Ray Mercer (Lewis fight) vs Larry Holmes (M Spinks 1/Williams) Both 35

This would be a rough, bruising battle. Would love to get into a time machine and make this happen, but then I have the dilemma- "Who do I kidnap first?"
I think Holmes takes it in a tough contest.

 

Maybe it’s just the case that Lennox Lewis is over-rated.

 

Holmes would have still won, just too smart and technical for Mercer. And this time, he wouldn't need the ropes because he would have had fresher legs.

 

Think Holmes still edges it.

 

It was right on the edge of his prime - I think he hired Stewart right after.

 

Holmes UD

 

Lewis’. I judge Lewis’ prime at around 1997-02, personally. Over-rated fighter though, Mercer gets some earned, but also some excessive, mileage out of arguably beating him.

 

I’d say so, too.

 

Holmes all day every day. He was just too fast and too skillful for Mercer.

 

Holmes by wide and easy UD. Holmes was better at 35 than he was at 42 for obvious reasons. And Mercer was certainly better at 30 than he was at 35. Mercer that lost to Holmes in 1991 was coming off the three biggest wins of his career, he was fresh, active, unbeaten. Mercer that fought Lewis was slightly overweight, extremely inactive and hadn't won a fight for 30 months. In fact, he fought Lewis in May of 1996, while his last win came as far ago as November of 1993, and it was super close SD victory over journeyman Jesse Ferguson.

The myth of Mercer that gave Lewis all he could handle and more was the best version of Mercer ever is just a groundless myth. Mercer gave Lewis such a tough fight because Lewis ALWAYS struggled badly against good jabbers. And, BTW, it's the main reason why I would favour heavily Holmes, Ali, Foreman and Liston against any version of Lewis.