Ray Mercer v the 1900's Crew

Is this a time machine fight or is Mercer brought allong in the 1890s?

 

Then the 1900s crew would decide to stay here, retire from fighting, and pursue careers doing something easier.

Now I preffer a Life on Mars type scenario where Ray Mercer is hit by a car and wakes up in 1901. With no other obvious conclusions he decides he has to beat the top four fighters in order to get back to his own time.

 

So not a level playing field ? Whats the point other than too much time on your hands ?

 

Don't worry old timer, they will come by to change your bedpan soon. :hi:

 

To get to the original question:

Mercer is hard to place in fantasy fights because he could hold sombody like Lennox Lewis to a near run thing on his best night but look less than incredible on another.

I suspect that Corbett would probably outbox him to take a decision win. Mercer preobably would not put together the fighjt he needed to in order to catch up with him and stop him. Of course Corbett could have his off nights too.

Mercer probably takes Sharkey for many of the same reasons that Gus Ruhlin did. If he uses his range and physical advantages semi inteligently then it should all come together. His chin is probably good enough to close off Sharkeys punchers chance.

I would favour Jeffries to beat Mercer being faster and probably slightly better defensivley. Jeffries could get the better of the counters, and probably has the strength, stamina and durability to wear Mercer down and outlast him.

Fitzsimmons is the one that is hardest to call because he is something of a phenom. He is certainly going to lead Mercer into a few traps and hurt him badly. He is also going to be working against some of the disadvantages that he was up against with Jeffries. This is the one where I can honestly say that I don't have a clear idea what would happen while I have a good idea with the others. I verry much doubt that this one would go the distance either way.

 

Tom Sharkey - Sharkey gets into an altercation with baggage airline staff at the airport and knocks out the carriers and security but is arrested and charged with Manslaughter. He is locked up and has to forfeit (anyone who has been to the US knows why this is the likely scenario).

James Jeffries - Arrives without problem (ok he probably did have a row with the airport staff!) but he begins training seriously. He is spotted by an agent from the Gridiron Leagues, and offered a bigger contract, so he forfeits the match also.

Bob Fitzsimmons - Arrives determined to make amends for the 1900s. I always say Fitz astounds me every day, and this is no different. He doesnt get into a fight with the airline staff. Or the New York taxi drivers for that matter! Fitz trains like a beast for the rematch, but in publicising the fight, today's do gooders make a fuss and get his licenced denied because he is too old (he is bald you know) and he is too small to fight at the weight in what is a mismatch. The fight has to be postponed, and eventually abandoned.

Jim Corbett - The last chance for the era. Jim arrives with much fanfare and he manipulates the media like he did in his own time. Mercer sees a small fighter and underestimates him like he did in his own time with ferguson. Jim Dances around the ring and makes him look like a fool. Mercer tries to bribe him to take a dive mid fight, but Jim refuses and wins a lopsided points decision.

Woops just re read the conditions. Not sure if the corbett thong would meet with modern standards and conditions. I see the Parents association trying to ban it from ringside. And Corbett says no thong, no fighting. Perhaps another forfeit?

 

But Fitzsimmons didnt really have any problems at all with Jeffries (in the second fight where he actually trained for it, at least). Under modern rules, that fight is stopped in favour of Fitzsimmons, quite early. I cant see Ray Mercer beating Fitz. In fact, i am starting to rate him higher and higher. Interestingly, i just read an all time heavyweights ranking from 1975 Ring (off of boxrec) and Fitz was ranked in 7th place, ahead of Muhammed Ali! It also had one from the 2000's where he didnt make the top 20. It is interesting how important size has become in recent years.

 

This.