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No shame in losing to an old Ali. Getting stopped by him is a different matter entirely. Especially if you're considered "40th greatest Heavyweight of all time".
(Ring Magazine rating in 1998 from memory).
And Mercer's physical shape must be accounted for in his sub par performances. It's a notable difference from just having a lack of talent.Comment
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Its no difference is his fault.No shame in losing to an old Ali. Getting stopped by him is a different matter entirely. Especially if you're considered "40th greatest Heavyweight of all time". (Ring Magazine rating in 1998 from memory).
And Mercer's physical shape must be accounted for in his sub par performances. It's a notable difference from just having a lack of talent.Comment
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All I will say is I think a prime Ron Lyle gives a prime Larry Holmes a tough fight.
Whereas a prime Mercer lost to Holmes when Holmes was a grandfather!Comment
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I have to say, this is just my take, but I thought that...
A) Lewis won his fight with Mercer more comfortably than history remembers.
B) The Ali-Lyle stoppage was premature.
That much aside, while I have a pretty healthy respect for Mercer, I do feel he is often over-rated. There may not be streets in it, but looking at their careers & better performances, I feel comfortable saying the line in the sand is a fairly clear one --- Lyle was the better fighter.Comment
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