This would be an entertaining match up. Neither were slick, elusive boxers and they would clash in the center of the ring. I think Mercer would stop a weary Lyle in the mid to late rounds.
Mercer is better in every department other than power, it’d be a great fight no doubt, but Mercer has quicker hands (and underrated hand speed in general), is probably slightly stronger, much better fundamentals and boxing at range, better defence, he’d beat him wherever the fight is, at range or up close, not saying it wouldn’t be competitive. Mercer on points in a competitive fight.
Yes I agree, but in this matchup, I assume he means them both at their very best. If it was in a realistic scenario, I suspect this is a fight Mercer would take seriously because of the power of Lyle and on top of that, it was tricky guys who’d give Mercer issues more often, like Ferguson, first because he found the style hard to deal with and second, because he didn’t feel as much of an instinctual threat because those guys didn’t have as much power.
Not true a past it Witherspoon fought him in a toe to toe battle and visibly stunned him and forced Mercer to fight behind his jab and most felt Witherspoon got the better of the argument. Holyfield wasn't exactly tricky vs Mercer either he hurt him dropped him and then completely took over in the fight. Mercer gets alot of mileage out of the Lewis performance but I tend to think Lewis fought Mercer aggressively on purpose to impress in America as he was on the comeback trail and looking for a big fight vs Tyson. Hence Lewis probably made more hard work for himself in the Mercer fight than he really needed to.
Witherspoon has more boxing ability than Mercer and handspeed, he’s going to land a lot more than Lyle. Holyfield is certainly better than Lyle on the inside, he’s quicker, has more tricks up his sleeve up close etc, although he doesn’t as hard, but Holyfield is more skilled, which allowed him to land a punch that Mercer didn’t see coming, he’d be able to see what’s coming more against Lyle.
Witherspoon was also 39 years old. And Holyfield was going through the worst patch of his career at that point.
The 38 year old version of Witherspoon was still quicker and had more boxing ability than Lyle. Holyfield was unpredictable from fight to fight with his performances, the Tyson win came out of nowhere just after a lacklustre performance against Bobby Czyz.
I give this to Lyle by a hair. I think this would be a badass fight to watch, with some frightening shots landed by each. It might be a majority decision.
I went with Lyle by decision but I can’t really say for sure. In either case I think this would be a fantastic fight
