The Great Fights That Never Happened

[man]

foreman vs tyson
tyson, UD

w vs v klitschko
v, TKO5

[SaadOffTheDeck]

James Toney vs Bernard Hopkins (circa 2003)

It was briefly being talked about these two fighting at a catchweight around this time following Toney's win over Jirov, but prior to the Holyfield bout.

I think it was signed. If not, very close. Hopkins would have won.

[gilgamesh]

James Toney vs Bernard Hopkins (circa 2003)

It was briefly being talked about these two fighting at a catchweight around this time following Toney's win over Jirov, but prior to the Holyfield bout.

I think it was signed. If not, very close. Hopkins would have won.

Hopkins hadn't yet come up from Middleweight so I always wondered what catchweight they would've met at? Presumably 185 or 180 I would imagine. I'd probably have favored Hopkins too, and if indeed Hopkins would've won it, Toney made the right move passing on it as he went on to have quite a few lucrative years as a Heavyweight.

[Bodyshot3]

There's definitely a few that spring to mind immediately.

On the British side:

Ricky Hatton vs Junior Witter
Hatton could be troubled by clever boxers, I think Witter could frustrate him. But even so, I'd be facing Hatton to stop him.

Joe Calzaghe vs Carl Froch
Depends on the tear it is made. The older Froch got, the more chance I give him to win. But Calzaghe has to be the favourite.

Some nice calls on the Brit fights Crease

I wished Fury v Haye had happened at the particular point but we might get it at some future juncture....although injury/egos/politics will no doubt bedevil the whole thing again.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

James Toney vs Bernard Hopkins (circa 2003)

It was briefly being talked about these two fighting at a catchweight around this time following Toney's win over Jirov, but prior to the Holyfield bout.

I think it was signed. If not, very close. Hopkins would have won.

Hopkins hadn't yet come up from Middleweight so I always wondered what catchweight they would've met at? Presumably 185 or 180 I would imagine. I'd probably have favored Hopkins too, and if indeed Hopkins would've won it, Toney made the right move passing on it as he went on to have quite a few lucrative years as a Heavyweight.

It was going to be at cruiserweight.

[Crease]

Barry McGuigan vs Azumah Nelson would have been quality

Especially if Barry could replicate his Pedroza performance.

[Tuan_Jim]

If only Lewis hadn't got himself destroyed by Oliver McCall. Then we could have watched a hate-filled Bowe dismantle that arrogant oaf.

[Counter-puncher]

Barry McGuigan vs Azumah Nelson would have been quality

Especially if Barry could replicate his Pedroza performance.

Dream on. Live Zumah a different proposition to Pedrosa in his retirement fight.

[keithmoonhangover]

Barry McGuigan vs Azumah Nelson would have been quality

Especially if Barry could replicate his Pedroza performance.

Dream on. Live Zumah a different proposition to Pedrosa in his retirement fight.

At the time I was sure Azumah would destroy him, but I had second thoughts after the Fenech fight. I give Barry a 30% chance of winning

[Dart340]

Matthew Saad Muhammad against Eddie Mustafa Muhammad was a great unification fight that should've occurred and didn't.

I'd have paid good money to see a Saad Muhammad against James Scott title fight too. I'd have bet all day on Scott.

I think Mike Weaver defending against Gerry Cooney was a great matchup with a bunch of foreseeable outcomes that we should've gotten to see.

[elmersalsa]

Roy Jones, Jr. vs Gerald McClellan

[elmersalsa]

Ricardo "Finito" Lopez vs Michael Carbajal

[bollox]

Fenech - Esparragoza would have been a cracker

[Tuan_Jim]

Matthew Saad Muhammad against Eddie Mustafa Muhammad was a great unification fight that should've occurred and didn't.

I'd have paid good money to see a Saad Muhammad against James Scott title fight too. I'd have bet all day on Scott.

I think Mike Weaver defending against Gerry Cooney was a great matchup with a bunch of foreseeable outcomes that we should've gotten to see.

Qawi vs Mustafa Muhammad is one I would have liked to have seen.

[Counter-puncher]

Especially if Barry could replicate his Pedroza performance.

Dream on. Live Zumah a different proposition to Pedrosa in his retirement fight.

At the time I was sure Azumah would destroy him, but I had second thoughts after the Fenech fight. I give Barry a 30% chance of winning

30% isn't a mile off I don't think

[Syntax Error]

Mike McCallum v Thomas Hearns at 154: Hard to call, because it depends on which Hearns shows up, but I'm more inclined to believe that Tommy would have tried for the blowout & on that basis, I think McCallum would take him on a TKO mid rounds.

Frank Bruno v Gary Mason: Would have been a tough & entertaining fight, but I think Bruno's stamina would have let him down & Mason would have stopped him mid to late.

Evander Holyfield v David Tua: Holyfield fought everyone that mattered in the 90s except Tua. Tua was one dimensional, but hugely powerful & Holyfield was not averse to a scrap & he would have endured some uncomfortable moments en route to 12 round decision.

[elmersalsa]

Roberto Duran vs Antonio Cervantes
Roberto Duran vs Aaron Pryor

It looks like in the 70s, nobody below welterweight wanted a match with The Hands of Stone

Carlos Palomino vs Pipino Cuevas
Danny Lopez vs Wilfredo Gomez
Jung Koo Chang vs Myung Woo Yuh
Ike Williams vs Willie Pep

[Ambling Alp II]

Matthew Saad Muhammad against Eddie Mustafa Muhammad was a great unification fight that should've occurred and didn't.

I'd have paid good money to see a Saad Muhammad against James Scott title fight too. I'd have bet all day on Scott.

I think Mike Weaver defending against Gerry Cooney was a great matchup with a bunch of foreseeable outcomes that we should've gotten to see.

Qawi vs Mustafa Muhammad is one I would have liked to have seen.

Qawi-Mustafa Muhammad is a great pick. That may be the winner.

[elmersalsa]

Ezzard Charles vs Sugar Ray Robinson?

Does this one qualifies?

[elmersalsa]

Or how about these fights?:
Bob Foster vs Carlos Monzon
Michael Spinks vs Marvin Hagler
Freddie Miller vs Henry Armstrong
Jack Dempsey vs Harry Wills
Rocky Marciano vs Floyd Patterson

[lazboy]

James Toney, Eubank and Benn.

[bollox]

Or how about these fights?:
Bob Foster vs Carlos Monzon
Michael Spinks vs Marvin Hagler
Freddie Miller vs Henry Armstrong
Jack Dempsey vs Harry Wills
Rocky Marciano vs Floyd Patterson

I don't see any point in Foster - Monzon (Foster had numerous fights at HW) or Spinks - Hagler (ditto). The bigger man would have easily beat the smaller man IMO, which proves nothing whatsoever

[elmersalsa]

Or how about these fights?:
Bob Foster vs Carlos Monzon
Michael Spinks vs Marvin Hagler
Freddie Miller vs Henry Armstrong
Jack Dempsey vs Harry Wills
Rocky Marciano vs Floyd Patterson

I don't see any point in Foster - Monzon (Foster had numerous fights at HW) or Spinks - Hagler (ditto). The bigger man would have easily beat the smaller man IMO, which proves nothing whatsoever

In these cases, you'll never know until they fight.

[sweetsci]

Floyd vs Kostya Tszyu

Floyd W12

Totally disagree. Patterson by KO1

I don't know...

By the time Tszyu was a force Floyd was in his 60s. I know Patterson kept himself in great shape, but I have a feeling age might have been a factor in deciding the outcome.

Was it Don King who was trying to make this fight? I was thinking it was Rick Parker, but his promoting days were over by the time Tszyu entered the picture.

[sweetsci]

I like looking for fights that were signed and scheduled, but then cancelled. It's like fantasy match-ups that are a few steps closer to reality.

Foreman - Bonavena was scheduled for March '75. This fight became Norton - Young, two and a half years earlier than it actually happened. Finally we got Norton - Quarry.

Tyson - Ruddock, November '89
Cooney - Bugner, December '81. Bugner was actually a sub for Eddie 'Animal' Lopez who'd pulled out.
Ellis - Cooper, September '69
Braddock - Schmeling, 1937
Saad Muhammad - Mustapha Muhammad, February '81

While I don't think it was even close to the point of being signed, Liston's management was trying to line up a Ken Norton fight in the fall of 1970.

I think Tex Cobb was a sub for Gerry Cooney vs. Earnie Shavers, August 1980.

Holyfield was supposed to fight some guy in 1991, but Bert Cooper was called in to sub.

'Course sometimes the cancelled fights are replaced by better match-ups. Glad we got Lewis - Klitschko instead of Lewis - Kirk Johnson.