Ray Mercer V Michael Moorer -1991?

I think Moorer has the edge here. He does get underrated a bit (understandably due to the Foreman loss), but when motivated and at the top of his game he was a handful for most fighters around the 220lbs mark. A fast, skilled southpaw puncher, which is a rarity in the heavyweight division.

Mercer blew hot and cold, but to me it has the ingredients of one of those frustrating nights for him. Unless I'm missing something, he didn't fight any notable southpaws, and Moorer was a difficult guy to work out. Mercer had a tendency to run out of ideas if Plan A didn't work. No-one outboxed Moorer in his prime, so it would probably need Mercer breaking through and landing a big shot. That's possible, but on balance more likely that Moorer sees it through.

 

I think Ray would of trained much harder for this fight than the Holmes fight. I think Ray thought old larry was meet picking up the dosh. Big mistake!! Mercer by KO good fight.

 

The best of Moorer who beat Holyfield wins on points IMO, and it’s mainly off the jab and opening up when the opportunities are there.

I do believe Mercer would give him a tough fight and maybe drops him or something.

 

Disagree.

Do not think he does anything other than half assed condition for a former lh. This is not Holyfield or Lewis to prepare for. It certainly won't be roadwork or jumping rope. That would help his mobility a ton and he'd be able to step over a half step or full step on MM--who was not a guy fighting off his toes.

I think Ray is out of shape and comes in as prepared as he was for Holmes--planning on an easy night's work. Instead, he gets hit by everything the opponent throws and gets turned and is out of range. And drops a decision on a winnable fight because he is not in proper condition.

 

Possibly . Good post .Mercer was very dangerous but inconsistent

 

I don't think it had anything to do with Mercer's conditioning he simply fought the wrong fight vs Holmes.

Holmes using his experience because he realised he didn't have the legs anymore.
Outsmarted Mercer by taunting him and luring him into fighting his kind of fight off the ropes.

Mercer didn't quite have the savvy and experience and was simply outfoxed by an old former great champion.

 

That interview is burned into my brain. I watched it live at the time. Mercer and Moorer would've been a great fight. Marc Roberts, the manager Mercer actually liked, was kinda forced out by the other co-manager (he had glasses, can't remember his name), and Roberts was actually great at steering Mercer's career to that point.

Mercer was arguably a hotter heavyweight than all of them (Bowe and Lewis included), after the Morrison win.

Of course, once Roberts was removed, Mercer was told by his remaining manager to vacate the WBO belt and fight Holmes, who Mercer had no respect for at the time, and Mercer's career was never the same again.

In that interview, Mercer even says he'll probably get cussed out by his manager for saying it, but he had no idea why he was being told to fight Holmes, he says Holmes is "a front" and Moorer would be a more legit fight ...

Just bad advice all around.

It was a great upset by Holmes. No doubt.

At that point, I also think Mercer would've won against Moorer.