The greatest fights that never happened and why not?

Coetzee actually beat Snipes. It was one of the worst robberies of all time. Notoriously dodgy Joe Cortez was one of the judges.

https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Gerrie_Coetzee_vs._Renaldo_Snipes

"In Tarrytown, NY, unbeaten heavyweight Renaldo Snipes survived two knockdowns and scored a very unpopular split decision Sunday over Gerrie Coetzee of South Africa. Coetzee had Snipes down in the 1st and 4th rounds, and he appeared to be getting much the better of Snipes throughout most of the rest of their scheduled 10 rounder at the New Westchester Theater. Coetzee pounded Snipes with rights and lefts throughout the fight, and Snipes was ready to fall in the 10th round. When ring announcer Frank Shane read the cards, declaring Snipes the winner, the crowd booed loudly and showered the ring with popcorn, ice cubes and other debris." -Wire Services

Unofficial AP scorecard - 7-3 Coetzee

• A UPI poll of sportswriters stated, "Every writer polled at ringside had Coetzee well ahead of Snipes by anywhere from eight to six rounds."
• NBC, who aired the fight, stated that their switchboard was flooded with calls from viewers protesting the decision.
• NY state carried the rule of supplemental points for knockdowns, but the rule was not applied. If it had, Coetzee would have won 6-5-1 on Gamboli and Cortez's cards.

 

Sorry my friend but I knew Tony at that time & knew he couldnt see out of that eye in round 2 & the ref & doc knew it. That was the ONLY reason Cotto took that fight, he knew Tony's eye was permanently damaged. Do you remember AFTER the fight was signed & while Tony was training hard.
That doc suddenly decided to see if Tony's eye was OK for him to fight. Tony had to break training fly across the country for them to inspect his eye.
They just wanted to make sure it wouldnt hold up. What were they going to do ? Say the eye wasnt fit for him to fight & cancel the fight ?? C'mon get real. Tony had beaten the tar out of Cotto legitimately once & was set to do it again with one good eye. I used to rate Cotto till then he like all the others tried to use the "loaded gloves" BS for why he lost.
What they did to a good honest fighter was DEPLORABLE !!!!!!

 

Spinks vs Holmes 3 comes to mind.....Spinks won the first fight lost the second though

 

I meant on the record, but you are right.

 

Both Spinks and Larry were stomped by Tyson, so I kind of doubt there would have been a big cash grab from such a fight. Unless it happened after Holmes beat Mercer (plus a conceivable Spinks comeback).

I would have preferred seeing Spinks go back to light heavy, which is where he was truly great imo. I didn't think much of Spinks as a heavy, and Tyson exposed that. Just my opinion.

That said, I certainly would have been interested...but then I am a huge Larry fan.

 

Pac vs Floyd when they were both closer to their peak.

 

There's a great idea.

 

Holmes vs Greg Page. Holmes refused to fight Page, stating he was not offered enough money to fight Page. A "Risk vs Reward" scenario. Page was was a classic underachiever, highly skilled, but lazy and overweight. But an inspired Page (?) would given Larry a difficult fight with his style.

 

I agree, difficult and probably an interesting fight. But Page proved to be not-so-great imo. I lost interest in him when both Bey and Tubbs beat him, neither of who set the world on fire (to this day it astounds me Tubbs was "heavyweight champion").

Holmes, past his peak, by split decision perhaps. At his peak. TKO in 9.

 

Bump
May well end up being Crawford vs Spence or Fury vs Usyk.

 

Lennox v Bowe
Floyd v Margarito
Calzaghe v Froch
Wlad v Vitali

 

Salvador Sanchez/Alexis Arguello
Tiefelo Stevens/Ali
JMM/Hamed

 

Great fight? Duran vs Pryor at 140. It would have been spectacular while it lasted. Duran by KO in 5