Ray Mercer V Razor Ruddock

A chin nearly always beats a punch and Mercer at his best had both, Ruddock was always a bit soft around the chops.

Ruddock would always be in the bout, perhaps even leading, but in the end I think Mercer would find a way to stop Ruddock.

Mercer TKO9

 

Good matchup! It is a shame this was never made cause' it would have been a fun fight for the fans to see. A serious, in-shape, dedicated Mercer, like when he fought Morrison and Lewis, beats Ruddock. Maybe even inside the distance. The sluggish Mercer who lost to Jesse Ferguson loses to Rudock by decision. Since we are assuming Mercer is at his best I take Mercer by UD.

 

Ruddock was the better fighter of the two and had the edge in terms of skills, but Mercer was durable as hell and could hit near enough as hard. Ruddock on the otherhand had a vunerable chin- although his powers of recuperation were excellent. Ruddock at his best might be able to survive and edge out a decision, but that's a big might.

Stylistically I'd be more inclined to favour Mercer here, head-to-head. Perhaps by stoppage. :good

 

Ruddock decision although a stoppage in his favor from 8 on would not shock me either.

 

Don't think Mercer's power was comparable to Ruddock's at all, honestly.

 

Me neither. I don't see why some say Ruddock has a bad chin, either.

 

Yeah, going the distance with Tyson doesn't scream bad chin to me.

And when Tyson did stop him it was pretty premature.

 

He always took a pretty good beating before he went out.

 

I'm leaning towards Ruddock by decision. Ruddock was, at times, able to put together effective combinations. I also see his "smash" used much like a jab in this fight, and keeping Mercer from getting near at times.

 

Yeah, I agree with all that, both scenarios.

If Ruddock could bring back a bit of his old stick 'n' move style, because he had a really nice jab when he used it, he could have a better chance at winning this. Instead he's more likely to just rely on the Smash, leaving Mercer to outwork him (even if Ray would have a pretty horrible headache the next day).

 

Mercer by KO in the 10th. Ruddock has the ability to out box Mercer but after seeing Ruddock give up his advantages in fights with Morrison and even with Tyson, i dont think he would. He tends to fight in close quarters for too long and that would play into the hands of Mercer. It would only be a matter of time. I even see Ruddock being ahead on points, but Mercer eventually catching up with him and wearing him down with power shots, stopping an over confident Donavan Ruddock in the 10th.

Also, i see that people are saying that if Tyson couldn't stop Ruddock, then Mercer couldn't? May i ask why? Mercer was far tougher than Tyson, has heart, and would not come out of his game plan if he is being out boxed. When Tyson was out boxed and losing a fight, he would just stare at his opponent and following him around the ring. Just look at the Douglas and Holyfield fight and you will see what i mean. Mercer is mentally strong enough to take shots and keep coming back.

 

Ruddock was brave and always picked himself up off the deck in fights (maybe that's why Lennox Lewis hit him TWICE when he was on the canvas!), but I dont think his chin or ability to stand up to a head shot was anything special.

I'm surprised every time I watch the second Tyson-Ruddock fight that Tyson is so sloppy he cant finish a hurt Ruddock in the early rounds.

Ruddock would be in real danger of getting stopped against the Mercer who "mercilessly" battered Tommy Morrison.

Then again, maybe even Mercer's chin wouldn't stand up to Ruddock's best punch he landed on Mike Dokes.

Basically, either guy could win this, on points or by KO, but I'd pick Mercer, who at his best was very competitive with Lewis and Holyfield.
Ruddock was mashed by Tyson, Lewis and Morrison, sooner or later. Razor was a bit of a hype job, but the chilling Dokes KO made that inevitable.

 

ruddock 10 rd decision:smoke:smoke:smoke

 

This fight never happened because a lot of fighters found an excuse not to get in the ring with Ruddock. As for the fight itself, Ruddock knocks Mercer out inside 10 rounds. Mercer probably has Ruddock hurt early in the fight but Razor would knock him out late, especially if he has his "razor" sharp jab working.