Pre-Mayweather era, which notable fights fell apart because "muh A side", "muh split"?

[dan-b]

The main one that stands out to me is a Jones - Hopkins rematch where they actually had an argument live on air in 2002 about 50/50 or 60/40. Obviously when it eventually did happen it was a hasbeen sideshow.

Calzaghe - Ottke was less "muh A side", "muh split" and more about the location of the fight and a distinct lack of interest from Ottke.

Any others?

[IronDanHamza]

Was going to say Hopkins-Jones.

Muhammad Ali was acting that way for Ken Norton 3, demanding X amount of money and it didn’t look like it was going to happen but in the near future it did.

It is a relatively new phenomenon really, lots of fights didn’t happen in years past but a lot of it was timing etc.

This day and age, it’s quite common for money to be a factor.

[TelMex]

Maybe riddck bowe and Lennox Lewis

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Ray Leonard often utilised the benefits of being the A-Side.

[dan-b]

Ray Leonard often utilised the benefits of being the A-Side.

Okay, but did it prevent any notable fights from happening?

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Okay, but did it prevent any notable fights from happening?

It delayed fights, Hearns 1 and Hagler obviously.

Leonard-Pryor never happened too but not really because of politics.

The biggest stars have always leveraged the benefits that come with being the “A-side”.

[Daccan]

Trinidad vs ODLH 2 was nipped by some disagreements.

[Elheath]

My brain says because boxing is a business and the guys also have to make a living, caring for money is understandable even if it doesn't add to your legacy (such as fighting a guy from 2 weight class below that practically everyone including even the haters knew at the back of their minds that it was going to end as a one sided match, or choosing to fight a celebrity non-boxer for your one fight a year) and more powers to them for making a fortune.
However my heart cries on why does it seem like some high ranking boxers nowadays don't seem to care for making history or winning belts or aiming to prove you are the best, and simply care for the cash and perhaps the "0" and going the lowest risk necessary with the highest non-belt reward possible.

Maybe that is why I enjoy the lower weight divisions more...likely due to the less money that gets thrown around, champions seems to be willing to take on unification fights and take on high-risk challengers for legacy, and challengers are willing to risk their "0" at a chance to become a belt holder. I mean, just a quick glance in the past three years (2021-2024), the oft-mentioned names at welterweight or above that has more than 5 fights is just Canelo.
7- Canelo
4- Bivol, Beterbiev
3- Usyk, Fury (will fight 4th match against a non-boxer), Jermell, Crawford

By comparison, featherweight and below picking seven notable names:
6- Kenshiro Teraji (108), Bam Rodriguez (112, including Sunny match), Sunny Edwards (112, including Bam match), Naoya Inoue (122, including Tapales match), Leigh Wood (126)
5- Kazuto Ioka (115, not counting it but potential rumor for end of year clash with Estrada making it 6)
3- Juan Franco Estrada (115, not counting it but potential rumor for end of year clash with Ioka making it 4)

Obviously I didn't check every champion and not all of them were champs for all of the past three years, but the pattern is there.
Heck, I didn't list them because they were relatively new champions but Venado Lopez has fought 8 times and Robeisy Ramirez 7 times in the past three years.

[Floyd is TBE]

There's literally a demographic that believes Floyd invented negotiating. Contrary to the narrative Floyd haters are trying to push, politics has always been a part of fight making. Quit living in your fantasy world that never existed.

[garfios]

Ray Leonard often utilised the benefits of being the A-Side.

Yes he did, like paying a few extra millions to cut the rounds ftom 15 to 12 in his Hagler fight. Also a catchweight with Lalonde for the SMW Belt, no rehydration clause. But he did fought everybody. Hagler, Hearns, Duran, Benitez, Kalle, #1 mandatories you named.