By Mark Vester
The headline bout for the Adrenaline III mixed martial arts event, scheduled for May 30 at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, has been denied by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board. The fight would have seen former WBO heavyweight champion/Olympic gold medal winner Ray Mercer take on former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia in a boxing match.
The original plan was to have the two of them meet under MMA-rules, but the event promoters felt the fight would be more competitive if the two fought in a normal boxing match. The NJ Control Board refused to sanction the fight - likely due to Sylvia's size and Mercer being 47-years-old. No official reason was given by the NJ governing body.
Let's not celebrate yet. The fight is not dead in the water. Adrenaline promoter Monte Cox told MMAWeekly that he plans to shop the fight to another venue and it may take place in June.
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