By Rob Blakeman: I often find myself brooding over the spectacle I may have missed because key fighters in boxing history never faced each other. I consider the year in which they could have fought which would have given them both a fair shot at winning and then try to visualize an outcome.
It is pure speculation I know but nevertheless I thought I would share some of my list of fantasy fights with other boxing fans and see if you could add your thoughts on fabulous battles that we never got to see. I’m not just talking about fights which were arranged but then called off such as Larry Holmes versus George Foreman but ones which were for whatever reason overlooked. It’s just a bit of fun so I invite true fans with positive contributions to comment only please.
I’m a real boxing historian so some of the names are not that obvious to the more casual fan but take it from me-all of those mentioned below was good enough to have been in interesting fights if these fantasy match ups were made.
So in no particular order here we go:
Michael Moorer V Mike Tyson
Moorer was a much underestimated technician and certainly presented more obstacles to Holyfield than Tyson did; staggering him a couple of times in their two respective fights. Provided Moorer could withstand the savagery of a Tyson in his early thirties (which is when it was most possible for them to meet) then the first southpaw heavyweight champ in history (and one of the few who can claim to have won a slice of it three times) would have given Tyson a real fight.
Riddick Bowe V George Foreman
The mouth watering prospect of this is almost unbearable. A battle of two of the greatest big men in history would have been something to see. I visualize this around 1991-92 when both men were still very game indeed.
Arturo Gatti v Ricky Hatton
Both decent if limited Champions who were in turn eventually exposed as to their pay grade by much better boxers when they fought out of their respected ‘league’ as it were but who, nevertheless would have fought their hearts out in what would surely have been billed “Battle Of The Peoples Champions.” Just think of the body shots.
Edwin Valero V Manny Pacquiao
Tragedy itself may have robbed us of this epic as Valero committed suicide after his wife was found killed in terrible circumstances. He had a perfect record of straight knockouts and would have been a real handful for Pacman.
Smokin’ Bert Cooper V Ray Mercer
Two much avoided men who when put in with the best showed everyone why. Mercer gave Lewis a real fright and Cooper gave a complacent Holyfield an even bigger one. These guys were honorary members of the “Who needs him club”. Sadly in boxing you don’t get the fights you deserve you get what you can negotiate. (See Amir Khan)
Roy Jones Jr. V Nigel Benn
Of course you would have to strongly favour Jones but if they had fought when first suggested in the early nineties then this was the time that Benn was given virtually no chance against Gerald McClellan and look what happened there.
Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr. V Manny Pacquiao
Now hang on a minute.
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