Why did Lennox Lewis have so much trouble with Ray Mercer?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mark ant, Oct 30, 2019.


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  1. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    What?! Lewis completely outboxed Tommy before destroying him in the 5th! Morrison hardly landed a punch.
     
    mark ant, Nov 1, 2019
    mark ant, Nov 1, 2019
    #46
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  2. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    I agree with al that except Bowe completely ducked Lewis, he fought finished fighhters like Dokes and Ferguson rather than fight Lewis while champ and dumped the WBC title in the bin rather than defend v Lennox, he gave Holy a rematch because he had already beaten him and Foreman was too slow to beat the Lewis that outboxed Gary Mason, Lewis had a dip in form by the time he met Bruno because he sacked John Davenport as his trainer who trained Buster Douglas.
     
    mark ant, Nov 1, 2019
    mark ant, Nov 1, 2019
    #47
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  3. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    All true, and I wouldn't ever say Lewis definitely did anything, but when I researched the aborted fight I saw that it was a financial thing far more than anything else. Neither was really scared of the other, Bowe had just beaten an already highly regarded, undefeated champion...Lewis hadn't. And let's not forget an exhausted Bowe inviting LL to fight right after.

    I just personally believe Lewis would have been mashed by Bowe, pre-Steward. LL with Steward would have decisioned him.

    And, to be perfectly transparent, I'm biased because Bowe is one of my top ten fave heavies. Lewis is somewhere in the top 20.
     
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Nov 1, 2019
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Nov 1, 2019
    #48
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  4. THE BLADE 2

    THE BLADE 2 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ray was not in top shape or well prepared as some suggested when he faced Lewis.He was however for the Holmes fight
     
    THE BLADE 2, Nov 1, 2019
    THE BLADE 2, Nov 1, 2019
    #49
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  5. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    I always thought it was one of Mercer's gamest fights but do feel Lennox deserved the decision ..
     
    he grant, Nov 1, 2019
    he grant, Nov 1, 2019
    #50
  6. Mod-Mania

    Mod-Mania Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It's not rocket science, he just came up against a fighter with a style which caused him trouble just like every great fighter has.
     
    Mod-Mania, Nov 1, 2019
    Mod-Mania, Nov 1, 2019
    #51
  7. THE BLADE 2

    THE BLADE 2 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    not only that.Ray gave Holyfield plenty of trouble too.The difference betweenHolmes and the other is Larry could fight with his back against the ropes.
     
    THE BLADE 2, Nov 1, 2019
    THE BLADE 2, Nov 1, 2019
    #52
  8. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Mercer was an underfocused fighter, but on that night he was focused. He also had a fine jab. Lewis had issues vs good jabbers ( Bruno, Klitschko ) and Mercer wasn't going away easy. I thought Lewis won it 6-4, but exited the ring with a black eye.

    As with all the tough fights he was, there wasn't a rematch.
     
    Mendoza, Nov 1, 2019
    Mendoza, Nov 1, 2019
    #53
  9. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    Mercer was far better v Lewis than he was v Holmes and Morrison, his skill level waas higher and his jab was more consistent.
     
    mark ant, Nov 2, 2019
    mark ant, Nov 2, 2019
    #54
  10. jont

    jont Active Member Full Member

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    Lewis rematched Oliver and Hasim… not so bad
     
    jont, Nov 2, 2019
    jont, Nov 2, 2019
    #55
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  11. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    You don`t think his first fights with McCall and Rahman were tough for him him then? Also the Lewis that beat Holy would have beaten Bruno far easier, his 1-2 wa straighter and more consistent he threw hardly any 1-2`s v Mercer and Bruno.
     
    mark ant, Nov 2, 2019
    mark ant, Nov 2, 2019
    #56
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  12. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    Yet he fought really sluggish v Holmes and threw crisper jabs v Lewis.
     
    mark ant, Nov 2, 2019
    mark ant, Nov 2, 2019
    #57
  13. THE BLADE 2

    THE BLADE 2 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Not at all, Ray came in heavier against LL and was visibly in worse shape.Larry beat an undefeated and in top shape Mercer.Holmes knew how to fight with his back against the ropes on the inside, Ray could not deal with it.Lennox did not have that skill
     
    THE BLADE 2, Nov 2, 2019
    THE BLADE 2, Nov 2, 2019
    #58
  14. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Mercer was an underfocused fighter, but on that night he was focused. He also had a fine jab. Lewis had issues vs good jabbers ( Bruno, Klitschko ) and Mercer wasn't going away easy. I thought Lewis won it 6-4, but exited the ring with a black eye.

    As with all the tough fights he won, there wasn't a rematch.

    ??? Where did I say they were not? McCall wasn't long match. Rhaman was a tough match up for Lewis. He had a very good right hand ( better than Mercer's ) and for his height a good reach.
     
    Mendoza, Nov 2, 2019
    Mendoza, Nov 2, 2019
    #59
  15. dinovelvet

    dinovelvet Antifanboi Full Member

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    Mercer in 95 was as good as Brewster was in 04. Bewster got no rematch until he was semi retired and riddled with career ending injuries.

    Mercer after losing to Lewis would look very bad 'winning' against Tim Witherspoon before semi-retiring with neck problems sustained in the Lewis fight.

    There was no reason for Lewis to rematch an unranked and medically unfit Mercer.
     
    dinovelvet, Nov 2, 2019
    dinovelvet, Nov 2, 2019
    #60
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