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

Mercer was 41 years old, Wlad was 26.You don’t think that had anything to do with how the fight went?

 

I thought Mercer's answers seemed believable and interesting.

IMO Holyfield was extremely quick, he put together combinations of punches that are rarely seen at heavyweight, he threw them in bunches and he threw them quick. Hand speed can mean different things to different people, some measure the time it takes a punch to go from the body to the opponent (like a jab), some measure by how quick a fighter puts combinations together. A fighter that excels at one might not excel at the other.

Holyfield's footwork was like everything he did, textbook, plus he was athletic and quick.

As far as Damiani's defense, that's not necessarily a one size fits all category. Maybe Damiani's defense was difficult for Mercer, but someone else didn't find it as difficult. Plus, Mercer might be like almost everybody else, if you asked him the same questions a month later, some of the answers might change?

Every fighter has unique experiences. I used to go to a gym owned by a fighter who had fought Liston, C.Williams, M. DeJohn, etc., guys who were known as big punchers, and he said that the hardest he had ever been hit was by Wayne Bethea, a guy who was not known as a puncher. Everybody can hit and if you get caught right by anybody it can be memorable. Same with defense, a guy might give you problems defensively and nobody else...

 

You must know better having shared so many mutual opponents with Mercer.

 

A trainer's perspective on hand speed is nowhere near as valuable as a fighter's perspective. Boxers punch anywhere from 1.5-2x faster in an actual match then they do when hitting the mitts with a trainer/heavybag/sparring/etc.

Considering how much a Wladmir fan you are, I know it's pointless to argue with you on Holyfield's hand speed vs Wladmir, but make a poll if you dare.

Mercer said Cooper took HIS punches better than anyone. What happened to Cooper before or after this bout is IRRELEVANT to the conversation. Nobody else stood there trading blows with Mercer for the full distance. You do know this was a SLUG FEST where both guys planted their feet and threw with bad intentions for most of the match? Nome of Mercers other opponents did this. Therefore there is nothing strange in him saying cooper had the best chin. When you ask a boxer who had the best chin, you are asking which guy took your punches the best.

The only one being dishonest is you in your bias for Wladmir.

 

Only on a boxing forum can you see an athlete name 3 opponents who beat him and say they were the best in certain categories and then get called biased and dishonest.

 

I will agree with this one as it's my thoughts exactly. Morrison was the fastest dude he faced from my perspective as well.

 

I just watched Mercer-Damiani and I see why Mercer picked him. Damiani did a fantastic job of limiting Mercer's offense by picking off his jab virtually every time he threw it. I know many people don't get credit for their parrying ability but Damiani deserves it within the context off that fight. He had this nice, swift but subtle motion to them. Sometimes he would slip or simply step out of the way, too. He did a classy job of blocking and circling, as well. I was impressed, for whatever that is worth.

 

I have seen the fights.

 

A trainer's perspective is no where as valuable as a fighter's? Are you serious?

It's clear as day Holyfield had a better chin than Cooper. Duh. No one would agree with you. Mercer is saying this because he could not put the man away, while other's did. Ie. Self serving.

Damiani with the best defense? I would say there were others that Ray had a tougher time landing on and be correct.

You can think Wlad didn't have fast hands, you're a hater and biased if you believe that. I'll take two trainers words and my own eyes over yours. By the way, trainers have been in the corner for 1,000's of live fight, when you say boxers punch 1.5-2x faster. Think about it...

 

Holyfield had faster hands than Wlad, easy. Mercer's list appears decent and honest

 

Yes I'm serious. The trainer isn't the one getting hit. The boxer isn't going all out when throwing punches at the mitts being held by an old man. The testimony of fighters and even the referee is way more valuable than a trainer for determining if a fighter has fast hands or not. Steward was not even in Holyfield's corner for very long, just 1 year.

Exactly, Mercer couldn't knock out cooper in spite of the fact he STOOD IN FRONT OF HIM AND TRADED BLOWS. Holyfield did NOT stand in front of Mercer getting pounded on for 12 rounds, he used his defense, foot work, and angles to get away from Mercer's punches.

This does not mean Holyfield's chin is worse, it simply means from Mercer's perspective Cooper's chin got tested more against Mercer than Holyfield's did. Which is a fact, Cooper got hit way more than Holyfield did in their fights with Mercer.

Nowhere did I say Wlad had slow hands, I simply said Holyfield's hands were faster. Me saying someone punched faster than Wlad doesn't automatically mean I think Wlad had slow hands, there's levels to it. My god your comprehension is horrible.

And you of all people have NO room to call anyone else biased when Wladmir Klitschko is the subject of conversation.

 

Okay bud,

You do know mosts trainers were fighters? Probably not. These best I've faced series interesting but a bit self serving, don't you think? Or do you take them all at face value. I do want to know that question, which I'm pretty sure you will avoid answering.

Nothing against Mercer but I for one doubt he thinks Damiani has the best defense which he fought, does not think Coopers chin is better than Holyfield, and such. I could create poll and the answer would be pretty obvious. You know it and so do I.

As for Wlad, you're a hater, you words hardly count. Take note I'm using expert level 3rd party data to back this up. Who they heck are you over Steward and Brooks? A nobody. When Wlad opens up, he's had blazing fast hands. And he showed then vs Mercer. But you're a hater and not objective nor do you listen to qualified 3rd party opinions. There little more to be said. Believe what you wish. The title of this thread should be who gave Mercer the most trouble and his excuses for it, not who was the best at various parts of boxing.

END.

 

Yes I'm aware most trainers were fighters. WTF does that have to do with my point that a boxer is going to punch faster and harder in the ring than when they're hitting mitts held by a frail old man? I'll answer for you: nothing. An opponent of a fighter is a much better source on gauging another fighters power, speed, and skill.

The fact you are seriously valuing a trainer's views over actual opponents just further shows how much of an agenda you have.

It isn't my "opinon" that Cooper stood in front of Mercer and traded blows all night, it's an observable fact. It's a fact that Cooper took more blows from Mercer than Holyfield did. What happened before and after Cooper's bout with Mercer is irrelavant to who absorbed more punishment while fighting Mercer. Are you getting it now or are you going to continue to be dense? Mercer is not saying Cooper has a better chin "in general", he is simply saying that of all of HIS opponents, Cooper's chin held up the most when getting hit. Holyfield blocked or evaded many of Mercer's shots. It doesn't mean he think Holyfield had a bad chin.

I "hate" Wlad yet I have him in my top 10 for both resume and h2h. Sure buddy. The biggest indicator that someone is a fanboy is that if you don't consider their favorite fighter the best at everything you're a hater. I'm not the one who said Holyfield punched faster than Wladmir, Mercer did. Mercer fought both and lost to both so in what way is he "self serving" by picking 1 of 2 men who beat him? I'd love to hear your explanation.

Mercer picked 3 opponents who beat him and gave them props and yet here you are calling him dishonest. This is comedy.

 

I've got to admit this is pretty funny!

 

Don't forget his noble acts of reviving Shannon Briggs' career with such a convincing dive, raising the profile of street brawler Kimbo Slice by tapping out in 1m12s in their mma debut, and putting Remy Bonjasky over by quitting like a dog in 22 seconds.