Could Mercer use that offensive jab to bust Vitali up and get inside, or would Vitali just control the range, fight and timing? Who wins this matchup?
If old Mercer cut and busted up Wlad with his jab, why isn't it going to connect on Vitali, the inferior brother?
IMO Vitali will just try to keep his distance and win a dull decision. Unless he decides to go to war with Mercer, i don't see him struggling too much. Vitali 8-4.
Vitali is superior in virtually every metric including chin. He has more reach, better defence, much better workrate and boxing skill. Mercer gets a galactic beating similar to what Briggs got. Mercer needs a guy that can be exploited for some flaw in stamina or toughness. Vitali is not that guy.
Like ... all of them? Mercer would need an elevator and a bellhop with a pole to reach Vitali's level.
On his best night, Mercer could out-point Vitali in an entertaining scrap. But, if Mercer brings anything less than his best, the decision goes the other way. Ray would not be the least bit intimidated by Vitali.
So Vitali has greater power then his brother, but was unable to even drop the worst title holder of the past 25 years despite landing at a career high clip over 12 full rounds? Do I even need to post that Briggs was stopped and floored by a 215 pound Daroll WIlson in three rounds... almost 15 years before VItali came along to pick whatever meat was left off the bone? Compare how Lennox handled Briggs vs what Vitali did for all you need to know about how to rank the two of them.
Vitali points. He is too tall, has too much range and does not get remotely hurt by Mercer. Mercer would take some of the early rounds, but Vitali would come on strong down the stretch
