did ray mercer take holmesvlightly?

[rightsideup]

Your thoughts

[Ben Bolt]

As a Holmes fan, I was sure he would lose this one.
And I expected Mercer to change strategy when his fight plan A didn’t pay out.
He never did, which astonished me.

Ray was outboxed by Damiani before a lucky punch ended that fight in his favor.
And he managed to beat Morrison due to a sturdy chin and the latter getting fatigued.
Ray was so strong and powerful, but lacked fantasy.

Holyfield certainly noticed and came up with plan B (and probably a plan C in reserve) – if Holmes want you to come to the ropes, don’t bother – don’t let him rope-a-dope, lure him out of the ropes.

I’m pretty sure of that the younger Mercer was the stronger of the two combatants that night. But he wasn’t as ringwise as Holmes was.

[TBear]

In Mercer's previous bouts, I believe he was being out boxed by Morrison and Damiani before landing the big punch. It was not too easy to do that with a clever fighter like Holmes. I imagine they looked at Holmes's age and the Tyson fight and figured they had this. However I also imagine they knew Holmes ability and considered it would be a tough fight. I do think they were completely surprised at Holmes ability to fight off the ropes during the fight.

[juggernaut666]

No,the truth is Tyson crushed a Holmes at 38 and made it look easy....MOSt think holmes was washed up in that fight,however he was in shape and never stopped training in the likely hood he did plan on a comeback fight with foreman...Ray fought a less ability holmes than Tyson did...Tyson was that good! I don't think Mercer took anything light,he at time was inconsistent but holmes at 43 went the distance with Holyfield too....I think Holmes was that good not that Mercer took him lightly.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Mercer was an anomaly...


Does great vs the best fighters he faced ie holyfield, lennox, Morrison

But drops the ball vs old Holmes and Jesse fergueson

[beez721]

Mercer was an anomaly...


Does great vs the best fighters he faced ie holyfield, lennox, Morrison

But drops the ball vs old Holmes and Jesse fergueson

mercer didnt develop a good jab till after the holmes fight and he gave lewis more than just fits with it. conditioning and a lack of ring iq cost him the fight with holmes. I think the mercer that went life and death with lewis would have stopped old larry holmes

[ShoulderRoll]

Mercer was tough and a good puncher but his skills were unrefined. Especially against someone of Larry Holmes' caliber.

I agree with Juggernaut. Mike Tyson doesn't get enough credit for doing what he did to Larry, Holmes was old but still very ring savvy with a high boxing IQ.

[BKM-2010]

How did Mercer manage to win a gold medal in the olympics if his skills were that lacking?

[ShoulderRoll]

Deontay Wilder won a bronze in the Olympics and his skills are woefully rudimentary. Heavyweights can get by on their power a lot of the time.

[BKM-2010]

Deontay Wilder won a bronze in the Olympics and his skills are woefully rudimentary. Heavyweights can get by on their power a lot of the time.

Wilder was clearly not the best. Mercer's olympics were in a stronger era and he won the gold, he was #1. Lets see what those who know about his olympic career have to say about it.