Boxing's what if's

As a avid boxing fan for over 20 years, I love this sports unpredictability. From upsets to unexpected KO's this sport has it all. But often I find myself wondering what if a scenario or moment had played out just a bit different. Some examples: What if James Kirkland had never been arrested? Prior to his arrest the guy one of HBO's brightest up and comers. He had KO'd Brian Vera, and had an impressive dominating performance against Joel Julio. At one point I remember Kieran Mulvaney from ESPN at the time talking about Kirkland possibly being a great fight for Mayweather. I often wonder what would have happened had he never went to jail? What if Gamboa had fought Rios? Before Gamboa walked away from this fight over disputes with Arum, Gamboa was another bright HBO star. Had impressive victories over Salido and destroyed Solis in 4 rounds. Was one of my favorite fighters until he signed with 50 cent in one of the most idiotic moves I have seen in boxing. (and that's saying a lot) How would his career had been had he fought and beaten Rios? What if Roy Jones stayed at HW to fight Evander Holyfield? People say Roy's downfall began when he had to lose all the weight from HW and return to LHW to face Tarver. But what if he decided to stay at HW and fight Holyfield? What are your thoughts on what would have happened? What are some of your what if moments in boxing?

Comments (15)

Gigantes

What if the referee stopped the first Pac/Marquez fight in the first round? What if Manny coasted the last few seconds of round 6 in Pac vs Marquez 4? What if Maidana landed that right hand on Mayweather with 2 minutes left in that round? 1. Marquez wouldn't get a rematch 2. Marquez probably still would've caught him later in the fight 3. Mayweather would've been saved by Bayless like he was that whole fight

10y ago

Gigantes

1)What if Marquez never got up in the first round and Morales didn't have a blue print to go off of when he faced Pacquiao. 2)What if Tyson didn't bite off Evander's ear. 3)What if Ali gave George a rematch 4)What if Manny agreed to the tests the first time 1. There wouldn't be a need for a Marquez rematch. Morales would have lost like Marco and Juan as well. 2. Tyson would've possibly gotten stopped 3. George wouldn't fall for the rope a dope 4. wouldn't matter because Mayweather would've found another excuse to avoid the fight like he has shown

10y ago

zmm001

I mention Holyfield because that's who I remember Roy was rumored to fight next at HW after he beat John Ruiz in 2003. Tyson had already taken a savage beating by Lewis the year before. As for the Oscar fight, I do too wonder what would have happened had Oscar won that fight. I guess money May would not have had the legacy he has now. I always thought rjj wanted the tyson fight even after Lennox beat him up, it was still a big money fight. Floyd may have taken more risks without his 0 and fought some of the guys people accuse him of ducking and be more respected if he won the rematch with Oscar.

10y ago

JJRod

What if Vitali's hadn't suffered so many career threatening injuries and didn't have to retire for 4 years? The answer is very simple, he would have been the dominant hw champ for the last decade, with Wlad living in his shadow. Vitali was always superior to Wlad, but he couldn't fight his lil bro, Vitali had to settle for the WBC belt once Wlad got a hold of all the belts during Vitali's 4 year layoff. but Vitali could have trashed Wlad at ANY point if he wanted to, the Wlad-Fury match just cements this fact. Wlad would have lost against a bigger, awkward fighter, with way more power, chin and skill than Fury, no doubt From what I heard Wlad would always get the best of Vitali in sparring.

10y ago

miserys

What if Audley Harrison KO'd David Haye?

10y ago

lopetego

10y ago

JJRod

Kirkland would of made more money everything else would have been the same. His training would lax and his chin would be found out. Gamboa is too small for 135 as we saw against crawford if he went down in weight after the rios fight he'd be top 10 p4p easy. Why Holyfield and not the champ Lennox or who he wanted to fight Tyson? What if Oscar got the robbery win over Mayweather? I mention Holyfield because that's who I remember Roy was rumored to fight next at HW after he beat John Ruiz in 2003. Tyson had already taken a savage beating by Lewis the year before. As for the Oscar fight, I do too wonder what would have happened had Oscar won that fight. I guess money May would not have had the legacy he has now.

10y ago

JJRod

What if Meldrick Taylor made it out the 12th round against Chavez Technically he got up. It was the ref who stopped the fight. Had the ref not stopped the fight, I think Chavez history would be completely different, but we'd also probably would have seen an immediate rematch as oppose to 4 years later.

10y ago

zmm001

What if GGG was from Mexico, the US, the UK or PR?

10y ago

GOT_BEEF

what if mayweather fought pacquiao back in 09? what if golovkin was 10 years younger? what if andre ward wasn't a coward?

10y ago

PBP

10y ago

FrankieClutch

What if Victor Ortiz wasn't an idiot?

10y ago

TX_BOXNG

well Kirk n Gam were n are idiots, dudes were gona find a way to screw themselves as for Roy he just made a dumb decision n has stayed stuck on it, Roy just wanted to test himself so much till he lost RJjr is the biggest what if in boxing, i think he could of change boxing entirely

10y ago

zmm001

10y ago

mann187

What if Meldrick Taylor made it out the 12th round against Chavez

10y ago