Think I agree. Weaver for sure was an excellent fighter and a better boxer than Mercer, but Ray was next-level tough. Weaver wasn't that hard to hit and I think that Mercer would probably plain out-tough him. Basically Ray can take a whalloping and Weaver not so much.
This. Weaver would punch himself out trying to knock Mercer out, who was as durable as a brick wall in his prime.
I watched the Cooper - Mercer fight, and it was crazy. Mercer's face swelled up like a damn football but he just didn't care and kept going. I could be wrong, but I think Mercer broke Bert in that fight. I never saw Cooper look as fearsome again.