The fight was scheduled for early 2002, but Lennox feared that Mercer would beat Tyson and went to the court to cancel the fight. Anyway, how do you think the fight would've ended? Both were shot and in June 2002 Tyson was dominated by Lennox, and Mercer - by Wlad.
Mercer was always a good fight. But Wlad used his size to make him look silly. I felt a bit bad for Mercer there.
If Mercer survives the first 2 rounds he wins, in fact I'd say in 2002 any top 15 heavyweight with a solid chin beats Tyson if they can withstand the initial onslaught and I believe Mercer had the chin, heart and toughness to do just that.
The version of Mercer that showed up against Klitschko was actually in rather good shape at 228 pounds...despite being in his 40s it was clear that he was trying to make a final statement and if he had caught the fat, bald mess that was Tyson post-Golota, he just might have had his career defining win.
Tricky one to call as both were way past their prime. Tyson was overweight and sluggish but could still punch, Mercer was even older, in shape but was more vulnerable as age had compromised that iron chin as proven by the stoppage loss to Wlad. Tyson would of been the favourite but I don't see this as an easy win for either of them.
Yes, and Mercer would likely take the late rounds if the fight goes the distance. And having seen overweight Tyson vs fat and shot Brian Nielsen, one can wonder how Mercer would've done against that Tyson. Mike looked very good in the 1st round, decent in rd 2-3, and awful in rds 4-6, Nielsen even started landing and then suddenly quit. Mercer obviously wouldn't quit, and I think his stamina even at 41 was better than Tyson's.
Just a comparison of them during that time: Tyson was beating higher level tomato cans at the time in Ettiene and Nielson. Mercer was beating worse fighters, but beating them more frequently. They both were still capable of brutally flattening guys. Tyson did it to Ettiene and Mercer did it to some guy he got on the ropes in a fight on Fox Sports. Tyson got flattened by Lewis and eventually got stopped by Williams. Mercer got beaten up by Wlad and eventually stopped by Briggs. Public perception was that Tyson was the much better fighter before the Lewis fight, and still better after. I'd say most likely it would look like the Nielson fight. Mercer wasn't much better than Brian at the time and I don't think Tyson even trained for that fight.
Right. Mercer though won't quit like Nielsen. And Tyson looked really bad in rds 4-6 then. What would've been in the later rounds in Tyson-Mercer fight? Would Mike have been stopped, or Ray would have had stamina issues as well and loses on points?
I wouldn't put quitting past Mercer. Tyson and Mercer looked like they chose to stay down against Williams and Briggs, respectively.
Mercer definitely did, but he recently said he faked KO to get DQ win as Briggs was hitting him to the back of the head.
