How do you see it going? I would see Mercer doing some damage in the first 5 rounds, and Foreman giving it back. I guess it would be battle of the chins.
Mercer outworks him. Solid chin and has a better work rate than 90s Foreman. While he may not stop him I see him get a clear UD.
Briggs met Ray when he was a very old man... Evander made Mercer take a knee.. George was knocked down by a light punching Jimmy Young while in his prime.. for gods sake Shultz battered George.. (fixed event) Morrison beat GF... Ray killed Morrison.... George was outhustled in realism by Alex Stewart.. Ray in his prime as was stated (1992) Ray would have had far too much for George.. Mercer v Wlad / Briggs was 15 years after the optimum time frame.. Ray has no business in the ring nowadays.. George v Ray is a bad match in 92.. Ray wins mostly because he could box more capably than George aropnd that time.. 1992 Ray takes an easy points win..
Mercer is better then any of the guys George fought on route to his titleshot . Mercer was actually a ranked and dangerous contender not a Jourenyman like the guys George was fighting in the 90s.
I think I would have to agree with you here. I think George's jab would have given a guy like Mercer fits. Mercer, at least the 92' version, was not as polished or skillful as he was against Lennox Lewis or Evander Holyfield later in his career. Mercer seemed to improve his technique and his boxing skill as he got older, but in '92 he was very beatable. I think George does a number on him with his jab, and he would probably win a close decision. But how far Mercer has fallen now. He gets taken out by a glorifed backyard fighter in Kimbo Slice!
Mercer was good back in those days but was terribly inconsistent. He'd beat a Tommy Morrison then lose to an old Larry Holmes or a mediocre Jesse Ferguson. He was tough but he wasn't all that skilled (even Damiani was whipping him before Ray stopped him) and he was never a defensive genius,which I think Foreman could exploit with his brutal jab. George would score enough with the jab and occasional clubbing right hand to take some close,hard fought rounds.Mercer get's his fair share of punches in but I see Georges strength tiring Ray out late and allowing George to take a narrow decision.
That wasn't a boxing match though. Mercer lost because it appeared he had done very little MMA training whilst by contrast Kimbo had done quite a bit. In a straight-up boxing match Mercer would probably beat Kimbo though it's by no means certain considering how faded Mercer is now.
Brutal mightn't be the best word but it was a very hard and jolting punch and upset a lot of fighters rhythm when they fought George. He landed 3 of them in a row on Ron Lyle which led to the stoppage in their fight (although exhaustion played a part as well),which shows it could definately hurt. Foreman's jab wasn't brutal in the sense that Sonny Listons or Larry's was but it was a very effective punch but I'll concede the point that brutal isn't the best term to describe it.
Foreman was a better boxer in the 90's and had better stamina, I think the strong chinned Mercer had a better chance with the Foreman of the 70's because of mercer's ability to take a shot and Foremans inability to pace himself or lack of stamina but in the 90's I could see Foreman outjabbing the limited Mercer and landing enough hard punches to keep him honest and at bay for a ud in 10-12...the Mercer of the 90's vs a 70 version Froeman, could win by ko 8-12 rounds over a younger Foreman
Yeah he finished Ron in the corner with clubbing rights and uppercuts but earlier in the 5th when Lyle was still on top Foreman landed a series of jabs which swung the fights momentum back in his favour from memory.
