By Mark Hepplestall: Over the past few years there have been huge amounts of public pressure on fighters to make super fights with their greatest rivals, unfortunately many of these fights never happen due to money, egos, styles etc. Many boxers allow the high amount of risk to dictate their fights, settling for fights that on paper seem good but realistically are handpicked to enhance their status in a division; unfortunately this is becoming more and more the norm in boxing. Below are some of the greatest fights that have never happened.
1 – Manny Pacquiao Vs Floyd Mayweather Jr – firstly there is no doubt that both of these guys are brilliant boxers and would be around the P4P title in any era of boxing, however this fight will not likely ever happen. Mayweather beat some good boxers including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Shane Mosley, and when combined with his impressive undefeated record and possibly with nationality all of these propelled him to P4P no.1, however these were all fights he was never likely to lose. Then entered the boxer who gate crashed the P4P scene, Manny Pacquiao, he has beat the exact same people as Mayweather (except Mosley, but not long to wait for that) plus a few others including Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. Who is better? Not sure and due to these boxers not fighting I am not prepared to commit myself to an answer. Why did it not happen? Risk, there is too much risk for both fighters, if Mayweather loses his career is over and people would question what would have happened if he fought other boxers in other their prime, while Pacquiao would be remembered for being a 8 weight world title holder, but would these be paper titles?
2 – Roy Jones Jr Vs Steve Collins – At this point it is best to point out I consider Roy Jones Jr in the top 5 middleweights and a great light heavyweight but considering Roy had 6 fights and 1 catch weight at super middleweight and not against the best, I will go toe to toe with the biggest person in the world on the subject “Roy Jones Jr is the best Super Middleweight of all time”. Like I said top 5 middleweights of all time, great light heavyweight, maybe a paper Heavyweight title which is impressive in itself but not in the Top 5 Super Middleweights. With bouts with James Toney, Vinny Pazienza and Tony Thornton Jones did capture the IBF title defending it 5 times and then moving to Heavyweight. Steve Collins spent his whole career chasing Roy Jones Jr and unfortunately for the majority of boxers in the divisions Roy Jones Jr fought in they were totally in his shadow rightly or wrongly. Collins fought some at bouts including two victories over Chris Eubank and two bouts against Nigel Benn who were considered two of the best super middleweights of all time. The Celtic Warrior finally got his chance at the big time with a bout against Joe Calzaghe, unfortunately Collins suffered an injury. Later Collins was offered the fight he wanted with Roy Jones Jr but a stipulation included he had to fight Joe Calzaghe first, in preparation he collapsed during sparring and doctors said blows to the head could result in his death resulting in his immediate retirement. Who would have won this bout? Not sure but it would be great to see these two fighting in their prime.
3 – Erik Morales vs Juan Manuel Marquez – Marquez has always had bad feeling with Morales and Barrera, they took the limelight and never offered Marquez the big fights until later in his career. Now all three Morales, Marquez and Barrera are looking for Mexico’s illusive 4th weight world title and it looked like it was going to happen when the rumour mill had Erik Morales vs Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBA title until they were overlooked for Marcos Maidana, which seems to be an easy fight for Maidana, however don’t forget Morales successfully out-boxed Manny Pacquiao once. Who would win the Erik Morales vs Juan Manuel Marquez bout? Not committing myself but I cannot look past Marquez, he carries the weight so much better then Morales and still seems to be at the top of his game.
4 – David Haye Vs Wladimir Klitschko – firstly I think Haye only ever wanted a shot for the world title and once he got the title off Valuev in an impressive boxing display he didn’t really need the Klitschko’s as he accomplished what he set out for in securing a world recognised world title in the form of the WBA title. At heavyweight we see glimpses of what Haye possesses in great speed, decent movement and great power. However the level of competition isn’t great with Barrett his first victim, Valuev the second, durable Ruiz the third and lastly the awful Harrison the fourth, next looking at Povetkin which would be a decent fight, but not a Klitschko. Then there is Wladimir, beat everyone worth beating in the division and now left with the people who are clearly not ready. Great skills, good power and tactically brilliant, but looking at his record there isn’t a huge name to propel his legacy into greatness. Will a Haye fight actually change this? Doubtful, the fight that they need is Wladimir Vs Vitali but that would also never happen. Haye Vs Wladimir, who would win? It’s hard to look past Wladimir but with Haye’s Power and Wladimir’s weak chin anything could happen.
5 – Vitali Klitschko Vs Lennox Lewis – rematch – The original explosive bout was a reality check to Lewis and propelled Vitali into the big time. Lewis was out of shape, still a great champion with all the physical attributes and skills required to be the best ever, just not the nationality. With victories against everyone worth beating in the latest Golden age of heavyweight boxing including the scalps of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman, David Tua, and Shannon Briggs and of course Vitali Klitschko this guy must go down as one of the all time greats. Vitali caught Lennox cold, in a fight that was supposed to be easy for Lewis to win, Vitali was close to beating Vitali in the early rounds before Vitali slowed down, possibly gassed and Lewis was coming back staggering Vitali before the referee stopped the bout on cuts. The rematch would be great a primed Lewis Vs a primed Vitali but the risk was too high and lewis retired, possibly rightly so.
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