Benavidez was the WBC mandatory challenger for over two years. Canelo repeatedly vacated or relinquished interim WBC status to avoid the mandatory fight, fighting other opponents instead.
Source:WBC sanctioning body records, BoxingScene.com
Negotiations for an all-British heavyweight unification broke down in August 2021 after an arbitrator ordered Fury to face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout, derailing a signed contract.
Source:Bob Arum / Top Rank public statements, ESPN.com
Crawford and Spence were the top two welterweights in the world for four years before they finally met. Early negotiations in 2019 collapsed over split purse and promotional disputes.
Source:Dan Rafael / ESPN, multiple industry sources
After Bivol's shocking 2022 upset of Canelo, negotiations for an immediate rematch collapsed. Canelo chose to fight Gennadiy Golovkin instead, leaving Bivol without a high-profile opponent.
Negotiations for Fulton to defend his WBO and WBC titles against the mandatory challenger Inoue stalled in early 2022 before finally being agreed for July 2023.
Source:Top Rank and Matchroom public statements
Editorial Note: All entries in this database are sourced from verifiable public records including sanctioning body announcements, promoter statements, and established boxing media. Data entry is editorial - if you believe an entry is inaccurate, contact us with a citation.