I voted for Mecer on accident. I think the Rock wins a dec or stops ray late. I don't see Mecer having the stamina or work rate to hang with the Rock over the 12 or 15 round limit. If we are going 15 Mecer may get stopped. Either way 12 or 15 Marciano is winning this.
Rocky Marciano does not hit hard enough, to put a dent in Ray Mercer. Lennox Lewis was pounding, feet planted...!!! thats a 6"4 248 pound Heavyweight in Lennox Lewis, was hitting Ray Mercer with everything, and Mercer was fighting back. Ray Mercer, would win by TKO. Rocky Marciano could only fight one way, and up against big heavyweights of the 1990's, who have good fundamentals and skill. Thats the wrong way...
Interesting. Mercer was an Olympic Gold Medal heavyweight champion. He crushed then undefeated Tommy Morrison. He gave a prime Lennox Lewis the fight of his career. He gave Evander Holyfield an extremely tough bout. He defeated Cooper and Damiani ... True he could be outboxed and may have been by that trio although I'd put him way above Layne who did defeat Walcott and Charles ... however, we are talking about a match up between him and Marciano and Rocky really didn't outbox anyone ... not a good match up for Rocky stylewise ..
Which is somewhat ironic since Toney would possibly weigh less than 190 if he trained himself into some sort of shape. Just because its the rule dosnt mean it makes sense.
I think this would be a good one. Both men are strong warriors who wouldn't back down. Mercer might be able to shake off the Suzy Q. He had a solid chin and took some serious bombs from Lennox Lewis. Rocky never fought anyone as big and strong as Mercer, but he was one tough little nugget. Despite his size, I wouldn't completely count out Rocky against anyone. He was an expert at winning fights he was losing. That's what made him Rocky Marciano. He couldn't lose. This is a fight that could go either way.
Toney and Marciano were totlly different styles ... why do so many here not focus on a match up from a stylistic standpoint ?
Very dangerous fight for Marciano. I do not think could stop Mercer. Mercer would be the most durable, and perhaps the hardest puncher Marciano ever fought. pretty skilled guy too, with a jab and a right hand. It could be a close match that is decided by who wants in more. I'll say Rocky wins by breaking Mercer's will to engage later in the fight, like Lennox Lewis and Holyfield did. SD for Marciano.
I pretty sure if Marciano comes in as over weight as Toney, he be ok in your book. I pretty sure Marciano can weight as much as Toney if Marciano lived off of Burger King and happy meals.
A much more realistic matchup would be Ray Mercer vs Rex Layne. Both in shape in their primes. Two Durable Sluggers with good jabs vs one another. Ray Mercer vs Marciano is a mismatch. Marciano is an ATG, Ray Mercer does not have the consistency to ever be picked over an ATG heavyweight. Rocky would get inside and pound away at Mercer until ray is forced to retire on his stool late in the fight becaue he is mentally and physically exhausted from the abuse he is taking all over his body.