Mercer was durable but George had that early fire, Could Ray survive Big G's early bombs, Yes, in top form if he fired back carefully and made George respect him. Could Big G run out of gas and walk into something Yes, Could George keep the fight at a distance and jab and box a bit, bang a bit for 10 rounds and win a UD Yes if Mercer fell into a lull. Could Ray come on strong and hurt Big G once he fizzles Yes....interesting fight If Ray shows up in condition because Ray's chin could neutralize Big G's power, I felt the same about Quarry, Jerry was cuter than Ray but Ray had the durable chin and power to take you out by the way Big G was still formidable as well and not an easy task but beatable
I think George stops Ray late, prime George is a different animal, the Elvis Presley of powerhitting in his day.
Nope. Mercer takes a good shot to the head but he sure doesn't like it to the breadbasket. And early Foreman went to the body hard with both hands. It might be a mercy stoppage along the lines of the chuvalo fight but the ref waves it off.
Relying on your chin vs George Foreman, bad idea. Foreman beats the **** out of Mercer and probably stops him. Mercer was tough, durable, but nothing special. Even in his best wins, he was actually losing until turning it around Morrison, Damiani etc.
Only one guy in the history of boxing 'weathered' the storm and beat Foreman and that was Muhammad Ali. Mercer is not Ali. Mercer is just a tough guy with decent boxing skills.
Mercer was not crafty, elusive or mobile enough to survive '74 Foreman, I think he just takes too many full blooded shots and is likely stopped on his feet, in about 5 rounds...
