Heavyweight FOTW #4: Lewis v. Mercer (bonus: Mercer v. Cooper)

Yay! It’s back! I do have a busy weekend but will try to get to them Sunday/Monday

 

First time I watched it I had it 96-95 Lewis, but it definitely needs to be re watched and re scored. I remember lots of close rounds, both fighters eating big punches and Mercer coming forward for the majority of the fight. I'll try get round to re watching this over the weekend!

 

Had some time, scored it for Lewis 97-93 or 7-3 in rounds. I gave LL 3,4,5,,7,8,,9,10 and gave RM 1,2,6. There were many rounds that were close that could have gone either way. Most rounds seemed to start with LL landing a decent combination, and controlling early, then RM would do better toward the end of the round and he could have stolen a lot of those rounds. I did watch with the sound off because I don't like to hear Lampley say that one or the other is hurt every time a punch lands, I also don't care to listen to him repeat the punch stat numbers over and over.

The camera angle didn't show the feet enough but when it did it seemed that LL was lifting his heel too high when he punched instead of turning the foot in the "step on a bug" or "put out a cigarette" motion. Lifting his heel affected his balance and he had to reset himself. I also didn't like the roll back to the right he would do after a right hand. That brought his head low and if RM had thrown a left hook he might have rolled into it. I scored it for LL, but could understand if someone gave it to RM because of his performance in the final minute of many rounds.

Good fight to watch.

 

Love both those fights. Cooper-Mercer was a WAR. Ray may have had the money behind him and gotten the decision. But, he also got a broken jaw for his troubles. He could barely talk during the post fight interview.

 

I scored it a draw years ago. I had three friends that were in msg that night to this day they swear Mercer won. Maybe one of those fights where it seemed different in person

 

I just scored Cooper - Mercer, good action fight. I scored 115-113 for RM, I had RM winning 1,2,3,4,11,12 on my card with the first round a 2 point round. Cooper won 5,6,7,9,10, with the 8th EVEN. I scored it 6-5-1 for RM. BC landed some hard punches and RM did too. RM fought almost the entire fight with his jaw injured. Tough fighter.

Cooper was a good puncher, a good inside fighter, just a good solid fighter all around, but I don't think he was confident in his conditioning. If he would have bent his knees and not squared up on the inside Mercer wouldn't have been able to lean on him and push him with his weight as much. It would have been interesting to see BC with a good training camp and in excellent condition against anybody. I suspect that his out of the ring issues always interfered with his conditioning and training but he was a fun fighter to watch.

I don't know what LL was trying to do with RM. His footwork wasn't good and when the footwork is off, everything is. Like you I need to see more of LL and in particular I'll be interested to see if he ever corrected his feet and used the "step on a bug" and stopped raising his heel so high. I was impressed with his ability to put punches together and he went to the body well for a tall guy. But, overall RM was probably just a tough fight for anybody when he was motivated. A good jab, almost impossible to hurt, and he put punches together with good power in his right hand and left hook.

 

Two great fights.

As for Lewis-Mercer, there were many rounds so close to score. I've watched this fight at least 5 times, and every time my scores differ. From 2 points for Lennox to draw or even Mercer win.

 

I will try to make time to do so. (With 3 kids under the age of 10, that is not always easy, brother)

 

At one point, Mercer was the guy I looked at, as a seriously good value for money bet - against any heavyweight. He was, on the whole, a great competitor, worthy of a good deal of respect. Whilst this and his reliability took a bit of a hit, particularly after Ferguson, it came as no surprise to me that he gave Lewis a tough, close fight.

I’m glad this fight came up in the FOTW series. Here’s how I have it…

1 - Mercer
2 - Mercer
3 - Lewis
4 - Lewis
5 - Lewis
6 - Mercer
7 - Lewis
8 - Lewis
9 - Mercer
10 - Lewis

96 - 94 Lewis

Mercer started very well and was competitive, throughout. But, once Lewis began to measure Mercer, both his offense and defense, gave him a much needed edge. I say ‘much needed’, because Lewis only pulled ahead comfortably (by 2 points) after round-8 on my card and needed the final round to clinch the win.