Ray Mercer on the best he's ever faced....

His picks are self serving like all fighters who are asked these questions, they at least seem realistic based off competition.

That said, I give Mercer lots of crap as that's just the side of the coin the arguments fall on. Sure, he didn't live up to the Olympian Gold as a pro, just seemed to lose focus frequently and get out-boxed despite his amateur skill set.

However, what Mercer had as a pro in his prime was amazing durability, a stiff jab, and a hard punch. Attributes that were enough to see him pick up some good wins and push a rebuilding Lewis to a draw in my book.

 

Not sure how Mercer's being dishonest.

Cooper was the only want to stand there and slug it out with him and take his best shots. It's only natural for him to pick him as the guy with the best chin.

Wladmir knocked him out, something none of the 90's guys could achieve. What's strange about him being the hardest hitter?

Holyfield does indeed have great footwork and knew how to keep himself in position to punch, use angles, etc. Other opponents of Holyfield said the same thing.

Lennox's intelligence and formidable physical strength are confirmed by just about everyone he fought. They're both obvious traits he has when watching his fights.

What's the problem?

 

Said no one, ever.

 

Thanks OP, Ray Mercer never in a dull fight, wars with Lewis, Cooper and Holyfield never to be forgotten as was his KO of Tommy Morrison.

 

Love Mercer.bloke was as hard as nails and feared no one. I wish he had met Tyson .I think against the post prison Tyson he had a good chance of victory.would of been fun finding out .

 

Was going to say, as a fan of both sports, Sylvia represented the UFC's inferior HW division against the real best of the era who were mostly in Pride FC at the time. He was looked at in MMA about the way we looked at John Ruiz or Valuev as a belt holder.

In any case, I always do enjoy these pieces, and I think Mercer was pretty honest and insightful compared to many of the answers I've seen before.

 

Everyone who fought Lennox Lewis said the guy was as strong an oak tree

 

Which makes you wonder how strong Hasim Rahman must have been to man handle him like that at the press conference......the look on Lennox’s face was priceless

 

There's not problem. Deep heavyweight eras have Ray Mercer's in them.

My issues are thus

Best footwork. Damani? Well I get it Ray was down on points and ended a miracle like come from behind shot, but in a boxing sense the fleet footed and slick Osacio who Mercer fought would have been a better pick.

Best chin, Bert Cooper. Nah, he was Ko'd too many times. A better pick would have been Holyfield.

Fastest hands is probably Wlad. Mercer had a tough time admitting defeat here.

 

I like his commentary but I’m surprised he lists cooper as having a better chin than Holyfield..

On a side note his fight with Bert was an absolute brawl. I watched it live on tv and both of those guys were swollen from eye to eye

 

I like his call on Holyfield, he had better footwork than is generally realized

 

Holyfield didn't stand right in front of Mercer slugging it out, Cooper did. Thus Cooper left a better impression on Mercer as far as toughness goes.

It wasn't a mark against Holyfield or suggesting his chin wasn't great. Standing there going toe to toe means you're going to get nailed way more than if your using your feet and using angles the way Holyfield did.

He didn't say Damiani had the best footwork, he said he had the best defense. Mercer picked Holyfield for best footwork.

Wladmir did not have faster hands than Holyfield. That's not even up for debate.

Mercer did not "have trouble admitting defeat" against Wladmir. He names Wladmir as the hardest puncher he faced. Isn't that a compliment?

Somehow I knew this had something to do with Wlad.

 

Morrison was the fastest guy Mercer fought after Holyfield.

 

Damani did not have the best defense he fought. That's a joke. You should know better.

According to pro trainers like Tommy Brooks and Steward, Wlad had hands speed like Larry Holmes, better than Holyfield. Keep in mins Steward work with Holyfield too. I think he would know.

Cooper, the best chin? Um no. Come on. He game him a tough fight, but I could say Lewis gave him a better one.

If you watch his fight vs Wlad, he was blitzed by fast hands and power like he never felt. Doing the post fight interviewee's he had issues admitting how good Wlad was, and gave gruding praise at best. Its all there to see.

 

What a stupid post. The interviewer asked Mercer for HIS opinion of HIS opponents. Who gives a **** what anyone else thinks. Mercer was in the ring with these guys and these are his opinions. I'm sure he could give a **** less what you think.