My initial reaction was Mercer would win on points but looking at Wills resume he might pull off the upset. Thoughts?
An interesting matchup which could do us a favour in so far as after discussion we might have a better understanding of Will's chances against Dempsey.I'm undecided right now and hope this post gets some input.Welcome to this Vipers Nest, watch your back!
Harry Wills beat Sam Langford 7 times and was also the world coloured heavyweight champion and was a decent fighter for the times, but boxing had evolved massively by the time of the 90s and I don't see this dude lasting more than 1 round against Mercer
He beat Langford multiple times, but he can't last a round with Mercer? Lane Wills Wilson Ferguson And a 42 years old Holmes managed it? Interesting.
42 year old Holmes would’ve beat langford, no heavyweight from the Langford era would be able to hang with any top heavyweight of the 90s because they were all like 185lbs, 200lbs at most, and the techniques to defend, counter, get into range, set up attacks have all changed and they have changed because that is what works better, they would throw a jab or a wide swing then clinch for a bit then just keep doing that until one got tired and then knocked out with a barrage of wild punches, there would’ve been a bit of technicality behind it, but not advanced at all
The only humanly possible way for Mercer to win is by knockout. Likely Wills outpoints him and wins a decision. Wills could be a bit chinny at times, so it is possible that Ray catches and finishes him, but the odds are Wills simply is too fast and clever for him.
Mercer by brutal KO. Wills had a substantial size advantage over Langford, to the extent that Langford couldn’t overcome that disadvantage despite being the more skilled of the two. Wills was slow, and preferred clinching and imposing his size and weight advantage, which would be neutralized by an equally strong and capable Mercer. Sharkey brutalized Wills, and a relative Italian journeyman knocked him out.
