Heading for a fall

Sometimes a fight is made where you just know its not going to go the distance. Wilfredo Gomez vs Carlos Zarate is always the one that comes to mind. Two great fighters, who could both really bang squaring off.

If you had to make a fantasy fight involving 2 great fighters that wouldn't go the distance who would you pick and why? I'm looking for potentially competitive fights involving 2 great fighters (who haven't fought each other) rather than mismatches.

Marciano (87.76% KO) vs Vitali Klitschko (86.96% KO) would definitely not go the distance, although it probably doesn't fulfil the criteria of being competitive, as The Rock would probably blast him out of there in a couple of rounds.

Union Cane wrote:The Rock would probably blast him out of there in a couple of rounds.

Unless you're talking P4P equalization, I can't see him blasting him out with a circa 50lb weight difference

As you mentioned Zarate, Paperbag, I think I'd have to go with him squaring off against Olivares at Bantamweight. Without doubt the two hardest-hitting 118 lb men of all time, an all-Mexican affair and, agonizingly, their respective peaks only just missed each other. That one would have been absolute carnage.

Hearns against Jackson at middleweight, on paper it looks like a skill mismatch but with Hearns chin and Jacksons power you wouldn't write him off.

Maidana vs Ortiz as a modern fight that wouldn't go the distance.

Joe Louis vs Frank Bruno would be over within 15 too.

Zarate vs Gomez is in the 'Career In Video' archive, for those who haven't seen it.

Early 70s Foreman vs late 80s Tyson

Someone would get hurt

Good shout, Ghosty. Would add McCallum versus Hearns at Light-Middleweight, too, one of the great fights which never happened for whatever reason. Revisited McCallum recently and it just further confirmed by belief that he'd wear Tommy down to a late stoppage, probably while behind on points. It was amazing how often McCallum just seemed to outlast and outtough his opponent. I think he's a bit too iron-chinned and spiteful for Hearns; at 154 lb, McCallum was truly a nasty piece of work.

Ketchel vs Langford, was mooted before Stanley's untimely death, Stan did not know how to take a backwards step and with a title on the line we are likely the see the very best of Sam, someone is getting sparked in this one and by my reckoning it ain't Sam.

With Hearns against McCallum, I don't really see Hearns getting the knockout while McCallum certainly could. McCallum fought some fearsome punchers in his time and can't really remember a time he so much as blinked let alone be hurt.

For the frequency it happened it irritates me when one of McCallums wins is dubbed as lucky, the amount of times he did means it's not luck.

Well, I can't fully write off a Hearns knockout, Ghosty, as McCallum (while not out on his feet or anything) was definitely rocked by Jackson a couple of times early on in that fantastic two-round shootout they had. No shame in being a little shook up by Julian, though! But as you say, McCallum just had that scary ability to suck it up and come back snarling. Incredible the way he could be outboxed at distance for periods and then, out of nowhere, just seem to close the gap and stick to his opponent like glue, no matter what they tried.

Haye vs Hide would not go the distance at cruiser or heavy.

JabMachineMK2 wrote:Maidana vs Ortiz as a modern fight that wouldn't go the distance.

Joe Louis vs Frank Bruno would be over within 15 too.

"I'm looking for potentially competitive fights involving 2 great fighters (who haven't fought each other) rather than mismatches".

The first two have already fought each other and there wouldn't be too many bigger mismatches than Louis vs Bruno imo. Frank would be going to sleep..

Union Cane wrote:Marciano (87.76% KO) vs Vitali Klitschko (86.96% KO) would definitely not go the distance, although it probably doesn't fulfil the criteria of being competitive, as The Rock would probably blast him out of there in a couple of rounds.

Yes indeed, The Rock would have needed just 3 rounds to demolish Ali, 2 rounds for Frazier and Holmes, and half a round against Tyson and Lewis.

Louis v Tyson, Tyson would come out looking for the quick KO but the brown bomber had great hand speed and power too.

Ortiz vs Maidana would never go the distance, thats the point I was trying to make. Their styles are too gung ho and they're both too proud to leave anything to chance.

Louis vs Bruno was an example of two bangers who are similarly built. I'm not saying Bruno would win, but if he started going as Bruno had the potential to, Louis would be in trouble. Although a prediction would be a 3rd round KO of Bruno - its not that much of a mismatch, lets not assume Bruno was Audley Harrison....

Prime Tua v Prime Tyson

Sandy Sandler v Naz Hamed

Benn v Jackson.

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:Prime Tua v Prime Tyson

Sandy Sandler v Naz Hamed

Benn v Jackson.

Jackson beats Benn -

Naz vs Saddler?

Tua - Tyson?

both are likely to go the distance

Union Cane wrote:Marciano (87.76% KO) vs Vitali Klitschko (86.96% KO) would definitely not go the distance, although it probably doesn't fulfil the criteria of being competitive, as The Rock would probably blast him out of there in a couple of rounds.

Pass me what you've been smoking.