Oh okay. Listen man, I get it, but this is the classic forum, we discuss Ali, Foreman, Robinson, legends, ****ing legends... Should I be impressed by what Usyk did to Dubois and Joshua ? Can't be.
Usyk wins this ten times out of ten assuming Mercer doesn’t land a perfect borderline low blow that’s called legal.
Sure do not picture Mercer doing well against a southpaw with boxing skills and smarts. And he'd need a small ring like the Lewis bout......a 20 footer and his plodding is not going to get himself in position against this guy. He'd get peppered all night.
The Mercer of Lewis fight or Morrison Ko s Usyk late . Usyk lacks the power to keep him off him . Ray when he was in the mood was a very dangerous fighter.
I think Usyk should take a points win here, however it would not be easy or a given. Usyk is faster, better movement and much better technically but Mercer was a hard tough fighter willing to take punishment to win and had some good wins plus some hard losses at heavyweight. I wonder if Usyk's relative inactivity favours Mercer here. I do favour Uysk here but think Mercer pushes him all the way and it's not impossible to see Mercer winning this.
I'm not sure, even then. Mercer would have to work spiritually, mentally, personally and physically to that goal. Go to the mountains, the desert, he would have to diet, live a life of sacrifice and deprivation to mold himself into a fighting machine. Box a thousand rounds, run hundreds of miles and work his body into the greatest shape of his career in pursuit of victory over Usyk. If he could do that... Usyk UD12.
I think (I feel ) a close decision for Usyk. Perpetual angles, hand speed and boxing IQ will win the day. Ray of course is not patsy and Oleksandr’s chin will be tested on occasion during the bout but based on the resilience exhibited previously, it will hold up. Atop his boxing skills, Usyk’s whiskers have covered any gaps, standing him in good stead and have played no mean part in allowing him to compete amongst the bigger boys - including distinguished punchers like Joshua.
Seeing what Usyk has accomplished now and is basically set to retire, has this forum changed their consensus opinion on this Versus?
I started this thread a few years ago and i favoured Usyk then too but i thought Mercer would be a tough fight for him. I favour Usyk now too. I don't think Mercer has the work rate to beat Usyk. Could Mercer cause some issues if he shows up motivated? sure. But Mercer never liked movers and as long as Usyk moves and lands the ocassional hard left and does not get involved in trading with Mercer, i think he should win something like 9-3 or 10-2 with some of the rounds being close but clear.
Site has a weird infatuation with some fighters. I don’t see maybe what some see in Mercer. Good fighter. Good chin. Good power. He’s a roided up Rex Layne. Good showings and heart and always did his best. But a stand in front of you slugger can only get so far. Usyk is a master boxer who will prob make my top five when he’s done
Ironically, Chisora probably showed the template for success v Usyk. You can't outbox him, can't out think him, but you can take him out of his comfort zone, smother him and the missing piece Del didn't manage, out work him. A big guy with less skill, a solid chin, decent power and an A plus engine could conceivably lay it on Usyk from second one till the last second. Its why I have Holyfield...and Frazier beating Usyk but don't think Tyson has the intensity over 12 to see it through. I'd have loved to have seen the Joe Joyce that fought Parker fight Usyk; not saying he'd win but those attributes are horrible for an educated counter puncher like Usyk. Could Mercer be that guy on his best night? Yes, maybe. But I'd not bet a dime or a doughnut on it. But the kind of fighter who beats Usyk is a busy, spiteful fighter who Usyk can't hurt. And even then Usyk is likely a big favourite...