"Mercer-Spoon" 1996... Did Spoon get dicked?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by MRBILL, Sep 25, 2009.


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  1. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Folks,

    I am pumped for "Klit-Arreola" on for tomorrow night in L.A., so I am watching several "Key" heavyweight fights to get psyched out late Friday night.......

    I have Ray Mercer going to war with Tim Witherspoon from 1996 as part of the "Bowe-Golota 2" undercard.......

    This fight is very close to call / judge.... I have an aging Spoon in great shape schooling the slower and younger Mercer within the first 5 rds, however, Mercer came alive in rds 6 thru 10, and took the decision in the end............

    HMMMM! Did the judges favor Mercer cuz they felt sorry that he dropped a hard fought decision to Lenny Lewis earlier in May of 1996??? I wonder....
    :huh

    After 10 rds of decently heated action, I favored my guy Tim Spoon after 10 rds with Raymond Mercer were over with........... Who thinks otherwise or, who agree's with me????
    :hey

    MR.BILL:good
     
    MRBILL, Sep 25, 2009
    MRBILL, Sep 25, 2009
    #1
  2. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    To be clear, neither man was really young. Spoon was about 38, while Mercer was around 35. Furthermore, Witherspoon was on the comeback trail and Mercer was on well, let's just say a bumpy road....

    I haven't seen this fight since it happened some 13 years ago, but I can remember it being very close and thinking Spoon probably could have taken it, but it certainly wouldn't have been a decisive verdict no matter who took it.....
     
    mr. magoo, Sep 25, 2009
    mr. magoo, Sep 25, 2009
    #2
  3. rekcutnevets

    rekcutnevets Black Sash Full Member

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    I like that statement. Mercer was an older fighter when he reached contender status, so we haven't really a young version from which to compare. I don't think this is what you were going after when you posted this, but it may illustrate a point. A fighter's age is often held in regard to the fighter's professional career length.
     
    rekcutnevets, Sep 25, 2009
    rekcutnevets, Sep 25, 2009
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  4. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Indeed,

    Ray Mercer did not turn professional until roughly the age of about 27.. He did not truly breach the top 10, nor become marketable until age 30-31. I do however feel that he was peaked by that point, and was on the decline by 35....
     
    mr. magoo, Sep 25, 2009
    mr. magoo, Sep 25, 2009
    #4
  5. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Mercer was 36, while the Spooner was 39....................... BUT! Spoon was leaner in build, while Mercer looked thick in the girth / strike zone area......... All in all, I know GODDAMN WELL that this '96 "Mercer-Spoon" fight was indeed better but not nearly as potent or meaningful as "Ali-Norton 3" of '76, but my feeling is, if Ali and Norton fought a decent fight that raised a lotta' eyebrows upon the decision rendered in favor of Ali, than "Mercer-Spoon" should've been at least scored a Goddamn draw................. I was livid when Mercer got the win................ I wanted the draw.........

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Sep 25, 2009
    MRBILL, Sep 25, 2009
    #5
  6. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Really Bill?!?!?!?

    Was this truly the the tale of the tape between Raymond Mercer and Timothy Witherspoon?
     
    mr. magoo, Sep 25, 2009
    mr. magoo, Sep 25, 2009
    #6
  7. klompton

    klompton Boxing Addict banned

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    I thought Spoon deserved to win it. Spoon was a hell of a fighter.
     
    klompton, Sep 25, 2009
    klompton, Sep 25, 2009
    #7
  8. Bigcat

    Bigcat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    spoon won imo... 2 points in front......
     
    Bigcat, Sep 25, 2009
    Bigcat, Sep 25, 2009
    #8
  9. My dinner with Conteh

    My dinner with Conteh Tending Bepi Ros' grave again Full Member

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    Spoon was jobbed.
     
    My dinner with Conteh, Sep 25, 2009
    My dinner with Conteh, Sep 25, 2009
    #9
  10. DamonD

    DamonD Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Witherspoon had himself a good little comeback in the mid-nineties, got himself a Ring ranking and everything. This was a very close one but I haven't seen it in years so I don't know how I had it. I did have a friend in the crowd that had Mercer winning, but when he later watched the footage said he thought Terrible Tim actually deserved it.
     
    DamonD, Sep 26, 2009
    DamonD, Sep 26, 2009
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  11. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    This fight actually ruin Terrible Tim; I thought he was in excellent form during the period and with what happened to Tyson, he may just of had enough to edge Holyfield and although he would of lost in the end, I think he would of the made the Lion suffer for a few rounds.
     
    TBooze, Sep 26, 2009
    TBooze, Sep 26, 2009
    #11
  12. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    I felt Witherpsoon won by a small margin. It wasn't a robbery, just poor judging.
     
    Mendoza, Sep 26, 2009
    Mendoza, Sep 26, 2009
    #12
  13. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ruined? YES! It took all the motivation away from Spoon...... But I do believe Spoon roared back for one brief moment in 1997 or so to KO Levi Billups inside of one sloppy round on the USA network.......

    I was disgusted with Spoon with his dull showing in Poland against Golota and then his gross effort in '99 against Greg Page........ ARGH!!!
    :fire

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Sep 26, 2009
    MRBILL, Sep 26, 2009
    #13
  14. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    In my opinion, the letdown loss to Raymond Mercer in late '96 took some comeback drive outta Timmy Spoon.... YES! Timmy Spoon roared back and KO'd Levi Billups in 1997, but Spoon looked awful in Poland in his points loss to Andy Golota in 1998..... After the loss to Golota, Spoon fell back to being a lazy slob and was horrid / shameful in his '99 rematch loss to Gregory Page...... WORD!

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Aug 29, 2010
    MRBILL, Aug 29, 2010
    #14
  15. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I agree....... Was Mercer getting a gift by the judges since many felt he was dicked-off with Lewis earlier in '96?
    :huh

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Aug 29, 2010
    MRBILL, Aug 29, 2010
    #15
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