What were Ray Mercer's strengths and weaknesses? Great chin, above average power, good jab, good infighting Weakness: not especially high work rate, often slightly overweight (really overweight when he fought Lewis), not great at cutting ring vs movers How much more do you think he could have achieved?
He pretty much did what he could. He was not a big heavyweight nor was he especially skilful. He struggled a bit with the 'good big guys' simply due to that fact. I think if anything his career might well have been worse and not better. He fought and beat arguably the best version of Bert Cooper I ever saw, taking a terrible battering in the win. Could have been a career ender. He got his ears boxed off by Damiani before his grit and power came to the rescue with the one hitter quitter he landed. Could easily have been a whitewash and a significant step back. etc ...
He admittedly liked to party and drink alcohol and said his camps would either be great and he'd prepare properly (like against Morrison) or he'd be apathetic and wouldn't research or watch tapes of his opponents he said he didn't bother with taking Wladimir Klitschko seriously and said in hindsight he could have done better. He also complained Shannon Briggs repeatedly fouled him with rabbit punches. Mercer has been the only United States Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medalist since 1988! When motivated and ready he was great when uninterested he wasn't.
