson
McCallum v Leonard / Hearns / Duran
Pac v Mayweather
Pryor v Leonard / Duran
Jones v McClellan
Holmes v Foreman (1979)

Okay....
Ali vs teofilio stevenson

Sonny.liston vs joe frazier in 1968

George foreman vs earnie shavers

Rocky marciano vs floyd patterson...

Are these examples of fights that were actually due to happen, close to being signed and fell through or just fights you would have wanted to see? I'm after examples where the fight was close to being signed (or signed) but fell though and never took place.

[yancey]

Cassius Clay vs. Wilt Chamberlin

Would have been the 'biggest event' ever.

But everyone knows,,,,,,, that Nate Thurmond would have beat both of them on the same night.

Walt Bellamy might have wanted some of that action.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

None of them wanted a piece of Mario Lucas.

[yancey]

None of them wanted a piece of Mario Lucas.

Maurice Lucas?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

None of them wanted a piece of Mario Lucas.

Maurice Lucas?

Yes

[Crease]

Collins vs Calzaghe 97ish.

[klompton]

I think Ali neglected to pay someone's mother child support...

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Bowe v Lewis
Bowe v Tyson
McCallum v Leonard / Hearns / Duran
Pac v Mayweather
Pryor v Leonard / Duran
Jones v McClellan
Holmes v Foreman (1979)

Okay....
Ali vs teofilio stevenson

Sonny.liston vs joe frazier in 1968

George foreman vs earnie shavers

Rocky marciano vs floyd patterson...

Are these examples of fights that were actually due to happen, close to being signed and fell through or just fights you would have wanted to see? I'm after examples where the fight was close to being signed (or signed) but fell though and never took place.

Bowe/Lewis & Pac/Floyd are the only two that fit your criteria.

[scallum]

Imo opinion Greb vs Dempsey is #1.Greb would probably have his proper placing as greatest fighter ever if the Dempsey fight wouldve taken place

[Nile4000]

Greg Page vs Teofilo Stevenson(amateur)1978
Eusebio Pedroza vs Azumah Nelson 1984
Johnny Verderosa vs Ray Mancini 1981-1982
Alexis Arguello vs Salvador Sanchez 1982-1983
Micheal Spinks vs Matthew Saad Muhammad 1981
Milton McCory vs Marlon Starling 1983

[raylawpc]

Three from the distant past:

Jim Jeffries v. Jack Johnson . . . in 1905, not 1910. Jeffries at the height of his prowess.

Tommy Ryan v. Joe Walcott.

Benny Leonard challenging for Mickey Walker's welterweight crown. This fight was signed and scheduled, but Leonard broke his thumb in a tune-up fight, and retired.