What it's like to box Wladimir Klitschko

[BrooklynBomber]

Mercer was coming off some good wins, and actually was counted as having some good chances against Wlad.

[Benny Leonard]

You once said age doesn't determine whether a fighter is shot, when I said Eubank was only 31 when Calzaghe beat him, while Joe defeated Kessler at age 35.

Be fair to a European fighter for once. Mercer was past his best, but still good when Wladimir stopped him. Evidence of that is Mercer years later still being able to defeat fairly decent, much younger heavyweight, Richel Hersisia "The Dutch Sonny Liston".

I said everybody ages different, this is true. I've also said to watch out for any athlete/fighter that gets into his 30's because he could start to slide. It doesn't make a fighter shot just because he is in his 30's or 40's, this is true. Hopkins is in his 40's and although not as good as he was in his late 30's and that version wasn't as good as Pre-Tito, Hopkins is not shot. But he certainly isn't as good as he was in his late 30's, let alone Pre-Tito when he was at his absoulte best.



For Mercer: He was past his prime and wasn't nearly as good when he fought Wlad compared to when he fought Lewis.
You get older, you slow down; you lose strength; wear and tear catches up to you; and punch resistance can even go down. And then you have the mental side to it. How was he at that point in time Mentally?

Comparing Mercer that fought Lewis with the Mercer that fought Wlad is not the same fighter.

And if Mercer is still winning, that says something about the HW division.

Hell, the fact that some argued in favor of Holyfield actually beating a title holder in Valuev is sad for the sport.


Your quote: "Be fair to a European fighter for once"

What do you think I'm doing with LEWIS?


Again, you never paid attention to any of my posts and only pick and choose.

How come you never bring up how I defend Tszyu?
Do you have something against Kostya Tszyu?

It makes me wonder because when I defended him with his loss against Hatton, you attacked me saying I had something against White European fighters...like Hatton.

[portuge puncher]

why is there 2 of this thread?

[The Hammer]

Quote from Benny Leonard: "You get older, you slow down; you lose strength; wear and tear catches up to you; and punch resistance can even go down."

But Benny, you gave Vitali no credit for coming back at age 37 and doing so well...

And you said Calzaghe is "young" and "prime" at age 37.

Of course, if Mercer is still doing well, it must be because the division is weak...it couldn't be because he has taken good care of himself and aged well, because after all he lost to a European fighter Wlad...and you need to discredit that win...

And if there are European heavyweight champs, it must be because the division is weak, because NO WAY IN A MILLION YEARS would you ever acknowledge the Klitschkos are top heavyweights...

I've been defending the Klitschkos from the negativity of people with your agenda for years, and it's a frustrating waste of my time. You are so predictable, you repeatedly use the same arguments to discredit the fighters you hate.

I'm not answering you anymore, Benny Leonard.

[Ryn0]

You once said age doesn't determine whether a fighter is shot, when I said Eubank was only 31 when Calzaghe beat him, while Joe defeated Kessler at age 35.

Be fair to a European fighter for once. Mercer was past his best, but still good when Wladimir stopped him. Evidence of that is Mercer years later still being able to defeat fairly decent, much younger heavyweight, Richel Hersisia "The Dutch Sonny Liston".

Mercer was no where near the same fighter he was when he fought Lewis... he wasn't "good" he was average....

[The Hammer]

Mercer was no where near the same fighter he was when he fought Lewis... he wasn't "good" he was average....

You're saying he couldn't have still been good because he was defeated by Wladimir, because you hate Wlad and you feel a need to say all his opponents were bums or shot fighters, right?

Of course Mercer was past his best, but because he had taken good care of himself and wasn't into drugs like Tyson and others, he was still good.

[paul750]

Wlad hits harder than Lewis

Lewis couldn't even knockdown, hurt or stop Mercer

Wlad was the first man to knockdown and stop Mercer

They were two completely different versions of Mercer, smart guy.

[paul750]

If Klitschko had of felt so confident at the time, maybe he could have fought McCall. McCall had just come off a good win over Henry Akinwande around that time.

[The Hammer]

If Klitschko had of felt so confident at the time, maybe he could have fought McCall. McCall had just come off a good win over Henry Akinwande around that time.

I remember he said in interviews at that time and during the three years before he wnted to fight Lewis, and he mentioned names like Holyfield, Tyson and Tua back as early as 2000, so I'm sure he would have fought McCall.

A lot of people didn't want to fight Wlad at that time, after his dominating wins over Jefferson, Byrd, Jackson, Barrett, Bostice, Shultz, and later McCline and Mercer.

[knn]

Well Mercer said Lewis hit harder.

Mercer was deluded. Wlad KOed Mercer, while Lennox went to scorecards.

By saying "Lennox was a harder puncher" he merely looks for an excuse by saying "I survived the stronger puncher, while it wasn't my best night with Wlad".

The same delusion as with Larry Holmes getting KOed (the one and only time in his career) by Mike Tyson. What did Holmes say? "Others punch MUCH HARDER than Mike Tyson".

Don't trust the loser if he claims that the opponent's punches weren't hard.