Was Ray Mercer As Good As Any Of The 80 s Alphabet Boy's?

Ray was even more inconsistent than most of the 80s champs. I can't understand putting the Lewis version in against all of them.

He won WBO from Damiani who was an 80s champ and didn't look great doing it.

Loses to Tucker, Thomas, Tate, Page, Spinks, Witherspoon, Tubbs, Page, Dokes, and Weaver if they also get to be at their best. Might beat Berbick, Bonecrusher or Coetzee.

 

Hes closer to the bottom of the list.

Struggle to put him above any of them except the WBA gang pre Page. And even then I'd probably put Dokes above him. Say what you want about Berbick he beat Witherspoon and Page.

 

In some ways yes and in some ways no. We have to remember that he started later than most of those guys did with the exception of James Bonecrusher who I think might have been about the same age when he started. To my knowledge Mercer won the Olympic gold whereas I don’t think any of the 80s alpha champs did but I stand to be corrected. He was an alphabet champion by the time he hit his 17th pro fight. His win list is pretty thin however but again it depends on who we’re comparing him to. Much like many of the 80s Champs he wasn’t glutton for training but had a ton of heart in the ring.


I can’t see him beating Tim Witherspoon given that they actually met in 1996 when spoon was about a decade past his best and many thought he got robbed. I won’t say for sure that he was but let’s just say it was close. Tubbs, Tate, Thomas and page all had a chance of outboxing him barring something big from Mercer. Weaver and Coetzee might have been stopped given that I can see them getting lured into a fire fight with him and neither had his chin. Berbick and Bonecrusher vs Mercer would have been wars and entertaining fights. Tucker isn’t a fighter I thought very highly of but I think he beats Ray because he had the right blend of size, durability and boxing skill to pull off a decision. All of this of course is speculation.

 

That version wasn’t far removed from the guy who got the draw against Wilson and questionable wins against Witherspoon and Ferguson. Maybe Lewis’ gameplan had something to do with Mercer looking good.

Mercer fought some 80s guys such as Holmes, Damiani, Ferguson, and Witherspoon. Nothing about those fights makes me think he’d do especially well in the 80s.

 

I agree to some extent Lewis was getting criticised at the time for being boring he was also trying to rebuild his image to the American public after the McCall loss.

I think Lewis fought more aggressively vs Mercer to try and impress in America and to try and build up a potential fight vs Tyson.

Whilst Mercer does deserve credit for his durability and being able to outjab Lewis I think part or Mercer's success was down to Lewis's tactics as you said.

 

At his best, Ray has a chance to KO anyone he can hit, especially anyone who showed either chin or conditioning issues. Problem for Ray though was that he was very hittable, so a lot of, if not most of the 80s heavys would outbox him. A lot of tall, long, fast guys who would outbox him fairly comfortably. I think he beats John Tate, who didn't have the chin to hold him off. Against guys like Weaver and possibly Berbick, Ray would have a chance because they didn't run around much so they'd be there for Ray to hit. Weaver's defense would leave him very vulnerable to being KO'd. Berbick could box a bit and was very tough, so even he would be a tough out for Ray. I think he could take out Coetzee. The guys who relied on speed and footwork, probably outbox him, like Thomas, Tucker, Page, Dokes, etc. Tubbs probably mostly embarrasses him, but I think Ray would have a definite chance to catch that jaw and take him out because Tony mostly remained in range and didn't have the most iron jaw. Dokes and Spinks outspeed and outbox him. Witherspoon probably outworks him. Bonecrusher could be a tricky fight, difficult to predict.

 

It was his weight, conditioning and mental issues all coming together.

 

I think he was probably roided for Lewis. He came in at 238 and was in the 220s or lower for his other big fights. He also went on to get hepatitis.

 

I'd say he was better than Coatzee, Tubbs, Berbick, Page and Weaver. I don't think he was anywhere near Pinklon, The truth, Bonecrusher, Witherspoon (I know he won in the 90s) or Tucker. Think Dokes off the powder schools him as well. Then again, damn near all of em were on it so it's kinda a wash

 

Ever read that article by Jameel McCline where he said he was taking massive amounts of PED's during his career (Wow I never would of guessed it by looking at him!) but doesn't feel bad because literally everyone was doing it then?

I think it's foolish to assume 90's boxing was any cleaner then 90's bodybuilding.

 

The Wilson fight preceded the Lewis bout by two years.

After his flat outing against Wilson, he puts on a great performance against Holyfield, then against Lewis and then nicks a decision against Witherspoon, after which he suffers a neck injury.

That's two and a half years of consistently high performance across three bouts, two of which happen to be against the best of the era.

Mercer was inconsistent overall, but he was a late-starter and slow to mature.