How would Ray Mercer do in today's HW division?

Great summary.

Wlad has no inside game, none.

No way could he deal with that pressure.

Vitali wins competitive decision.

 

You plank :hat

 

Are you f/n kidding me.

Mercer's skillset never decreased, nor did his power, speed, or chin.

He was as good at 35 as he was when he was 30, and as good at 40 as he was at 35.

Wlad dominated him and beat him from pillar to post before he learned to hold after being wobbled. Mercer hit Wlad with bombs and Wlad moved to the side and shot laser guided R hands splitting Mercers guard.

Mercer = Sam Peter almost to a tee, except Peter actually had a defense and a good L hook.:rofl:rofl:rofl

 

Mercer was past prime here but it was still a career first knockdown and stoppage loss, no surprise the man who did it went on to dominate the division. Mercer would be a force in today's scene but no way he has any chance against Wladimir.

 

Not good, Wlad kicked his **** in in 6 rounds like 10 years ago.
But he definitely would've been able to handle most of the other guys. Had a great chin and good power. He'd spark the **** outta guys like Wilder and Fury. He'd KO Povetkin.

 

Mercer would be a contender. Vitali would probably beat him fairly convincingly. Wlad would be favored, but Mercer would be a very live underdog. Vitali would fight him to keep him away from Wlad.

 

He'd be a contender, just like he was during the 90s, but certainly not among the top 4 or 5 guys. He'd face difficulties while facing skilled guys, since Mercer didn't posses some high level of skill himself, although he could take a punch. Imo he could defeat some guys but I don't believe he'd make it to the mandatory spot by IBF or WBA.

 

Who was blasted out- I thought Vlad blasted out Brewster?
Who beat whom?

 

After the last quality opponent (Witherspoon), he didn't fight at all in 1997 and 2000. He had just one fight in 98 and 99, and only before getting a shot against Wlad he had somewhat busy year in 2001. If you wander what he was doing at that time, you can check to his interviews for things like this "I never had a drinking problem, but drinking alcohol just helped keep the weight on".

He was always inconsistent, but if you think he was as good at 40 as he was at 30, you are simply ignoring facts.

 

Tua was 3 years younger than Mercer was against Wlad when he lost to Unistov.
Doesn't matter though because Tua was as good in his late 30s as he was in his late 20s.
nut

In that case he can fight for a title in 2014 so yeah?atsch

 

Prime Mercer goes the distance with prime versions of ATGs Holyfield and Lewis giving them hell , but in Klittard land he doesn't make it out of a WBO eliminator in the worst HW era known to man:rofl

 

90s was a weak era. Mercer was just another journeyman in 00s.

 

Mercer was way to inconsistent to have ever been a dominant champion. On a good say like in the fights against Holyfield and Lewis he was a handful for anyone. But I could see him showing up in bad shape and losing to lesser opposition.

I could see him picking up a title but losing to the Klitschko's. Yes he gave Lewis a really tough fight but Lewis was yet to peak and the fight was in an 18ft ring which is tiny. Stick Wlad in an 18ft ring with Mercer then I'd favour Mercer but in a decent sized ring I'd see prime Wlad outpointing Mercer. But Mercer would beat a pre Steward Wlad.

Vitali was too tough and too active to lose to Mercer. Vitali would beat any version of Mercer.

 

He'd be a champ

 

Mercer would never be a champ as long as one of the Klits is. Other than that, he would be competitive.