Foreman of the Lyle fight vs Mercer of the Lewis fight

Mercer probably IMO that version was perfect for a guy with a questionable chin, gas tank and kamikaze approach but not a lot between them mentally if he wasn’t as right as fans allude “Lewis” Mercer would be ALL wrong for him.

 

I never thought id say this but Mercer has become kinda overrated in the classic based on his 2 fights with Lewis and Morrison. Foreman stops him late

 

Based on what does Foreman stop Mercer? I’ve always assumed he was one of “those” like McCall and Ali that banking on a KO is heretical lol based on the Lyle fight I think he’d be all wrong for GF.

 

Lennox doesn't have power quite like Foreman. Lyle had far more reputation for his "heavy hands" than Mercer in their respective eras, Mercers power was average for a heavyweight. I take it you're assuming since Lewis can't KO Mercer despite Mercer eating everything in the book then foreman simply can't ?

 

In one sense, I think you're right...*IF* Mercer had unexceptional power by 70s standards, Foreman has a good chance. He liked rough, hittable guys without punches, even if they were durable.

But on your other point, I doubt 90s Lennox was a step down from 70s Foreman's power.

 

Mercer would be right in front of Foreman and that's a recipe for losing. Foreman wouldn't neglect the body and that would go a big way toward winning. A rusty Foreman showed he could and would walk thru walls to win and he's got too much for Ray Mercer.

 

Mercer succumbs late, albeit on his feet, it’s a great fight early and Mercer has some success with his underrated boxing and counterpunching, but he doesn’t have the feet to stay away, Foreman clubs away at Mercer, arms, gloves, hip and where he can land, and the power goes through the guard, you can rely on blocking.

Mercer is able to stand up to him for a bit and maybe even gives him some shaky moments, but Foreman clubbing away, even at the guard would wear Mercer down and he would gradually start taking more and more clean punches, as Mercer can’t move to stay away, can’t hold his guard firm, he takes them to the side, then when he desperately tries to defend against that, or smothers, Foreman lands sickening uppercuts and bodyshots, Mercer ends up defenceless.

He succumbs mid-late rounds

The trouble Mercer gives Foreman may be slightly from what Lyle did, Mercer would potentially rock Forman and land some nice counters, but I’m not sure if he’d drop Forman heavily and near 10 count as Lyle did, since Lyle is a noticeably bigger puncher than Mercer.

 

I think that Mercer may edge that Foreman based on the rust and conditioning factor that Foreman was dealing with .... the best Foreman could beat Mercer with his jab and strength although it's a tough match up because of Mercer's own strength and chin.

 

Mercer succumbs late to the guy who famously had famously terrible stamina? Um what evidence is there for George KOing guys with the stamina and chin of Mercer in the late rounds?

 

Who did Foreman beat with his jab exactly? I may have missed that fight.

 

I’d say Lennox hit hard enough and I highly, highly doubt there was anything between them. I assume Foreman can’t KO Mercer because it took till the day he was shot and a battering from Wlad Klitschko to crack his chin, his defence wasn’t overly special either he took a lot and all that punishment adds up, eventually you can’t draw from your account anymore and those “lights” get brighter every hit. Mercer doesn’t even need to hit as hard as Lyle he just needs to hit as hard as Ali and he’s a few steps up from there.

 

I highly highly doubt Lewis hit nearly as hard based on most who had experience fighting and sparring both. Lewis never had the power to put people down with short arm shots or glancing blows like George and imo Lewis had Bowe type power, Foreman is in the Klitschko tier. Foreman is going to hit him all over the place besides the chin and i just see him getting pummelled down the stretch, he doesn't have to drop him. He can stun him and stop him on his feet which isn't unlikely at all, mercers cement feet compared to lyle won't help him in anyway either. Lewis didn't use much movement even when an old ass Holmes could, that suggests Lewis was possibly arrogant and wanted to outman Mercer in the exchanges rather than fight smart, or it was the size of the ring which is something well known that Lewis didn't like. Think Lyle hits at least marginally harder than Mercer, but I dont see it being anything other than a more competitive version of Foreman vs Chuvalo, close fight until Foreman lands something that staggers Ray, he's the far bigger puncher here with ironically better boxing skills and quicker feet. If they're in the pocket and they will be because Ray has cement feet then Mercer isn't getting the same extention on his shots that Lyle did

 

I think that most people wouldn’t say Lewis didn’t punch on the same tier as Foreman he savaged Ruddock, Golota, Rahman, Botha, Grant and hit so hard he had Tua scared? All of those guys were a lot bigger and more durable then Frazier and Norton… Before we go too much further can we just agree that Lewis hit very hard? and if Foreman hit harder that it wouldn’t be fight defining different? It ain’t overly important as I don’t think he’d be able to hurt Mercer anyway. GF TKO’d Chuvalo he didn’t KO him he got a small Frazier and Chinny Norton against Chuvalo he did structural / surface damage much like Lewis with Vitali for example. Frazier got Chuavlo too and we don’t go on and on about his power lol much like Shavers his power is real it’s incredible according to Holyfield but unproven against big guys. Holyfield said on occasion that he doesn’t know if Tyson hit harder than GF that he didn’t get hit properly Holyfield words were that he landed the hardest single shot, sometimes a good punch is a good punch and if it’s delivered by a good puncher you’ll rememberer… D1ck Tiger was dropped by Emile Griffith and I wouldn’t call Griffith a puncher but I bet Tiger remembered it. Style also matters…Lewis boxed Holy he didn’t just blast him in the trenches - I think it’s safe to say both were big strong top tier punchers right?

This content is protected