Merciless Ray Mercer, the greatest wasted hw talent?

[joseph5620]

Qutting is an offence against the fighting code of ethics. But the act of quitting doesn't automatically mean a fighter lacks what it takes to make it to the top. No one SHOULD ever accuse Roberto Duran of lacking "an active will" just because he struggled to cope with one of the greatest fighters in history - in ONE BOUT - after he beat the very same man in an earlier encounter.

Not automatic but in Golota's case there is no doubt that he lacked will. He blatantly quit against Tyson too. Obviously he was lacking something to go to the top.

[Mugwump]

Not automatic but in Golota's case there is no doubt that he lacked will. He blatantly quit against Tyson too. Obviously he was lacking something to go to the top.

I know what you're saying but I'm hesitant to say willpower alone was Golota's problem.

Looking at his two fights against Bowe it seems as if he responded in the same primal and instinctive fashion Mike Tyson did when he found he couldn't break Evander Holyfield's granite will. He'd hit Bowe with everything in his arsenal (which against possibly any other opponent would have been enough) and yet he was still taking return fire and being HURT by it. Another fighter might have quit but that would have been a stain against his pride so he took the next best option - a disqualification.

Under normal circumstances you could reasonably say he lacked willpower. But Golota (like Tyson) was anything but a "normal" fighter. Throughout his career Golota's behaviour - both in and out of the ring - was highly volatile to say the least. At times he showed enormous bravery and willpower whilst at others he was getting himself ******ly DQd. Mental instability is by definition erratic and perhaps that's a better word to sum him up.

Either way I guess we're splitting hairs or attempting to count the number of angels roaming free on the savannah of a pin head.

[Steak]

Mercer a wasted talent? I dont know about that. In fact, I think he made a lot out of his career considering his overal ability. His toughness and pretty good jab and power made him a tougher-than-should-have-been fight for heavyweights like Lewis and Holyfield, but meanwhile he could be outboxed by guys like old man Holmes, Damiani and Ferguson.

In recent memory, I think guys like McCall and Golota were bigger wastes of talent/natural ability.

[Pastrano]

Mercer a wasted talent? I dont know about that. In fact, I think he made a lot out of his career considering his overal ability. His toughness and pretty good jab and power made him a tougher-than-should-have-been fight for heavyweights like Lewis and Holyfield, but meanwhile he could be outboxed by guys like old man Holmes, Damiani and Ferguson.

In recent memory, I think guys like McCall and Golota were bigger wastes of talent/natural ability.

You guys all pretending like Mercer was some slugger with no skill, did you forget he was the OLYMPIC CHAMPION?!?

[Steak]

You guys all pretending like Mercer was some slugger with no skill, did you forget he was the OLYMPIC CHAMPION?!?

being an olympic champ means diddly squat in terms of your skill. a teenager Foreman also was a gold medalist, and he wasnt exactly a master of boxing at that point, he won almost entirely with his raw power.

and I didnt say Mercer had 'no skill'. But he consistantly was outboxed and outfought by multiple fighters, in fact Damiani, Morrison, 42+ year old Holmes and Fergusen all were outskilling him. Sometimes he was able to catch up with them...ie Damiani and Morrison...sometimes he didnt, ie Fergusen and Holmes.

his notable wins(Damiani and Morrison) did not come by way of skill. They came by way of his toughness and natural punching ability. even clearly past prime Witherspoon gave him a very close fight, and this was directly after his best performances agaisnt Holyfield and Lewis.

[dan_cov]

Tyson, Ibeabuchi, McCall, Golota was all bigger wasted H/W talents IMO

[dan_cov]

Add Floyd Patterson to that list.

[Scott9945]

Add Floyd Patterson to that list.

An Olympic Games middleweight who won quite a few heavyweight title fights is an underachiever?

Please explain.

[Terry A]

Huh?????

Add Floyd Patterson to that list.

Floyd an UNDER-achiever????

You're pulling my leg or that was a mis-print.

[dan_cov]

His chin let him down.

Extremely good fighter with all the tools but a H/W chin.

Just my opinion.