Cancelled Fights over the years

Saintpat · Dec 28, 2024

Gerry Cooney pulled out of a December 1981 bout with Joe Bugner with a back injury. They rescheduled as a four-round exhibition in January but he also canceled due to the same back injury (which would ultimately delay the Holmes fight til summer) flaring up or not being healed.

Saintpat · Dec 28, 2024

Clint Jackson was supposed to fight Adolfo Viruet on ESPN in February 1982, but sustained an injury in training.

Viruet fought some 6-6 guy and lost a split decision, had one more fight and retired.

Jackson was 15-1 at the time, with the loss coming to Tony Braxton.

https://www.tennessean.com/picture-...nashville-tennessee-40-years-ago/6646395001/#

HistoryZero26 · Dec 28, 2024

Mastrangelo said: ↑

I remember back in a day, while scrolling through fighters records, here and then I'd find an odd lay-off, period of inactivity - and only later on I'd find out about some fights that were cancelled. I think that's when I started putting this list together, years ago.
I wasn't actively working on it, just adding some stuff here and there when I learned about something, but it eventually grew quite long - and I did not see similar kind of list elsewhere.
I think at times it can be useful information, adding perspective on fighter's career development. It's also interesting to see how close some great fights were to happening.

I know there's other, similar topic on the forum from some years back - but I wanted to have it more organised. Hopefully it won't be an issue.
The list is below. If anyone knows of any other examples - and I mean fights that were already made, only fell through later for various reasons - I'd be very curious to know about them, to add them to the list. It's mostly about big fights - but also some more obscure match-ups that You think would've been interesting.
Also, if anyone notices some inacurracies - please let me know also.

-
1911-10-02 Jack Johnson vs Bombardier Billy Wells [Heavyweights] - United Kingdom
(Fight stopped for political reasons)

1924-07-04 Harry Greb vs Young Stribling [?]
(Unknonwn)

1924-11-XX Jack Dempsey vs Harry Wills [World Heavyweight Title]
(Govorner of the State of New York canceled the contest fearing that race riots would follow the fight)

1942-05-25 Ezzard Charles - Ken Overlin III [Middleweight]
(Unknown, Overlin replaced by Charley Burley)

1949-09-28 Jake LaMotta vs Marcel Cerdan II [World Middleweight Title]
(Fight was first postponed due to Jake's shoulder injury, then called of as Cerdan was killed in plane crash)

1950-06-28 Jake LaMotta vs Rocky Graziano [World Middleweight Title]
(Graziano fractured left hand during preparation)

1956-03-06 Sonny Liston vs Harold Johnson [Heavyweight]
(Johnson hurt his shoulder while training for the bout)

1963-06-01 Harold Johnson vs Mauro Mina [WBC Light Heavyweight Title]
(Mina pulled out due to injury in training ; Rumoured eye issues)

1967-04-25 Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson II [WBC Heavyweight Title]
(The fight was cancelled after Ali was banned from boxing for refusing to serve in the military.)

1968-02-27 Fighting Harada vs Jesus Pimentel [WBC Bantamweight Title]
(Pimental pulled out, citing managerial issues)

1977-03-28 Victor Galindez vs Bob Foster [WBA Light Heavyweight Title] - South Africa
(As a provision for CBS televising the bout, Foster was under contract to submit to a medical examination supervised by a boxing commission from Nevada, California or New York. Foster refused and the bout was cancelled)

1977-06- XX Alfredo Escalera - Tyrone Everett II [WBC Super Featherweight Title] - Puerto Rico
(Everett was murdered)

1980-06-14 Marvin Camel vs Victor Galindez [WBC Cruiserweight Title]
(Camel injuried his eye during training)

1980-08-02 Gerry Cooney vs Earnie Shavers [Heavyweight]
(Cooney pulled out due to torn muscle)

1981-02-23 Aaron Pryor - Saoul Mamby [WBA&WBC Super Lightweight Unification]
(Pryor backed out recovering from gun wound. The event was later canceled when the promoter, Harold Rossfield Smith (aka Ross Fields) went into hiding when it was discovered he had embezzled more than $20M from Wells Fargo bank.)

1981-02-23 Wilfredo Gomez vs Mike Ayala [WBC Super Bantamweight Title)
(The event was canceled when the promoter, Harold Rossfield Smith (aka Ross Fields) went into hiding when it was discovered he had embezzled more than $20M from Wells Fargo bank.)

1981-02-23 Matthew Saad Muhammad vs Eddie Mustaga Muhammad II [WBA&WBC Light Heavyweight Unification]
(The event was canceled when the promoter, Harold Rossfield Smith (aka Ross Fields) went into hiding when it was discovered he had embezzled more than $20M from Wells Fargo bank.)

1981-02-23 Alexis Arguello vs Hilmer Keny [WBA Lightweight Title]
(Keny suffered an injury. Later, the event was canceled when the promoter, Harold Rossfield Smith (aka Ross Fields) went into hiding when it was discovered he had embezzled more than $20M from Wells Fargo bank.)

1981-10-22 Mike Weaver vs Gerry Cooney [WBA Heavyweight Title]
(Weaver had a tentative agreement to meet Gerry Cooney on October 22, 1981, but the WBA said Weaver had to fight Tillis next or be stripped of the title.)

1982-09-15 Salvador Sanchez - Juan Laporte II [WBC Featherweight Title]
(Sanchez died in car crash)

1982-11-19 Roberto Duran - Tony Ayala Jr. [Super Welterweight]
(Duran lost to Kirkalnd Laing, which led to fight being called off)

1983-07-15 Michael Spinks - Eddie Mustafa Muhammad II [WBA&WBC Light Heavyweight Title]
(Muhammad did not make weight)

1984-06-08 Larry Holmes - Gerrie Coetezee (WBA Heavyweight Title)
(Show cancelled because of financial issues and Promoter/Casino conflict)

1986-06-23 Barry McGuigan - Fernando Ramon Sosa [WBA Featherweight Title]
(Sosa had to retire because of two detached retinas)

1986-12-12 Tim Witherspoon - Tony Tubbs II [WBA Heavyweight Title]
(Tubbs pulled out with shoulder injury)

1987-03-24 Frank Bruno vs Greg Page [Heavyweight]
(Greg Page withdrew due to injury)

1987-09-28 Frank Bruno vs Trevor Berbick [London - Heavyweight]
(Berbick pulled out with injury)

1988-11-04 Thomas Hearns - Fulgencio Obelmejias [WBA Super Middleweight Title]
(Obelmejias pulled out with rib injury)

1991-06-? Johnny Nelson - Taoufik Belbouli [European Cruiserweight Title]
(Promoter pulled out [According to Johnny Nelson in his autobiography])

1991-06-28 Julio Cesar Chavez - Harold Brazier [WBC Super Lightweight Title]
(Chavez pulled out with a cut, Brazier claims JC was just out of shape)

1991-10-?? Johnny Nelson - Akim Tafer [EBU Cruiserweight Title]
(Tafer pulled out with rib injury [According to Johnny Nelson in his autobiography])

1991-11-08 Evander Holyfield - Mike Tyson [Heavyweight]
(Tyson suffered rib injury in training)

1994-03-04 Gerald McClellan - Lamar Parks [WBC Middleweight Title]
(Parks Tested Positive for HIV)

1994-10-22 Herbie Hide - Tommy Morrison [WBO Heavyweight Title]
(Show Cancelled because of financial issues)

1994-10-22 Frank Bruno - Ray Mercer [Heavyweight]
(Show Cancelled because of financial issues)

1996-12-06 Julio Cesar Chavez vs Micky Ward [Super Lightweight]
(Chicago Tribune: Citing a hand injury sustained while training, but mired in what a promoter calls “major personal problems” involving a family squabble, Julio Cesar Chavez has withdrawn from a fight scheduled Friday against Irishman Mickey Ward.
Top Rank President Bob Arum said he believes the injury is genuine, but a Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority special-events consultant said she doubts the injury report)

1997-06-27 Felix Trinidad vs Terry Norris [IBF&WBC Super Welterweight Title]
(Fight was called off after Norris filed a lawsuit against promoter Don King and manager Joe Sayatovich)

1997-08-16 Ray Mercer - Andrew Golota [Heavyweight]
(Mercer pulled out due to neck injury)

1997-10-11 Joe Calzaghe - Steve Collins [WBO Super Middleweight Title]
(Collins injured, then retired)

1998-04-25 Ike Quartey - Pernell Whitaker [WBO Welterweight Title]
(Whitaker failed a drug test)

1998-06-07 Evander Holyfield - Henry Akinwande [IBF&WBA Heavyweight Title]
(Akinwande tested positive for Hepatitis B)

1999-01-23 George Foreman - Larry Holmes [Heavyweight]
("Foreman bailed out when promoter Roger Levitt failed to pay George his promised advance")

1999-11-06 Roy Jones Jr. - Graciano Rocchigiani [IBF,WBA&WBC Light Heavyweight Titles]
(Rochigiani didn't attend a press conference in United States, causing promoter to call off the bout)
Click to expand...

Wills v Dempsey was on September 11th and the event still happened with Firpo replacing Dempsey.

Saintpat · Dec 28, 2024

Thomas Hearns was scheduled to defend his junior middleweight title vs James Green twice in 1983. Neither date happened due to injuries — one to each fighter — and they ended up never fighting.

Originally they were supposed to fight in July. Green sustained a rib injury in training, forcing a postponement. Hearns stayed busy by beating Murray Sutherland over 10 rounds that month (not sure if it was the exact day the Green fight was scheduled for).

It was resent for Sept. 9. Hearns broke his right hand in training and pulled out. Green took a fight with David Braxton later that month for the NABF title and lost. He never got a title shot.

Would have been fun to see the 5-foot-4 1/2 Green trying to navigate the reach advantages of Tall Thomas. Hard Rock was effective inside so whenever he managed to get past the jab and long right (if he did), might have been interesting. I don’t see him winning, but I’d have liked to have seen him try.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/08/29/Hearns-breaks-hand-fight-postponed/2598430977600/

Ice8Cold · Dec 28, 2024

Great thread!

Bowe and Lewis actually signed to fight in 1994 before Lewis got knocked out by McCall.

Saintpat · Dec 28, 2024

Archie Moore was to have fought Frankie Duarte in San Diego on March 18, 1955, as a tuneup for his second meeting with Nino Valdez (for Nevada’s version of the world heavyweight title) when doctors declared the Mongoose had a heart ailment.

Further testing resulted in a clean bill of health for Moore and he beat Nino.

Mastrangelo · Dec 28, 2024

Thanks to everyone who contributed with those recent posts. Will get through it all tomorrow and update the main page.
Some great finds here!

Saintpat · Dec 28, 2024

Jimmy Ellis vs Henry Cooper for Sept. 27, 1969, was postponed twice due to Cooper’s knee problems and finally canceled when Our ‘Enery had to have surgery.

https://www.nytimes.com/1969/09/30/...lis-briton-to-undergo-surgery-on-injured.html

Not 100% sure this one was ever signed, but Jimmy was also supposed to defend his WBA heavyweight crown vs. Robert Cleroux, but Clerous was upset by journeyman Billy Joiner, nixing any chance of it happening.

Ellis’ cursed 1969 ended on Dec. 19 when a scheduled defense vs. Gregorio Peralta in Buenos Ares, Argentina, was canceled the day before it was to take place due to poor ticket sales.

https://www.nytimes.com/1969/12/20/...e-bout-peralta-fight-in-argentina-unable.html

BoB Box · Dec 28, 2024

Ill add.. Manny Pacquiao vs Errol Spence Jr. On Aug 21st 2021.
I still have the September 2021 Ring magazine with them on the cover "One For The Ages".

FThabxinfan · Dec 28, 2024

From the 70s: Duràn was supposed to rematch Buchanan,and pulled out from management issues.
Roberto Duràn vs Carlos Ortiz almost happened until Duràn's team pulled out from what was supposed to him getting sick,but it's weird to think Duràn got ill just after fighting Javier Ayala a few times ago..

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...Qjjh6BAghEAE&usg=AOvVaw38zQcNY4STZqtuPa0LlFBq

Saintpat · Dec 28, 2024

Joe Frazier was set to fight Kallie Knoetze in a 1978 comeback fight in Las Vegas. This after the South African commission scuttled a bout between Joe and Gerrie Coetzee in South Africa.

https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/14/...azier-to-fight-s-african-who-knocked-out.html

The fight was canceled when Joe contracted hepatitis.

Mastrangelo · Dec 29, 2024

Took a bit of time, but main page is now updated! Thanks to everyone who contributed, @Saintpat in particular.

scartissue said: ↑

In late '69 the Olympic Boxing Club signed Sugar Ramos against future lightweight champ Rodolfo Gonzalez to a 10 rounder sure to sell out the arena, but in November Ramos pulled out with the flu. It was re-signed for December but in between dates Gonzalez took a fight in San Antonio. Although Gonzalez won, he was cut during the bout which cancelled the December date. And it was never rescheduled.
Click to expand...

Do You remember the source for his? Or perhaps You were around at the time so it's Your personal memory? I can't seem to find anything - and would like to get an exact date if possible!

@NoNeck
I'm not sure if those 2 Oquendo fights are worth adding. Let's be honest it was a joke that WBA was willing to sanction those match-ups as World title fights... I try to make at least some kind of selection here, to avoid adding fights between journeymen that are not particulary relevant.
On the other hand, maybe it's good to add those fights to remind people of how low the WBA had sunk. Anyone reading it can let me know what They think - I'd like this topic to be a valuable source of information first thing first, so I'm open to any suggestions.

HistoryZero26 said: ↑

Wills v Dempsey was on September 11th and the event still happened with Firpo replacing Dempsey.
Click to expand...

Are You confident of this information, sir? Trying to verify if possible!

Saintpat said: ↑

@Mastrangelo I wonder if there’s a way to track down what the next round of fights would have been in the aborted USA championships put on by ABC in association and promoted by Don King (ended by scandal revealing The Ring’s U.S. ratings, on which participation was decided, were being rigged to favor fighters King controlled through proxies, with fake results being added to fighters’ records to justify their inclusion).

I don’t know if there was a bracket, per se, but they were running cards for several weeks and obviously winners were supposed to advance to face other winners.

EDIT: The tournament was suspended by ABC on the day of or day before a semifinal card was scheduled to take place in Miami: April 16, 1977.

On that card was scheduled Larry Holmes vs. Stan Ward at heavyweight and Frankie Baltazar vs. Francesco Villegas at junior lightweight.

Exhibitions by Muhammad Ali and Esteban DeJesus (not against each other haha) were also on the planned card.

No idea if we can find any other planned semifinals that never happened, but here’s two lost fights I had never known about with the Holmes and Baltazar bouts being called off.

https://www.nytimes.com/1977/04/17/...nded-pending-an-inquiry-two-bouts-called.html
Click to expand...

Will see if I can find out more about it, it's definitely something which should be documented here, in some way.

scartissue · Dec 29, 2024

Mastrangelo said: ↑

Took a bit of time, but main page is now updated! Thanks to everyone who contributed, @Saintpat in particular.

Do You remember the source for his? Or perhaps You were around at the time so it's Your personal memory? I can't seem to find anything - and would like to get an exact date if possible!

Click to expand...

M, you've put me through my paces today. I don't know if you have access to a newspaper archive but here it is. This was reported in several different west coast papers at the time but I'll narrow it down:

Oxnard Press-Courier - Tuesday Oct. 15, '69 (page 30) announces the Sugar Ramos v Rodolfo Gonzalez 10 rounder for the Olympic Auditorium

Pasadena Star-News - October 29th, '69 announces postponement due to Ramos coming down with the flu. Page B3

Pasadena Star News - November 14th, '69 announces the rescheduled November 6th bout off again due to Gonzalez suffering a bad eye cut and breaking a knuckle on his left hand in his bout with Javier Jimenez on November 11th in San Antonio. Page A3

Hope this suffices. BTW, I like your preciseness on research.

Nolan375 · Dec 29, 2024

Lennox Lewis vs Proud Kilimanjaro in February 1990, canceled because Kilimanjaro refused to reveal the results of an hiv test

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/ne...lennox-lewis-but-could-have-been-so-much-more

http://www.1zimlegends.com/2021/08/14/proud-kilimanjaro-chinembiri/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proud_Kilimanjaro

Mastrangelo · Dec 30, 2024

scartissue said: ↑

Hope this suffices. BTW, I like your preciseness on research.
Click to expand...

Beautiful, Thanks for taking the time to check this for me, Scar!
I even found an exact date, on a boxrec page about Gonzalez vs Jimenez fight (God bless all the boxrec editors!).
"The cut incurred by Gonzalez in this fight cancelled his December 4th, 1969 scheduled bout with Sugar Ramos in the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. This bout had already been postponed from November 6th when Ramos pulled out with the flu."

@Nolan375
Thanks brother - and since You chosed this thread for Your first post on the forum.. Welcome!

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Cancelled Fights over the years

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Cancelled Fights over the years

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