I'm a Klitschko fan and that fight/win was a joke. Mercer was done with at that point and it was clear. He looked to be in grandpa shape, terrible stamina, no aggression(like he used to have) and poor punch resistance. Prime Mercer would have beaten that version of Wladimir. Prime Mercer had power, speed, stamina and a solid chin. He would have walked all over Wladimir probably worse than Sanders did. That version of Wladimir was wide open for withering attacks.
I remember how Tommy Morrison actually tried everything to take Mercer out after he hurt him. It was Morrison who actually got taken out.
It was a stepping stone/gate keeper type fight for Wlad, and was only significant in that it was the first time Mercer had been KO'd
Mercer wasn't "shot" when he got annihilated by Wlad. He was the same age as Vitali, who is still dominant HW champ. Mercer was coming off a 7 fight winning streak (7-0, 6 KOs) since the close MD against Lewis. He was in great shape for the Wlad fight, weighed 228 lbs, 10 lbs lighter than he was against Lewis when he weighed 238 lbs. Wlad easily destroyed Mercer in 6 rounds. He became the first man to knockdown and KO Mercer. It was one of the most brutal beatdowns of all time.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLDy88Ud5bA[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNU9xKJSrZk&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDf1opOXN9s&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA7RZChqZiQ&feature=related[/ame]
Prime Mercer wouldnt even crack the top 10 on Holyfields resume, so I wouldnt put too much stock in 41 year old version. Wlad sure fights a lot of 40 year olds though.
significant? **** no it was a ****ing joke and prime Mercer is all wrong for Wlad and likely walks through him and destroys him despite not being as good as wlad. styles make fights and prime mercer woulda killed him.
Wlad gets little to no credit for beating a shot Mercer who couldn't even through anything but a shot gun jab. That jab bruised Wlads left eye too. Keep it funky.