Ray Mercer vs Tim Witherspoon - who won the war?

I agree with Harold Lederman's cards 95% of the time. The fight was close. I think Witherspoon edged it, but a draw would have been fine.

The judges sucked. All three had Mercer in the lead by 4-6 rounds. Terrible. Their cards were:

Judge: Calvin Claxton 93-97
Judge: John Poturaj 93-97
Judge: Paul Venti 91-97

A few points.

1 ) Witherspoon was past his prime. He's the better fighter.

Compubox numbers : Witherspoon landed 280 punches of 471 (59 %), Mercer landed 255 punches of 528 (48 %).

So Witherspoon landed more and was more accurate.

 

That was Witherspoon's last hurrah

His good defense allowed him to avoid serious punishment and he retained most of his skill all the way to age 38.

The only fight he got punished was Bonecrusher II, but it was over in one round so didn't do lasting damge.

 

Always thought Spoon got robbed. Mercer had a couple of close s****es with the cards, the fight vs Lewis and the second Ferguson fight!

It sucked that Tim lost he had finally fought his way back on to HBO. If memory serves this fight was on the ppv undercard of Bowe - Golota 2,. Spoons two prior fights vs Cole and Gonzalez were both on HBO but this loss finished him..

 

I actually thought Spoon won. Sukked for Spoon because he was getting back in the mix and making waves. It looked like he hurt Mercer more than enough times and had me shaking my head at how Ray was able to absorb everything Lennox threw at him but Spoon was genuinely hurting Ray in there. I do remember being happy that Mercer finally got the nod after the close loss to Holyfield in '95 that Evander edged because of the knockdown. I also felt Mercer edged Lewis at MSG in '96.

 

In my opinion, there was no question Witherspoon won that fight

 

Witherspoon got off to the better start winning several of the early rounds but faded as the fight unfolded, allowing Mercer to rally and steal rounds in the closing stages. I had Mercer by one round though a draw would also have been a fair result.

 

I didn't score it round by round, but I thought it was very close. A draw would've been fine, as would a win either way.

 

Slightly in spoons favor imo, but can't argue with a draw.

 

I'm with everybody else. There's no denying how close this fight was, and a decision for either man or a draw would have been fair. I just hated to see Mercer get a UD, as if he beat Spoon up.

 

Haven't seen it since it happened, but I recall thinking at the time that Witherspoon won a close bout. I think Mercer sort of got a sympathy decision after his tremendous efforts against Holyfield and Lewis.

 

Never understand why people think a close fight should not be a UD, don't get that logic. I think I thought Tim edged it at the time but I was a big fan. I'll try and rewatch it

 

Watched two rounds so far, off to bed now, great fight and fighters, better than I remembered it.

 

Witherspoon took that one.

 

Very close fight, I had Mercer ahead by a point.