WHO WINS? Former rated Heavyweights Duane Bobick (Ring #4) was his best ranking for Ring Magazine he was ranked 5th going into the Norton fight 48-4 42 knockouts Former rated Heavyweights Bernardo Mercardo (Ring #6) was his best ranking for Ring Magazine (victories over Berbick, and Shavers) 33-5 28 knockouts
Duane never beat anyone as good as Mercado, who was a solid fighter and a pretty big puncher. I don’t think he wins this. I’ll go with Bernardo by early KO, which is how it mostly went with Bobick against punchers.
I was gonna go with Bernardo Mercardo till I saw the Shavers fight, Duane overall at his best, was a better fighter than Mercardo. 10 round unanimous decision. Duane was not in the first elite by no means, but was fairly formidable vs 10-20 , and thats where i'd rate Mercardo. I think this would have been a good ten round matchup, especially if Duane used his somewhat boxing skills, like his fights with Scott LeDoux Duane did beat some good (not great heavyweights) LeDoux (twice) Houpe B. Johnson Neumann (Ranked #10 at the time) Middleton Wepner (Ranked #9 at the time) Weaver Schutte 2 guys that I do not believe Bobick would have ever beat and Mercardo defeated one of them, Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers -Earnie was more exhausted than anything else vs Mercardo.
The Weaver he beat was 6-5 at the time while Duane was 23-0. I don’t think Bobick beats the Weaver of Holmes or later. Bunny Johnson was for all intents and purposes a light heavyweight. Mercado beat an 11-0 Trevor Berbick (KO 1), a well-past pit Henry Clark and, of course, Shavers, and has a few other decent wins. Neither Bobick nor Mercado were first-rate. I don’t think Duane was terrible by any means but his track record suggests he crumbles agains any kind of puncher and Mercado could bang.
I like to look at these kinds of matches in terms of when they COULD have happened. Mercado was a busy up-and-coming prospect in 1976, while Bobick had established himself in the top-10. Bobick hadn't had his confidence shattered (if that's what happened) against Norton yet. So, up until May 1977 I'd pick Bobick. After May 1977 I'd pick Mercado. By then he'd gained experience and Bobick was starting to lose by early kayo. Of course, Mercado lost those two in a row, early, against Tate and Weaver in 1978, but Bobick also lost to Knoetze that year. And Tate and Weaver were better fighters than Knoetze. So Mercado it is. Especially the version that knocked Trevor Berbick cold in one round.
Both guys could punch and neither were good at taking it...... But Bobick’s chin was decidedly worse. I’m going with Mercado by stoppage inside of five
Trevor was only 11-0 BUT A KNOCKOUT IS A KNOCKOUT JAMES THUNDER/GRIMSLEY. Bobick also had the punch, but he was more of a wear you down body puncher. I could actually see Bobick win one prime for prime. But it could go either way of course, Bobick not need to lose that weight come in at 217 and train hard you'll need it. Bobick would need that earlier confidence to bring home a victory (understatement) Be a great weekend TV MATCH. (10 rounds sports spectacular) Live from Las Vegas.
