The potential fights outlined in this article are current fights that will not happen. There are circumstances for each fight that will prevent these great fights from happening.
Joe Calzaghe vs Bernard Hopkins
This fight may have been better served a few years ago but still there is public demand for it today. Joe feels as though he has leverage over the older, durable fighter. B-Hop is the recognized light heavyweight champion of the world and will force Calzaghe to move up to fight him for his championship. This gives him the negotiating advantage. Calzaghe's has proven to put butts in seats in England and he will attempt to stage the potential showdown in there. Hopkins will not agree to that because he has fought the tougher opposition so why would he go to England. The fight will make more money in England if there are 60,000 plus fans in attendance. In conclusion, there are two main obstacles for the fight: location and weight class. These obstacles have an effect on the breakdown of each fighter's purse and the home crowd fan base gives the fighter an emotional and mental advantage.
Barrera vs. Pacquiao III
This bout will not be in discussion unless Barrera gets his revenge in their upcoming fall bout. The reason why a trilogy will never happen is because it will be the toughest fight of Barrera's career. He simply will not want to fight him again. There is no tactfule way to state it. If he does win this fall, it will be a hard fault decision. His boxing skills are superior to Manny's as his rematch with Rocky Juarez proved. However, Manny has the power and speed to catch him with those big straight left hands. If Barrera wins the rematch, I expect him to retire with a big win against the fighter that gave him his worst lost, while defeating one of the top Pound for Pound fighters in the world.
Shane Mosley vs. Paul Williams
This would make an interesting fight because both fighters are highly active and possess dominating skills. Now that Williams is a world champion, it will not take him long to become a pay per view fighter. Shane has only lost to two fighters in his illustrious career. Winky Wright and Vernon Forrest are taller fighters and this is the style that gives Mosley problems. At 6'5”, Paul Williams' height stylistically will cause problems for most fighters. Physically, Sugar Shane Mosley is still in his prime but will not take chances on fighting Williams as he is deemed a fighter with high risk and little reward.
Cory Spinks vs. Anyone Major fighter
This is an interesting topic because there are some fighters that will fight the Spinks Jinx, however, it will not be one of the major players. I honestly believe that he deserved to win the middleweight championship of the world, but the Jermain Taylor got the split decision. Spinks is a pure boxer who happens to be a southpaw. To orthodox fighters, this is a double negative. His performance against the Taylor has shown the world that he is a player in the junior middleweight division, however there will be no one jumping at the feet to fight Cory Spinks.
Arturo Gatti vs. Ricky Hatton
Gatti's peak performance was always in the junior welterweight division. He is unable to make 140 pounds these days and can at best make 143. It seems like he is a man without a division. A fight between Gatti and Hatton can be made at 143 pounds. I think the Hatton camp will accommodate Gatti and meet at a catch weight being it a title or non-title bout. Gatti will not fight someone physically bigger and stronger. Hatton has the speed and punching to win. Hatton likes to fight inside and Arturo Gatti has the punching power to win a slugfest.
