Couldn't have said it any better myself. Mercer was simply a tough punch bag with a great chin. He has 2 decent wins, Morrison and Damiani, both of which he was losing. So hes hardly the legend hes made into. A tough night for anyone, definitely. But i don't see any greats struggling with him, maybe except Patterson.
I think Mercer would've shown up in much better forum then he showed up against Ferguson. I think Mercer would've put up a good fight (like he always did) against Bowe, landed some solid shots but overall Bowe would bust Mercer up, giving him a real good whooping maybe even have finished Mercer off in the late rounds. I don't think I'd expect any heavyweights throughout history who I don't consider to be great standing a chance to beat Rid**** Bowe at the time he demolished Jesse Ferguson he was on top of his game at this stage of his career.
Its hard to pick Mercer to beat any all time greats but except for maybe a prime Ali but on a good night I see him giving all of them a good fight even though being beaten clearly. I feel hes in the same league as very solid guys like Ron Lyle, George Chuvalo, Razor Ruddock etc...
I think Bowe-Mercer would've been one of the best fights of the 90's. Both men hated each other! Mercer could soak up bombs and dish some of his own. But Bowe was the better fighter. Unlike Lewis who looked uncomfortable in the trenches, Bowe thrived there and wouldn't let Mercer get away with the win.
I wasn't aware of any hate between them, however even if there was we all saw that "hate" or the need to settle unfinished business with a direct rival simply wasn't enough to stimulate Rid**** Bowe into demonstrating championship pride. Indeed, Bowe can be seen widely across the internet on a moments notice, making excuses and dumping a title belt into a trash can...after promising to whack the man who spanked the daylights out of him, in front of the world, no less, a scant 4 years earlier. Where was the championship pride?
Revisionism is a powerful thing. Behind the scenes seemed to work out fine for Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Wlad Klitschko, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Michael Spinks, George Foreman and of course Lennox Lewis...the very man that Bowe all but jumped through plate glass to avoid. Bowe avoided the punchers that Lewis, Morrison and Holyfield took on. Bowe dumped a belt into a trash can......months after a face to face promise/threat he made to Lennox Lewis in the moments after defeating Holyfield. I'm supposing I have it all wrong though, that in fact Bowe was hungry for getting back at Lewis and making good on his promise to exact revenge and clear up the question of just who was best....but first, remnants of Michael Dokes...then Ferguson..... Perhaps Bowe was simply a puppet, impotent to get stuff done and devoid of conviction and willpower.
I think Rock Newman was pulling the strings, telling him to concentrate on high money fights with small to no risk. I think the plan was to fight Lewis later after some big money had been made, but then Bowe lost the title back to Holyfield. If Bowe and Mercer had fought I think Bowe would have won on decision. Mercer would have been in better shape than he was against Ferguson, but Bowe was too big and too strong for him, while also being better skilled. I think Bowe's tendency to fight in the trenches would make it tougher than it had to be. Bowe should have used his height and reach advantages, and boxed more, but he gave us some excitement with some great wars. He had the chin to fight an exciting style but it really cost him a lengthy career. He could have achieved more in the long run if he boxed more and slugged less. It's a pity he and Lewis and he never fought. I think in this prime, Bowe matched up well with Lewis in height, reach, power. He also had the better chin. That fight should really have happened.
Bowe had the Better chin? It may have seemed that way with Holyfield, Ferguson and Dokes. Throw in Mathis JR and Larry Donald and suddenly I had to start asking myself, why is Bowe hopscotching all of the better hitters of that day? Sure, Lennox got nailed twice, but I submit that while he indeed did have his shortcomings, Rahman and McCall were very good hitters, far and away better than what Bowe had been facing....over years. Credit to Lewis for being the gunslinger that Rid**** could have been, but never was. Lewis was never knocked cold in the gym by a cruiserweight. 1991 was a very colorful year for Rid****. The Biggs match had a moment that was telling re Rid****'s punch resistance, albeit a fleeting moment. The fact is Ruddock, Mercer, Morrison, Foreman and Tyson never seemed to land on his plate. Ditto with Moorer and even an Alex Stewart.