Some Big Fights that Never Happened

In the history of boxing we’ve been lucky to get a lot of great fights but there are also are many that slipped through the cracks and never happened. This list is a collection of fights that got so far as to have official fight posters made and sold but ended up not happening.

1. Holyfield vs Tyson 1991

I thought I’d start this list of with maybe the most iconic cancellation ever. Everyone was excited for this mega fight but after a rape conviction Tyson went to prison instead. It did end up happening twice afterwards but I think everyone can agree it would have been better in 1991.

2. Fury vs Klitschko II 2016

How would we have a list like this without Tyson Fury’s pullout that began his mental health crisis and eventual historic return. After dethroning the long reigning heavyweight champion, Fury was publicly embarrassing himself with crazier and crazier moves and ended delaying the rematch before outright cancelling it in full. He got a ban for cocaine use, this was a separate ban from his earlier PED ban that was only announced after his Klitschko win, and ballooned up in weight with many believing he was done in the sport of boxing.

3. Joshua vs Miller 2019

Arguably the most iconic pullout of recent times, Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller was set for a life changing shot at 3 heavyweight world titles against the reigning heavyweight king but it was not to be. Miller tested positive for a range of PEDs and ultimately got banned from the sport. Joshua’s US debut was in doubt but in stepped Andy Ruiz and the rest is history that I’m sure AJ would rather forget.

4. Inoue vs Casimero 2020

Naoya Inoue was on a tear through the bantamweight division with a recent win in the World Boxing Super Series final to unify two world title belts but now he wanted another. His rival Casimero held the WBO and it was the logical next step. Casimero did his fair share of trash talking before the bout but unfortunately the Covid pandemic swept through the world and cancelled the fight. Inoue still fought in Las Vegas against Moloney but to this day never fought Casimero as he lost his belt and has disappeared into boxing obscurity.

5. Pacquaio vs Spence 2021

After the recent upset win the become oldest world champion in boxing, Manny Pacquiao was set to challenge unified welterweight champion Errol Spence for even more history. Many thought it a step too far for the 40 year old legend but it was a fight you couldn’t miss. Not long out from the fight Spence announced on social media that he had suffered an eye injury in sparring and just like that the fight was off. An undercard fighter stepped up to fight Pac-Man on short notice by the name of Yordenis Ugas and upset him in what would be his last ever professional boxing match.