I actually like Patterson to outpoint Mercer to a decision. Floyd might get decked a time or two as he often tended to do, but he was much faster and more skilled than Mercer who was noticeably limited.
Patterson wins a hard fought decision, and may not necessarily hit the deck at any time. Floyd was the better fighter.
Mercer was no Liston....and couldn't hit like Johansson either...wouldn't happen. Like I said, Patterson was a better fighter than Mercer.
Patterson was better than Mercer in almost every way aside from chin. Floyd wins a clear decision, but get's dropped, and has some scary moments.
Patterson also had a valid chance to deck Mercer as well,...if Holyfield could do it, Floyd could too.
It's possible. As he showed in the Johannson rematch he was capable of unloading shots that would drop most people.
This is a fight Mercer should probably win. But he won't He'll find a way to come up a little short and it's the other guy with his hand raised. Floyd's handspeed sure is going to score some points round by round against that defense, isn't it? So it comes down to Mercer stopping him and I just don't think Ray is a big of an opportunist to close the show in the brief moments Floyd is vulnerable.
