A couple of also-fans who had interesting and encouraging career results along the way to losing to most of the better fighters they faced. So does Mercado, the Colombian strongman, do a number on the Native American southpaw from Washington state? Or is it Hipp’s grinding persistence and durability that pays off against the more explosive Mercado? Let’s make it for 10 rounds in Los Angeles with completely neutral officials. Who you got? And why?
Both could pack a good punch tho. I remember Morrison said Hipp was one of the hardest punchers he's ever fought in the post fight interview. Mercado although the superior puncher, had a suspect chin. Yes I know he took Shavers's best punch but bizarre things happen in boxing. You can have the glass jawed Khan taking some of the best shots from Maidana who is a terrific puncher and Gil Turner who is always tough got blasted easily by the featherfisted Al Andrews. I do not think the result is gonna be exciting. Mercado is a devastating puncher but could be overly passive sometimes and Hipp is almost just as similar. I would confidently pick Mercado to win by dec but I have low expectation of how action packed the fight could be.
I think this would be an exciting match truthfully. Crowd gets it’s money’s worth for sure. I’m leaning toward Hipp but that’s not a bet
My lean is Hipp because I think his body work — he was a persistent body puncher — would take a toll. I don’t think Mercado is consistent enough in punch output to close Hipp’s eyes, which caused his stoppage losses to Bruce Seldon and Bert Cooper. I figure it’s roughly even through eight and Hipp finishes stronger. Not expecting an all-time classic but it would be a competitive scrap IMO.
Man would this be a fight! Hipp had a pretty underrated punch- He was able to cleanly knock out Ribalta in 2 when the only other men who could do it were Ruddock, Bruno, and Vitali (Vitali still needed to get a technical stoppage after just one knockdown in the second) and Mercado could throw hard leather, too. I don't know if I'd be able to make a solid case for either men, as both of them lost against all significant opposition other than Bernardo beating an old Shavers- But damn if I wouldn't love to see the outcome. I think that if I had to choose, I'd take Mercado. Hipp typically got stopped on cuts or from getting really badly mangled during the process of a bout (Cooper, Morrison, Seldlon, Pegues)- Whereas Bernardo would get held up on the ropes and unable to fight back, like against Spinks- Which I don't think Joe could replicate. In addition to this, Hipp was stopped straight out by Ross Puritty, so he's likely the more vulnerable one in this match. But then again, Mercado also dropped a decision in ten to Randall Cobb of all people, so we can't know what happens exactly.
